Northwest Passage - Through the Arctic Labyrinth (Greenland to Alaska, ReykjavÃk package)
ReykjavÃk - Seattle, Washington
- Aug 14 - Sep 08 2026
- 26 Days
- MS Fridtjof Nansen
Price from£19,337/person
Northwest Passage Cruises & Tours
Search and book 450+ expedition cruises and tours to The Northwest Passage with Polar Escapes.
Questions?
Talk to a polar pro
Free advice from people that have been there
Questions?
Talk to a polar pro
Free advice from people that have been there
We partner with the world’s top expedition operators
Best Northwest Passage Cruises For 2025 & 2026
Traverse the legendary Northwest Passage, the fabled sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through a labyrinth of icy channels and islands in the Canadian high Arctic.
Why book your Northwest Passage Cruise With Polar Escapes?
We make Exploring the Northwest Passage easy.
Compare all tours in one place.
We make Exploring the Northwest Passage easy.
Compare all tours in one place.
Best price guaranteed.
We don't charge you more.
Best price guaranteed.
We don't charge you more.
35 years of Northwest Passage Experience
Free advice from people who have been there.
35 years of Northwest Passage Experience
Free advice from people who have been there.
Travel with confidence.
100% financial protection & travel support.
Travel with confidence.
100% financial protection & travel support.
Northwest Passage Cruise Destinations
The Northwest Passage is an explorer's playground located 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle. For keen explorers, you can explore a section of the Canadian arctic archipelago or traverse the entire length. The waters in the Northwest Passage are up to 4,200 deep making it a haven for marine wildlife. You can see the Arctic Big 5 in their natural home (polar bears, walruses, narwhals, beluga whales, and musk ox) and visit sites documenting the Passage's early exploration.
Beechey Island
Beechey Island is known for its desolate landscapes and its importance in the early exploration of the Northwest Passage. Steeped in history, Beechey Island was used as a base by Franklin's expedition to map the Northwest Passage in 1845-46. Visitors pay homage to the three graves of Franklin's three crewmen, which stand on the remote and rugged shores of Beechey Island, along with other historical remains, such as Northumberland House.
Pond Inlet
Pond Inlet is located to the North of Baffin Island in Nunavut and is a small Inuit community with 1,555 inhabitants. It's a favourite stopping-off point for expedition ships entering the Northwest Passage. The town is framed by jaw-dropping scenery, mountains, and distant views of Bylot Island, 20 miles away. Visitors can get a sense of life in the high Canadian Arctic and visit the Nattinnak Visitors Centre to appreciate the Inuit culture better.
Lancaster Sound
Tallurutiup Imanga, known as Lancaster Sound, is a wildlife hotspot at the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. Each year, an estimated 6,500 bowhead and beluga whales transit the narrow Passage on their way to their feeding grounds. The region is known for its polar bears, which have the second-largest subpopulation on Earth. It is the perfect place to take a Zodiac ride and witness the wildlife of the Canadian Arctic.
Cambridge Bay
Cambridge Bay is a small town on Victoria Island and is a central stopping-off point for ships traversing the full length of the Northwest Passage. The town played a part in the role of the Northwest Passage expeditions, with the HMS Enterprise being the first ship to reach the bay in 1852, searching for Franklin's lost expedition. Today, Cambridge Bay is home to 1,760 people from Inuit origins.
Devon Island
The largest uninhabited island on Earth, Devon Island, is a largely unexplored polar desert. Known for its lunar-like landscapes, it's been nicknamed Mars on Earth. Musk Ox, with their thick coats protecting them from the harsh Arctic winters, are seen grazing on the island. An abandoned station at Dundas Harbour offers an insight into the island's historical past.
Baffin Island
Marking the beginning of the Canadian Arctic, Baffin Island is the largest Island in Canada (and the 8th largest on Earth). Wild landscapes, steep-sided fjords, and glaciers create the perfect backdrop for exploration by Zodiac and hiking on land. Arctic foxes, Caribou, and polar bears can be spotted on the island's extensive Tundra.
When To Go
Late July - September
-0°c - 6°c
The average temperature during August
24 Hours Of Daylight
July-mid August
Need advice?
It's good to talk to people who have been there.
No hard sell. Just excellent advice.
And Penguins.
What Will I See?
The Northwest Passage is ideal for explorers who want to see a mix of remote Arctic landscapes, wildlife, and historical sites.
Wildlife Of The Canadian Arctic
While wildlife is more spread out than in other parts of the Arctic, such as Svalbard, the Northwest Passage is a great place to see wildlife on an expedition cruise. During summer, the Northwest Passage is home to species such as Bowhead whales, polar bears, Beluga whales, Arctic foxes, and musk oxen.
Indigenous Way Of Life
One of the least populated regions on Earth, the Northern Passages and Canadian Arctic are home to 150,000 people, more than half of whom are Indigenous. A highlight of any Northwest Passage cruise is cultural interaction with Inuit communities and learning about living in this remote polar region. Explore the Unesco world heritage site on Ellesemere Island high above the Arctic Ocean.
Polar Exploration History
From its first transit in 1905 by Roald Amundsen to the tales of the fateful Franklin expedition in 1845, which resulted in the disappearances of the Erebus and Terror, the Northern Passages are full of rich history. Visiting historical sites and paying homage to early explorers is part of every Northwest Passage cruise.
Animals Of The Northwest Passage
Undisturbed mainly by humans, the vast wilderness of the Northwest Passage is home to an incredibly diverse array of Arctic wildlife.
Polar Bears
The Canadian Arctic is home to approximately 16,000 polar bears, making it one of the largest populations on Earth. During the summer months, polar bears can be seen walking along the Tundra in search of prey or hunting for walruses off the ice floes throughout the Passage.Â
Beluga Whales
Huge pods are sighted during July and August as they leave their overwintering grounds in Baffin Bay and swim west along the Northwest Passage. Sometimes, pods of up to 200 Beluga whales are encountered at a time.
Musk Ox
Musk Oxes live in small herds during the summer months, often grazing in the Tundra. These huge animals, with thick woolly coats and large tusks, have adapted to live in the Canadian Arctic throughout the harsh winter months.
Birdlife of The Canadian Arctic
During the summer months, birds migrate en masse back to the Canadian Arctic to nest after the long winter months. The Northwest Passage comes alive with over 100 species, including snowy owls, ravens, ptarmigans, puffins, Arctic Skuas, and eider ducks.
Expert Northwest Passage Advice From Polar Escapes
The Northwest Passage is one of the lesser explored parts of the Arctic. The stark Arctic scenery, glaciers and icy channels give you a feeling of remoteness like nowhere else. The history, visits to Inuit communities and wildlife create a rich experience and a deep sense of exploration for any curious traveller. Ready to explore? We have 35 years of collective experience planning Northwest Passage expeditions.
Types Of Northwest Passage Cruises & Tours
Choose your perfect Northwest Passage trip
Northwest Passage Small Ship Cruises
Choose a small ship Northwest Passage cruise for a maximum experience in an intimate group size.
Luxury
Luxury Northwest Passage Cruises offer the chance to explore the Canadian Arctic at high comfort levels.
Solo Traveller
We offer solo travellers a selection of no-solo supplement cabins and sharing options.
Fly and Cruise Expeditions
Fly to a departure point in the Canadian Arctic and explore a section of the Northwest Passage.
Top Northwest Passage Cruises & Itineraries
12-Day Fly and Cruise To Explore Ellesmere and Axel Heiburg Islands
Fly from Calgary to a remote airstrip in Resolute to join your expedition ship, Ultramarine. Spend the next 10 days exploring the wilderness at the heart of the Northwest Passage around Devon Island and Ellesmere Island. Perfect for travellers looking for a shorter-length Northwest Passage Expedition. Â
29-Day Northwest Passage Traverse
This is the perfect expedition for explorers looking to undertake the full Northwest Passage. Sailing from Nuuk in Greenland, this expedition cruise sails through the entire Northwest Passage to Nome in Alaska. Visit Gjoa haven on King William island with the expedition team to get a true sense for Arctic exploration.
16-Day Highlights of the Northwest Passage Cruise
Commencing in Nuuk, sail up the northwest coast of Greenland before sailing across Baffin Bay to Pond Inlet. Explore the highlights of the Northwest Passage, including Devon Island and Lancaster Sound, before taking a charter flight from Cambridge Bay to Calgary.
17-Day Northwest Passage And Baffin Island Cruise
Sail from Greenland and explore the coast of Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. Sail into the Northwest Passage and explore Beechey Island before disembarking the ship in Resolute and flying to Calgary.
Northwest Passage Expedition Cruise Guide
A detailed guide to help you plan your perfect Northwest Passage cruise.
Stats about Northwest Passage Cruises
11 Cruise Ships
Transit the entire length of the Northwest Passage each year
29 days
The length of time it takes to transit the Northwest Passage on a cruise ship
12 Days
is the shortest cruise to the Northwest passage
5,000 people
Explore the Northwest Passage each year on an expedition cruise.
2,980 Miles
Distance between Nuuk and Nome in Alaska
6
The amount of times the Polar Escapes team has explored the Northwest Passage.
Northwest Passage Cruises FAQ
When is the best time to go on a Northwest Passage cruise?
Northwest Passage cruises occur during the relatively short summer between late July and September when the passageways become free of winter sea ice and navigable to cruise ships. Due to the heavy sea ice, expedition cruises to the Northern Passages are only possible during this time.
The majority of cruises take place in August and September. Until the 21st of August, visitors are greeted by the midnight sun above the Arctic Circle. July and August are the warmest months to explore the Northwest Passage.
As the darkness returns, the Northern lights become visible in September, along with autumnal hues, long sunrises, and sunsets. The temperatures drop below freezing during the nights, and the first snow can be seen returning to the Arctic once more.
To find out more including a month by month overview please see our article The Best Time To Go On A Northwest Passage Cruise.
When Is The Northwest Passage Open?
The Northwest Passage is open to cruise ships between July and September.
How To Get To The Northwest Passage
The easiest way to the Northwest Passage is on an expedition cruise ship departing from Iceland, Greenland, or the Canadian Arctic. Most cruises start or finish in West Greenland.
Often, Northwest Passage cruises include charter flights to the embarkation port from an international hub.
For cruises departing within the Canadian Arctic, such as Resolute or Cambridge Bay, charter flights to Calgary, Canada, are included as part of the package for onward connections. Â
How To Travel The Northwest Passage?
The best way to explore the Northwest Passage is on an expedition cruise. As the area is a vast wilderness with very little infrastructure and a handful of remote settlements dotted throughout the remote Canadian wilderness, ship-based exploration offers the best way to see the best the Northwest Passage offers.
To find out more please see our guide How To Visit The Northwest Passage.
What will I do On A Northwest Passage cruise?
On Northwest Passage expeditions, the days are busy exploring the wilderness. You will do shore landings regularly with the expedition team in the Zodiac boats. The Northern Passages are full of sites of historical interest, natural wonders such as glaciers and remote landscapes that are great for wilderness hiking. There is a lot to see and experience.
The Canadian Arctic is the perfect place to take a polar plunge if an opportunity presents itself.
In the evenings, the guide team and naturalists will offer lectures and talks on the wildlife and history of the Northwest Passage to enrich your experience.
Select cruises offer optional activities such as sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and helicopter flightseeing. If you are interested in these activities, please contact us, and we can help you find the best ship for your interests.
What Will the Weather Be Like In The Northwest Passage?
Situated in the High Canadian Arctic, the Northwest Passage has a cold climate with cool summer temperatures.
Temperatures can vary from 9c to 2c during August to 2c – minus 3 degrees in September.
Due to interchangeable weather, on bright sunny days, it can feel much warmer than it is, and on overcast, windy days, it can feel much cooler. It is essential to pack the appropriate clothing. A full packing list will be supplied during the reservation process.
Which Cruise Lines & Ships Go To The Northwest Passage?
Polar Escapes has a curated portfolio of the best expedition cruise operators in the Northwest Passage. For help choosing your cruise ship and the right cruise for you please get in touch.
Visa's Passports and Travel Documents
To travel to Canada, you must have the correct visa or Electronic Travel Authorization waiver for entry if you travel from outside Canada or the United States. You can check on the Canada Immigration Website to see what the requirements are.
To embark on an expedition cruise, you must have a passport that is six months old from the date of expiry.
If you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
