The fabled sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Northwest Passage has gripped imaginations for centuries. On this captivating 17-day voyage, we invite you to explore this fascinating waterway with an incredible range of on-board comforts and off-ship adventures no other vessel can offer. Passing through the Canadian Arctic archipelago, guests will journey back in time to the height of Arctic exploration, navigating the waters explored by sailors from different lands while visiting areas that Inuit people have made their home for thousands of years. Marvel at highlights of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland’s stunning west coast, stopping at Inuit and Greenlandic communities. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Ilulissat Icefjord, whose Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves off enormous icebergs. And keep your eyes peeled for the elusive and majestic creatures who make their home in these harsh, remote landscapes, such as whales, walrus, muskoxen and polar bears. Come aboard and venture to the legendary route that for centuries held explorers in its thrall, and return home forever bound to the spirit of Arctic adventure.
Named one of National Geographic Traveler’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime, this unforgettable voyage begins above the Arctic Circle at Spitsbergen, the “wildlife capital of the Arctic,” ventures to the spectacular, remote landscape of East Greenland, and ends in Iceland. In Spitsbergen, you’ll visit spectacular glacier fronts, steep-walled fjords and wind-swept tundra, where wildlife sightings include walrus, polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and thousands of birds. During your tour of Greenland’s remote eastern coast, you’ll explore the remains of ancient Thule settlements and keep an eye out for grazing muskoxen—40 percent of the world’s muskoxen population lives here. The towering cliffs, massive glaciers, rugged fjords and vast swaths of untouched tundra in these breathtaking environments will provide sights, sounds and scenes you’ve never experienced, permanently transforming your connection to the planet we call home. Explore the amazing Arctic, immerse yourself in the beauty and fragility of a wondrous region, and return with unique memories that will last a lifetime.
Sailing from Svalbard to Greenland, follow the ice’s edge with an eye peeled to the horizon for wildlife. Navigating south, you'll explore this remote landscape not only by ship but also on foot and via Zodiac. This journey highlights the contrast and change in the Arctic as you move south, finally ending in Iceland, "the Land of Fire and Ice." An Inuit village, unique wildlife, and remote destinations are just some of the highlights on this truly unforgettable voyage through the Arctic.
Explore two of the last unspoiled wilderness areas on the planet with the Under the Northern Lights: Exploring Iceland & East Greenland itinerary. Cruising along Iceland’s mountainous Vestfjords and Greenland’s remote northeast coast, home to the largest fjord system in the world, you’ll discover diverse and dramatically rugged landscapes rich in iconic arctic wildlife. Immersed in the untamed beauty of the Arctic, you’ll experience Inuit culture firsthand at Ittoqqortoormiit, visit ancient Thule sites steeped in history, and marvel at the majesty of massive icebergs and towering bird cliffs. If you’re lucky, you may also catch sight of the spectacular northern lights dancing across the sky. The Arctic has been inspiring explorers for centuries, and our expeditions offer the chance for you to discover why. We’re excited to host you on your unforgettable adventure! Feel free to reach out to our team of Polar Travel Advisers or your travel professional, who can answer your questions and provide assistance at any time.
Opportunities to witness a total solar eclipse are rare and your chances of experiencing one in the Arctic, from the deck of a polar ship no less, are even more so (considering the last total solar eclipse north of the Arctic Circle occurred in 2015). The next will take place on August 12, 2026. This voyage aboard the Ocean Explorer features your bucket-list eclipse adventure, time to explore Northeast and South Greenland, and two of the world’s northernmost capital cities – the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik and Nuuk, Greenland. World-renowned eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler will also be onboard to deepen your understanding of eclipse-viewing, observational astronomy and celestial mechanics. Of course, you’ll also get to witness waterfalls, towering cliffs and remote fishing villages in the Westfjords – a hidden gem of Iceland – as well as icebergs, wilderness areas, glaciers and the deep fjords of Greenland.
Iceland is sculpted by fire and ice and is popular for its cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs, geysers that spontaneously erupt and stunning shorelines dotted with fishing villages and glaciers. On this 12-day trip aboard the technologically advanced Ultramarine, you’ll circumnavigate Iceland and explore all it has to offer. On this once in a lifetime adventure, your days will be spent sightseeing, glacier and volcano hunting and hiking through wild landscapes. Starting and ending in Reykjavik, explore the many wonders of this part of the world by small polar ship, Zodiac, coach bus, kayak and helicopter.
Explore two of the last unspoiled wilderness areas in Iceland and East Greenland. Over 14 days, you’ll cruise along Iceland’s mountainous Westfjords and Greenland’s remote northeast coast – home to the largest fjord system in the world. Discover diverse and rugged landscapes, rich in arctic wildlife. Immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of the Arctic and experience Inuit culture firsthand at Ittoqqortoormiit. Visit ancient Thule sites steeped in history, see massive icebergs and towering bird cliffs and if you’re lucky, you may also see the spectacular northern lights dancing across the sky!
The Northwest Passage has gripped polar explorers for centuries. On this 17-day voyage, you’ll hop aboard the Ocean Explorer and explore this fascinating waterway with an incredible range of off-ship adventures by Zodiac and helicopter. Passing through the Canadian Arctic archipelago, you’ll journey back in time to the height of Arctic exploration, visiting areas that the Inuit people have made their home for thousands of years. See all the highlights of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland’s west coast, stopping at Inuit and Greenlandic communities. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ilulissat Icefjord, whose Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves off enormous icebergs, and keep your eyes peeled for the marine creatures who make their home in these harsh, remote landscapes –keep your eyes peeled for whales, walrus, muskoxen and polar bears.
Take an incredible 14-day polar cruise from Greenland to Newfoundland and explore both Arctic and boreal environments. This means you’ll experience boreal biomes – cold, dense forests dominated by coniferous trees, boreal woodlands and boreal wildlife – while looking out for caribou, black bears, red and Arctic foxes and peregrine falcons. This is a sharp contrast to what you’ll experience in Arctic biomes – home to treeless regions marked by extreme winters, low vegetation and wildlife like polar bears, seals and migratory birds. Learn about Greenlandic culture, Inuit and Nunatsiavut culture and Viking history. Experience East Coast hospitality in St. John’s, famously steeped in Celtic music thanks to its vast population of Irish descendants, and visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites – Ilulissat Icefjord, Red Bay Basque Whaling Station and the 11th century Viking ruins at l’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. This exploration really is the trip of a lifetime!
Reykjavik, Greenland Sea, Nain, L’Anse Aux Meadows, St John, Kangerlussuaq, Maniitsoq, Ilulissat, Pangnirtung, Cape Mercy, Torngat Mountain National Park
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The genesis for this adventure dates to November 24, 2003, the day Quark Expeditions became the first operator to successfully lead a total solar eclipse voyage in remote Antarctica.
On that day, we provided 100 people, from 17 different nations, the experience of becoming the first-ever humans to witness a total solar eclipse in Antarctica. Now we’ve decided to achieve a comparable feat in the Arctic. However, with innovation as our DNA, we set out to make it distinct from any other eclipse-viewing experience in the industry.
We’ve assembled a taskforce of eclipse experts, a meteorologist and members of our Expedition Team to research the geography, terrain, angles of the sun, and Arctic weather patterns to prepare for one of the rarest experiences on the planet – observing a total solar eclipse in the High Arctic.
In addition, you’ll discover the natural wonders of the Westfjords – the unsung wonder of West Iceland. Our journey also takes us into the immense Northeast Greenland National Park, where we cruise the 70mi (110km) King Oscar Fjord. You’ll also get to unleash your inner adventurer on thrilling heli-flightseeing adventures over remote Greenland on Ultramarine’s state-of-the-art helicopters.
Special Guests
David Baron: The veteran science journalist, broadcaster and umbraphile – who has witnessed nine total solar eclipses across the globe – is also the author of the award-winning American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World. Baron has travelled to every continent and more than 50 countries for work and pleasure.
Michael Zeiler: The highly respected author, geographer and eclipse cartographer is a member of the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Solar Eclipses – with an asteroid named in his honour. Zeiler has been witnessing solar eclipses since 1991 and was among the first to develop eclipse maps online.
Cruising along Greenland’s remote northeast coast, home to the largest fjord system in the world, discover diverse and dramatically rugged landscapes—and possibly cap off a day of Arctic exploration with a nighttime show of the dramatic Aurora borealis as this is a region where the Northern Lights are regularly visible. Immersed in the untamed beauty of the Arctic, experience Greenlandic culture first hand at Ittoqqortoormiit, visit ancient Thule sites steeped in history, and marvel at the majesty of massive icebergs and against a spectacular mountain backdrop.
Put down your mobile phone and answer the call of the wild on this adventure across the waters of the Canadian Arctic. Encounter Inuit culture, explore landscapes that bring the drama, spot unique wildlife and holiday like an explorer of old (except, you know, with a sauna and helicopters). From Reykjavik, fly to the western shores of Greenland and begin your Arctic exploration on board a state-of-the-art expedition vessel. Cross the Davis Strait to remote landing sites on Baffin Island, scouring the skies for migrating birds and the waters for whale pods. Your journey will take you high to the Northwest Passage, sailing through immense fjords, past calving glaciers and to some of the world’s most remote shores. True wilderness has never been closer than during these 17 days in the Arctic.
Explore some of the last unspoiled wilderness areas in the world on this 11-day adventure to Northeast Greenland through the Arctic Circle. Cruise along the remote northeast coast – home to the most extensive fjord system in the world – on the Ocean Explorer and discover diverse and dramatically rugged landscapes. If you’re lucky, you’ll cap off your days of Arctic exploration with a night-time show of the dramatic Aurora Borealis – yes, the Northern Lights are regularly visible here! On this trip, you’ll learn about Greenlandic culture firsthand at Ittoqqortoormiit, visit ancient Thule sites steeped in history and marvel at the majesty of massive icebergs set against their mountain backdrops. Look out for migrating whales, seabirds, seals, polar bears and muskoxen along the way – your handy expedition team are always there to ensure you’re getting the best wildlife spotting opportunities.
The fabled sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Northwest Passage has gripped imaginations for centuries. On this captivating voyage, we invite you aboard our game-changing new vessel, Ocean Explorer, to discover this fascinating waterway with an incredible range of on-board comforts and off-ship adventures no other vessel can offer.
Passing through the Canadian Arctic archipelago, you journey back in time to the height of Arctic exploration, while visiting areas that Inuit people have made their home for thousands of years.
Marvel at highlights of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland’s stunning west coast, stopping at Inuit and Greenlandic communities. Visit the Ilulissat Icefjord, whose Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves off enormous icebergs. And keep your eyes peeled for the elusive and majestic creatures who make their home in these harsh, remote landscapes, such as whales, walrus, muskoxen and polar bears.