Northwest Passage Expedition - Eastbound

Upon arriving in Calgary, check in at our group hotel near the airport. Stop by the hospitality desk to pick up your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team. They will provide important information about pre-embarkation procedures and the charter flight to Cambridge Bay scheduled for tomorrow. Ensure you label your luggage tags clearly with your name and ship cabin number.

Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown / Beltline District (or similar)

Make sure your luggage is properly tagged with your name and cabin number. Keep all valuables and personal items with you throughout the day. Your luggage will be delivered to your cabin prior to your arrival on board.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before boarding our charter flight to Cambridge Bay, where the Greg Mortimer will be ready to welcome you. After boarding, take some time to get comfortable in your cabin before attending the mandatory safety briefings. This evening, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your expedition team and crew members.

Our adventure commences as we head east through The Northwest Passage. In 1859, explorers discovered a Franklin expedition tent camp at Cape Felix. Throughout King William Island and the nearby Adelaide Peninsula, remains from the Franklin expedition have been uncovered at 35 different sites. Later today, we plan to explore Victoria Strait, south of Cape Felix, where we aim to visit Victory Point, near the historic sites where HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were abandoned in 1848.

Places are where we hope to visit:

Prince Leopold Island: Located south of Lancaster Sound from Beechey Island, this historic site features towering bird cliffs where English explorer James Clark Ross overwintered in 1848 during the search for the missing Franklin expedition. It is the most important bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic, with around 500,000 birds nesting in summer. Ringed seals are often seen on the sea ice, and polar bears are frequently nearby. The shallow gravel beds attract beluga whales, which come to moult each summer.

Cunningham Inlet: On the north coast of Somerset Island, when conditions align, you can witness hundreds of beluga whales shedding their skin on shallow sandy banks. The local scenery is ideal for guided walks, with waterway trails leading to waterfalls and higher ground.

Prince Regent Inlet, Fort Ross: Sailing down the east coast of Somerset Island, you may spot beluga whales and narwhals feeding on arctic char in Creswell Bay. This important bird area attracts species like black-bellied plovers, king eiders, and white-rumped sandpipers. At Fort Ross, visit an abandoned Hudson’s Bay Company trading outpost from 1937. Enjoy guided tundra walks.

Bellot Strait: This deep, windy waterway is marked by strong tidal currents and steep slopes. Navigation is best during slack water times. Point Zenith, the northernmost continental point of the Americas, is located here. Due to swirling currents up to 10 knots, Bellot Strait is better transited during eastbound voyages, as an alternative route through Peel Sound is available if needed.

Coningham Bay: Situated across from Victoria Strait on Prince of Wales Island, this bay is a polar bear hotspot. Bears often feast on beluga whales trapped in the rocky shallows. Whale skeletons and healthy-looking polar bears are common sights.

King William Island: Remains of the Franklin expedition have been found at 35 locations here and on nearby Adelaide Peninsula. South of Cape Felix, in Victoria Strait, we hope to approach where the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were abandoned in 1848.

Situated nearly 75° north in latitude, we are now deep within the High Arctic. This region's nutrient-rich waters sustain a vibrant array of wildlife, earning it the nickname "wildlife super highway" of the Arctic. Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on the planet, boasts remarkable geology with its flat-topped mountains and glacial valleys that define its unique landscape. Our planned visit to Dundas Harbour offers opportunities for walks across rolling tundra and potential birdwatching. Other destinations we hope to explore include Croker Bay and Maxwell Bay. Here, we can find the remains of an old Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost and a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. Walruses are often spotted in these bays.

On the western edge of Devon Island lies Beechey Island, our next intended landing site. Named after Frederick William Beechey, this island is one of Canada's most significant arctic locations and is designated as a Canadian National Historic Site. The Franklin expedition of 1845–46, which sought to navigate the Northwest Passage with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, ended tragically with three of Franklin's men buried here. Beechey Island also marks the spot where Roald Amundsen landed in 1903 during the first successful ship voyage to completely traverse the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

As we sail through inlets and fjords, you'll be surrounded by towering mountains showcasing remarkable geology. Some potential stops on our journey include Home Bay, Sillem Island, John Ford Fjord, Sam Ford Fjord, and Scott Inlet. If conditions allow, we'll go ashore at Pond Inlet, where the local community will extend a warm welcome.

Bylot Island, covered with mountains, icefields, steep cliffs, snowfields, and glaciers, provides nesting habitats for numerous thick-billed murres and black-legged kittiwakes. This island hosts a total of 74 unique Arctic bird species. Due to its rich wildlife and diverse, beautiful landscapes, a significant portion of Bylot Island was designated as part of Sirmilik National Park in 2001. Our plan includes sailing along the coastline of Bylot Island to enjoy its stunning scenery and exceptional birdlife.

This captivating island shares many characteristics with Iceland rather than Greenland. While its interior is dominated by mountains and glaciers, its stunning shorelines feature black sandy beaches, unique basalt columns, hot springs, and striking lava formations. Take a Zodiac cruise in Disko Bay, where the fascinating geology is on full display. The area is also a hotspot for marine life, including humpback, fin, minke, and bowhead whales.

Dubbed the 'birthplace of icebergs,' this area is renowned for producing some of the planet’s most spectacular ice formations. Embark on a hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Icefjord and marvel at its sheer scale. Sermeq Kujalleq, also known as Jakobshavn Glacier, is the most prolific glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, generating 20 million tonnes of ice each day. This ice flows into the Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay. If conditions allow, you can enjoy a Zodiac cruise at the fjord’s mouth or kayak among the sea ice and icebergs. For a truly unique experience, consider an optional 90-minute helicopter flight over the icefjord.

Optional helicopter flight (90 mins): This excursion offers the exclusive opportunity to approach the enormous glacier up close. Departing from Ilulissat Airport, the 12-seater helicopter flies over hills, lakes, and ice fjords, landing on the mountain at Kangia, in the heart of the preserved area. Here, you can immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscape. On the return journey to Ilulissat, the flight passes over the glacier’s edge, offering stunning views of massive icebergs drifting in the fjord. The sight of some of the largest icebergs, which become stranded on an underwater moraine just outside the town, provides a magnificent finale to this excursion. Please note that a minimum of eight passengers is required for this excursion to operate.

We reach Sisimiut, Greenland’s second-largest town. Situated about 54 kilometers (33.5 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut offers the unique experience of the midnight sun during the summer. The town is renowned for its historic blue church, featuring a gate made of whale bone. Next to the church, the cozy museum showcases an impressive reconstruction of an Inuit turf house and exhibits detailing local history and early life in Greenland.

Sisimiut boasts a variety of hiking trails suitable for different skill levels. The easier trails take you through the town, its outskirts, and into the surrounding mountains, offering breathtaking views from spectacular vantage points.

Approximately 4,500 years ago, the Saqqaq culture migrated from Canada and settled in this area, living here for around 2,000 years before mysteriously vanishing. The Dorset culture arrived around 500 CE and remained until the 1200s, after which they were succeeded by the Thule culture. Today, most residents of Sisimiut are descendants of the Thule culture.

In Nuuk, bid farewell to the crew, expedition team, and fellow travelers before taking a Zodiac shuttle ashore. Transfer to the airport for a charter flight to Toronto, where you'll spend the night.

Accommodation: Westin Toronto Airport Hotel (or similar)  

Enjoy breakfast and continue your journey.