Set off on a voyage of exploration from Greenland into the fabled Northwest Passage, a legendary Arctic sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans along the north coast of the Americas.
This labyrinth of channels weaves over 1,000 miles between the islands of Canada's Arctic Archipelago and has been the five-century dream of explorers in search of a route to Asia. Early explorers battled ice and horrific conditions, their stories preserved in the annals of polar history, but ultimately failing in their quest until the Norwegian Roald Amundsen became the first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage between 1903 and 1906.
This short-cut across the top of the globe avoids the long detour around Cape Horn saving thousands of miles on a sea voyage between Europe and the Orient, but these waterways far north of the Arctic Circle remain blocked by sea-ice for much of the year. However, in recent years the ice's grip on the far north has been loosened by global climate change and the Passage has opened for a short window during late summer.
The waters of the Northwest Passage are home to an abundance of Arctic wildlife; polar bears, walrus, narwhal, musk oxen, as well as enormous numbers of seabirds, whales and seals. Along this voyage encounter the Inuit people, vast glaciers, sculpted icebergs and breath-taking Arctic landscapes.
Being a true expedition, the routing and timing of this voyage will be determined by the weather and ice conditions encountered. The expedition is timed for the peak of the Arctic summer in early August when the sea-ice is approaching its minimum, but even so pack ice will be encountered. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will be assisted by an expert ice navigator to plot routes through the ice, and a team of expedition guides will accompany the voyage to manage excursions to visit these wild coasts far from civilization.
From Greenland across the Davis Strait into Arctic Canada: north along the fjords of Baffin Island, through Lancaster Sound and Devon Island, and on through Bellot Strait to Resolute. The routing is approximate, shaped by ice and weather.
Please note that the itinerary described below is for guidance only and the actual areas visited and route taken will depend on ice, weather and sea conditions. The ability to leave plans flexible is essential in this region, and the Captain and Expedition Leader will keep you informed regarding the plans for the voyage.
Arrive by private air into Kangerlussuaq. If you wish, take time to visit the icecap, airbase museum or old military installations before overnighting at a local hotel.
After a short flight from Kangerlussuaq, arrive in Ilulissat, meaning "Icebergs." The town is well named as it is located next to the fjord leading to Sermeq Kujalleq, the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, which fills this fjord with some of the largest icebergs found outside of the Antarctic. The Ilulissat icefjord is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depending on arrival time there may be the opportunity for some activities in or around the town before embarking your expedition yacht.
Departing from Greenland, set sail across the Davis Strait towards Arctic Canada.
Depending on ice and sea conditions, cruise north to the fjords of Northeastern Baffin Island. Deep fjords cut into the towering mountains producing magnificent landscape of sheer cliffs plunging to the sea. Explore this intricate coastline, enjoy breathtaking views, and search for the first polar bears of the voyage.
With a population of approximately 1,400, Pond Inlet is the largest of the four Canadian Arctic hamlets above the 72nd parallel. The settlement is known to Inuit as Mittimatalik, meaning "the place where Mittima is buried". Although the name remains, the identity of Mittima is a mystery to the present-day people of Pond Inlet. The residents of Pond Inlet have a rich culture of hunting and enjoy one of Nunavut's most scenic locations with fantastic views across the iceberg-strewn channel to the mountains and glaciers of Bylot Island and Sirmilik National Park.
Croker Bay is one of many deep fjords that indent the south coast of Devon Island. This 25-mile-long deep water bay terminates with two massive tidewater glaciers. Sea ice and glacial debris ice can often be found drifting here late into the summer, and it is a prime area for wildlife. Amazing examples of Arctic landscapes from lowland plains to terraced mountains can be seen in this huge fjord, and the tidewater glaciers are some of the most impressive in this part of the Arctic.
Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island in the world, an area slightly smaller than the country of Croatia. Robert Bylot and William Baffin were the first Europeans to sight the island in 1616. Dundas Harbour is an abandoned settlement where several buildings from a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) post remain along with nearby archaeological sites. An outpost was established at the harbour in August 1924 as part of a government policy to establish a Canadian presence; one intended to curb foreign whaling and other activity.
The Bellot Strait is a very narrow passage that separates Somerset Island from the Murchison Promontory of Boothia Peninsula, and connects Franklin Strait with the Gulf of Boothia. The strait is 18 miles long and its width is reduced to less than half a mile in its fjord-like central section as it passes Zenith Point, the northernmost point of mainland North America. The Bellot Strait is named for Lieutenant Joseph René Bellot of the French Navy, the first European to discover it in 1852. Exploration of the area by helicopter and zodiac will highlight the raw nature of this possible pathway.
The community's English name, Resolute Bay is in honour of the HMS Resolute, one of the ships in the Franklin search expedition. Disembark your expedition yacht and tour the small town and nearby archaeological sites, before a charter flight to Iqaluit and onwards jet travel.
Polar bears, walrus, narwhal, musk oxen, as well as enormous numbers of seabirds, whales and seals.
Wildlife of the Northwest PassageYour expedition will be supported by both an on-board EYOS Expedition team and by a strong shore-based team on hand to provide 24/7 support for the duration of the voyage. Together we are underpinned by several decades of Arctic experience.
We are passionate about the Arctic and genuinely look forward to sharing it with you. Although our field staff members have completed hundreds of expeditions in polar latitudes, we have never lost our enthusiasm for ice and the adventures that it provides.
EYOS Expeditions is an active member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. AECO was founded in 2003 and is an international organization for expedition cruise operators dedicated to managing respectful, environmentally-friendly and safe expeditions in the Arctic.
Please visit the link below for important information and guidelines for all Arctic visitors: aeco.no/guidelines/visitor-guidelines
A private expedition through the Northwest Passage by chartered yacht, with the support of the EYOS team. To plan a voyage, we would be glad to help.