northwest passage tourism

Northwest Passage Arctic Cruises & Tours

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Northwest Passage Travel Tips & Guide

• The flora & fauna of the Arctic , including the great migrations of the beluga & narwhals, kittiwakes & other Arctic birds, seals & polar bears. Snowmobiles offer a great way to see this wildlife.
• Baffin Island , at the mouth of the Northwest Passage, where you can trek across glaciers and hike the trails at Qikiqtarjuaq.
• Karrat Fjord , one of Greenland's most impresive fjords, where stone cliffs highlight the landscape & wildlife abounds.
• Somerset Island , in the depths of the Arctic Circle, is home to caribou, musk ox, and thousands of birds.
• Beechey Island , where solemn gravemarkers honor Franklin's lost crew of pioneers, and Caswall Tower offers a great lookout for polar bears.

The Mystery of Franklin's Lost Ships

Northwest passage cruise: when to go, wildlife guide to polar regions.

• Le Soleal  
• Le Boreal  
• L'Austral
• Greenland – The Kangerlussuaq Airport is one of only two airports in Greenland and the best for our Northwest Passage itineraries.
• Nunavut & Edmonton – If you're flying into this far-north territory of Canada, make sure to plan an extra day of travel before in case extreme weather conditions affect your flight.
• Ottawa – This international airport offers a good gateway to Passage expeditions.

Northwest Passage Travel FAQs

Northwest passage travel reviews & stories, newfoundland and wild labrador, mary explores the arctic, top northwest passage travel destinations, northwest passage trips by departure date.

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Small-Ship Expedition Cruise

The Northwest Passage

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Small-ship expedition cruise into the northwest passage.

August 27 to September 12, 2024

From $13,995 to $28,495 USD

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Small-Ship Expedition Cruise Out of the Northwest Passage

September 12 to September 28, 2024

Applies to berth cost only.

August 16 to September 1, 2025

From $14,495 to $28,995 USD

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September 1 to September 17, 2025

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Into the Northwest Passage

Out of the Northwest Passage

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Travel through Inuit Nunangat alongside Inuit

Experience the extraordinary privilege of journeying through Inuit Nunangat—the ice, water, and lands of Inuit.

Delve into a dynamic culture as you learn about the language, arts, cuisine, music, and traditions. Each facet is thoughtfully integrated into our on-board and onshore educational program, creating moments of authentic learning throughout your voyage.

As honoured guests in the Inuit homeland, you’ll gain unique insights into the kinship between Inuit and the nuna (land). Connect with Inuit—artists, cultural educators, academics and more—who graciously share their knowledge and expertise.

Try your hand at Inuit games, sample country food, visit a local hamlet, or simply walk the tundra with Inuit expedition team members who share Inuit Nunangat, their homeland, with you.

Enjoy an Inuit cultural welcome in a Nunavut community

Enjoy the warmth of an Inuit welcome as drum dancers, throat singers, and cultural ambassadors share their stories, songs, and connections to the land.

Explore the beautiful surroundings of an Arctic hamlet, get to know local residents and learn about their ways of life, and have the opportunity to purchase carvings and handicrafts to bring back home.

© Scott Forsyth

Marvel at enormous icebergs at Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Visit the fastest-calving glacier in the world, which spills thousands of enormous icebergs into the spectacular Ilulissat Icefjord in Disko Bay, Greenland every year.

View the icebergs from the shore on a hike along the boardwalk.

Cruise pristine natural areas to spot amazing Arctic wildlife

Seek seabirds, marine mammals, and polar bears in this unique, protected habitat.

Tallurutiup Imanga , the entrance to the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic archipelago, is home to Canada’s newest National Marine Protected Area.

See the glacier-fed waters, mountain landscapes, and rugged coastlines that define this vast and beautiful place—and the plentiful marine wildlife.

Visit unique cultural historical sites from the Thule period and the European explorer era that dot the region’s coasts.

Visit Beechey Island National Historic Site

Pay your respects at one of the most notorious sites in the Arctic: Beechey Island.

Learn about the famed site where the ill-fated Franklin Expedition overwintered from 1845–1846.

See the graves of three of Franklin’s men (along with one of a fourth man from a later Northwest Passage expedition) that are a haunting memorial to the heyday of European Arctic exploration.

© Michelle Valberg

Sail the infamous Northwest Passage at the top of the world

Traverse one of the world’s most mythical and celebrated ocean routes in the comfort of an ice-class expedition vessel.

Hear the compelling stories of European explorers who attempted the challenge and of Inuit who have travelled the waterway for centuries.

Ocean Endeavour

Our spacious, ice-strengthened vessel features twenty Zodiacs, and advanced navigation equipment. A doctor, paramedic, medical clinic, and enhanced health regime offer peace of mind. Roomy facilities offer comfortable travel with plenty of breathing room for all.

Travellers’ Testimonials

“I cannot speak highly enough about the staff.”

Kathleen Henry-Parisi

“I cannot begin to tell you how impressed we were with the staff. They were all so approachable and so giving of their time and knowledge. And they all had a great sense of humour!”

Joyce McAlpine

“I came home feeling like I had a college education! So much knowledge presented in a fun and easily understandable way.”

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Northwest Passage

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 6, 2023 | Original: February 22, 2018

The Northwest Passage is a famed sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through a group of sparsely populated Canadian islands known as the Arctic Archipelago. European explorers first began to search for the Northwest Passage in the fifteenth century, but treacherous conditions and sea ice cover made the route impassible, foiling many expeditions. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage in 1906. Climate change has caused Arctic ice cover to thin in recent years, opening the passage to marine shipping. In summer 2007, the route was entirely ice-free for the first time in recorded history.

Where Is the Northwest Passage?

The Northwest Passage spans roughly 900 miles from the North Atlantic north of Canada’s Baffin Island in the east to the Beaufort Sea north of the U.S. state of Alaska in the west. It’s located entirely within the Arctic Circle, less than 1,200 miles from the North [JR1] .

Traversing the frozen Northwest Passage historically has required a hazardous journey through thousands of giant icebergs that could rise up to 300 feet above the surface of the water and huge masses of sea ice that could seal the passage and trap ships for months at a time.

The idea of a northwest sea route from Europe to East Asia dates back at least to the second century A.D. and the world maps of Greco-Roman geographer Ptolemy. Europeans developed interest in the sea passage after the Ottoman Empire monopolized major overland trade routes between Europe and Asia in the fifteenth century.

Northwest Passage Expeditions

John Cabot , a Venetian navigator living in England, became the first European to explore the Northwest Passage in 1497.

He sailed from Bristol, England, in May with a small crew of 18 men and made landfall somewhere in the Canadian Maritime islands the following month. Like Christopher Columbus five years before him, Cabot thought he had reached the shores of Asia.

King Henry VII authorized a second, larger expedition for Cabot in 1498. This expedition included five ships and 200 men. Cabot and his crew never returned. They are thought to have been shipwrecked in a severe storm in the North Atlantic.

Jacques Cartier

In 1534, King Francis I of France sent explorer Jacques Cartier to the New World in search of riches… and a faster route to Asia. He took two ships and 61 men with him, exploring the coast of Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence and discovering today’s Prince Edward Island, but not the Northwest Passage.

Cartier’s second voyage took him up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec, which he is credited with founding. Faced with scurvy among his men and increasingly angry Iroquois, Cartier captured Iroquois chiefs and brought them to France, where they told King Francis I about another great river that lead Westward to riches and, perhaps, Asia.

Cartier’s third voyage took place in 1541 and was not successful. He retired to his estate in Saint-Malo, never to sail again.

Francisco de Ulloa

The Spanish referred to The Northwest Passage as the "Straight of Anián." In 1539, Spanish explorer Francisco de Ulloa, funded by Hernán Cortés, set sail from Acapulco, Mexico, in search of a Pacific route to the Northwest Passage. He sailed North up the California Coast as far as the Gulf of California, but turned around when he was unable to find the fabled Straight of Anián. He is credited with proving that California is a peninsula, not an island–a popular misconception at the time.

Henry Hudson

In 1609, the merchants of the Dutch East India Company hired English explorer Henry Hudson to find the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Hudson navigated along the North American coast looking for a more southern, ice-free route across the North American continent to the Pacific Ocean.

Hudson and his crew sailed around Long Island and into New York’s Hudson River, but turned back when they realized it was not a through-channel. While Hudson didn’t discover the Northwest Passage, his voyage was the first step toward Dutch colonization of New York and the Hudson River area.

Henry Hudson made another attempt at the Northwest Passage in 1610. This time he sailed north into Canada’s massive Hudson Bay where he drifted for months and became trapped in the ice.

By spring of 1611, his crew mutinied. Once they were free of the ice, the mutineers set Hudson and those loyal to him adrift in a small boat before the mutineers returned to England. Hudson was never seen again.

John Franklin

The most tragic Northwest Passage expedition may have been that led by English Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin in 1845. Franklin’s expedition set sail with 128 men aboard two ships, the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror . The ships vanished.

It’s suspected that both ships became ice-bound and were abandoned by their crews. Nineteenth century reports from local Inuit suggested the men may have resorted to cannibalism as they trekked on foot across the ice.

Archaeologists recovered skeletons of some of Franklin’s crew on Nunavut’s King William Island in the early 1990s. Cut marks on the bones support the cannibalism claims.

A Parks Canada diving expedition found the wreckage of the HMS Erebus in 2014 off of King William Island. The wreckage of the HMS Terror was discovered slightly north, in Terror Bay, two years later.

Roald Amundsen

In 1850, Irish Arctic explorer Robert McClure and his crew set sail from England in search of Franklin’s lost expedition.

McClure confirmed the existence of the route when his crew became the first to traverse the Northwest Passage—by ship and over the ice on sled—in 1854. Yet it would be more than fifty years before Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen would make the entire passage by sea.

After a three-year expedition, Amundsen and his crew, aboard a small fishing ship called Gjøa , reached Nome on Alaska’s Pacific coast in 1906.

Northwest Passage and Climate Change

The passage wasn’t a commercially viable shipping route due to the sea ice, so only a handful of ships traversed the entire Northwest Passage in the decades following Amundsen’s 1906 crossing.

That’s now changed, as climate change and warming temperatures causes Arctic sea ice to melt, creating greater access to the waters. The entire route was ice-free for the first time in recorded history in the summer of 2007.

Traffic through the Arctic sea route has increased in the past decade. In 2012, a record 30 ships made the transit. Crystal Serenity , a luxury cruise ship, made headlines in 2016 when it became the first tourist cruise ship to navigate the Northwest Passage.

Less ice means that marine species once separated by the North American continent are now able to cross from ocean to ocean with greater ease.

In 2010, two gray whales—native to the Pacific Ocean—were spotted in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in more than 200 years. Experts think the Pacific whales may have made their way through the open waters of the Northwest Passage and the Arctic Ocean into the Atlantic.

Increased access to the route has stirred up a decades-old debate over who controls the Arctic waters. Canada claims parts of the passage as its own territorial waters, while the U.S. calls the Northwest Passage international waters.

Trends in shipping in the Northwest Passage and Beafort Sea; Environment Canada . The Franklin Expedition; Parks Canada . Francisco de Ulloa;  The California Historical Society These maps show the epic quest for a Northwest Passage; National Geographic News .

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An insider's guide to navigating the Northwest Passage

With wild weather and thick ice, navigating the Northwest Passage remains the ultimate maritime challenge. With our insider's guide, discover this cruising route's history and highlights, and find out how to tackle it today...

The icy routes around Cape Horn may have been navigated four centuries ago, but the Northwest Passage remained uncrossed by boat until 1906. It took the skills of Arctic explorer Roald Amundsen, sailing over successive summers, to weave from the Atlantic to the Pacific through some 36,000 islands in the Canadian Arctic. Since then, more people have stood on the summit of Everest than have traversed the passage by water.

Although Arctic ice is retreating, transits remain at the whim of capricious weather, legal permits and glaciers that formed millennia ago. In 2021, only five vessels made it through the seven possible routes. But any yacht cruising in the Northwest Passage zone will still view once-in-a-lifetime sights, including beluga whales, polar bear cubs and bobbing bergs, plus Inuit hunters on midnight husky missions. Making time for wildlife and adventure, rather than a headlong sprint from Greenland to Siberia, should be every sailor’s aim.

The history of the Northwest Passage

Then, as now, big business dreamed of opening a trading shortcut from Europe to Asia. In 1845, a magnificently funded expedition led by Captain Sir John Franklin carried British hopes of a trade route that looked simple on a map – and avoided Spanish and French possessions elsewhere. Franklin’s two ships, Erebus and Terror , were stocked like superyachts. Each one carried several years’ worth of supplies, including live oxen, Scotch whisky and Fortnum & Mason condiments.

Alas, not a single member of the Franklin expedition could converse with local Inuit, no doubt contributing to the eventual loss of all 129 on board when both boats sunk after three years of icy navigation. Arguably the greatest search in maritime history, led by polar greats James Clark Ross and John Rae, found hardly a trace of Franklin’s ships.

In a story lucidly told by Michael Palin in Erebus: The Story of a Ship , both expedition vessels were discovered in 2014 and 2016, near-perfectly preserved on the frigid seabed. Remnants of the Franklin expedition remain the Passage’s historical must-see.

On Beechey Island, where the boats wintered through 1845/46, an eerie set of graves was discovered by those searching for the Franklin party in 1850. King William Island hosts a rough airstrip served by First Air and Canadian North, plus 1,300 residents. Nearby, Erebus and Terror lie in strictly protected waters, while more Franklin memorials, plus herds of caribou, can be found on land.

Traces of the Thule, a proto-Inuit people, can be found near Dundas Harbour on Devon Island. Their forefathers crossed a frozen land bridge from Siberia 12,000 years ago before eventually colonising Greenland and the entire Canadian north. The port also hosts an abandoned Hudson’s Bay Company outpost and Royal Canadian Mounted Police station, alongside Arctic hares aplenty. Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island offers the largest port of call for Northwest Passage transits, again with air links in and out. Finally, the lonely hamlet of Resolute on Cornwallis Island ranks as one of the coldest inhabited places on earth.

Misconceptions of the Northwest Passage

The biggest fallacy is that because the Northwest Passage lies in Canadian waters, sailors can find stores, fuel stations and other yachts to hail. There’s literally none of that. The passage may look simple on a map but ice alters the route on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, only 10 per cent of the Arctic has been charted to modern marine navigation standards.

Another misconception now is there are “no bears and no ice”, says experienced ice pilot Clive Shute. “While there is no doubt sea ice coverage is diminishing, there is still plenty of ice in the Arctic – in fact, often too much.” A final delusion is that it’s necessary to transit the entire passage to couple wildlife with yachting kudos. Merely entering the passage is a true voyage of exploration.

Equipment need for the Northwest Passage

The list of necessary kit is as endless as it is essential. Sunscreen, hiking boots, cameras and Merino wool underwear are all musts. Tony Soper, author of The Northwest Passage , recommends 10x42 binoculars, as viewers need extra magnification when spotting from a boat. “Watch all beaches for polar bears,” says the guidebook writer, “but don’t go ashore to get closer.” Explorer Ray Mears carries the lightweight Zeiss Victory 8x32 (around £1,700), which has a wider range more suitable for birdwatching while on dry land.

Soper also advises carrying bear deterrents, which can scare animals with a loud bang. “Shore excursions also need to be accompanied by a competent guard, armed with large-calibre (.308 or greater) hunting rifles or shotguns firing 12-gauge rifled slugs – naturally to be used only as a last resort. The Canadian Firearms Act requires firearms and handlers be certified and registered.”

For yacht communications, the Garmin inReach Explorer+ (£449 plus satellite subscription) is the Shackleton of smartphones. Think two-way SMS messaging, interactive maps, digital compass, an in-built barometric altimeter and an alarm clock. A security service contract with a risk solutions company such as GEOS is also an option in case of a broken leg. Such firms can arrange air ambulance services in inhospitable areas – for a fee. Nevertheless, even in clement weather, a Mayday call would take a day for the Canadian Armed Forces to respond to, so packing the right rafts and medicines, plus spares of pumps, valves and everything else, is a necessity. This absolute rule applies to all motor and sailing yachts: if you think you might need it, bring it.

For larger yachts, a helicopter is not essential, but a wonderful accoutrement. A fixed-wing air tour from an icy regional airport, over shifting glaciers and migrating whales, could be a more cost-effective option. The most essential kit is a simple Zodiac tender. Far from glamorous, they’re a compact, trusted and tested tool for exploring extreme environments.

The best boats for cruising the Northwest Passage

A custom-built vessel like 48-metre  Hanse Explorer , which pairs the highest commercial ice class hull with polar expedition kit, is clearly more capable than a composite yacht. That said, low-draught boats will fare better in tighter passages. Even solo sailors have made the trip: British yachtsman David Scott Cowper undertook several passages in his strengthened 14.6-metre aluminium motorboat, Polar Bound – although he carried £20,000 worth of diesel from Greenland to prepare for all eventualities.

Most boats planning a full passage attempt an east-to-west navigation via the “Amundsen route” through the Lancaster Sound, then eventually south of King William Island. This itinerary allows for incredible natural experiences paired with historical sights – with much to see on the way back if ice closes in.

It’s always a lonely trip. In 2016, the 56-metre sailing yacht  Rosehearty , which charters through Perini Navi USA, explored the passage from Greenland through the Bellot Strait then around Somerset Island. “There were many times where we were the only boat in hundreds of miles,” says her captain, David Hutchison. “You are very conscious that you are relying on your own resources and any help will be days away at best.” Although an ice hull is a distinct bonus rather than a necessity,  Rosehearty  was refitted with upgraded electronics, searchlights, new gyro and a reinforced flybridge hardtop to protect against falling ice.

When can you cruise the Northwest Passage?

The Northwest Passage area opens from July to September, when air temperatures hover between 5˚C and -5˚C. Flowers and wildlife are at their most frenzied in July, while belugas and narwhals continue to migrate in August. Any later in the year and days draw in quickly, although there’s the added possibility of seeing the  Northern Lights . The full transit is only navigable during a four- to six-week window from around the second week of August – in a good year.

In summer 2021, sea ice in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago area was measured at its lowest in 10 years, with some entry points opening up weeks earlier than usual. But just a few years prior in 2018, the Passage saw extreme conditions which led to the Canadian Coast Guard warning against periodic cruising through Peel Sound, the Franklin Strait and the Prince Regent Inlet. To further the point, even the luxurious exploration vessels operated by Hurtigruten and Compagnie du Ponant were blocked from the James Ross Strait and Cambridge Bay. Their itineraries were swiftly switched to Greenland, leaving each cruise ship hopelessly out of position.

Ben Lyons, CEO of EYOS, which guides luxury yachts and vessels of all types through the passage, tells his clients to take note. “Weather is the most technical aspect of the voyage,” he explains. “While conditions are arguably less prohibitive than in Franklin’s day due to climatic change, ice of all kinds – pack, brash or sea – is still a dynamic, powerful force.” Only an experienced pilot who can sniff out shifting conditions via a mix of radar, coastguard reports and Inuit contacts should be trusted on such a mission.

Northwest Passage politics

Whatever the weather, advance planning is essential. Yacht owners organising a trip at Christmas for the following summer are probably too late. Some 30 to 40 licences and permissions must be gained for each passenger from communal, regional and federal departments. Most superyacht owners pay an experienced firm to file this paperwork.

Treading carefully is key. Relationships between local Inuit and early explorers were ones of mistrust and miscommunication, which occasionally lapsed into kidnap and theft. In 1999 Nunavut (which means “Our Land” in local language Inuktitut) became the newest, largest and most northern territory in Canada. In this vast land area the size of Western Europe, the wishes of a mere 36,000 residents hold sway.

The Inuit don’t expect gifts. Rather, as Robynn Pavia, from the Travel Nunavut Industry Association, explains, “Visitors to Nunavut should research the Inuit culture before they visit.” This includes throat-singing, film-making and having a deep respect for wildlife. “Asuujutit” means “hello”. (Hopefully sailors won’t have to utter “qanimmaliqpunga”, which translates as “I feel sick”). “Other things that should be researched are the cost of airfares as [Nunavut has] no roads,” continues Pavia. In Canada the term “Eskimo” is wildly outdated and politically incorrect.

Modern Inuit remain expert trappers, fishermen and husky drivers. That’s why they act as essential guides for yachts sailing the Northwest Passage, be it for advice on ice navigation, wildlife locations or community visits. In March 2019, EYOS Expeditions director Kelvin Murray travelled to Nunavut ahead of his summer groups. “It was -32°C and I had to eat fermented walrus, but face-to-face meetings with locals improved our rapport. Regional communities quite rightly wield a lot of power because it’s their backyard we’re sailing through. They literally feed and clothe their families from these coastal areas.” Murray also sits on the board of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators, which creates guidelines for passenger safety, environmental protection and interactions with indigenous residents.

Northwest Passage wildlife

The presence of High Arctic megafauna only visible in these climes, including walrus, caribou and bowhead whales, is the most compelling reason to ply these lonely shores. Every experienced hand has a tip, including guidebook author Tony Soper. “On trips ashore, gravitate to any fresh water, as that’s where you’ll see loons, waterfowl and waders.” Muskox – giant hooved bovids that can top 400kg – can be found higher on the tundra. “Most wildlife is best seen from the bridge,” continues Soper. “Then at the sharp end for dolphins and whales and as close to the sea as possible for birds.”

Colonies containing 900 polar bears can be found when exiting the passage around Hudson Bay, claims travel writer and Canada expert Stuart Forster. “During summertime this region is also known for its proliferation of white beluga whales: so many that they look like grains of rice dumped in a kitchen sink when seen from a light aircraft.” Also, on the passage’s extreme, Pond Inlet on Baffin Island makes a decent provisioning spot with the chance to see ringed seal, narwhals and polar bears.

For EYOS’s Ben Lyons, flexibility is key. “We can’t plan an exacting itinerary as some passages or bays might be frozen solid. That said, we can take advantage of spontaneous occurrences, like encountering polar bears or bowhead whales, or the chance to kayak to a lost island in 90 minutes of bright sunshine.”

Provisioning for the Northwest Passage

“You have to have an appreciation of where you are,” says Kelvin Murray at EYOS. Quite simply, there’s no major port access after refuelling at either St John’s in Newfoundland, Nome in Alaska or Greenland. “If you need pak choi and 2,000 Nespresso capsules you’ll have to arrange transport. And plan for what happens if fog delays delivery by plane.”

During  Rosehearty ’s passage in 2016 , her spa pool was repurposed as an at-sea fridge for a stock of fruit and vegetables using an insulated hood. Other perishables were stored in the bilges where temperatures hovered around freezing. Fishing is possible in summer (with a licence) but it’s not the best season. The catch of choice, Arctic char, is neither as plentiful nor as tasty as Greenland halibut or Norwegian cod.

Fuel is key, especially late in a busy season like 2014 and 2015, when supplies reportedly ran low. As there are no wharves in Nunavut, stories abound of bulldozers constructing rough sand jetties, with hoses laid over the top of yachts to refuel a boat in need. Aviation kerosene (Jet A) has also been snagged from airstrips then used, with lubricating additives, as emergency yacht fuel. 

A crossing of the Northwest Passage is no small feat, and with so many aspects to consider, hiring a guide with High Arctic knowhow and regional contacts is a must if you plan to discover this incredible destination. Despite the obstacles, cruising in this remote region will reward adventurous owners with an unforgettable experience. As Captain Chris Walsh of 68 metre  Archimedes says: “Being surrounded by ice, animals and an extremely unforgiving, rugged, remote country inspires true awe. And a connectivity with planet Earth that can only be described as magic.”

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Northwest Passage

from £9400 excluding flights

• 8-29 nights
• Small Ship Cruise
• Itinerary Itinerary
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Our specialist

2 Polar plunges

8 Canada provinces visited

11 Species of whale seen

Navigate the Northwest Passage and visit historic sites

Search for whales including humpbacks and narwhals

Land on Beechey Island, a Canadian National Historic Site

Watch out for wildlife in abundance including polar bears

Learn about Arctic history and ecology from expert guides

Spend time ashore and see how the Inuit live

Why this trip...

Expertly guided.

In-depth knowledge and expertise will enrich your experience on this trip

Immersive exploration

Immerse yourself in your surroundings on a true exploration of remote and spectacular areas

Experience local culture and heritage as part of this holiday

Join an adventurous cruise following one of the Arctic’s most iconic routes; this voyage provides a comprehensive overview of the key areas within the Northwest Passage, taking in both western Greenland and the Canadian Arctic islands in the Baffin Bay area.

The epic quest to find the Northwest Passage occupied some of the best minds of European civilisation for half a millennium. Today this elusive route offers a fascinating history, spectacular icebergs and the chance to see wildlife including polar bears and narwhals.

In addition to its long history of exploration, this region also offers a chance to visit local communities to experience the isolated way of life faced by the Inuits of the Canadian Arctic. The Northwest Passage may now be an established sailing route, but it remains a legendary voyage of discovery to this day!

Arrive in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto where an overnight stay is included. You may wish to visit one of the city’s many museums and galleries, or take in the sights from the top of the CN Tower.

This morning, board your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, from where you will make your way to the ship. Your voyage begins with a cruise down one of the world’s longest fjords, Sondre Stromfjord, crossing the Arctic Circle as you go.

Follow the coast past the spectacular glaciers, deep fjords and remote communities of West Greenland. Highlights may include the capital Nuuk, a haven for history and culture lovers, or Maniitsoq, known as the Venice of Greenland by the locals due to its location in an archipelago intersected by natural canals.

Explore the highlights of the Canadian Arctic as you navigate the Northwest Passage. Many factors play a role in shaping the expedition’s itinerary, including sea, ice and weather conditions, but your Expedition Team will ensure you see as much as possible with regular shore landings and Zodiac cruises. Travellers on board the Ultramarine may also take an included sightseeing flight by helicopter. Possible highlights may include the picturesque Inuit hamlet of Pangnirtung, nicknamed the Switzerland of the Arctic, which is nestled beneath the jagged peaks of Mount Duval. Spot for icebergs in the Davis Strait, which are naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuak, the iceberg capital of the world. The dozens of soaring cliffs of the Sam Ford Fjord make for a majestic sight as you sail by. There could be the chance to spot narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales as you cruise through the protected waters of Lancaster Sound, designated a National Marine Conservation Area in 2017. 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. You may also get the opportunity to go ashore on Beechey Island, home to the lonely graves of three members of Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 expedition team. Along the way enjoy dramatic landscapes, wildlife sightings and informative presentations from your knowledgeable Expedition Team.

Explore the highlights of the Canadian Arctic as you navigate the Northwest Passage. Many factors play a role in shaping the expedition’s itinerary, including sea, ice and weather conditions, but your Expedition Team will ensure you see as much as possible with regular shore landings and Zodiac cruises. Travellers on board the Ultramarine may also take an included sightseeing flight by helicopter.

Possible highlights may include the picturesque Inuit hamlet of Pangnirtung, nicknamed the Switzerland of the Arctic, which is nestled beneath the jagged peaks of Mount Duval. Spot for icebergs in the Davis Strait, which are naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuak, the iceberg capital of the world. The dozens of soaring cliffs of the Sam Ford Fjord make for a majestic sight as you sail by. There could be the chance to spot narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales as you cruise through the protected waters of Lancaster Sound, designated a National Marine Conservation Area in 2017. 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. You may also get the opportunity to go ashore on Beechey Island, home to the lonely graves of three members of Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 expedition team.

Along the way enjoy dramatic landscapes, wildlife sightings and informative presentations from your knowledgeable Expedition Team.

Disembark your ship this morning and transfer to Resolute airport for your flight back to Toronto. Enjoy a final night’s stay in Toronto.

Bid farewell to your fellow travellers as your Arctic expedition comes to an end.

• All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only – embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!
• The above sample itinerary is based on the 17-day voyage on the Ultramarine. Other departures may vary in duration and routing, including alternative start and end cities. Please contact us for specific details.

Vessel Finder

There are a choice of vessels available for this voyage. Compare the facilities at a glance then talk to our Travel Specialists who will be happy to advise which one is right for you.

Ultramarine

The spacious Ultramarine is a purpose-built expedition ship, offering a choice of adventure activities as well as the chance to explore by…

The spacious Ultramarine is a purpose-built expedition ship, offering a choice of adventure activities as well as the chance to explore by helicopter.

Maximum passengers: 199

• Passengers: 199
• Class: Ice-strengthened
• Balcony Cabins
• Helicopter: on board
• Jacket: Jacket to keep
• Rubber Boots: Loan of rubber boots
• Optional Activities

Sylvia Earle

The sister ship to the Greg Mortimer, the Sylvia Earle features the same cutting-edge design, superior comfort and environmentally friendly technology.

Maximum passengers : 126

• Passengers: 126
• Pool/Hot tub

Greg Mortimer

A custom-built expedition ship featuring cutting-edge design, superior comfort and environmentally friendly technology.

Launched in 2019, the Greg Mortimer is a custom-built expedition ship featuring cutting-edge design, superior comfort and environmentally friendly technology with an X-BOW® and virtual anchoring.

Maximum passengers: 120

• Passengers: 120

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Tundra to Table Dining

Exclusive Inuit Culinary Experience

The innovative Tundra to Table dining experience showcases the culinary traditions of the Inuit of Greenland and Nunavut, offering the chance to enjoy dishes specially prepared by Inuit chefs, and to learn more about local Inuit culture.

A modern Inuit fusion-style cuisine reflects the influences of the region, featuring freshly caught seafood straight from the Arctic Ocean and free-roaming game. Dishes may include beer-braised muskox, South Greenlandic lamb, honey-glazed ptarmigan or pickled halibut, accompanied by wild herbs and locally grown vegetables.

During your four course meal, local Inuit chefs will share the story of their people through food, and explain the origins of the menu and the traditional methods of Inuit cooking.

This unique experience is available on board the Ultramarine on selected departures only. Limited places are available so pre-booking is essential.  

Departures: 13, 19 & 28 August 2023 15, 24 August & 02 September 2024

Price:  £100 per person

Price on request

Duration variable | Jan-Mar, Jun-Aug, Nov-Dec

Paddle alongside seals, icebergs and more on a polar kayaking excursion.

Kayaking Taster Session

Variable hours | Jan-Mar, Oct-Dec

Explore the polar region on a sit-on-top kayak.

Prices and Departures

Price from £9400 excluding flights.

Airfares are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport. Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

★ Voyage prices shown are standard for twin cabins but you can be assured that any relevant offers will be applied with your quote.

What's Included

• Shipboard accommodation
• All breakfasts, lunches & dinners on board
• Tea & coffee available around the clock
• All Zodiac transfers, cruising & shore landings
• Contribution to the Discovery Fund, supporting local community projects
• Presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers
• Loan of rubber boots during voyage
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
• 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
• No surcharge guarantee
• Full financial protection

Prices are per person, based on a twin cabin. The indicative prices shown in the table below are the standard voyage fare and do not reflect any applicable special offers or discounts. Single, triple and quad cabins are also available. Please get in touch for a tailored quote based on the best available price for your preferred voyage and cabin type.

• Kayak taster session
• On voyages aboard the Ultramarine , helicopter flight-seeing and helicopter hiking excursions are also included (weather permitting). A pre-voyage night in a hotel in Toronto or Calgary is included.
• A pre-voyage night in a hotel in Toronto, with flight to Nuuk, and a post-voyage flight from Nome to Anchorage with one night stay in Anchorage is included on voyages aboard the Sylvia Earle for 2025 departures.
• A pre-voyage and post-voyage night in a hotel in Toronto or Calgary, with flight to Nuuk or Cambridge Bay is included on voyages aboard the Greg Mortimer for 2025 departures.
• The inclusions for this cruise are dependent on the vessel chosen.

Please contact us for full details and to discuss the options best for you.

Current Offers

Arctic 2024: up to 20% off plus air credits on the greg mortimer and sylvia earle.

Expires: 30th June 2024

Book your 2024 voyage to Svalbard, Greenland or the Canadian Arctic now to receive amazing savings PLUS up to £1,100 Air Credit…

Arctic 2024: Enjoy up to 50% off selected voyages aboard the Ultramarine and Ocean Adventurer

Expires: 29th April 2024

Take an adventure to the Arctic with saving of up to 50% off!

Arctic 2025: Up to 40% off voyages aboard the Ocean Explorer and Ultramarine

Discover the Arctic with saving of up to 40% off your incredible adventure!

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Our tailor made approach means you can think of us as your personal planning service.

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Whatever the brief we'll create an amazing trip to get excited about. We give you on tap knowledge.

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Northwest Passage & Arctic Canada Cruises

Book early for 2025 /2026 sailings to Northwest Passage & Arctic Canada, saving up to 25% with the HX Price Promise*.

Reasons to explore the Northwest Passage with us

Sail through the wild and isolated Northwest Passage and venture into the wild as you journey off the beaten track in Arctic Canada aboard a modern ice-class expedition ship. We’ll probe this fabled route in the same spirit as the pioneers who sought to prove its existence. Using our small expedition boats we’ll land at historic exploration sites, visit remote Inuit communities, and kayak amidst breathtaking natural beauty.

Book early for 2025/2026

Explore the Northwest Passage in 2025 /2026 on our small, well-equipped, hybrid expedition ships, where safety and sustainability come first. Sail in style and comfort so you’re relaxed, rested, and ready for adventure.

PLUS with our Price Promise, if you find the same cabin available for a lower price after you've booked, let us know and we'll give you back the difference.

Activities in the NWP and Arctic Canada

Your expedition cruise has included and optional activities so you can make the most of your Arctic adventure. 

The onboard Expedition Team are natural born explorers. They’ll take you on hikes, shore landings and expedition boat cruising, and give talks about wildlife, history, geology and other topics about your destination. 

Wildlife of the Arctic regions

You’ll enjoy seeing incredible Arctic wildlife as you explore the Arctic regions between Alaska and Greenland. Look out for whales such as narwhals, minke, bowhead and beluga – and scan the shores for iconic ‘King of the Arctic’ polar bears. 

A true explorer

Become one of very few people in the world to cross the epic, and often unforgiving, Northwest Passage on board our ice-class expedition ships.

Cruises to the Northwest Passage

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Book early for 2025 / 2026 and save up to 25%

off adventures to the Northwest Passage, with the HX Price Promise. Book before 30th June 2024.

Expedition heroes

Join the Expedition Team on landings at historic sites and learn about the legendary expeditions of Franklin and Amundsen – both the successes and failures.

A plethora of life 

Arctic Canada and the lands surrounding the Northwest Passage are wild and unspoiled places. It’s here that we can find six seal species: harp, hooded, ringed, bearded, spotted and ribbon. And as polar bears hunt these seals in the seas and on the ice, herds of musk oxen and caribou roam the tundra. Birdwatchers might see kittiwakes and auklets in the Bering Strait, guillemots in Prince Christian Sound, and maybe even the elusive Ivory Gull.

Animals of the Arctic

See icons of the Arctic such as polar bears, beluga whales, walruses and narwhal in their natural habitat as you sail through pristine waters.

Your Arctic Expedition Team

The Expedition Team on board your ship are wildlife experts and scientists. As they guide you, they’ll help you spot wildlife and share their knowledge during lectures in the Science Centre as your Arctic Canada and the Northwest Passage adventure unfolds.

Arctic Expedition Ships Built for Adventure

State-of-the-art, ice-class expedition ships, combined with the nautical expertise of our captains and crew means we’re able to attempt sailing through the Northwest Passage with confidence. Whether it’s crossing Baffin Bay or sailing through the Bering Strait, our ships can easily handle local conditions.

A favourite within our fleet, MS Fram is a purpose-built expedition ship named in honour of the Original FRAM - the world's greatest exploration ship between 1893 to 1912 and has been captained by both Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen during her years at sea. With 119 cabins, she is one of the smallest ships in the fleet and spends her time between the Arctic in the summer (May-August), before heading south to Antarctica for the winter (November-March). Her small size, allows her to bring you closer to nature - and with key expedition features such as smaller expedition boats and Science Center, she is perfect for creating an unforgettable expedition experience.

Named after the legendary Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen - the first man to traverse the Northwest Passage in 1903, and reach the Geographical South Pole in 1911. MS Roald Amundsen is as pioneering as the man it is named after, the state-of-the-art ship features new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology that reduces fuel consumption and shows the world that hybrid propulsion on large ships is possible.

The newest addition to our fleet will honor the heritage of her namesake – the Norwegian explorer, scientist, humanitarian, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen. Known for his innovations in Arctic expeditions, Nansen led the first crossing of Greenland on cross-country skis. He is perhaps most famous for his attempt to reach the geographical North Pole during the Fram Expedition (1893-1896). Interestingly, after Nansen's Fram expedition, the ship was passed on to another great explorer who secretly planned an expedition to the South Pole - Roald Amundsen.

Sail safely and sustainably

Cruise aboard our ice-class expeditions ships best suited to polar waters. Choose from one of our smallest ships or our hybrid–powered ships.

Stories from Northwest Passage & Arctic Canada

Travel guide to the Northwest Passage & Arctic Canada

The Northwest Passage is a series of waterways that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America.

Wildlife in the Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage is an unspoiled oasis across the High Arctic. Its animal life of musk oxen, caribou, seals and polar bears migrate to more comfortable climes or adapt to the icy landscape.

Why Hurtigruten Expeditions ?

With a focus on sustainable cruising, we continue to explore the planet, visiting some of the world’s most beautiful and pristine regions.

Get closer to nature with our small expedition boats

Our expedition ships venture where many cruise liners can’t. But we want to go further. We want to immerse you in the raw, untamed beauty of the natural world – and that’s where our small expedition boats come in.

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The Northwest Passage 

Our personable and professional guides love to share their passion for seeking adventure in the outdoors.

We select our guides for their experience, attention to detail, safety consciousness, dedication to positive group experiences and in depth knowledge of the trip activities and destination. They hold certification in Wilderness First Aid as well as appropriate certifications and/or awards in their area of expertise.

Our guides and instructors have honed their skills all over the world, and are passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience with you!

Zane Yanzick

Build and nurture strategic collaborations with brands, DMCs, tourism boards, tour operators, guides, and various stakeholders to expand our network and provide exceptional travel experiences for our customers.

Rick Sweitzer - Founder, Adventure Visionary, Guide

Rick makes adventure dreams a reality by making it a way of life not just a goal. After 35+ years of having left no corner of the globe untouched, and continuing to explore, Rick shares his love of adventure with an uncanny knack for “spinning the fun meter.” The Northwest Passage grew out of Rick’s natural drive to find the most desirable and pristine adventure locations. Rick is skilled at crafting intimate, off-the-beaten path itineraries that consist of breath-taking sunset views.

Chris Paustian

I’ve enjoyed many moments of wonder and amazement at the natural world over the course of my guiding career. More valuable to me though are people I’ve met and relationships built in the wild and beautiful corners of our planet. To share experiences with those who choose to explore and appreciate the wild, less-traveled and soul enriching places that The Northwest Passage ventures is a dearly held privilege of mine.

Anna Sweitzer

Social Media Marketing Manager

Taylor Sweitzer

I have been extremely fortunate to grow up in an adventurous family that exposed me to the wonders and beauty of the outdoor community since day 1. Throughout the years, my passion has blossomed to encompass several different outdoor disciplines and I have found myself guiding a variety of trips all around the world. The Northwest Passage has provided me with the unique opportunity to pursue the important places, the moments in time that help to make life rich and to share the delicacy of it all with the world.

Keith Heger

Growing up on Lake Michigan, Keith continues to search the horizon for something that will help him define the unknown. Keith has explored North, South, and Central America, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Antarctica, and the Arctic. Always working hard Keith has gained skills in wilderness travel, group dynamics, and leadership. Skills such as sea kayaking, white water kayaking, rafting, and so much more. Fueling the passion is the reward of introducing people to the unknown.

Annie Aggens

As Director of Polar Expeditions for The Northwest Passage, Annie has led many expeditions throughout the US & Northern Canada including backpacking, canoeing, and sea kayaking adventures. Annie’s broad experience makes her a valuable resource. Annie regularly lectures on organizing Polar expeditions, paddling expeditions, adventure travel, and the history of Arctic exploration. In 2003, Annie co-authored The Encyclopedia of Outdoor and Wilderness Skills (McGraw-Hill). Annie’s passion for the outdoors remains contagious.

Andrew Leary

As the Greece Kayaking Guide and Lead Climbing Guide for The Northwest Passage, Andrew has worked professionally in the outdoors since 2005. Doing everything from guiding urban youth in Chicago, ski patrol and avalanche mitigation in Utah, to working numerous collegiate outdoor programs. Andrew is a certified Wilderness EMT and ACCT Challenge Course Manager whose passion runs deep for rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and board games.

The 5 best Arctic cruise itineraries, from someone who has tried them all

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There is an emptiness to the Arctic that is mesmerizing.

Traveling across it by ship, you’ll encounter patches of snow-covered ice that stretch for miles, an endlessly white landscape punctured only by the occassional seabird and, if you’re lucky, the sight of a far-off polar bear.

In some parts of the Arctic, there are rocky islands so windswept and desolate that you’d think you’re on the moon; in other areas, there are islands covered with the most spectacularly beautiful mountains and glaciers. The common theme between them all is that they are rarely visited by humans.

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Not that there aren’t any humans in the Arctic. There are some, including Inuit who have lived in the region for centuries. But huge swaths of the Arctic lack a human presence, and the wildlife is equally sparse. Spotting the most famous denizens of the Arctic — the polar bear and the Arctic fox — is a rare moment to treasure.

As someone lucky enough to have traveled by ship to almost every corner of the Arctic over nearly 30 years as a cruise writer, I can say that the region is one of my favorite places to visit — maybe my very favorite. But it’s not for everyone. It offers a subtle sort of beauty that reveals itself slowly.

Depending on the itinerary, an Arctic cruise might include days of bumping through icy waters covered by a fog so soupy that all you see out the window is a light greyish bubble all around. For all you know, you could be in a simulation.

But give the Arctic a chance, and it can be life-changing.

If you’re unsure how to begin thinking of which Arctic itinerary might be the right choice, take a look at my picks for the five best Arctic cruise itineraries, chosen after a lifetime of trying just about every possible route in the region. As is typical for Arctic sailings, they are all itineraries that can only be done on polar-class expedition cruise ships — a specialized type of small, hardy cruise vessel built for polar travel and carrying its own landing craft for exploring.

A circumnavigation of Spitsbergen

If you only have time for one Arctic cruise, this is the one I recommend. Consider it a sort of “greatest hits of the Arctic” itinerary. You’ll get a little taste of everything the Arctic has to offer on a single, relatively easy-to-do sailing as short as a week or 10 nights.

On a voyage around Spitsbergen, the biggest of a cluster of rugged islands that make up the Svalbard archipelago, you’ll likely see many of the Arctic’s best-known wildlife — polar bears, whales (if you’re lucky), walruses, and giant colonies of Brunnich’s guillemots and other Arctic birds — over the course of a few days. Compared to some places in the Arctic, this region is relatively rich with wildlife.

Related: TPG’s ultimate guide to expedition cruising

Spitsbergen is also about as scenic a place as you’ll find in the Arctic, covered in mountains and glaciers. It’s easily accessible by air through Longyearbyen, a settlement of about 2,500 people on the island’s west side.

Located 600 miles north of the northernmost tip of Norway, which administers the Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen is also home to a few cultural oddities. Barentsburg is a semi-abandoned mining town operated by Russia under the terms of a century-old treaty, and Ny Alesund is a small mining camp that has been turned into a scientific research station. Spitsbergen itineraries sometimes include visits to both.

Ny Alesand, notably, was the spot where legendary explorer Roald Amundsen set off on a record-setting expedition flight to the North Pole by airship in 1926. Visitors to the outpost can see the still-standing remnants of the expedition, which include a tower that held the airship before it departed and a telegraph hut that broadcast news of the flight to the world.

Who goes there: Norway-based Hurtigruten is the best-known brand for Spitsbergen circumnavigations. It offers voyages out of Longyearbyen every summer. Most other expedition cruise operators, including Lindblad Expeditions and Seabourn, offer sailings to just a portion of Spitsbergen (usually the north and west coasts) combined with stops in Iceland and/or Greenland.

The west coast of Greenland

If you want to see icebergs and glaciers on a truly epic scale, a voyage along Greenland’s west coast should be your pick.

It is home to what are, without a doubt, some of the world’s most spectacular glaciers and snow-topped mountains.

On a trip down the west coast of Greenland, you will sail past huge icebergs that have shorn off the massive Greenland ice sheet on your way to visit at least a few of the coast’s colorful Arctic settlements.

These settlements, notably, include Ilulissat, site of an iceberg-jammed fjord that is a marvel of the northern hemisphere.

Related: 8 things you need to know about Arctic cruises

If you’re lucky during a visit to Ilulissat, you’ll get to do two amazing things. One is to hike to an overlook near the town that reveals a massive pile-up of giant ice blocks that are slowly flowing down the fjord from a glacier. The other is a Zodiac ride to get close to some of the biggest icebergs that are stuck in the bay just offshore.

It is a landscape of icebergs at a scale that you can’t imagine until you see it.

Who goes there: Seabourn, Lindblad, Silversea Cruises , Ponant , Viking and several other expedition cruise companies offer sailings down the west coast of Greenland. These voyages often include a visit to the eastern side of Canada’s Northwest Passage or Iceland.

The Northwest Passage

For cruisers who love the history of exploration, a trip across the Canadian Arctic’s Northwest Passage might be the ultimate Arctic adventure. That’s because it offers a chance to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest polar explorers of the 18th and 19th centuries, for whom finding the long-hidden Arctic route between Europe and Asia was one of the biggest (and deadliest) challenges of the age.

Stretching more than 2,000 miles from the Davis Strait near Greenland to the Bering Strait off Alaska, the still-often-iced-in Northwest Passage famously swallowed up the two-ship, 128-man Franklin Expedition of 1845 (a massive and massively equipped British exploratory party that disappeared into the ice, never to be seen again), as well as other explorers. It was finally conquered in 1903 by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen — who also was the first human to reach the South Pole.

Until just the last couple of decades, traveling through the Northwest Passage remained almost as daunting as it was during Franklin and Amundsen’s time. But rapidly shrinking ice coverage across the Arctic, driven by global warming, has been making it more accessible. In recent years, half a dozen expedition ships or more have sailed into the passage annually during the warmest summer months.

Still, even now, only a handful of the hardiest expedition vessels make a full transit of the Northwest Passage in any given year, while other vessels only offer partial transits.

Related: I loved my 1st Arctic cruise — here’s why

Note that the Northwest Passage is a relatively desolate part of the Arctic. A typical landing by Zodiac during a trip across the passageway might bring a visit to a forlorn, windswept island covered in boggy fields of lichen-covered rocks and low-lying grasses. That is, if the island isn’t covered in drifting snow.

But such trips also include stops at iconic historic sites related to the region’s early explorers. These include the ruins of the last known camp of the Franklin Expedition at snowy Beechey Island and the remnants of a short-lived Hudson’s Bay Company outpost on Somerset Island.

Stops at Inuit settlements such as Arctic Bay and Gjoa Haven are also common.

Who goes there: Most major expedition cruise operators, including Ponant, Hurtigruten, Silversea, Seabourn and Adventure Canada (a specialist in Canadian Arctic trips), offer sailings that transit at least part of the Northwest Passage. Complete crossings are rare.

The North Pole

When it comes to bragging rights, it’s hard to argue that any trip to the Arctic tops an expedition cruise to the North Pole.

The first undisputed expedition to reach the North Pole wasn’t until 1926, when a team of explorers led by Roald Amundsen overflew the destination on the airship Norge. Even today, few humans have ever visited the northernmost point in the world — some put the number at just a few thousand.

Since the 1990s, working (and spartan) Russian icebreakers chartered by expedition travel companies have occasionally taken tourists in small groups to the world’s northernmost spot. But since 2022, adventure-seekers have a more upscale option for a trip to 90 degrees north: A voyage on Le Commandant Charcot — the first built-for-tourists icebreaker.

Operated by Ponant, a French company known for upscale expedition cruises to far-off places, the 245-passenger ship is the first and only built-for-tourists cruise vessel capable of traveling to the most remote, ice-filled parts of the polar regions, including the North Pole.

Related: I just snowshoed at the North Pole — here’s how you can, too

Named for a famed French explorer, Le Commandant Charcot is unlike any other vessel that has traveled across the polar ice cap. It has all the elements of the most elegant hotels on land: spacious suites, stylish lounges, fine dining (including a restaurant with a menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse) and a spa.

In other words, you’ll not just be traveling to the North Pole, you’ll be traveling to the North Pole in high-end comfort.

Who goes there: The only way for an American to reach the North Pole by ship is aboard the new Le Commandant Charcot, which is operating three or four trips to the destination each summer. A Russian icebreaker that expedition travel companies have chartered in the past for such voyages, the 50 Years of Victory, still is occasionally making the trips, but it is not bookable for now by travelers from the United States and most other Western countries.

The Northeast Passage

A voyage across the Arctic’s Northeast Passage is surely the most off-the-beaten-path Arctic cruise you can do — even more off-the-beaten-path than a trip to the North Pole.

Rarely offered and typically about 30 days long, these are true explorers’ journeys across the almost unvisited Arctic territory that stretches across the top of Russia from Arctic Norway to Alaska.

These sailings cross five frigid seas — the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi — that in some parts traditionally freeze over during much of the year and only partially thaw during the late summer. Along the way, sometimes spread apart by hundreds of miles, are glacier-topped, often mountainous archipelagos and island groups that passengers can explore during Zodiac landings.

Highlights of these trips include seeing the Arctic’s iconic wildlife — polar bears, Arctic fox, walrus, seals and musk ox — and historic sites related to the region’s early exploration. Among them is Cape Amundsen, where you can still see the ruins of a small stone hut built by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen during a failed attempt to reach the North Pole. Amundsen’s ship became stuck in the ice at the Cape for more than a year.

Only true icebreakers or the toughest ice-strengthened expedition cruise ships can make a Northeast Passage journey. Historically, they have occurred only occasionally. (I was on what was only the fourth voyage by any expedition cruise ship across the Northeast Passage, and that was as recently as 2018.)

Alas, for now, such trips are on hold, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The invasion has brought all cruising to Russia by Western companies to a halt. But, in theory, these expeditions could resume in the coming years.

Who goes there: While Northeast Passage voyages are on hold for now, the trips traditionally have been offered by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, an upscale German cruise brand that was a pioneer of expedition cruises in the Russian Arctic, and New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions. The latter company traditionally chartered an ice-class Russian research vessel that can hold 50 people, the Akademik Shokalskiy, for the trips.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
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These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Things to Do in Elektrougli, Russia - Elektrougli Attractions

Things to do in elektrougli.

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1. Trinity Church

2. chapel in honor of the kazan icon of the mother of god.

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Podcast Recommendations from the NPR Network

For more great podcast recommendations download the NPR app .

From jailhouse melodies to vanishing salmon, rejuvenate your listening history

Jessica Green

Jack Mitchell

Enjoy the spring bloom, get outside, listen to a new podcast! The NPR One team has gathered a few returning favorites as well as some fresh releases from across public media.

The podcast episode descriptions below are from podcast webpages and have been edited for brevity and clarity.

NPR Explains... — NPR

In 1994, Rwanda experienced one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. What sparked this wave of ethnic violence? How is the country remembering the atrocities on the 30th anniversary? Start listening to part one, "What was the Rwandan Genocide?"

Sea Change — WWNO & WRKF

Sea Change is back with a brand new season. And this time, the stakes are even higher. We launch new investigations, travel around the world, and look at how a sea change is underway to solve some of our biggest problems. Come with us to investigate and celebrate life on our changing coasts. Every two weeks, we bring you stories that illuminate, inspire, and sometimes enrage, as we dive deep into the environmental issues facing coastal communities on the Gulf Coast and beyond. We have a lot to save, and we have a lot of solutions. It's time to talk about a Sea Change. Listen to "All Gassed Up, Part 1: The Carbon Coast."

Lost Patients — KUOW

Imagine a sprawling house in which every room, doorway, and hall passage was designed by a different architect. Doorways don't connect. Staircases lead to nowhere. Rooms are cut off from each other. That's how reporter Will James describes our complicated system for treating people with severe mental illness – a system that, almost by design, loses patients with psychosis to an endless loop between the streets, jail, clinics, courts and a shrinking number of hospital beds. Lost Patients is a deeply-reported, six-part docuseries examining the difficulties of treating serious mental illness through the lens of one city's past, present and future. With real-life testimonials from patients, families, and professionals on the front lines, Lost Patients provides a real, solutions-oriented look at how we got stuck here...and what we might do to break free. Listen to part one, "Churn."

The Modern West — Wyoming Public Media

Exactly 100 years to the day after a woman named Eleanor Davis became the first recorded woman to ever climb the Grand Teton – a nearly 14,000 foot-tall mountain that's the namesake for Grand Teton National Park – an all-female group of climbers is summiting the peak to celebrate her legacy. Hannah Habermann tagged along for the adventure. Start listening to part one of High Altitude Tales, "Courage is a Muscle."

Throughline — NPR

How did we get here? That's the driving question behind Throughline's series, Origins of the Middle East Conflict . The series explores Hamas' roots in early Islamist movements, the influence of Iran and Hezbollah in their adoption of suicide bombing and other violent strategies, the role the Palestine Liberation Organization played, how both Intifadas moved the needle, and the roles of Israeli, Palestinian, and US politics in bringing us to the moment we're in today. Listen to "The Rise of the Right Wing in Israel."

¿Quién Are We? — Colorado Public Radio

Get ready for a new season of ¿Quién Are We?, a podcast about being Latinx, Hispanic, Chicana – or however you identify – and the beautiful things that make us who we are. Host and journalist May Ortega is back with more everyday stories of incredible people who are exploring their heritage through their personal passions. You'll hear from an artist, an anthropologist and a game-maker. You'll hear about the relationship between two enemies, turned lovers and the connection between a father and son. Most importantly, you'll hear yourself in these stories. Start listening to "The Therapist."

Track Change — VPM

As four men are held in a Virginia jail, they record an album to chronicle their efforts to break free from an oppressive cycle of addiction and incarceration. In each music-infused episode of this documentary series, host and trailblazing hip-hop artist Speech Thomas meets a musician at a crossroads in their uphill struggle for freedom, learns what brought them to this inflection point, and helps them record a song that captures this critical moment in their life. From soulful country to fiery hip-hop and haunting R&B, this music affirms the lives of people who are written off by society. And amidst a re-entry crisis afflicting millions of Americans every year, these intimate stories from behind the walls of a local jail ask: What does it take to rebuild a life after incarceration? Listen to episode 1, "I Wrote This to Inspire."

Salmon Wars — OPB

Salmon Wars tells the story of salmon in the Northwest in a way you haven't heard before – through the voices of one Yakama Nation family who have been fighting for salmon for generations. We dig in to uncover who is to blame for the salmon vanishing, what can be done before it's too late and why their disappearance impacts all of us... Listen to "Ep 1: The Family."

Unforgotten: Connecticut's Hidden History of Slavery — Connecticut Public Radio

When we think of slavery in the United States, we don't usually think of the North. But enslaving people was legal in Connecticut for more than 200 years and did not officially end until 1848. In our first episode, Reporter/Producer Diane Orson and Editorial Consultant and Curator Frank Mitchell dive into complicated questions: Who owns this history? Who should present it? In what ways was this history hidden? There's a deeply-rooted perception that the North was home to the "good guys," the abolitionists. The truth is far different. Hear from people who are shedding light on this history and why it matters. Listen to "Episode 1: Slavery has deep roots in New England."

The Howl — NCPR

True stories. No notes. That's the HOWL Podcast. Recorded live on stages in the upper reaches of Northern New York, the HOWL features stories about being hunted by Bigfoot, cooking on car engines, and taking your dog's medication. Host Ethan Shantie pairs tales from his time as a writer, punk musician, and life-long New Yorker with stories from everyday people in communities all over New York's "North Country." In the latest and final episode of season two, Ethan shares the story of his bootlegging family, and live storyteller, Olivia, tells us about the world of underground jelly wrestling. Listen to "I just found out my great grandparents were bootleggers."

NPR's Jessica Green and Jack Mitchell curated and produced this piece .

After uptick in youth violence, Prince George’s pilots ‘Safe Passage’ program

First came metal detectors and clear backpacks . Now, adult volunteers will monitor intersections as students travel from school to deter youth violence in Maryland’s second-largest school system.

The initiative, called “Safe Passage,” launched this week with a focus on six Prince George’s County schools and is staffed by recruits from church organizations, fraternities, sororities and more.

Organizers say posting watchful, caring adults along school routes should deter traffic accidents and discourage fighting, bullying and other misbehavior at a time when youth violence is on the rise.

“We want our students to go home the same way they came to school,” said Branndon Jackson, a school board member representing District 6 who helped arrange the initiative, which is modeled after a regional program.

Prince George’s County, a suburb of D.C., is one of many jurisdictions grappling with increasing youth violence. For three years, more adolescents than adults have been arrested on carjacking charges in the county. Last year, 92 juveniles were arrested — sometimes on school grounds — on suspicion of possessing a gun, according to county police department data.

While the number of juveniles arrested in homicides went down last year, some recent incidents involving teens have been deadly. In January, a Largo High School student was charged with murder in a shooting. Earlier that month, a 14-year-old boy was shot and critically injured during a robbery attempt near Northwestern High School in Hyattsville.

Jackson said the incidents compelled some county leaders to start brainstorming. They thought that bringing in trusted adults from the community could help fill a gap and prevent harm. They reviewed traffic patterns, recent events and other factors to determine which schools should be a part of the pilot.

The group, lead by Jackson, District Heights Commissioner Anthony Tilghman and three county council members — Jolene Ivey (D-District 5), Wala Blegay (D-District 6) and Krystal Oriadha (D-District 7) — picked six schools for the pilot: Suitland High School, Andrew Jackson Academy in Forestville, Central High School in Capitol Heights, Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Bladensburg High School and Largo High School.

D.C. officials launched a similar program in 2017 in response to student concerns about safety. Community organizations receive grants through the program, called Safe Passage Safe Blocks, and then place adults from the neighborhood along specific routes. D.C. officials promote the program as one of its best anti-violence initiatives and alternatives to policing, but it has drawn skepticism from parents in recent years over its effectiveness. Last year, a Safe Passage worker was fatally shot near Coolidge High School in Northwest Washington.

Adult volunteers in the Prince George’s County pilot program will begin their shifts this week. The goal is to have at least two volunteers near a designated intersection while students travel from school between 2 and 4 p.m. Volunteers are not paid, but they are provided with T-shirts, a vest and snacks. They are asked to talk with students but cannot touch any student, Jackson said. If an incident becomes unsafe, they are instructed to call the police.

Over the course of the pilot, organizers plan to aggregate data from the police department and school system that they hope shows the program makes a difference, Jackson said.

“The goal is to make a convincing case that this project should be fully funded — by the county or the state — to help our students get home safe,” he said.

About 125 volunteers have signed up. Jackson said the program needs about 175 more.

During a three-hour training Saturday at Largo High School, Derreck Cobbs — a volunteer from Bowie — said he was recruited by Jackson to join. Cobbs, 41, said he doesn’t have any children in the school system but does have a responsibility to serve his community. He emphasized that his job is “not to be police enforcement” but said the program could act as “a great deterrent.”

“The more eyes you have, the less likely someone is to do something that may not be good-natured,” he said.

Jasmine Hilton contributed to this report .

THE 10 CLOSEST Hotels to Yelokhovskiy Passage

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West Seattle swing bridge shutdown to bring slowdowns, truck detours, free rides

Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who use West Seattle’s lower swing bridge must find some other path for nine days, while city contractors move the span’s control tower cables.

The scheduled blockage, which is one phase of a multiyear renovation program , begins at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 20, and ends at 5 a.m. Monday, April 29. Both motor-vehicle lanes and the walk-bike trail will be closed.

The swing bridge, built in 1991, is a major truck route which provides the main access to container ship Terminal 5 west of the waterway, along with local industries and warehouses. So drivers can expect detouring semis on the high-rise bridge.

Historically , about 10,000 vehicles cross the low bridge per day, plus a few hundred people walking and bicycling, who can total 1,000 on warm days. It was a lifeline during the recent 2½-year repair closure of the seven-lane high-rise bridge, which reopened September 2022. Current volumes are still in flux and change drastically based on whether ships are docked on the Duwamish.

The low bridge is structurally sound but moving parts and underwater footings need extensive modernization, which the city has known and planned for years. In addition, the Seattle Department of Transportation took a harder look during the high-bridge closure, then found and repaired early-stage cracks in the low bridge girders, using epoxy and carbon wrap.

During the shutdown, free rides are offered on the West Seattle Water Taxi and King County Metro Transit buses crossing the river. These are funded by a voter-approved 2020 city sales-tax increase that’s available for a variety of transit purposes. To claim free trips, download Metro’s Transit Go app , find the “Rewards” section and enter LOWBRIDGE24.

Workers will relocate the drawspan control wires — which were mounted more than 30 years ago inside the West Seattle high-rise bridge ‘s hollow girders — into a conduit below the Duwamish Waterway, while replacing switches, communications lines and the circuitry that guides the motion of drawspans, a $5 million effort in total.

The old network contains parts that are no longer available, and moving the cables underground eliminates the chance any future work on the high bridge might hinder low-bridge operations, said SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson.

Last year, SDOT replaced the swing bridge’s two massive hydraulic cylinders, which each lift half the drawspan, so they can rotate, allowing ship passage.

Meanwhile, construction is underway on West Marginal Way Southwest, another common detour path. Trucks and general traffic converge upon a five-way intersection, at the western low-bridge approach.

Contractors are removing driveways, allowing for a “quiet zone” that requires less blasting of train horns in grade crossings. Walkways are also being added, apart from the rails. One northbound lane of Marginal has been blocked for months, making a complex area even trickier.

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