Northwest Passage—Through the Arctic Labyrinth (Greenland to Alaska)

Be among an elite few to attempt a journey through the rarely traveled and legendary Northwest Passage.


Canadian Arctic and Greenland
© HUR

Duration: 26 days
Starts: Reykjavík , Canada
Ends: Seattle, USA
Language: English speaking voyage


Included


We will be following in the wake of historic explorers like Norwegian Roald Amundsen, sailing aboard an advanced expedition ship bearing his name. You will experience the raw beauty of the remote Arctic on this route and visit close-knit communities in Canada and Greenland.

Itinerary

© HUR
© HUR
© HUR

Day 1 Cosmopolitan Reykjavík : Discover Iceland’s modern capital 
Your adventure begins with an overnight stay in Reykjavík.
A laid-back city of art, culture and history, delightful Reykjavík is well worth spending some time getting to know it.
Take a stroll along Laugavegur with its boutiques and outdoor shops, gaze in awe at the striking Hallgrímskirkja church, and drop in on the fascinating Reykjavík Art Museum.
If you have the time, we recommend booking a Pre-Program with us and discovering some of Iceland’s natural highlights.

Day 2 Colorful Nuuk: Welcome to the capital of Greenland
Today begins with a flight from Reykjavík to Nuuk, Greenland’s colorful capital. It has a population of 18,000 and features a striking mix of old and new buildings.
If time allows, we’ll explore this fascinating city, comparing the old buildings—such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral—with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parliament of Greenland building.
Your ship awaits you in Nuuk Harbour. After collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore the ship as we set sail on this epic voyage through the Northwest Passage.

Days 3 - 5 West Greenland: Discover the magical beauty of West Greenland
The first chapter of our journey encompasses the majestic coast of West Greenland.
Over the next three days, you’ll experience some of the most iconic sites in all of Greenland. Our objectives include:

Evighedsfjord
As we head north, we plan to offer an exploration day in the magical and pristine Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq. Each day, we’ll determine which adventures we can take part in.
The “Fjord of Eternity” is fed by an ice cap that calves huge icebergs into its 2,300 ft-deep waters. It's surrounded by mist-cloaked mountains with beautiful white ridges, punctuated by crystal blue ice caves.

Sisimiut
Sisimiut is Greenland’s second city and is situated in a spectacular location just above the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years, and old traditions are alive and well.
Learn more about ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum, or stretch your legs on a hike. If you're looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of the musk ox that’s said to be 10 times warmer than sheep’s wool.

Ilulissat
Nestled at the edge of the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Here you’ll find an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs set against a backdrop of colorful houses. In town you can visit a multitude of shops selling local crafts, and on the outskirts walking trails take you along the epic icefjord.

Days 6 - 7 Crossing Baffin Bay: Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science
Leaving Greenland behind, our journey continues to Nunavut across Baffin Bay. The Expedition Team will continue their on-board lectures on topics such as the wildlife of the Arctic, Inuit culture and the history of exploration in this region.
Why not take part in one of our Citizen Science projects? You can help photograph and track whales, or observe the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program.

Day 8- 11 The Eastern Canadian Arctic: Entering into the Northwest Passage
Following our crossing of Baffin Bay, we find ourselves in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. The main waterway of this area is Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the eastern gates to the Northwest Passage.
This chapter of our exploration is likely to be action-packed, with excursions planned on each of the four days we hope to spend in and around this area. Remember: all our excursion plans depend on the weather and ice but, conditions permitting, our days will be filled with excitement and discovery.
Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to share with you include:

Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik)
Dundas Harbour
Croker Bay
Beechey Island (Iluvilik)
Prince Leopold Island (Appait)
Fort Ross

Day 12 Bellot Strait: Navigate the dividing line between east and west
The “Rubicon” of the Canadian Arctic, dividing east from west, is the infamous Bellot Strait. This narrow body of water separates the northernmost part of mainland North America from Somerset Island, one of the largest islands in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.
Bellot Strait is approximately 15 nautical miles long and just over half a mile wide at its narrowest point. Our ability to navigate this passage will be determined by ice and weather conditions.

Days 13 - 20 Into the West: Spend eight days exploring the western section of the fabled Northwest Passage
Over the next eight days, in this section of our voyage we’ll transit through three distinct regions—Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon—and two traditional Inuit Territories—Inuvialuit and Nunavut.
During our time here, we anticipate up to five days of shore excursions and four transit days. Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to be able to visit include:

Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuk)
Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq)
Coronation Gulf
Ulukhaktok
Smoking Hills
Herschel Island

Days 21 - 24 Along the Alaskan Coast: Science and wildlife watching at sea
Join your Expedition Team for insightful lectures as we journey through the Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait. As we head into the Beaufort Sea, we must be aware that seasonal sea ice fluctuations can vary. If the sea ice levels are greater than the seasonal average, this is likely to affect the speed at which we are able to sail through. This is the nature of expedition cruises—expect the unexpected!
The highlights of this transit include:

The Beaufort Sea
The Bering Strait
The International Date Line
Wildlife watching

Day 25 The Final Stop—There’s No Place Like Nome: Learn about Alaska’s “golden” past
Prospectors first came to Nome in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. You'll see evidence of the Gold Rush era all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique and intriguing atmosphere.
You’ll be in good company as you explore the town. Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions.
From here, you’ll take a flight to Seattle for an overnight stay.

Day 25 At Sea - Relaxing Day
The adventure is drawing to a close. Spend time with the other guests and the Expedition Team reviewing the many exciting experiences you shared during our voyage together.

Day 26 Scenic Seattle: End your adventure in the Emerald City
Waking up in your hotel in Seattle marks the end of your adventure through the Arctic labyrinth. After breakfast, and if you have time before your onward journey, why not explore the Emerald City and see what it has to offer?
Head to the Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus. Or, for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go. And for a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer’s market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers!

Itinerary

Day 1 Cosmopolitan Reykjavík : Discover Iceland’s modern capital 
Your adventure begins with an overnight stay in Reykjavík.
A laid-back city of art, culture and history, delightful Reykjavík is well worth spending some time getting to know it.
Take a stroll along Laugavegur with its boutiques and outdoor shops, gaze in awe at the striking Hallgrímskirkja church, and drop in on the fascinating Reykjavík Art Museum.
If you have the time, we recommend booking a Pre-Program with us and discovering some of Iceland’s natural highlights.

Day 2 Colorful Nuuk: Welcome to the capital of Greenland
Today begins with a flight from Reykjavík to Nuuk, Greenland’s colorful capital. It has a population of 18,000 and features a striking mix of old and new buildings.
If time allows, we’ll explore this fascinating city, comparing the old buildings—such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral—with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parliament of Greenland building.
Your ship awaits you in Nuuk Harbour. After collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore the ship as we set sail on this epic voyage through the Northwest Passage.

Days 3 - 5 West Greenland: Discover the magical beauty of West Greenland
The first chapter of our journey encompasses the majestic coast of West Greenland.
Over the next three days, you’ll experience some of the most iconic sites in all of Greenland. Our objectives include:

Evighedsfjord
As we head north, we plan to offer an exploration day in the magical and pristine Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq. Each day, we’ll determine which adventures we can take part in.
The “Fjord of Eternity” is fed by an ice cap that calves huge icebergs into its 2,300 ft-deep waters. It's surrounded by mist-cloaked mountains with beautiful white ridges, punctuated by crystal blue ice caves.

Sisimiut
Sisimiut is Greenland’s second city and is situated in a spectacular location just above the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years, and old traditions are alive and well.
Learn more about ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum, or stretch your legs on a hike. If you're looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of the musk ox that’s said to be 10 times warmer than sheep’s wool.

Ilulissat
Nestled at the edge of the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Here you’ll find an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs set against a backdrop of colorful houses. In town you can visit a multitude of shops selling local crafts, and on the outskirts walking trails take you along the epic icefjord.

Days 6 - 7 Crossing Baffin Bay: Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen Science
Leaving Greenland behind, our journey continues to Nunavut across Baffin Bay. The Expedition Team will continue their on-board lectures on topics such as the wildlife of the Arctic, Inuit culture and the history of exploration in this region.
Why not take part in one of our Citizen Science projects? You can help photograph and track whales, or observe the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program.

Day 8- 11 The Eastern Canadian Arctic: Entering into the Northwest Passage
Following our crossing of Baffin Bay, we find ourselves in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. The main waterway of this area is Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the eastern gates to the Northwest Passage.
This chapter of our exploration is likely to be action-packed, with excursions planned on each of the four days we hope to spend in and around this area. Remember: all our excursion plans depend on the weather and ice but, conditions permitting, our days will be filled with excitement and discovery.
Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to share with you include:

Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik)
Dundas Harbour
Croker Bay
Beechey Island (Iluvilik)
Prince Leopold Island (Appait)
Fort Ross

Day 12 Bellot Strait: Navigate the dividing line between east and west
The “Rubicon” of the Canadian Arctic, dividing east from west, is the infamous Bellot Strait. This narrow body of water separates the northernmost part of mainland North America from Somerset Island, one of the largest islands in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.
Bellot Strait is approximately 15 nautical miles long and just over half a mile wide at its narrowest point. Our ability to navigate this passage will be determined by ice and weather conditions.

Days 13 - 20 Into the West: Spend eight days exploring the western section of the fabled Northwest Passage
Over the next eight days, in this section of our voyage we’ll transit through three distinct regions—Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon—and two traditional Inuit Territories—Inuvialuit and Nunavut.
During our time here, we anticipate up to five days of shore excursions and four transit days. Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to be able to visit include:

Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuk)
Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq)
Coronation Gulf
Ulukhaktok
Smoking Hills
Herschel Island

Days 21 - 24 Along the Alaskan Coast: Science and wildlife watching at sea
Join your Expedition Team for insightful lectures as we journey through the Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait. As we head into the Beaufort Sea, we must be aware that seasonal sea ice fluctuations can vary. If the sea ice levels are greater than the seasonal average, this is likely to affect the speed at which we are able to sail through. This is the nature of expedition cruises—expect the unexpected!
The highlights of this transit include:

The Beaufort Sea
The Bering Strait
The International Date Line
Wildlife watching

Day 25 The Final Stop—There’s No Place Like Nome: Learn about Alaska’s “golden” past
Prospectors first came to Nome in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. You'll see evidence of the Gold Rush era all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique and intriguing atmosphere.
You’ll be in good company as you explore the town. Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen's great polar expeditions.
From here, you’ll take a flight to Seattle for an overnight stay.

Day 25 At Sea - Relaxing Day
The adventure is drawing to a close. Spend time with the other guests and the Expedition Team reviewing the many exciting experiences you shared during our voyage together.

Day 26 Scenic Seattle: End your adventure in the Emerald City
Waking up in your hotel in Seattle marks the end of your adventure through the Arctic labyrinth. After breakfast, and if you have time before your onward journey, why not explore the Emerald City and see what it has to offer?
Head to the Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus. Or, for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go. And for a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer’s market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers!


© HUR
© HUR
© HUR


INCLUSIONS

Hotel
• Overnight in Reykjavík before the expedition cruise, including breakfast
• Overnight in Seattle after the expedition cruise, including breakfast

Flights
• Economy class flight from Reykjavík to Nuuk before the expedition cruise
• Economy class flight from Nome to Seattle after the expedition cruise

Transfers
• Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Reykjavík before the expedition cruise
• Transfer from the airport to the ship in Nuuk before the expedition cruise
• Transfer from the ship to the airport in Nome after the expedition cruise
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Seattle after the expedition cruise

Expedition Cruise
• A stay in a cabin of your choice
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Wine, beer and spirits available at meals and throughout the day and evening (subject to licensing laws, excludes premium drinks)
• All day coffee, tea and soft drinks
• Meals and take-away available throughout the day during Fredheim restaurant opening hours
• Fine dining in restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
• A complimentary water bottle to refill on board and take home
• A polar expedition jacket, a backpack, or another piece of HX kit
• Professional photos from your trip taken by our onboard photographer
• Complimentary Wi-Fi. Please note, streaming is not supported
• Use of sauna, hot tubs, pool, fitness room, lounges and more
• Gratuities included. Fantastic service is standard at HX – though if you’d like to leave something extra, it’s always appreciated
• Range of included activities 

Landing Activities
• Escorted landings with small expedition boats
• Loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities
• Expedition photographers on hand to assist you

Onboard Activities
• In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
• Full access to the ship’s Science Centre
• Citizen Science Programme allows guests to assist with ongoing scientific research 
• Professional onboard photographer gives tips and tricks for the best landscape and wildlife photos
• Informal gatherings with the crew for daily briefings

Notes
• All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
• Excursions and activities are subject to change
• Please make sure you meet all entry and boarding requirements 
• Depending on your flight times, an additional overnight might be needed (not included)
• Itineraries are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change

EXCLUSIONS

• International flights
• Additional overnight stay(s) may be required due to the timing of international flights 
• Travel insurance
• Luggage handling
• Optional shore excursions with our local partners
• Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
• Optional treatments in the on-board wellness and spa area

Notes:
- - - Attempted route, ice conditions dependent
Our Attempts are voyages where we challenge the elements in true expedition style. As we explore these remote and captivating areas in a safe way, our adventure will ultimately be guided by nature. If weather, sea or ice conditions do not allow our planned navigation, our experienced crew will deliver an adapted itinerary. Flexibility and our deep knowledge of the area combine to give you an amazing exploration experience.


* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

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