Arctic Express Canada: Northwest Passage

From Calgary to Calgary
  • All Arctic Cruises
  • Canadian Arctic & Alaska
  • Small Ship Cruising
  • Wildlife and Nature
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Tour Description

Discover the heart of the famous Northwest Passage as you explore the wildlife and wonders of the Canadian High Arctic.

The Northwest passage, the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is rich in history; historic sites left by expeditions of famous early explorers like Sir John Franklin and Roald Amundsen, as well as the fascinating Inuit people, who have called this wild and remote region home for almost 5000 years. Each day presents new opportunities, travel through the ancestral landscapes of remote Inuit communities, have the chance to spot polar bears, musk oxen and perhaps the elusive narwhal or Arctic wolf.  

The Ultramarine, a state of art ultra modern expedition ship will allow you to discover this region like never before. Equipped with 20-quick-launching Zodiacs, get out and explore, venturing near calving glaciers, and landing to walk in the natural environment. Onboard are two twin-engine helicopters, to take you on a scenic flight and see this breathtaking landscape from the air! 

This is a true expedition experience into one of the remote corners of the world.

Video Highlights

Viva's Best Bits...

Spot bird species, such as gyrfalcons and dovekies (little auks). Search for unique wildlife like polar bears, muskoxen, arctic wolves, or even elusive bowhead whales or narwhals.

Cruise on an innovative ultra modern expedition vessel equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and witness stunning polar landscapes from the air. Cruise in a Zodiac to get up close to glaciers, fjords, icebergs and more!

"If you don't know much about this region, start discovering today, the hardy Inuit culture, fascination early explorations to try and discover the Northwest passage...then go on this adventure to experience these remote corners yourself!" Tara, Team Viva

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Calgary

Your Arctic expedition begins in Calgary. Explore this vibrant city on your own before spending the night enjoying the comfort and amenities of your designated hotel.

Day 2
Calgary Embarkation in Resolute

This morning, board your charter flight to Resolute, Nunavut. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your ship via Zodiac or helicopter (depending on ship location and weather conditions).

Day 3-7
Exploring Canada’s High Arctic

Winding your way around the remote islands of the Canadian High Arctic aboard Ultramarine, the newest ship in our fleet, you’ll navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that fascinated legendary explorers of long ago as they searched for the fabled Northwest Passage, the great sea route at the top of the world. Designed to give polar adventurers unprecedented access to the hardest-to-reach places on the planet—and equipped with two onboard twin-engine helicopters for unparalleled access to areas only Quark Expeditions can bring you—this one-of-a-kind ship will take you beyond the familiar in polar exploration. Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team will work hard to give you a taste of the best the Canadian Arctic has to offer, immersing you in the heart of the Northwest Passage in under a week. You’ll quickly get a sense of one of the true wonders of the Canadian High Arctic: its staggering remoteness. It is here, in these rugged landscapes thousands of kilometres from civilization that so few outsiders have visited, that you’ll experience the true essence of the remote High Arctic.

While this waterway is known to European cultures as the Northwest Passage, these lands and waters have nurtured and sustained the Inuit and their predecessors who have called these shores home for almost 5,000 years. Moving through these remote landscapes you will be traveling through Inuit Nunangat, the ancestral homelands of the Inuit. Local guides will enhance the guest experience onboard and during shore excursions as they share their Inuit history and traditions. Nunavut is an Inuktitut word meaning “our land” and the Nunavummiut (the people of Nunavut) are renowned for their incredible resourcefulness, hospitality, good humor, and a deep knowledge of the land and animals that has allowed them to thrive in the far north for millennia.

Remote and rich in history, the Canadian High Arctic is as awe inspiring as it is informative. Your days spent exploring this mysterious region will have you traveling back in time to the Age of Exploration. While following in the footsteps of renowned explorers like Sir John Franklin and Roald Amundsen, you’ll navigate the waters and visit the historic sites in the area around Lancaster Sound that were key to the discovery of the Northwest Passage. You’ll also learn about the scientific, cultural, geopolitical and environmental aspects of the route from our world-class experts, guides and the local communities. Reaching remote lands that have lured adventurers for centuries will be an experience you’ll never forget.

Wildlife sightings are likely, as many of the areas we hope to explore are home to a surprising number of birds and mammals that thrive in this challenging environment. You may see polar bears, muskoxen and several bird species, such as gyrfalcons and thick-billed murres. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the elusive narwhal or a bowhead whale, though sightings of these iconic creatures in the wild are rare, even in places where we have the greatest chances of encountering them.

Coburg Island, for instance, is a wildlife reserve for such birds as thick-billed murres (Brünnich’s guillemot), black- legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars and black guillemots, while the impressive vertical cliffs of Prince Leopold Island are dotted with nesting seabirds like northern fulmars and black guillemots. The sheltered shores and steep cliffs of Arctic Bay, a hamlet located in Admiralty Inlet, provide an ideal nesting habitat for various High Arctic birds such as thick- billed murres (Brünnich’s guillemots) and kittiwakes. This community, whose inhabitants’ ancestors have lived a traditional Inuit nomadic lifestyle in the region for almost 5,000 years, is also an ideal spot to go ashore and learn more about the Inuit culture, sampling the local cuisine and mingling with artists, perhaps picking up carvings or other handicrafts as a memento of your polar adventure.

Devon Island is another possible locale for wildlife encounters, as walrus, polar bears and muskoxen inhabit the area, which is also the location of the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost, established at Dundas Harbour in 1924 to curb foreign whaling and other activities. Here you’ll find a small cemetery, one of Canada’s most northerly, still maintained by the RCMP to this day. Another exciting excursion your Expedition Team might offer, conditions permitting, is the opportunity to fly up to explore the Devon ice cap, one of the largest in the Canadian Arctic.


At the western end of Devon Island, windswept Beechey Island might be small, but it’s steeped in history, as its broad shore and safe anchorage made a suitable stopover for Arctic expeditions. You’ll want to pay your respects to the ill-fated Franklin expedition of 1845–46 at the small marked graves of three crew members on the island, one of Canada’s most significant historical sites. This is also where Norwegian Roald Amundsen stopped to pay his own respects to his childhood hero, Franklin, during his 1903–06 voyage, which became the first successful transit of the Northwest Passage.

History buffs will be further intrigued by the chance to explore an abandoned Hudson’s Bay Company trading post at Fort Ross, at the southern end of Somerset Island.

Fort Ross is at the eastern entrance of Bellot Strait. One of the goals of this expedition is to transit this famous channel, one of the most narrow and challenging of the passage. If we’re successful, at the midpoint you’ll sail past Zenith Point, the northernmost point of continental North America. Named for Frenchman Joseph Bellot, one of several explorers who set out in the 1850s to search for Franklin’s doomed expedition, the strait separates Somerset Island from the Boothia Peninsula on mainland Canada. (On Beechey Island, you can visit the memorial to Bellot, who disappeared during his search for Franklin.)

Those looking for even more excitement may have the opportunity to cruise by Zodiac along the face of an active glacier near Croker Bay, Devon Island and possibly even witness the wonder of calving ice, at a safe distance. Listen closely for the steady crackle and loud roars as pieces of ice break off and crash into the water below. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for walruses that are occasionally spotted in this area.

There is no shortage of natural beauty, wildlife and history in Canada’s High Arctic. Each day, you’ll discover something new and inspiring, whether it is admiration of the tundra flora that survive here, a rare bird species soaring overhead, a polar bear on the hunt in its natural habitat, or the ancient remains of a Thule dwelling, ancestors of the Inuit.

Remember that no two polar voyages are alike, since each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice conditions. While this voyage has no fixed itinerary, our objective is to visit as many of the incredible highlights the season has to offer, using the opportunities provided by the weather and ice to give you the best experience. Each day, your highly skilled Expedition Team will read the conditions and choose the best course to set, but despite their extensive expertise in these areas, each visit brings something new to discover. That said, our expeditions will have some elements in common, including daily Zodiac cruising, land excursions, a robust education program, a community visit and wildlife viewing opportunities. And thanks to our onboard helicopters, you’ll also discover the ultimate polar expedition experience: as stunning as polar landscapes are from your ship, they’re even more striking from the air! Conditions permitting, you’ll enjoy ultra-immersive activities like flightseeing (short sightseeing flights around your ship and surrounding areas), as well as kayaking, Zodiac cruising and hiking, to name a few.

Day 8
Disembark in Resolute Calgary

After disembarking in the Inuit hamlet of Resolute, you’ll be transferred to your charter flight to Calgary, where you’ll spend the night at your included hotel.

Day 9
Depart Calgary

Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights, or spend the day exploring this fascinating city.

What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage
  • Included Copy 20 Beer and wine during dinner; and cofee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
  • Included Copy 20 Guiding and leadership by expert exploration team and crew
  • Included Copy 20 All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Included Copy 20 A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • Included Copy 20 A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan
  • Included Copy 20 An official expedition parka to keep
  • Included Copy 20 All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • Included Copy 20 Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
  • Included Copy 20 Transfer & charter flight package to Resolute
  • Included Copy 31 Optional Activities: kayaking and paddling (additional cost)
  • Included Copy 7 International flights, visas, Gratuities, Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges
  • Included Copy 7 Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance — strongly recommended
Transportation

Ultramarine

199 Passengers

Activities

  • Included Hiking and walks in the stunning polar landscapes of the Canadian High Arctic
  • Included Wildlife observation; muskoxen, snowy owls and peregrine falcons
  • Included Flightseeing and heli landing in a twin engine helicopter - see the Arctic from the air!
  • Included Possible polar bear encounters
  • Included Zodiac excursions to visit isolated bays and glaciers
  • Included Dare to take a polar plunge!
  • Included Follow in the footsteps of early explorers - explore the heart of the Northwest Passage
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Duration

9 days

Price from

$9,190 $6,312 USD

Per person, sharing

Based on a triple share cabin

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