Complete Northwest Passage

Complete Northwest Passage 29 Days

Prices From £27,676pp
August to September | 28 nights

Big Discounts!

No Solo Supplement!

Complete Northwest Passage 29 Days

Aboard: Greg Mortimer Sylvia Earle

On this epic, extended voyage inspired by Roald Amundsen’s historic expedition, we attempt to sail the full length of the Northwest Passage, carving our way west through the labyrinthine maze of waterways that hug the fabled islands of Arctic Canada until we reach the Beaufort Sea. You will visit historical sites explored by heroic explorers, meet the incredible folk that call this region home, and search for enigmatic wildlife found in this unique corner of the world. Pack ice may halt our voyage through the passage, so brace yourself for a genuine expedition where adventure awaits at every turn. 

In true expedition style we encourage exploration and adventure, offering flexibility in challenging environments in a way that puts you among the action to see and do as much as possible. This itinerary is only a guide and subject to change due to ice and weather conditions. 

Various departures available. Please enquire for full dates and rates.

Highlights

  • Follow in the wake of legendary explorers as you traverse the entirety of the fabled Northwest Passage
  • Stand in awe of Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 
  • Hike on Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island, which features stunning geology, fjords and glacial valleys to explore
  • On Beechey Island, visit memorials and graves of explorers from John Franklin’s expedition
  • Keep watch with the hope of spotting iconic Arctic wildlife including musk ox, polar bears, beluga whales, walrus and perhaps narwhal  
  • Thrilling Zodiac cruises, hikes and shore excursions
  • Kayaking options available (fees apply)

What's Included

  • All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
  • One night’s hotel accommodation in Toronto pre-voyage, including breakfast
  • Charter flight from Toronto to Nuuk
  • Flight from Nome to Anchorage post-voyage
  • One night's hotel accommodation in Anchorage post-voyage, including breakfast
  • Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service. 
  • All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage. 
  • Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner. 
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell receptions including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages. 
  • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises. 
  • Educational lectures and guiding services provided by our expedition team. 
  • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consultation). 
  • One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket. 
  • Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage. 
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information. 
  • Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
  • Gratuities for ship’s crew and local guides. 

Big Discounts!

Book 2025 departure now and receive up to 20% discount PLUS a £ flight credit discount!!

Or book 2026 departure and receive a 20% discount!

Offer applicable when booked before 1st April 2025

Applies to select cabins on select departure dates. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Full terms & conditions apply. / Available on selected dates/vessels.

No Solo Supplement!

Book select departures by 31st March and solo travellers will get a dedicated solo stateroom with no single supplement! (usual supplement is 50%!)

Offer applicable when booked before 1st April 2025

Full terms and conditions apply. / Available on selected dates/vessels.

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Toronto
1Day

Toronto

Your thrilling Northwest Passage cruise itinerary begins in the Canadian city of Toronto where you will arrive independently and make your way to a nearby airport hotel for your included overnight stay. Meet some of your ground operations team this afternoon to learn more about the pre-embarkation procedures, and the rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Nuuk
2Day

Nuuk

After breakfast in the hotel, you will head back to the airport for your included flight to Nuuk, Greenland’s charming capital city. Upon arrival in Nuuk, you will transfer to the port to board your excellent expedition vessel. Settle into your comfortable cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship before settling down for your first fantastic dinner onboard as we set sail.

Sisimiut
3Day

Sisimiut

Greenland’s second largest town, Sisimiut is located approximately 54 kilometres (33.5 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, meaning that during summer, you can experience the midnight sun here. The town is famous for the old blue church with the gate made of whale bone. In the cosy museum next door to the church, you will find an excellent reconstruction of an Inuit turf house as well as exhibits of local history and early life in Greenland.   Sisimiut offers hiking trails with various degrees of difficulty. The easier trails take you through the town itself, its outskirts and into the mountains, where you will find spectacular vantage points.  Approximately 4,500 years ago, the Saqqaq culture arrived from Canada and settled in the area. They lived here for approximately 2,000 years, after which they mysteriously disappeared from the area. The Dorset culture arrived around 500 CE and stayed until the 1200s until they were replaced by the Thule culture, and today, the majority of the population of Sisimiut are descendants of the Thule culture. 

Ilulissat
4Day

Ilulissat

Known as the ‘birthplace of icebergs’, this region produces some of the most dazzling icebergs found anywhere in the Arctic. Hike past the husky sledge dogs to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Icefjord and stand in awe of its immensity. Sermeq Kujalleq, also known as Jakobshavn Glacier, is the most productive glacier – not only in Greenland but the entire Northern Hemisphere. It produces 20 million tonnes of ice each day, all floating into the Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay. Conditions permitting, enjoy a Zodiac cruise at the mouth of the fjord and kayak through sea ice and icebergs. An optional 90-minute helicopter flight over the icefjord is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Optional helicopter flight (90 mins): this excursion is the only way you can get close to the gigantic glacier. The 12-seater helicopter departs from Ilulissat Airport and sweeps over hills, lakes and ice fjords. Land on the mountain at Kangia, in the middle of the preserved area, where you can revel in the incredible surroundings. On the return flight to Ilulissat, fly above the edge of the glacier with breathtaking views of the massive icebergs drifting in the fjord. The views of some of the largest icebergs that become stranded on a moraine underneath the water, just outside the town, offers a wonderful finale to this excursion. (Additional charge applies). Please note this excursion incurs an additional charge and requires a minimum of 8 people to operate.

Qeqertarsuaq (Disko Island)
5Day

Qeqertarsuaq (Disko Island)

This compelling island seems to have more in common with Iceland than Greenland. While most of the interior is mountainous and glaciated, its beautiful shorelines boast black sandy beaches, unusual basalt columns, hot springs and dramatic lava formations. On a guided hike, enjoy a diversity of Arctic flora. Zodiac cruise in Disko Bay, a hotspot for marine life including humpback, fin, minke and bowhead whales. The small friendly village has a fascinating historical museum. 

At sea, Qikiqtarjuaq (Baffin Island)
6Day

At sea, Qikiqtarjuaq (Baffin Island)

Our team of experts entertain us with informative talks about wildlife, geology and epic tales of early explorers such as Franklin and Amundsen. Reaching the coast of Baffin Island, we may encounter Greenland’s famous icebergs. Keep watch for humpback, sei, sperm and fin whales, as well as various species of seals such as ring and harp seal. 

Baffin Island Coast
7 - 9Days

Baffin Island Coast

The east coast of Baffin Island features hidden bays that are feeding grounds for bowhead whales and where glaciers calve into the sea. Sail along inlets and fjords surrounded by towering mountains that feature impressive geology. Some of the places that we may visit include: Home Bay, Sillem Island, John Ford Fjord, Sam Ford Fjord and Scott Inlet. Conditions permitting, we hope to go ashore at Pond Inlet and be treated to a warm welcome from the local community.

Covered with mountains, icefields, steep cliffs, snowfields and glaciers, Bylot provides nesting habitat for large numbers of thick-billed murres and black-legged kittiwakes. A total of 74 unique species of arctic birds thrive on this island. Due to the richness of the wildlife and the beauty and diversity of the landscapes in the area, a large portion of the island was also included in the Sirmilik National Park, established in 2001. We plan to sail along the coastline of Bylot Island, where we hope to enjoy the scenery and outstanding birdlife.

Devon Island, Lancaster Sound
10 - 12Days

Devon Island, Lancaster Sound

At a latitude of almost 75° degrees north, we are now truly in the High Arctic. Here, nutrient-rich waters support an abundance of wildlife, giving the area the moniker ‘wildlife superhighway’ of the Arctic. Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island on Earth and features stunning geology, with flat-topped mountains and glacial valleys giving Devon Island its unique character. We hope to visit Dundas Harbour to enjoy offers walks on undulating tundra, and perhaps some birdwatching. Other possible places that we might visit include Croker Bay and Maxwell Bay. A dilapidated Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost and remnants of a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post can be found here. In the bay, walruses are often present.

At the western end of Devon Island lies Beechey Island, where we plan to land. Named after Frederick William Beechey, the island is one of Canada’s most important arctic sites and is a designated Canadian National Historic Site. During the Franklin expedition of 1845–46, Franklin attempted to sail through the Northwest Passage with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, with perilous results – three of his men are buried here. Roald Amundsen landed at Beechey Island in 1903, during the first successful voyage by ship to fully transit the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Expedition cruising
13 - 16Days

Expedition cruising

Our options for the following days are heavily dependent on unpredictable sea ice. We may attempt to cross Bellot Strait if conditions allow, giving us the possibility to sail Prince Regent Sound and search for wildlife and to perhaps visit historic Fort Ross - an abandoned Hudson’s Bay trading post. Other places we may visit include Prince Leopold Island, which features magnificent vertical cliffs. Around the low-lying Tasmanian Islands, we may encounter similar pack ice that halted Franklin’s expedition in 1845. If conditions allow, we might enjoy a walk at historic Cape Felix on King William Island and learn more about Franklin’s ill-fated expedition.

Prince Leopold Island, Port Leopold: On the southern side of Lancaster Sound opposite Beechey Island lie the towering bird cliffs of Prince Leopold Island— the most important bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic, with approximately 500,000 birds nesting pairs here in summer. Ringed seals are often spotted on the sea ice. Nearby Port Leopold is a historic site where British explorer James Clark Ross wintered in 1848 while searching for the missing Franklin expedition. The ruin of a century old Hudson’s Bay trading post can be found there, and polar bear often lurk nearby. The shallow gravel beds attract beluga whales, which come to moult in this part of the Arctic each summer.

The following are places we hope to visit:

Coningham Bay: Across from Victoria Strait, Coningham Bay lies on the shores of Prince of Wales Island. This is a polar bear hotspot where the majestic creatures come to feast on beluga whales that are often trapped in the rocky shallows at the entrance to the bay. It is not unusual to find the shoreline littered with whale skeletons – and very healthy-looking polar bears!

King William Island: Remains attributed to the Franklin expedition have been found at 35 different locations on King William Island and on nearby Adelaide Peninsula. South of Cape Felix, in Victoria Strait, we hope to get close to where the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were abandoned in 1848.

Coronation and Amundsen Gulfs
17 - 22Days

Coronation and Amundsen Gulfs

Your experienced expedition team will create your day-by-day itineraries based on sea ice and weather conditions. Apart from Franklin, other heroic explorers including Amundsen explored this territory, and we may visit the same places as early explorers. We hope to meet the resilient locals who make the extreme far north their home.

In our Zodiacs, we plan to explore the coastlines, bays and hidden estuaries of the region, and delight in the show of autumn colours during this season of change. Hold your breath as we near the geological wonder evocatively known as the ‘Smoking Hills,’ where the stench of sulphur rises from below the earth. Where it’s possible to land, we stretch our legs on hikes to explore the dramatic landscapes of hills, valleys, cliffs and canyons of the region.

Below are some of the places in the area that we may visit:

Cambridge Bay: The administrative and transportation hub of the region, Cambridge Bay is the largest stop for passenger and research vessels traversing the Northwest Passage and unofficially marks the midpoint for voyages of the Northwest Passage. Zodiac ashore for an exploration of this Inuit settlement located in the high arctic. Enjoy a walk through the village, where you can visit the local church, visitor centre and support the local community by purchasing some locally made handicrafts. In the old town, we plan to visit the ancient archaeological sites of the Pre-Dorset, Dorset and Thule people. Wildlife abounds in this area, and you might see caribou, musk ox and seals. The tundra is ablaze with wildflowers and birds including jaegers, ducks, geese and swans visit the area in large numbers.

Johansen Bay, Edinburgh Island: Edinburgh Island is a small and uninhabited island in Canada’s Nunavut region. The scenery consists of colourful flowering shrubs, beaches tinged in stunning ochres, while the surrounding cliffs shaded in rich, deep tones. We hope to enjoy a Zodiac excursion within an estuary of at the northeast end of Johansen Bay and up the river towards the lake. A possible walk to a lookout overlooking the lake offers spectacular views over lakes, sea and mountains. Wildlife including caribous, reindeer, arctic foxes, hares and peregrine falcons frequent the area.

Jesse Harbour, Banks Island: Located in the north of Canada’s Northwest Territories, Banks Island, the fifth largest island in Canada, is home to approximately 60 per cent of the world's population of Lesser Snow Geese. Arctic foxes, wolves, polar bears, caribous, musk ox and many birds are also found here. Grizzly bears are occasionally spotted, and bowhead whales are often seen offshore. The dramatic cliffs on the southeast coast feature colourful yellow, white and red quartzites, while, on the west coast is characterized by long, sandy offshore bars. Nelson Head cliffs features ancient Precambrian rock that is almost 2 billion years old.

Smoking Hills, Franklin Bay: The smoking Hills in Canada’s Northwest Territories have been smouldering, sending plumes of gas across the landscape, for centuries. Technically sea cliffs, you would be forgiven for thinking that the multicoloured fiery natural phenomenon is the set to an apocalyptic movie depicting the end of the world. The smoke is caused by layers of combustible, sulphur-rich lignite (brown coal) that ignites and emit sulphurous gas into the air, when exposed to erosion and landslides, which also creates a dazzling colouration of the rocks.

Beaufort Sea
23 - 25Days

Beaufort Sea

Excitement builds as we sail the Beaufort Sea. Whether you are out on deck or in the comfort of one the observation lounges, watch as the captain navigates our state-of-the-art vessel through these waterways, which is frozen for most of the year. Keep a close watch for marine wildlife including Beluga whales that are often seen here. At Prudhoe Bay, we farewell Canada and enter the United States.

Chukchi Sea & Bering Strait
26 - 27Days

Chukchi Sea & Bering Strait

As we sail westwards to Nome, along the northern coast of Alaska to where the U.S and Russia are only 100 km (60 miles) apart, separated by the Bering Sea, there is ample time to reflect on our adventures while scanning the water for marine life. Share, edit and submit pictures in our photo competition and attend final lectures from our team of onboard experts. We hope to get permission to ship cruise close by Point Hope, Little Diomede and King islands in Alaska.

Disembark Nome - Fly to Anchorage
28 - 29Days

Disembark Nome - Fly to Anchorage

Your epic Northwest Passage expedition cruise concludes in the Alaskan city of Nome, where you will disembark and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Anchorage.

Upon arrival in Anchorage, you will transfer to an included hotel for an overnight stay and the following morning your itinerary will end.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Greg Mortimer
Luxury vessel

Greg Mortimer

The brand new (2018-19) “Greg Mortimer” is a purpose-built expedition vessel capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, and has been built to world-class polar standards. The Greg Mortimer redefines expedition cruising for the future, utilising the ULSTEIN X-BOW, a cutting edge nautical technology which allows for gentle travel and motion at sea, reduced vibrations, improved comfort and safety on board, virtual anchoring, lower fuel consumption and lower air emissions.

Robust, powerful, and built with passengers’ comfort and safety at the forefront of design, the Greg Mortimer features a modern ice-strengthened hull at ice class 1A, four sea-level launching platforms for fast and efficient access to Zodiacs, a custom-built activity platform, the most up-to-date and concise safety features including the latest ‘return to port’ technology, and has been built to meet and exceed the strict environment standards of the Polar Code, for non-intrusive and low-impact voyages.

For exceptional at sea wildlife and scenery viewing opportunities the ship has custom-built hydraulic platforms offering unobstructed views, an indoor observation lounge, side viewing platforms and an outdoor top deck which allows for 360-degree views.

With space for 132 passengers the ship has 80 well designed staterooms with en-suite bathrooms, ranging from porthole to balcony categories, a large dining room/restaurant with family style dining, a spacious lecture room, a well stocked library, Wellness Centre complete with gym equipment, sauna and spa, a multimedia room and a fully-stocked medical centre.

Sylvia Earle
Luxury vessel

Sylvia Earle

Setting sail for her maiden voyage in December 2022, this outstanding purpose-built expedition vessel honours the long-standing conservation efforts of the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. Capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, the vessel has been built to world-class polar standards and utilises the ground-breaking ULSTEIN X-BOW technology which allows for faster, more comfortable travel, improved safety, reduced emissions and lower fuel consumption. The vessel boasts one of the lowest polluting marine engines in the world and also utilises virtual anchoring to protect the sea floor.

In terms of safety, the ship will feature industry-leading safety technology that exceeds the requirements for a ship of this size and will also feature world class return-to-port equipment and a fully-stocked medical clinic.

In terms of comfort onboard, the Sylvia Earle will be hard to beat. The vessel features a distinctive Glass Atrium Lounge at the bow of the ship with a stunning panoramic view on both port and starboard side, a swimming pool and jacuzzi where you can admire impressive scenery while watching the world go by. A gym, sauna and wellness centre add to the luxury touches onboard and there are various places to relax after a long day of adventures including a beautiful library and a number of bars, lounges and observation areas. Delicious meals will be served in the elegant dining room and presentations will be provided in the state-of-the-art lecture theatre.

With capacity for 132 passengers, the ship has 74 elegantly designed staterooms with en-suite bathrooms, ranging from porthole to balcony categories. Each cabin features stylish design, a flat screen TV, large comfortable beds, windows or balconies and closet spaces.

Please note - for now, images shown are artist impressions/renders only

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Having amassed a host of extraordinary adventures in destinations all over the world, Sheena’s experience, skills and enthusiasm for helping clients plan their ideal itinerary will help make your holiday unforgettable, action packed and life-changing.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

Simon’s deep passion for and first-hand knowledge of a vast range of destinations all over the world gives him the ideal skills to help you create a truly unforgettable wildlife inspired adventure to the most exciting places on the planet.

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

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callback

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

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