Northwest Passage: Greenland To Alaska

HIGHLIGHTS

• Venture into the fabled Northwest Passage and learn dramatic stories of explorers and adventurers who sought this magnificent, icy frontier
• Glide between soaring icebergs at the mouth of Greenland's Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Visit one of Canada's “jewels of the north": Pond Inlet, a small Inuit community known for soapstone carvings
• Observe polar bears, walruses, ringed seals, belugas, and bowhead whales—and, with luck, the elusive narwhal
• Meander through the remains of historic dwellings on Herschel Island, a scattered mixture from the Inuvialuit people and the once-booming whaling industry

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Reykjavík, Iceland
Arrive in Reykjavík and enjoy a morning excursion in the Reykjavík region as your first introduction to the land of Fire and Ice. After lunch, check into your centrally located hotel in Reykjavík and enjoy exploring the quaint capital city streets at your leisure.

Arrival Time: Arrive before 9:30 a.m. local time.
Arrival City: Keflavik, Iceland

DAY 2

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland / Embark Ship
Fly from Reykjavík by chartered aircraft to Kangerlussuaq on Greenland’s western coast. Settle into your cabin on the National Geographic Resolution and enjoy a scenic sailing through the dramatic gorge of the Kangerlussuaq Fjord, 120 miles in length, with its hanging glaciers and striking basalt ribbons.

DAY 3

Greenland’s West Coast and Sisimiut
Cruise the length of Kangerlussuaq Fjord en route to Sisimiut. Dozens of deep fjords carve into Greenland’s west coast, many with glaciers fed by the ice cap that covers 80 percent of the country. At Sisimiut, a former whaling port, enjoy your choice of guided walks through the sights and sounds of the village, including Dog Town or Sallinnguit, a small island with centuries of history from Inuit culture through colonization and current day industry. In your free time, enjoy a local food tasting, visit the open-air museum, or explore the local artisan workshops.

DAY 4

Disko Bay and Ilulissat
Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, and be welcomed by floating icebergs calved off the world's most active glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. Enjoy an extraordinary cruise aboard local boats among towering icebergs of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ilulissat Icefjord. Visit the town of Ilulissat and hike into the Sermermiut Valley, once an Inuit settlement and now home to a peaceful boardwalk overlooking the Icefjord. This evening, we sail away from the Greenlandic Coast and venture to the west and the Canadian Arctic.

DAYS 5-7

Exploring East Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada
We begin our exploration of the Canadian High Arctic with a visit to the small Inuit community of Pond Inlet, Nunavut. Explore some of the beautiful bays and inlets along Baffin Island's Lancaster Sound, a favorite Inuit hunting and fishing location for hundreds of years. Carved by Ice Age glaciers, Lancaster Sound is also the eastern gateway to the Arctic Archipelago, where European explorers like William Baffin first ventured in the 17th century to search for the Northwest Passage. Our days here are spent searching for ringed seals, arctic foxes, walruses, and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales. Visit Devon Island and take a walk with our ship's archaeologist to learn about the Thule people—ancestors of the modern Inuit—that once inhabited this region.

DAYS 8-17

Exploring the Northwest Passage
Our ice-strengthened ship, National Geographic Resolution, navigates the Northwest Passage following nature's path—dependent on ice and weather conditions. Taking our cues from nature, we follow wildlife, stop for hikes on the tundra, or drop anchor in a beautiful fjord or an icy bay to explore and kayak beneath massive ice sculptures and soaring cliffs.
Along the way, explore ice-studded channels and glacier-carved islands that stretch for hundreds of miles—a stunning display of raw geology; survey the rocky, “Mars-like” terrain of uninhabited Devon Island; sail past the northernmost part of mainland North America in the Bellot Strait, one of the narrowest and most infamous of the passage; and cross the top of the Northwest Territory of Canada to search for ringed seals, arctic foxes, musk oxen, walruses, and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales.
History and culture are also on the itinerary. Learn about the Inuit peoples who have hunted and fished here for thousands of years. And hear heroic stories of the early explorers: Roald Amundsen, John Ross, William Edward Parry, and James Clark Ross, among others.

DAY 18

At Sea
Indulge in National Geographic Resolution's many amenities as we continue along the shores of the Canadian High Arctic. Soak in the ship's infinity-style outdoor hot tubs, take in panoramic views from the rooftop observation deck, and enjoy talks from our onboard experts. Take time to reflect on the amazing wildlife and geology that have highlighted our journey so far.

DAY 19

Herschel Island, Yukon Territory
Once a thriving whaling village off the coast of the Yukon Territory, Herschel Island is now classified as a Natural Environmental Park. The island protects the wildlife alongside the heritage of the Inuvialuit people and the whaling industry. As we wander through Herschel's historic dwellings, keep an eye out for the wildlife residents, which include bears, musk oxen, and arctic foxes. The area is also home to the largest colony of black guillemots in the Western Arctic.

DAYS 20-22

At Sea
As we continue to sail westward along the northern coast of Alaska, reflect on our adventures while scanning the water for marine life and enjoying life on board. Take a yoga class, unwind with a massage in the wellness center, and curl up next to the fireplace in the library. Share images with our Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photography instructor, and marvel at footage captured by the ship's underwater camera. Our voyage culminates with a farewell dinner on board.

DAY 23

Nome, Alaska, U.S. / Disembark Ship / Anchorage
Arrive in the remote city of Nome, Alaska, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board. Disembark to explore the town prior to our flight to Anchorage. In Anchorage transfer to flights home.

Departure Time: Depart after 6:00 p.m. local time.
Departure City: Anchorage, Alaska

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Excursions, hotels, and airport transfers, as indicated in the itinerary 
• Selection of exploration tools curated to your destination, such as Zodiacs and glass-bottom boats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkeling equipment (including wetsuits, masks, and fins), and other state-of-the-art gear
• Guidance and company of our leading expedition staff 
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and onshore. Meals are inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible. 
• Hors d’oeuvres inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible
• 24-hour access to snacks, premium coffees and teas, non-alcoholic beverages, and filtered water
• Beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits aboard the National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Resolution, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Islander II, Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, and The Jahan. We are also pleased to offer a selection of super premium wines and liquors, available for purchase.
• Beer and wine on all 2023 departures aboard National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, and National Geographic Sea Lion, and specialty cocktails with meals aboard Delfin ll.  Starting in 2024, spirits and cocktails are also included aboard these ships, with super premium wines and liquors available for purchase.
• Beer and wine with meals aboard Oberoi Philae and Sun Goddess. Additional alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
• Crew gratuities aboard National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Resolution, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, and The Jahan.
• Laundry services aboard Oberoi Philae and Sun Goddess.
• Free Wi-Fi aboard Lord of the Glens and The Jahan.
• Free Wi-Fi, up to one hour a day per person, aboard National Geographic Islander II and National Geographic Endeavour II 
• Lindblad Expeditions is currently activating Starlink-enabled internet on each of our ships, enabling us to offer free Wi-Fi—in addition to paid tiers for faster internet speeds—to all of our guests fleetwide by the end of 2023.
• Presentations on your destination by expedition staff and expert guest speakers 
• Complimentary reusable water bottle to fill at onboard water refill stations
• The services of a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or paramedic 
• Morning stretch classes and 24-hour access to exercise equipment where available 
• 24-hour access to lounges, observation decks, library stocked with regionally relevant literature, and other shared spaces 
• Complimentary Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic parka or jacket on select Arctic and Antarctic voyages
• Assistance by the onboard National Geographic Photography Expert (National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Resolution) and Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor (all ships) 
• Access to the OM System Photo Gear Locker with the latest gear to try out on loan (all Lindblad-National Geographic ships except in Galapagos)
• Park and site entrance fees, special access permits, and port taxes 

Pricing Does Not Include

• Airfare (except flights when indicated as included), pre- and post-expedition extensions, additional hotel nights, and private transfers
• Travel protection plans and passport, visa, and immigration fees
• Laundry, spa treatments, scuba diving, Wi-Fi, and phone services (except when indicated as included)
• Crew gratuities aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Islander II, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, and Delfin II

Unused services or items included in our programs are non-refundable.