Northwest Passage
Expedition Cruise
25 Days
Through the Arctic Labyrinth
Greenland to Alaska
About This Tour
Sailing through the Northwest Passage on a state-of-the-art ice-class expedition ship is a captivating journey that blends natural wonders, culture, and history. The passage, once an elusive route for explorers, now offers intrepid travelers a chance to witness breathtaking Arctic landscapes and learn about Indigenous communities through firsthand experiences. On this adventure, we’ll attempt a voyage from Nuuk in Greenland to Nome in Alaska. Our 26-day voyage takes us ‘above’ the North American continent to the frozen Far North. In Eastern Arctic Canada, specifically the waterways around Lancaster Sound, you’ll experience a pristine and remote wilderness featuring surreal vistas of sea ice. As we pass into the Western Arctic, the region is marked by its proximity to Alaska. Look out for wildlife as we sail through the famed Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait, before ending our transit in Alaska. US Pacific Northwest. HX is a proud member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). To protect the sensitive environments we explore, we carefully follow AECO standards on available landing sites and safe distances from wildlife, while still giving you an unforgettable expedition experience.
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.
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-Programme 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.
Day 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. We'll determine on the day what 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, 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 colourful 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.
Day 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 onboard 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, helping photograph and track whales, or observing the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program.
Day 8-11 |
The Eastern Canadian Arctic
Entering 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 gate 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 are weather and ice-dependent, 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. For more detailed information about each of these places, along with our explorer’s guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Northwest Passage Travel Guide.
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.
Day 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. For more detailed information about each of these places, along with our explorer's guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Northwest Passage Travel Guide.
Day 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 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. For more detailed information about each of these, along with our explorer's guide to the Northwest Passage, see our Northwest Passage Travel Guide here.
Day 25 |
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 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!
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