Itinerary
- Day 1
Reykjavik
Your Arctic adventure kicks off in Reykjavik, where you'll spend the day getting a feel for Iceland's capital. The city has a laid-back vibe despite being modern, so wander down Laugavegur to check out the boutiques and outdoor shops. Stop by Hallgrímskirkja church, which you'll recognize by its distinctive architecture, and then head to the Reykjavik Art Museum if you want to see what the local art scene offers. Your hotel includes breakfast, so you'll start the day fueled up.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Stroll along Laugavegur with its boutiques and outdoor shops
- Visit Hallgrímskirkja church
- Visit Reykjavik Art Museum
- Pre-Program to discover Iceland's natural highlights (available for booking)
Landmarks/POIs Hallgrímskirkja Reykjavik Art Museum Laugavegur - Day 2
Reykjavik to Nuuk
You'll fly from Reykjavik to Nuuk, Greenland's capital with about 18,000 people. When you arrive, spend time walking through the city and seeing the mix of old colonial buildings like Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral alongside modern architecture like the Parliament building. Then head to Nuuk Harbour where MS Fridtjof Nansen is waiting. Collect your expedition jacket, get settled in your cabin, meet the crew, and set sail on your Northwest Passage expedition.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Nuuk city (if time allows)
- Visit Hans Egede House (if time allows)
- Visit Nuuk Cathedral (if time allows)
- View Parliament of Greenland building (if time allows)
- Receive complimentary expedition jacket
- Check into cabin
- Meet Expedition Team
- Explore ship
Landmarks/POIs Hans Egede House Nuuk Cathedral Parliament of Greenland Nuuk Harbour - Days 3 - 5
West Greenland
Over the next three days you'll see some of West Greenland's major sites. First comes Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq, where glaciers calve icebergs into deep waters surrounded by misty mountains and blue ice caves. Then you'll reach Sisimiut, the second largest city in Greenland and home to 4,500 years of history. You can explore Saqqaq artifacts or hike in the area. The final stop is Ilulissat and its UNESCO World Heritage Icefjord, where colorful houses sit among ever-changing icebergs, local shops sell crafts, and walking trails follow the fjord. Weather and ice determine what excursions actually happen each day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Evighedsfjord
- Exploration of Sisimiut
- Exploration of Ilulissat
- Escorted landings with small expedition boats
- Loan of boots, trekking poles and equipment for activities
Optional Activities
- Hiking in Sisimiut area
- Visit local museum in Sisimiut to learn about ancient Saqqaq artifacts
- Purchase local crafts including scarves, hats and mittens made of qiviut
- Visit shops selling local crafts in Ilulissat
- Walking trails along Ilulissat Icefjord
Landmarks/POIs Evighedsfjord Ilulissat Icefjord Sisimiut Ilulissat - Days 6 - 7
Baffin Bay crossing
Leaving Greenland, you'll cross Baffin Bay heading toward Nunavut. During this transit, the Expedition Team gives lectures on Arctic wildlife, Inuit culture, and the history of polar exploration. You can choose to join citizen science projects where you photograph and track whales or contribute to the GLOBE Program by recording cloud observations to help climate scientists. It's a good way to stay engaged while moving between locations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- On-board lectures on Arctic wildlife, Inuit culture, and history of exploration
- Full use of Science Center, library and advanced biological and geological equipment
- Citizen Science Programme (whale tracking and photography)
- GLOBE Program participation (cloud observation)
Optional Activities
- Participate in Citizen Science projects with Expedition Team
- Photography tips from onboard professional photographer
Landmarks/POIs Baffin Bay - Days 8 - 11
Lancaster Sound and Northwest Passage entrance
You're now in the Eastern Canadian Arctic, entering Lancaster Sound at the eastern gateway to the Northwest Passage. Over four days you'll have landings and excursions at spots like Pond Inlet, Dundas Harbour, Croker Bay, Beechey Island, Prince Leopold Island, and Fort Ross. The crew provides equipment for escorted landings, and each day's activities depend on what the weather and ice conditions allow. This is the action-packed section where you'll spend most days going ashore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursions at Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga)
- Escorted landings with small expedition boats
- Loan of boots, trekking poles and equipment for activities
- Expeditions to Pond Inlet, Dundas Harbour, Croker Bay, Beechey Island, Prince Leopold Island, and Fort Ross (subject to weather and ice)
Landmarks/POIs Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga) Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) Dundas Harbour Croker Bay Beechey Island (Iluvilik) Prince Leopold Island (Appait) Fort Ross - Day 12
Bellot Strait
Your ship approaches Bellot Strait, the narrow passage that separates the eastern and western Canadian Arctic. The strait runs about 15 nautical miles long and narrows to just over half a mile at its tightest point. It's considered the critical test of Arctic navigation, so whether you can actually pass through depends entirely on ice and weather conditions on the day. This is one of the trip's defining moments, and sometimes ships have to turn back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Bellot Strait Somerset Island - Days 13 - 20
Western Northwest Passage
Now you're exploring the western section of the Northwest Passage over eight days, traveling through Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon across two traditional Inuit territories. Plan on roughly five days doing shore excursions and four days just transiting. You'll visit places like Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Coronation Gulf, Ulukhaktok, Smoking Hills, and Herschel Island. Again, weather and ice conditions determine what happens each day and how the schedule shifts around.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursions at various western Northwest Passage locations (subject to weather and ice)
- Escorted landings with small expedition boats
- Loan of boots, trekking poles and equipment for activities
Landmarks/POIs Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuuk) Cambridge Bay (Iqaluktuuttiaq) Coronation Gulf Ulukhaktok Smoking Hills Herschel Island - Days 21 - 24
Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait
You're transiting through the Beaufort Sea and heading toward the Bering Strait while the Expedition Team continues giving lectures. Sea ice changes with the season, so it might slow your sailing speed compared to predictions. You'll watch for wildlife as you travel and pass the International Date Line. Life on board includes access to the Science Center, ship amenities, daily briefings with the crew, and more lectures about the region you're crossing through.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
- Wildlife watching
- Full use of Science Center, library and advanced biological and geological equipment
- Use of ship's hot tubs, infinity pool, panoramic sauna, outdoor and indoor gyms, and running track
- Informal gatherings with crew for daily briefings
Landmarks/POIs Beaufort Sea Bering Strait International Date Line - Day 25
Nome
The ship brings you to Nome to explore its Gold Rush history. You'll see physical remnants from 1898 like old dredges, steam engines, and railroad tracks. There's a saloon that Wyatt Earp opened if you want that bit of Wild West history, and you can learn that Roald Amundsen used Nome as his endpoint three separate times during his polar expeditions. After exploring Nome, you'll fly to Seattle for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration of Nome
Optional Activities
- Visit Wyatt Earp's historic saloon
- See Gold Rush era relics (dredges, steam engines, railroad tracks)
Landmarks/POIs Nome - Day 26
Seattle
Your Arctic adventure wraps up in Seattle. After breakfast at your hotel, you have some time to explore if you want. Stop by the Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus, or take a walk through the Olympic Sculpture Park, which spans nine acres and has good views of Puget Sound and the mountains while you look at artwork. Alternatively, head to Pike Place Market, operating since over a century ago, where you'll find buskers, bars, and those famous fishmongers throwing salmon around.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and giant Pacific octopus
- Walk through Olympic Sculpture Park (nine acres) for Puget Sound and mountain views
- Visit Pike Place Market (operating for over a century)
Landmarks/POIs Seattle Aquarium Olympic Sculpture Park Pike Place Market
