You can arrive into Reykjavik at any time today and will make your way to your included hotel where you will stay for one night on a B&B basis (hotel TBC, likely to be an airport hotel in Keflavik).

After an early breakfast you will be transferred back to Reykjavik Airport for your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq. On arrival, you will be met and directed to a bus transfer to the port and your ship, the SH Vega. Depending on your flight time, you may have some time free today to explore before embarkation. Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen.

You will embark your ship this afternoon, ready to start exploring some of the west coast of Greenland. After dinner onboard you will have the rest of the evening free to settle into your cabin. Be sure to spend some time out on deck to enjoy the views.

The northernmost city in Greenland, just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport. Abandoned settlements lie between Sisimiut and the Thule district to the north. The area is home to humpback whales, walrus, and Arctic foxes in their summer coat. Today you will enjoy a panoramic tour by bus of the city’s iconic buildings before driving to a vantage point to enjoy awe-inspiring views.

Optional Excursion: enjoy a walking tour of Sisimiut including the burial ground, local kayak club and craft shop before heading to Tele Island, where you will have an excellent view of the famous Masaasaq Mountain, which stands 785m high over the city.

Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the Ilulissat Icefjord is surely one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. Today you will enjoy one of two excursions, one to the Sermermiut Viewpoint and Icefjord Centre where you can learn more about the traditional Inuit way of life and take in stunning views of the valley; and the other to the Boardwalk Trail and the Icefjord Centre.

Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland's largest island, on its west coast, part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO-listed site for its icebergs. The Lyngemark Glacier rises above the town. The area’s hills, basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic origin. The area is fertile and home to species not found elsewhere in Greenland. Keep an eye out for its hot springs as you move through floating icebergs. Join your expedition team on a Disko Island discovery walk to explore the island’s stunning black sand beaches and huge volcanoes; spend time in the town and learn about the scientists at the Arctic Station studying the local geology, flora and fauna.

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of the on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

The views of snow-capped mountains have given Pond Inlet in northern Baffin Island the name of Canada’s ‘jewel of the north’. The traditional Inuit community living in the hamlet of Mittimatalik are renowned for their craft skills from printmaking and stone carving. Nearby at Qulalukat the thousand-year-old Inuit sod houses, or qarmaq, merit a visit. You will plan to take a zodiac ashore to this traditional Inuit community located on the northern tip of Baffin Island near the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. Here you can attend a traditional performance at the Community Hall and enjoy a walk to the Salmon Creek to see the archaeological site and sod houses near the river.

Dundas Harbour, the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage on Devon Island, Canada's largest uninhabited island, shows signs of life despite the harsh terrain, with relics of a 1000 A.D. Thule settlement and a 1920s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) outpost for controlling illegal whaling. Join your expedition team on a town walk through the abandoned community and the RCMP outpost, which is the only building that remains here. Along the way you will learn about the ancient Thule summer settlements that have been discovered in the area.

Gracing the eastern high Arctic, Croker Bay, a mesmerising Arctic waterway, carves its way into Devon Island within the vibrant Qikiqtaaluk Region. This deep inlet, an extension of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, unveils a landscape of captivating beauty. The Devon ice cap feeds the huge South Croker Bay Glacier that calves into the bay. You will plan to explore by zodiac to get closer to the face of the glacier to admire the striated white, blue and grey slab of ice. You may spot seabirds, seals and maybe a walrus in these icy waters.

Optional excursion: exploring by kayak in Dundas Harbour

This area is closely associated with the exploration of Canada’s High Arctic and the Northwest Passage. Much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was mapped while searching for the missing crew of British explorer Sir John Franklin’s fateful 1845-46 Northwest Passage Expedition. Radstock Bay sits below the mighty Caswall Tower mountain and hides many secrets, with evidence of sledge tracks, camps and food tins that may help reveal what happened. Enjoy a nature and discovery walk with your expedition team to explore the mysteries of Radstock Bay to visit the Quarmat homes which are common among Thule and Inuit settlements.

Beechey Island Sites, five historical sites in Canada's High Arctic, mark where British explorer Sir John Franklin wintered in 1845-46 during his fateful Northwest Passage Expedition. Much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was mapped while searching for the crew. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen paid his respects to Franklin in 1903 before successfully discovering the Northwest Passage. Join a discovery walk with your expedition team to Beechey Island to learn about the fateful history of the Franklin Expedition and the role this played in mapping much of the Canadian Arctic

Port Leopold is a place of raw, rugged natural beauty and landscapes that evoke a sense of awe and wonder. The pristine wilderness and untouched terrain create a feeling of remoteness and isolation, while the Arctic wildlife that calls this place home adds a touch of wildness and unpredictability. The area's history as a former Hudson's Bay Company trading post also lends a sense of nostalgia and intrigue. You will plan to make an expedition landing in this remote region, which is listed as a migratory bird sanctuary for seabirds who live and breed here from May to mid-September.

Crossing Lancaster Sound to Elwin Bay, the ship passes Prince Leopold Island, hosting over 500,000 nesting pairs of thick-billed murres, black guillemots, northern fulmars, and black-legged kittiwakes. Beluga whales moult in shallow gravel beds, while in Prince Regent Inlet, polar bears hunt ringed seals on sea ice. Enjoy a zodiac cruise in search of pods of beluga in the shallow waters.

The ship sails past Fort Ross, on Somerset Island, the northernmost fur trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Near the Bellot Strait, it was eventually abandoned due to harsh ice conditions. The strait separates Somerset Island from Boothia Peninsula, home to Point Zenith, the northernmost continental point of the Americas. It's also where Sir James Clark Ross located the Magnetic North Pole during Sir John Ross's 1829 Arctic expedition. Enjoy a zodiac cruise to the unique and vast landscapes of Somerset Island as you learn more about its storied past, and James Clark Ross, for whom the area is named

The Bellot Strait, named in honour of the French explorer Joseph-René Bellot, is a narrow, 2.3-km-wide, and 25-km-long waterway. It separates Somerset Island to the north from the Boothia Peninsula to the south. This strait played a historical role during an expedition to locate Sir John Franklin's lost expedition, tragically marked by Bellot's death in the area in 1853. If conditions allow, you will take to the zodiacs to explore more of the Strait. Passing through this narrow passage, which is just 2km wide, you will pass Zenith Point, the northernmost point of the North American continent. As explorers before you, your ability to transit this channel will entirely depend on the tide, sea ice, icebergs and weather conditions.

Choked up by ice in winter, Peel Sound is a 125-mile-long channel separating Prince of Wales Island to the west and Somerset Island to the east. The icebound arctic waters thwarted several 19th-century explorers - Sir John Franklin in 1846, Francis Leopold McClintock in 1858 and Allen Young in 1875. Today, Peel Sound still remains a challenging waterway, but is also home to abundant wildlife, including polar bears, seals and whales.

Coningham Bay, on Prince of Wales Island in the heart of the Northwest Passage, holds historical and cultural significance and serves as a haven for Arctic wildlife. The nutrient-rich waters attract beluga whales, sustaining the well-fed local polar bear population. The bay's rich history is intertwined with Arctic exploration, as Captain James Cook charted it in 1778 during his final voyage through the Northwest Passage.

You will spend today at sea, relaxing and unwinding as you enjoy watching for whales on deck, or enjoying the gym or spa facilities onboard.

Buchan Gulf, a remote Arctic fjord on Baffin Island's northeastern coast, is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for northern fulmars, who roost on the towering cliffs and rocks. Polar bears roam the shores of Icy Arm, a narrow fjord with the relics of an ancient Thule semi-subterranean home sitting on the edge of the boggy tundra.

Qikiqtarjuaq is a remote, beautiful Baffin Island community surrounded by towering mountains and glaciers. The rugged landscape and pristine wilderness offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, from kayaking to wildlife watching. The town's Inuit culture and traditions are still alive. With permission you can hope to explore this picturesque and welcoming community with your expedition team, which is also a great point for watching for icebergs as they travel down the Davis Strait.

You will spend a final day at sea, returning to Kangerlussuaq.

You will return to Kangerlussuaq and should have some time to explore before your transfer to the airport and your flight back to Reykjavik. The time of this flight will be confirmed nearer to your departure date, but anticipate that it will be an afternoon flight.

We recommend that you stay another night in Reykjavik tonight to mitigate against any potential delays.

You can arrive into Toronto at any time today and will have a hotel night included as part of your trip (likely an airport hotel).

After breakfast, you will make your way to the airport for your charter flight to Nuuk on the west coast of Greenland. On arrival you will be transferred to the port where you will embark your expedition ship.

You will spend the morning at sea, sailing north towards the Arctic Circle where you will reach Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town. Sisimiut is located approximately 54 kilometres (33.5 miles) north of the Arctic Circle and is famous for the old blue church with the gate made of whale bone. In the cosy museum next door to the church, you will find an excellent reconstruction of an Inuit turf house as well as exhibits of local history and early life in Greenland. Approximately 4,500 years ago, the Saqqaq culture arrived from Canada and settled in the area. They lived here for approximately 2,000 years, after which they mysteriously disappeared from the area. The Dorset culture arrived around 500 CE and stayed until the 1200s until they were replaced by the Thule culture, and today, the majority of the population of Sisimiut are descendants of the Thule culture.  

In the afternoon you will arrive in Ilulissat. Known as the ‘birthplace of icebergs’, this region produces some of the most dazzling icebergs found anywhere on Earth. Here you will plan to hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Icefjord viewpoint and stand in awe of its immensity. Sermeq Kujalleq, also known as Jakobshavn Glacier, is the most productive glacier – not only in Greenland but the entire Northern Hemisphere. It produces 20 million tonnes of ice each day, all floating into the Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay. 

You will spend these days exploring the remote northern reaches of West Greenland, where traditional Inuit settlements cling to the rugged coastline and towering icebergs drift through the deep, clear waters. Every day presents new possibilities, guided by your expedition team, who will hunt for the perfect location to explore the stunning fjord systems by Zodiac. Vast fjord systems such as Uummannaq Fjord, offers endless opportunities for adventure, every corner revealing jaw-dropping views, monumental icebergs, and vibrant rock formations that beg to be explored. Whether you are cruising silently through the ice-choked waters, hiking across the colourful tundra, or visiting one of the remote communities that dot the coast, the options for discovery are limitless.

Passengers who choose to join the voyage-length Kayaking Programme can expect to paddle among the floating icebergs while keeping an eye out for humpback and minke whales. With the spirit of true expedition cruising, this region invites you to immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of Greenland’s northern frontier. 

You will spend today at sea, crossing Baffin Bay to reach the Canadian High Arctic. Enjoy a series of lectures and presentations from your expedition team as you sail, and be sure to spend some time out on deck watching for marine life, seabirds and huge icebergs.

After clearance into Canada, you will plan to visit Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), an Inuit community nestled on the northern tip of Baffin Island. Surrounded by towering ice-capped mountains, vast glaciers, and pristine fjords, this remote outpost offers an unparalleled wilderness experience. As you step ashore, you will be greeted by the warm hospitality of the local Inuit, whose deep connection to the land is evident in their culture and lifestyle. Immerse yourself in their traditions through engaging cultural encounters and gain insights into their unique perspective on life in the Arctic. 

In genuine expeditionary style, your itinerary for the following days is heavily dependent on weather conditions and unpredictable sea ice. The following places are some that you can hope to visit:

Devon Island (Tallurutit) 
At a latitude of almost 75° degrees north, you are now truly in the High Arctic. Here, nutrient-rich waters support an abundance of wildlife, giving the area the moniker ‘wildlife superhighway’ of the Arctic. Devon Island (Tallurutit) is the largest uninhabited island on Earth and features stunning geology, with flat-topped mountains and glacial valleys giving Devon Island its unique character. You may visit Dundas Harbour to enjoy offers walks on undulating tundra, and perhaps some birdwatching. A dilapidated Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost and remnants of a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post can be found here. In the bay, walruses are often present. Other possible places that you might visit include Croker Bay and Maxwell Bay.  

Maxwell Bay (Tasiujaq) 
Maxwell Bay is a broad, sheltered inlet that offers outstanding opportunities for exploration both on land and by sea. The surrounding tundra landscapes provide excellent hiking, with sweeping views of the rugged coastline and inland valleys. Wildlife is abundant in this remote area: muskoxen and caribou roam the open terrain, while polar bears are occasionally seen along the shoreline or on ice floes. The sheltered waters of Maxwell Bay are a haven for marine mammals, including harp seals, ringed seals, and bearded seals. Walruses are sometimes spotted hauled out on the ice or rocky beaches, adding to the rich wildlife experience. Birdlife is also notable, with seabirds such as glaucous gulls and northern fulmars often seen soaring overhead. The bay’s numerous coves and inlets create a sense of discovery at every turn, making it a rewarding destination for Zodiac cruises and shore landings. 

Beechey Island (Iluvilik) 
At the western end of Devon Island lies Beechey Island (Iluvilik), where you will plan to land. Named after Frederick William Beechey, the island is a designated Canadian National Historic Site. During the Franklin expedition of 1845–46, Franklin attempted to sail through the Northwest Passage with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, with perilous results – three of his men are buried here. Roald Amundsen landed at Beechey Island in 1903, during the first successful voyage by ship to fully transit the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. 

Radstock Bay 
Just a short distance away, Radstock Bay offers a captivating contrast to the open sea. Here, you may take a zodiac to shore, to a beach strewn with remnants of the past. Explore the ruins of a Thule village nestled beneath the imposing Caswell Tower, where well preserved stone dwellings coexist with artifacts from later explorers. Witness the stark beauty of this remote bay, characterised by its dramatic cliffs, gravelly beaches, and the scattered remains of whale skeletons that have shaped the landscape and the lives of those who called it home. 

Prince Leopold Island (Appait) 
On the southern side of Lancaster Sound from Beechey Island lie the towering bird cliffs of Prince Leopold Island (Appait), a historic site where in 1848, English explorer James Clark Ross overwintered during the search for the missing Franklin expedition. Prince Leopold Island is the most important bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic, with approximately 500,000 birds nesting here in summer. Ringed seals are often spotted on the sea ice around the island and polar bears often lurk nearby.  

Port Leopold 
Port Leopold, a barren, windswept bay on the northeastern corner of Somerset Island (Inuktitut Kuuganajuk), is steeped in history. Here, the crews of HMS Enterprise and Investigator were forced to endure a harsh winter while searching for the lost Franklin expedition. Their presence is indelibly marked on a rock engraved with "1849" and the ships' initials. The desolate landscape is punctuated by a lone Hudson Bay Company hut, a failed trading post from the 1920s. You can hope to hike and explore the coastline, discovering the historic Hudson Bay Company house and intriguing Inuit archaeological sites. Be amazed by the otherworldly formations shaped by the region’s freezing and thawing cycles, which your expedition team will detail during recap. Nearby, a cairn marks the spot where Ross's rescue expedition left vital supplies.  

Elwin Bay (Ikpiarjuk) 
Situated on the southeastern coast of Somerset Island, Elwin Bay is a breathtaking, wide inlet famous for its wildlife, particularly polar bears. This area was historically used by hunters and today remains an important habitat for bears who hunt along the ice edge and swim between the scattered ice floes. During summer, beluga whales are sometimes seen offshore, and the rocky beaches may reveal evidence of Arctic foxes and seabird colonies. The surrounding landscapes offer stunning contrasts, from rolling tundra to rugged limestone cliffs. Elwin Bay’s rich natural history and raw beauty make it a highlight for wildlife photography. 

Batty Bay, Somerset Island 
Nestled along the northeastern coast of Somerset Island, Batty Bay is a narrow, sheltered fjord steeped in Arctic exploration history. In the 1850s, it served as a winter refuge for expeditions searching for Sir John Franklin’s lost ships. Here you will plan to hike the surrounding tundra slopes and trace the paths of early explorers. The calm waters of the bay are perfect for Zodiac cruising, with opportunities to spot ringed seals on ice floes and polar bears along the rocky shoreline. The cliffs and rugged terrain also attract a variety of nesting seabirds.  

Bellot Strait  
Bellot Strait is one of the most legendary waterways of the Arctic; a narrow, fast-flowing channel that separates the northern tip of the Boothia Peninsula from Somerset Island. Just two kilometres wide at its narrowest point, this passage is known for its strong tidal currents, shifting ice, and dramatic scenery. Bellot Strait marks the northernmost point of mainland North America and was first navigated by explorers seeking the elusive Northwest Passage. Today, it remains a thrilling and challenging route for expedition vessels. Wildlife is often seen along the shores and in the water, including polar bears, seals, and occasionally beluga whales riding the tides. Steep cliffs and rugged hills frame the strait, offering a dramatic backdrop for cruising.  

You will disembark in Resolute before boarding a charter flight to Calgary, where you will have a hotel night included (likely a city hotel).

You can fly home from Calgary at any time today (afternoon flight recommended)

You can arrive into Reykjavik at any time today and will have a hotel night included as part of your trip (likely an airport hotel).

After breakfast, you will make your way to the airport for your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq on the west coast of Greenland. On arrival you will be transferred to the port where you will embark your expedition ship. This evening you will set sail, cruising through the 190km (118 mile) long Kangerlussuaq fjord with its steep mountains and glacial-carved valleys. 

Today you will head north of the Arctic Circle to Sisimiut, a town which brings together a remarkably long human history and the energy of modern Greenland. Archaeological evidence records waves of settlement by Saqqaq, Dorset and later Thule cultures, while today the town remains an important centre for fishing, hunting, education and outdoor life. You can hope to explore the historic quarter around the old blue church and museum, where turf-house reconstructions and local collections reveal how generations adapted to this demanding environment.

You will spend the morning at sea crossing Disko Bay, you will want to be out on deck watching for humpback and minke whales and for the first immense icebergs drifting south from Ilulissat Icefjord. The Expedition Team will introduce the geology, wildlife and human history of the region as you approach Ilulissat. In the afternoon, you will plan to step ashore in Ilulissat, where people have lived beside the icefjord for more than 4,000 years. Walk across tundra and exposed rock towards viewpoints over the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord. Here, ice calved by Sermeq Kujalleq moves towards Disko Bay in a constantly changing procession of bergs. The nearby Sermermiut valley preserves traces of successive Inuit cultures and adds a powerful human story to this extraordinary glacial landscape.

Today you will aim to explore the remote coast of northwest Greenland. A landing at Sukasset may offer the chance to walk across trackless tundra and examine the small details of the Arctic landscape, from hardy plants and patterned ground to signs of foxes or grazing animals. Later, you will hope to ship cruise through the waters of Aappilattoq Icefjord. Ice conditions will shape your route as you navigate among islands, fjords and drifting ice. Scan the shoreline and water for seals, whales and seabirds, while the Expedition Team shares stories of Greenlandic life in a region where travel, hunting and community connections have long depended on the sea.

You will spend today crossing Baffin Bay. Be sure to spend time on deck scanning for whale blows, fulmars and kittiwakes, or join talks that place the Northwest Passage in context - from Inuit travel routes and knowledge systems to the ambitions and hardships of European polar expeditions. As you approach Nunavut, sea ice and weather will begin to determine the opportunities ahead.

After completing Canadian clearance formalities, you can hope to visit Mittimatalik, known in English as Pond Inlet, on northern Baffin Island. Framed by mountains, glaciers and the waters of Eclipse Sound, the community is a gateway to Tallurutiup Imanga and a place where Inuit knowledge, language, art and harvesting traditions remain central to daily life. A locally guided visit may introduce community stories and contemporary life in the High Arctic. In the surrounding waters, your expedition team will remain alert for narwhal, beluga, seals and seabirds, although all wildlife encounters are determined by season and chance.

On Devon Island (Tallurutit), you will hope to land at Dundas Harbour. The remains of an RCMP post and a former Hudson’s Bay Company presence speak to a comparatively recent chapter, while nearby archaeological features point to a much older Inuit use of this coastline. Walk across rolling tundra with views towards Lancaster Sound, watching for musk oxen, Arctic hare and birdlife. At Croker Bay, a glacier descends towards a broad Arctic inlet. Conditions may favour a Zodiac cruise among sculpted ice or a shore landing beneath Devon Island’s flat-topped mountains. Ringed seals and walrus may be encountered in these productive waters, and polar bears are always a possibility in the wider region.

Prince Leopold Island (Appait) rises abruptly from Lancaster Sound. Its cliffs form one of the Canadian Arctic’s most important seabird breeding sites; by September many birds may already have departed, but northern fulmars, kittiwakes and thick-billed murres can still be seen offshore. Seals in the surrounding waters may also attract polar bears. Across the sound, Port Leopold recalls the many expeditions sent in search of Sir John Franklin. HMS Enterprise and HMS Investigator wintered here in 1848-49, and the remains of later commercial activity add further layers to the site. If conditions permit, you will hope to walk the coast and consider this history alongside evidence of Inuit presence that long predates the explorers.

Beechey Island (Iluvilik), a Canadian National Historic Site, is one of the most poignant places in the story of the Northwest Passage. Franklin’s expedition wintered here in 1845-46, and the graves of three crew members remain on the shore. Later search parties, including those following Inuit testimony, returned repeatedly to this stark landscape. A guided walk will help place the site within both the Franklin story and the broader history of Arctic exploration. At Radstock Bay, beneath the imposing limestone mass of Caswall Tower, archaeological remains reveal generations of Inuit life. Stone house foundations, food caches and whale bones speak to skilled use of local resources and extensive movement through the region. You may hike across the raised beaches while watching for musk oxen, Arctic hare and signs of foxes.

Bellot Strait is one of the most dramatic and technically challenging waterways in the Northwest Passage. Barely two kilometres wide at its narrowest point, it separates Somerset Island from the Boothia Peninsula and is swept by strong tides and shifting ice. Your transit and activities will depend entirely on safe conditions. You will hope to explore in the vicinity of Fitzroy Inlet, Bellot Strait or Strzelecki Harbour. These sheltered waterways and austere shores invite Zodiac cruising and tundra walks, while their position at the northern edge of mainland North America evokes the navigational challenges faced by earlier expeditions. Your expedition team will watch for polar bears, seals, beluga and seabirds along the ice edge and coast.

An early visit to Pasley Bay may connect us with the story of the RCMP schooner St Roch and its pioneering Northwest Passage voyages under Henry Larsen. Inuit knowledge, local assistance and Arctic seamanship were essential to such journeys, just as they remain central to safe travel here today. Later, you will continue west through the maze of channels around Prince of Wales and Prince William islands. If conditions allow, a Zodiac excursion may take you towards a remote cairn or unplanned landing. These unscripted opportunities are at the heart of expedition travel, with the possibility of wildlife sightings and traces of earlier journeys revealed by the day’s route.

As you sail towards Victoria Island, join the Expedition Team for presentations on Inuit archaeology, polar exploration and the wildlife of the western Arctic. Time on deck may bring sightings of seals, whales or migrating birds. Later, you will hope to visit Iqaluktuuttiaq, or Cambridge Bay, whose Inuinnaqtun name means ‘place of many fish’. This important western Nunavut community has long been a gathering place, supported by rich fishing and hunting grounds. Its more recent polar history includes Roald Amundsen’s ship Maud, which spent years in the area after becoming trapped in ice and eventually sank in the harbour. A community visit offers insight into contemporary Inuit life and the enduring connections between people, land and sea.

Your final full expedition day takes you into the western channels of the passage. You will hope to explore around Cape Barrow and a remote island to its north, where low tundra, gravel ridges and broad sea views create opportunities for a final landing or Zodiac cruise. Musk oxen, Arctic foxes, seals and passing whales may be present, while the open landscape encourages reflection on the distances travelled by Inuit families, traders and polar expeditions.

You will disembark in Kugluktuk before boarding a charter flight to Calgary. We strongly recommend that you plan to stay at least one night in Calgary to accommodate an afternoon flight arrival time and mitigate against any potential delays today.