Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic Tour by Exodus Adventure Travels

17 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

138 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Calgary, Canada

Ends

Reykjavik, Iceland

Highlights

Experience highlights of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland

Visit Inuit and Greenlandic communities

View Arctic wildlife, such as whales, walrus and muskoxen

Explore the Ilulissat Icefjord, a World Heritage Site

Cruise in a Zodiac to explore icebergs, glaciers, fjords and more

Itinerary

Step into the age of Arctic exploration on this 17-day cruise from Calgary to Reykjavik, traversing the fabled Northwest Passage and Greenland’s west coast. Aboard the Ocean Explorer, you’ll enjoy unmatched onboard comfort and off-ship adventures—think Zodiac excursions, wildlife spotting, and visits to Inuit and Greenlandic communities. The journey highlights the Ilulissat Icefjord’s dramatic glaciers and the elusive wildlife of the High Arctic, from whales to polar bears. What sets this trip apart: a rare opportunity to experience Arctic history, culture, and nature on a single, expertly guided expedition.

day 1 - Start Calgary, Canada

Your Arctic expedition begins in Calgary. Explore this vibrant city on your own before spending the night at your well-appointed hotel.

day 2 - Fly to Resolute and embark

This morning, board your charter flight to Resolute. Upon arrival, you have a chance to walk around this small Arctic town before enjoying your first of many Zodiac cruises as you’re transferred to your ship.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

day 3 - 6 - Exploring Canada’s High Arctic

Cruising around the remote regions of the Canadian Arctic aboard Ocean Explorer, the newest ship in our fleet, you navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that fascinated legendary explorers of long ago. Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team keep an eye toward immersing you in the best the Arctic has to offer.

Named after explorer Frederick William Beechey of the Royal Navy, Beechey Island is a Canadian National Historic Site. It’s an important stop on our voyage, as this is the final resting place of three members of Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845–46 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. The graves, on a remote windswept raised beach, were discovered in 1851 by the crew of British and American vessels searching for signs of Franklin’s lost expedition.

Radstock Bay is a popular research location for observing polar bears, which are often seen here in summer. An impressive Thule archaeological site provides insight into how these pre-Inuit people lived in the Far North.

For almost 5,000 years, the hamlet of Arctic Bay and its surrounding area has been occupied by Inuit people who were previously nomads migrating from the west. Surrounded by soaring cliffs teeming with seabirds, this is a great spot to go ashore and learn about the Inuit community’s traditional way of life.

The eastern end of Lancaster Sound affords hiking and cruising opportunities on Devon Island. At Dundas Harbour, trek along a beach to a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost. We anchor at Croker Bay, where we cruise near enough to appreciate the splendor of glacial textures and calving ice, while always keeping a safe distance. Walrus frequent the waters here, so be sure to have your camera handy. Canada’s most northern settlement, Grise Fiord, is your final shore visit in the Canadian High Arctic. Now home to about 150 residents, the mostly Inuit community was created in 1953, when the federal government forcefully relocated eight Inuit families from northern Quebec. Hunting and fishing are a significant part of their lifestyle. Visit the monument to the first Inuit settlers, as well as the remnants of the “old camp” where they lived.