NORTHWEST PASSAGE
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16 DAYS
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Toronto, Canada | Meet your fellow travellers, spend the night in a hotel |
| Day 2 | Toronto to Nuuk, Greenland | Fly to Nuuk before embarking the Greg Mortimer |
| Day 3 | Sisimiut | Famous church, cosy museum, exhibits of local history and early life |
| Day 4 | Ilulissat | ‘Birthplace of icebergs’, hike to the Icefjord viewpoint, Jakobshavn Glacier |
| Days 5 - 6 | Northwest Greenland | Traditional Inuit settlements, vast fjord systems, colourful tundra |
| Day 7 | At Sea | Enjoy the spectacular surrounding landscapes from the observation lounge |
| Day 8 | Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada | Captivating Inuit community, towering ice-capped mountains, vast glaciers, pristine fjords |
| Days 9 - 14 | Northwest Passage | ‘Wildlife superhighway’ of the Arctic, Zodiac cruising, excellent hiking |
| Day 15 | Resolute to Calgary | Disembark in Resolute and fly to Calgary to spend the night in a hotel |
| Day 16 | Calgary | Check out and transfer to the airport for your onward journey |
SHIPS OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Sylvia Earle
The Sylvia Earle is a new (launched 2022) purpose built, polar expedition vessel taking 130 guests. This vessel has been designed in close consultation with Antarctic expedition specialists and was the second expedition cruise ship designed with the ULSTEIN X-BOW hull. This cutting edge nautical technology allows for gentle travel and motion at sea, improved comfort and safety on-board, reduced vibrations, lower fuel consumption and emissions and ‘virtual anchoring’ which means the ship can float anchor-less while launching the Zodiacs without disturbing delicate sea floor areas. There are four sea-level launching platforms for fast and efficient access to and from Zodiacs.
Day 1 Toronto, Canada
Having made your way to Toronto, take the complimentary hotel shuttle and check in at the group hotel at Toronto Airport. Please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with the ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation procedures and the charter flight to Nuuk tomorrow.
The remainder of your time is at leisure.
Day 2 Toronto to Nuuk, Greenland
After breakfast at the hotel, board the charter flight to Nuuk, where your ship awaits. After embarkation, there is time to settle into your cabin before important safety briefings. This evening, meet your expedition team and crew.
Day 3 Sisimiut
After a morning sailing north towards the Arctic Circle, arrive in Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town. Sisimiut is located approximately 54 kilometres 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.
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. Today, the majority of the population of Sisimiut are descendants of the Thule culture.
Day 4 Ilulissat
In the afternoon, arrive in Ilulissat. Known as the ‘birthplace of icebergs’, this region produces some of the most dazzling icebergs found anywhere on Earth. Hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Icefjord viewpoint 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.
Days 5 – 6 Northwest Greenland
Explore the remote northern reaches of West Greenland, where traditional Inuit settlements cling to the rugged coastline and towering icebergs drift through the deep, clear waters. Every day presents new possibilities, guided by your expedition team, who will hunt for the perfect location to explore the stunning fjord systems by Zodiac. Vast fjord systems such as Uummannaq Fjord, offers endless opportunities for adventure, every corner revealing jaw-dropping views, monumental icebergs, and vibrant rock formations that beg to be explored. Whether you’re cruising silently through the ice-choked waters, hiking across the colourful tundra, or visiting one of the remote communities that dot the coast, the options for discovery are limitless. Kayakers can paddle among the floating icebergs while keeping an eye out for humpback and minke whales. With the spirit of true expedition cruising, this region invites you to immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of Greenland’s northern frontier.
Day 7 At Sea
Find a spot in one of the many observation lounges and enjoy the spectacular surrounding landscapes. Your talented and knowledgeable expedition crew will present informative and entertaining talks about the region that you’re travelling through.
Day 8 Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
After clearance into Canada, visit Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), a captivating Inuit community nestled on the northern tip of Baffin Island. Surrounded by towering ice-capped mountains, vast glaciers, and pristine fjords, this remote outpost offers an unparalleled wilderness experience. As you step ashore, you’ll be greeted by the warm hospitality of the local Inuit, whose deep connection to the land is evident in their culture and lifestyle. Immerse yourself in their traditions through engaging cultural encounters and gain insights into their unique perspective on life in the Arctic.
Days 9 – 14 Northwest Passage
In genuine expeditionary style, your itinerary for the following days is heavily dependent on weather conditions and unpredictable sea ice. The following places are some that you can hope to visit.
Devon Island: ‘wildlife superhighway’ of the Arctic, features stunning geology, with flat-topped mountains and glacial valleys
Maxwell Bay: excellent hiking with sweeping views of the rugged coastline and inland valleys, incredible wildlife including muskoxen, caribou, polar bears, several species of seals, walruses, and birdlife
Beechey Island: a designated Canadian National Historic Site, Roald Amundsen landed here in 1903
Radstock Bay: dramatic cliffs, gravelly beaches, scattered remains of whale skeletons, ruins of a Thule village
Prince Leopold Island: the most important bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic, with approximately 500,000 birds nesting here in summer
Port Leopold: the crews of HMS Enterprise and Investigator were forced to endure a harsh winter here while searching for the lost Franklin expedition
Elwin Bay: famous for its wildlife, particularly polar bears
Batty Bay, Somerset Island: hike the surrounding tundra slopes and trace the paths of early explorers
Bellot Strait: known for its strong tidal currents, shifting ice, and dramatic scenery, wildlife is often seen along the shores
Day 15 Resolute to Calgary
In Resolute, farewell the crew, expedition team and fellow travellers before a Zodiac shuttle whisks you ashore. Transfer to the airport for a charter flight to Calgary, where you will transfer to your group hotel and stay overnight.
Day 16 Calgary
After breakfast, check-out of your room and you will be transferred to the airport to continue your journey.