Northwest Passage: The Legendary Arctic Sea Route

17 daysNo reviews yet
Polar
Wildlife
From
CAD $20,888

Be an (ultra)modern-day explorer on remote Arctic seas

Put down your mobile phone and answer the call of the wild on this adventure across the waters of the Canadian Arctic. Encounter Inuit culture, explore landscapes that bring the drama, spot unique wildlife and holiday like an explorer of old (except, you know, with a sauna and helicopters). From Reykjavik, fly to the western shores of Greenland and begin your Arctic exploration on board a state-of-the-art expedition vessel. Cross the Davis Strait to remote landing sites on Baffin Island, scouring the skies for migrating birds and the waters for whale pods. Your journey will take you high to the Northwest Passage, sailing through immense fjords, past calving glaciers and to some of the world’s most remote shores. True wilderness has never been closer than during these 17 days in the Arctic.

Map of Northwest Passage: The Legendary Arctic Sea Route including Canada, Greenland and Iceland
Trip code: BQMN
Start
Reykjavik, Iceland
End
Calgary, Canada
Destinations
Iceland, Greenland, Canada
Meals
16 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 14 dinners
Transport
Ship, Zodiac, Plane
Accommodation
Expedition Cruise Ship (14 nights), Comfortable Hotel (2 nights)
Days
17
Group size
Min 1
Ages
Min 8
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Polar, Wildlife
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Orginal: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders
Comfort
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip

Discover highlights of both Greenland and the Canadian Arctic on a polar expedition that focuses on remote natural landscapes, ancient Inuit cultures and unique wildlife sightings.

See the colourful villages of Greenland’s western shores, framed by natural canals and jagged peaks, stopping in to learn about Inuit and Thule histories.

Take to the water – and the skies – on a series of included Zodiac cruises and helicopter jaunts, taking you to places otherwise inaccessible to human beings.

After days spent exploring the Arctic wilderness, chill out (and warm up) in an ultra-modern vessel complete with multiple dining, bar and lounge areas, plus health and wellness facilities.

Enjoy encounters with the Arctic’s impressive wildlife, including whales, walrus and musk oxen, and appreciate the sweeping vistas of colourful tundra, striking fjords and calving glaciers.

Boats

Ultramarine
Ultramarine
BOAT TYPE: ExpeditionPASSENGERS: 199
If you’re looking to take your polar adventure to the next level, Ultramarine is designed to help you discover amazing new places and see the very best of the spectacular polar regions. Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, Ultramarine helps travellers access a wide variety of activities while featuring spacious suites, incredible public spaces, and a huge range of outdoor wildlife viewing vantage points. It also features an innovative mix of sustainability features that exceed all industry standards. Other features include an all-inclusive bar and a helicopter landing pad, with sightseeing flights included in the voyages. Please note: Helicopter operations are not permitted in certain regions such as Svalbard and South Georgia. These restrictions are in place to protect the landscape and wildlife of these areas.
Explore features
Ocean Explorer exterior from a distance with a large iceberg in the foreground
Ocean Explorer
BOAT TYPE: ExpeditionPASSENGERS: 138
The Ocean Explorer is the new way to see the Polar region in style. Purpose-built for exploration, this ship features a fleet of modern Zodiacs, large windows perfect for spotting Polar wildlife, two outdoor Jacuzzis, modern cabins in Scandinavian design, private verandahs in almost all rooms, a spacious gym and sauna and a two-storey, light-filled library. Coupled with plenty of outdoor viewing areas, this ship is the perfect setting for avid photographers, marine enthusiasts and sustainability-conscious explorers.
Explore features
This itinerary is valid for departures from 26 August 2025 to 11 September 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 07 August 2026 - 23 August 2026

Itinerary

Map of Northwest Passage: The Legendary Arctic Sea Route including Canada, Greenland and Iceland

Inclusions and activities

Meals

16 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 14 dinners

Transport

Ship, Zodiac, Plane

Accommodation

Expedition Cruise Ship (14 nights), Comfortable Hotel (2 nights)

Is this trip right for you?

  • You will be supplied with an expedition parka and waterproof boots that are sturdy and warm. Please see the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for a detailed guide on what to bring with you.
  • On this journey, you will climb in and out of small Zodiac boats quite regularly to explore and search for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac.
  • Sturdy sea legs are needed for wet and dry landings by Zodiac, and you will be hiking on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces.
  • The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and, although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially in such a remote area.

Dates and availability

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Important notes

This trip starts In Reykjavik, Iceland and finishes in Calgary, Canada

In 2025 this trip is onboard the Ultramarine ship
In 2026 this trip is onboard the Ocean Explorer ship

Your voyage is operated by our polar partners, Quark Expeditions. All accommodation and transfer arrangements as listed in the itinerary are also operated by Quark Expeditions or their local representatives.

BOOKING CONDITIONS
To confirm your reservation, a deposit of 25% (unless indicated otherwise at time of booking) of the total invoice amount is required at time of booking. Balances are due 120 days prior to departure.
Please refer to the "Booking terms and conditions" page on our website for all Quark Expedition terms and conditions. http://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-intrepid/booking-conditions

ADVENTURE OPTIONS
Kayaking and day paddle are optional activities available to book on this trip. These activities must be booked prior to departure and incurs an additional cost. Spaces are limited so please enquire at time of booking. To participate in kayaking, previous, recent experience is essential. In addition, there are other included optional activities offered on some voyages such as hiking. This activity does not need to be booked in advance and no additional cost applies.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

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Northwest Passage: The Legendary Arctic Sea Route
From
CAD $20,888