How to Visit the Northwest Passage

Nowhere in the polar regions ignites the spirit of adventure more than the Northwest Passage. From its sparsely populated islands, encased in ice for most of the year, to its diverse wildlife and remote Inuit culture, the Northwest Passage is a treasure trove for the intrepid traveller.

Introduction to the Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage is a legendary sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean, which explorers have sought after for centuries—the missing sea route through mainland North America.

Picture desolate islands, glaciers, polar bears, and remote Inuit settlements literally at the edge of civilisation. Today, little has changed since the first European explorers discovered the Northwest Passage in 1851, and it offers real Arctic exploration.

Located in the Canadian Arctic, exploring the fabled Northwest Passage is a life-long journey through a sparsely populated archipelago of islands and channels frozen by sea ice for most of the year. The perfect place for getting off the beaten track and exploring!

To find out more please see our article Where Is The Northwest Passage?

Photo credit: AE / Michael-Baynes

Why You Should Visit The Northwest Passage

My first encounter with the Northwest Passage left me in awe of its distinctiveness compared to other Arctic regions like Svalbard and Greenland. The landscapes, the sense of isolation, and the overall feeling of exploration are unparalleled.

Here are my top reasons to visit the Northwest Passage:

• A Sense of exploration: The Northwest Passage is one of the least visited parts of the Arctic. It’s an opportunity to explore seldomly seen places and experience a true Arctic wilderness.
• Wildlife: The Northwest Passage is home to abundant Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, beluga whales, musk oxen, Arctic foxes and birdlife.
• History: The Northwest Passage has a complex and storied history, from its discovery to its early exploration. A part of any journey into the Northwest Passage is visiting iconic sites and learning about the history of early explorers.
• Inuit Culture: Just 36,000 people live in the Northwest Passage, which makes it one of the most sparsely populated places on Earth. Visit remote Inuit communities and get a feel for the way of life in the High Canadian Arctic.
• Scenery: From calving glaciers, dramatic fjords, and never-ending wilderness to the desolate landscapes of Devon Island, the Northwest Passage is full of captivating scenery.

How Do I Travel To The Northwest Passage?

Due to its remote and challenging nature, independent travel in the Northwest Passage is not recommended. Joining an organised tour led by experienced guides is not just advisable, but crucial for a safe and enjoyable journey. There are two main options for exploring the Northwest Passage:

• Expedition cruises offer a great way to explore the Northwest Passage. They visit remote areas and landing sites otherwise inaccessible and far from civilisation.
• Fly-in land-based tours are available that focus on a specific theme, such as newborn polar bears or narwhal watching close to an Inuit settlement.

Our experience visiting the Northwest Passage shows that expedition cruises offer the best way to see most of the Canadian Arctic, as they cover a vast area.

Northwest Passage Expedition Cruises

An expedition cruise offers the best variety when exploring the Northwest Passage, as it can access inaccessible areas and remote places that are otherwise impossible to reach. Travelling with the ship’s expedition team, you will do daily shore landings and Zodiac cruises to explore the furthest reaches of the Northwest Passage.

Many itineraries include visits to cultural or historical sites in small towns and villages. Pond Inlet, on the northern tip of Baffin Island, is a common place to visit, with just 1,555 inhabitants.

• Expedition cruises are typically 17 to 24 days, depending on the specific itinerary. You can sail the entire Northwest Passage or explore a section of it.
• Expedition cruises that sail the entire length of the northwest Passage often depart from Kangerlussuaq, Nuuk in Greenland, Nome in Alaska, and Baffin Island.
• Shorter Northwest Passage cruises sail a section of the Passage and include charter flights to embarkation ports such as Resolute and Cambridge Bay, which are located deep inside the Passage.

At Polar Escapes, we specialise in expedition cruises and tours to the Northwest Passage. Please see our Northwest Passage Cruises to find out more.

Photo credit: AE / Michael-Baynes

Northwest Passage Land-Based Tours

Another option is to fly to the Canadian High Arctic to a remote settlement and join a land-based tour. Whilst you won’t see as much area as you will on an expedition cruise, land-based tours offer an alternative to ship-based travel.

Tours focus on wildlife watching in the spring when the Northwest Passage is inaccessible to ships due to the ice.

The Best Time To Visit The Northwest Passage

The best time to visit the Northwest Passage is during the summer months between July and September. Northwest Passage cruises are typically scheduled for mid to late August, when the ice recedes, allowing expedition ships to navigate safely.

Here is what to expect each month:

July

The first ships enter the Northwest Passage in late July as the sea ice recedes after a long winter. Enormous icebergs can be seen along the northern coast. July offers the warmest temperatures as wildlife returns to the Canadian Arctic. Belugas and narwhals migrate into the Northwest Passage. The cliffs of Bylot Island bustle with nesting birds that migrate to the Arctic during the summer.

August

August is the prime season for expedition cruises in the Northwest Passage, with the largest selection of cruises and itineraries. Wildlife is active, and days are long with nearly 24 hours of sunlight. Polar bears in Lancaster Sound and Somerset Island follow their prey on the last remaining ice floes.

September

September is the best month to witness the Northern Lights in the Northwest Passage. As darkness returns to the night skies, powerful auroras can be seen in areas with little light pollution. Temperatures are cooler as autumn approaches.

Top Tip: As with any expedition, there is always an element of chance involved due to the sea ice, and travellers must sign a disclaimer stating that they understand the itinerary may change due to conditions.

For a full breakdown month by month see The Best Time To Visit The Northwest Passage On A Cruise.

Northwest Passage Weather

Due to its position in the high Arctic, the Northwest Passage has cool summer temperatures that plummet to extreme cold during the long, dark winter months.

During the summer, the Northwest Passage experiences the mildest temperatures when expedition cruises occur. Temperatures during July, August and September can fluctuate between -4°C (25°F) and 8°C (46°F). On sunny days with no wind, it can often feel much warmer. Dressing for the weather is essential as conditions can change rapidly in the Canadian Arctic.

During the winter, the temperatures in the Northwest Passage plummet and reach as low as -30° (-22°F).

For example, the average temperature in Pond Inlet during February, the coldest month, is between -29°C and -36°C. During July, this rises to 11°C. This shows the extreme temperatures between the summer and winter months.

What Wildlife Can I See In The Northwest Passage?

The Northwest Passage is a haven for wildlife, including polar bears, Arctic foxes, Caribou, and musk oxen. The waters teem with wildlife, including bowhead whales, narwhals, seals and walruses. The Northwest Passage hosts over 100 bird species during the summer, migrating south during the winter. Here are the highlights from our recent expeditions:

Polar Bears

Photo credit: AE / Michael-Baynes

During summer, polar bears follow migrating whales into the Northwest Passage. The Canadian Arctic is home to the world’s largest population of polar bears, estimated to be around 16,000.

Narwhal

The entrance to the Northwest Passage is a vital narwhal migration corridor between Somerset Island and Cornwallis Island. Narwhals are often seen in smaller pods of 6 to 10.

Bowhead Whales

Bowhead whales may live more than 200 years, making them the oldest mammals. Isabella Bay on Baffin Island is an important summer and fall feeding area for bowhead whales in Canada.

Walruses

These tusked creatures can often be spotted swimming, on the remaining ice floes, or hauled out on the beaches.

Musk Ox

Musk oxes are built to withstand the harsh winters. They have a thick hair coat and can often be seen grazing on the tundra during the summer.

In my experience, wildlife is less frequently sighted in the Northwest Passage due to its vast area than in Svalbard, which has a smaller geographical area. Every Northwest Passage expedition has different wildlife sightings, some more successful than others. As with any expedition, it is best to travel with an open mind and not have any expectations to enjoy it fully. If wildlife viewing is your sole purpose for the trip, then Svalbard over the Northwest Passage is worth considering.

To find out more please see our guide to Northwest Passage Wildlife.

Places To Visit In the Northwest Passage

The following is a brief list of my highlights of the incredible places, from wildlife hotspots to sites of historical significance, you may experience on a Northwest Passage expedition cruise.

Prince Leopold Island

Located 13km off the North coast of Somerset Island, Prince Leopold Island is a migratory bird sanctuary where 100,000 Arctic birds come to nest each year. Species include thick-billed murres, northern fulmars, black-legged kittiwakes, and black guillemots.

Beechey Island

Beechey Island is a site of Canadian national historical interest. Here, the Franklin expedition was overwintered in 1845-46. Three of Franklin’s crew from his fateful expedition are buried on the island, marked by small wooden gravestones.

Lancaster Sound

Lancaster Sound is among the best places to see wildlife in the Northwest Passage. The channel is at the entrance to the Passage and is a great place to see migrating whales, polar bears, and narwhals.

Pond Inlet

Home to 1,555 inhabitants, Pond Inlet is a small Inuit settlement known for its traditional way of life in the Canadian Arctic. It is a popular stopping-off point for cruise ships visiting the Northwest Passage.

Devon island

The largest uninhabited island on Earth, Devon Island, is known for its eerie Martian landscape, which is seen nowhere else. Much of the island is a polar desert, with stark landscapes in shades of red that give it an otherworldly feel.

Ellesmere Island

Home to the Unesco World Heritage site Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada, Ellesmere Island is home to towering glaciers and the most northerly mountain range on Earth, the Challenger Mountains.

Baffin Island

Baffin Island is the fifth largest island on Earth and home to just 7,000 people, making it one of Earth’s least densely populated places. It is home to stunning fjords, a handful of national parks, and Mount Thor, one of Canada’s must-see places.

This is just an overview of the places you can visit in the Northwest Passage to help you choose your itinerary.

What To Expect

Expedition cruises to the Northwest Passage involve active exploration. Ships have an onboard team of expedition guides. On select departures, Inuit expedition team members will be onboard, adding much insight into a cruise. Cruises focus on wildlife watching and exploring historical sites.

Photo credit: AE / Dominic Sasse

Here is what you can expect daily on a typical Northwest Passage expedition cruise:

Zodiac Cruises

Expedition ships are equipped with a fleet of Zodiac landing craft, which are used for Zodiac cruises and shore landings. Driven by the expedition team, these boats are a great way to explore places off-ship.

Wilderness landings and hiking

The Northwest Passage is the perfect destination for wilderness landings and hiking ashore. With the ship’s guide team, step foot in barely visited landscapes and do some real exploration.

Optional Activities

Many ships offer additional activities such as paddling excursions and sea kayaking, which are great ways to experience nature and wilderness first-hand.

Onboard lectures and enrichment

Throughout the voyage, the ship’s expedition team, guest speakers, and naturalists provide lectures. This is a great way to learn more about the history, wildlife, and culture of the Northwest Passage.

Wildlife Watching

A part of any expedition is watching wildlife from the ship and shore. Each ship will have wildlife spotters constantly watching out for wildlife to maximise wildlife encounters.

Northwest Passage History

The Northwest Passage has one of the most storied histories in the polar regions. From the quest to find a trade route from Europe to Asia via the Canadian Arctic to the expeditions that never returned, its history is fraught with stories of mystery and survival. Here are the highlights:

• Inuit have lived in the Canadian Arctic for 12,000 years, surviving in inhospitable conditions.
• On his quest to traverse the Northwest Passage in 1845, Sir John Franklin and his men all tragically perished.
• Robert McClure proved the existence of the Northwest when he made a complete traverse of it in 1850.
• In 1906, Roald Amundsen became the first person to sail the Northwest Passage when his ship, the Gjoa, sailed from Oslo, Norway, through the Passage to Nome, Alaska.

A part of any Northwest Passage expedition cruise is to learn about the region’s captivating history through visiting sites of historical interest and onboard lectures by historians.

To learn more about the discovery and history of the Northwest Passage, please see our article Northwest Passage Explorers and Famous Expeditions.

What To Pack

At the time of your reservation, a comprehensive packing list with a breakdown of clothing will be provided. Here are some of the essential items you will need to pack:

• Arctic clothing includes wind and waterproof outer layers, insulated mid layers, a hat, gloves, and thermal socks.
• Binoculars for wildlife viewing.
• Sunglasses.
• Sunscreen. The sun can be intense in the Arctic on bright days.
• A digital camera with extra batteries and memory cards.
• A waterproof bag to keep your electronics dry on shore landings and Zodiac cruises.

Photo credit: AE / Renato Graniere

Travel Considerations

Before travelling to the Northwest Passage it is important to take into account the following considerations:

• Travelling to the Northwest Passage involves exploring remote areas with limited medical facilities. Therefore, you must be fit and healthy to participate in an expedition.
• You must carry the appropriate travel insurance covering medical evacuation in an emergency.
• Travellers should respect Inuit culture and traditions and follow all guidelines from the ship’s expedition team when visiting communities and historic sites.
• Be prepared for your itinerary to change due to ice conditions in the Northwest Passage. Delays are also possible, and it is advisable to leave enough time between onward flights in case of a delay due to bad weather.
• Ensure you hold a valid passport and visa if required to enter Canada.

Summary

• Visiting the Northwest Passage on an expedition cruise or land-based tour is possible.
• Expedition cruises offer an excellent way to explore the Northwest Passage due to its lack of towns and infrastructure.
• The primary season for visiting the Northwest Passage is between July and September on an expedition cruise.
• During the summer, travellers will experience temperatures between -4°C (25°F) and 8°C (46°F).

At Polar Escapes, we are experts in travelling to the Northwest Passage and the polar regions. We work with the very best, hand-picked operators who explore responsibly and sustainably with minimal impact on the environment.

To find out more about visiting the Northwest Passage yourself, why not contact our team, who have a wealth of first-hand experience?