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Peregrine Travel Centre

The Iconic Northwest Passage – Across the Top of the World

The Iconic Northwest Passage – Across the Top of the World

From AUD $44,795

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Description

Sail along the top of the world
The Northwest Passage has long captured explorers’ imaginations, threading through ice-choked seas and remote Arctic archipelagos. This voyage celebrates the legacy of explorers like Sir John Franklin and Roald Amundsen, as we sail from the Canadian Arctic towards Greenland, through Baffin Island and other iconic regions at the top of the planet.
A historic voyage
This is a route shaped first by indigenous knowledge, rooted in the remarkable migration of the Thule people, ancestors of today’s Inuit, who travelled eastward from the Alaska, all the way across the Arctic through Canada and Greenland over centuries. You’ll learn about the histories that shaped life in this region and visit communities living in some of Earth’s most extreme environments. All experiences are led by our Cultural Ambassadors, the local experts who know this region best.

Trip Name
The Iconic Northwest Passage – Across the Top of the World
Days
25
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Ship Length: 140 metres Passenger Capacity: 530 Built: 2019 MS Roald Amundsen is a modern expedition ship named after the legendary Norwegian polar explorer who first reached the South Pole. Built in 2019 at Kleven Yards in Norway, the vessel is purpose-designed for voyages in polar and remote waters, combining exploration capability with a strong focus on environmental performance. As one of the world’s first hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships, she uses battery-assisted electric propulsion to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by up to 20 percent, setting a new standard for more sustainable expedition travel. With a capacity of 490 guests, she serves as a comfortable and efficient base camp at sea for journeys to some of the planet’s most extreme and spectacular regions. Onboard, Scandinavian design principles define both public spaces and accommodation, using natural materials such as granite, oak, birch, and wool to create a calm, functional, and refined atmosphere. All cabins are outside-facing, with around half featuring private balconies, while selected suites offer private outdoor hot tubs. Key facilities include a two-level indoor/outdoor Observation Deck, a Science Centre at the core of the expedition experience, multiple dining venues inspired by regional flavours, and comprehensive wellness amenities including a gym, sauna, spa, infinity pool, and hot tubs. Together, these features position MS Roald Amundsen as a technologically advanced and thoughtfully designed vessel, built to support immersive exploration without compromising comfort or environmental responsibility.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Set Sail from Vancouver
 Gateway to the Pacific and the ArcticYour adventure begins in Vancouver, the bustling Pacific seaport framed by steep mountains and lush forests. Wander the Victorian streets of Gastown, explore the seawall and towering cedar groves of Stanley Park, and, if you’re looking for somewhere to eat, some of the best food in North America is right here. The seafood and farm-to-table cooking is exceptional.You’ll spend the night here, before an early flight north to Alaska the following morning. This is the calm before the Arctic…
Day 2 - Day 2 There's No Place like Nome
 A frontier town at the edge of the ArcticToday you’ll take an early flight from Vancouver to Nome, Alaska, where your ship awaits for an adventure through the famed Northwest Passage and beyond.Nome is a small coastal town on the edge of the Bering Sea. Once a boomtown of the 1898 Gold Rush, it still carries traces of its frontier past in rusting dredges, old steam engines, and railway remnants. The town also drew big names, including Wyatt Earp, who opened a saloon here, and it later became the endpoint for three of Roald Amundsen’s polar expeditions.That legacy of ambition and exploration sets the stage for what’s to come… Once on board, collect your expedition jacket, settle into your cabin, meet the Expedition Team, and get ready for the adventure.
Day 3 - Day 3–6 Bering and Beaufort Seas
 Crossing the Arctic thresholdThese early sea days are your introduction to the rhythms of the Arctic. Passing through the Bering Strait, the coastline drops away, and the Beaufort Sea reveals wide open vistas. Keep watch for seabirds tracking the route, and bowhead whales surfacing, particularly near Point Barrow, which is the northernmost point of the United States. If there’s sea ice, we may also spot Pacific walruses gathered on the floes.You’ll also have the chance to join onboard lectures and science sessions. These might delve into Arctic ecosystems, ice dynamics, and regional history. It’s a time to observe, learn, and adjust to the polar environment.
Day 4 - Day 7–9 Inuvialuit Homelands
 Living coastlines across the Western Canadian ArcticThis stretch of the Western Canadian Arctic feels elemental: rugged coastlines, tundra plateaus, and communities along the fjords that live in close harmony with the land.Over these few days we’ll sail along the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and where conditions allow, explore shorelines up close on Zodiacs, landing for guided hikes, and visiting places like Ulukhaktok on Victoria Island: a small but culturally rich settlement known for its printmaking and strong artistic traditions.
Day 5 - Day 10 Science at Sea
 Life on board in the polar rhythmSea days in the Northwest Passage are yours to enjoy at your own pace. In the Science Centre, there may be opportunities to join lectures on Arctic wildlife, hear from regional experts, or sharpen your skills in a photography workshop.Between sessions, the ship can feel like a front-row seat to the Arctic. Admire the sweeping landscape from the deck’s hot tub, unwind in the sauna, or settle into a quiet corner with a book and a coffee.
Day 6 - Day 11–13 Franklin Country
 Historic waters of the central Canadian ArcticThis stretch moves through some of the most historically significant waters of the Northwest Passage. Small communities such as Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven lie in vast landscapes marked by ancient travel routes and thousands of years of Inuit life.Gjoa Haven on King William Island is closely tied to the story of Franklin’s lost expedition in 1845, which ended nearby, and to the Inuit oral histories that later helped piece together what happened. The name ‘Gjoa’ also carries Amundsen’s legacy. He navigated this passage aboard the vessel Gjøa and sheltered in this harbour during his historic transit of the Northwest Passage, marking a defining moment in polar exploration history.
Day 7 - Day 14 Relaxing at Sea
 Through the Central Arctic StraitsToday we navigate the narrow waterways at the heart of the Northwest Passage.As we move between islands and shifting floes, the landscape reveals a stark beauty: low tundra shores, scattered icebergs, and vast horizons under an ever-changing Arctic sky. Wildlife may make an appearance, such as seals resting on the ice, or seabirds tracing our route overhead. This is a place where you really feel a powerful sense of isolation and discovery.
Day 8 - Day 15–16 Towards Prince of Wales Island
 Into the ice edgeThis part of the voyage offers a real sense of Arctic exploration, surrounded by thick sea ice.We approach Prince of Wales Island, one of the larger islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago passage, set between Somerset and Victoria Islands. Navigating these high-latitude waters in northern Nunavut, we keep watch for the ice edge: the shifting boundary between open water and sea ice, and adjust our route according to conditions. If ice and weather allow, we may launch the Zodiacs to explore sheltered bays, gaining a closer perspective on the low-lying tundra, and if we’re lucky, encountering the local wildlife in its natural environment.
Day 9 - Day 17–19 Lancaster Sound
 The High Arctic HighwayEntering Lancaster Sound, we reach one of the Arctic’s key marine corridors, between Baffin and Devon Islands. It’s a stunning region of towering cliffs and glacially carved coastlines, where you might even spot narwhals, seals, and seabirds.This area also played a major role in early searches for the Northwest Passage, when explorers attempted to navigate through the Arctic Archipelago. Today, it remains an active migration route for wildlife, as well as a historic exploration corridor.
Day 10 - Day 20–22 Eastern Baffin Island
 Fjords and Inuit frontiersEastern Baffin Island reveals some of the most dramatic scenery of the voyage. Towering fjords cut deep into the coastline, while glaciers descend towards the sea in vast, sculptural forms. The sense of scale is truly immense.We explore this landscape by Zodiac, navigating through ice-fringed waters and along sheer cliff faces that rise straight from the sea, particularly in the waters of Sirmilik National Park. These journeys bring us into close contact with the region’s raw geography and shifting ice.We also call at Pond Inlet, a welcoming Inuit community at the gateway to the park. Here, you’ll gain insight into daily life in the High Arctic.
Day 11 - Day 23–24 Crossing Baffin Bay
 Watch for wildlife and get involved in Citizen ScienceLeaving Canada’s Nunavut region behind, we cross Baffin Bay towards Greenland.The adventure continues through science and storytelling, with onboard lectures and Citizen Science activities such as NASA cloud observation supporting global climate research.Our Cultural Ambassadors continue to share perspectives on Inuit life across the Arctic, linking communities separated by water but connected by history and culture.It’s a reflective passage: quiet, expansive, and atmospheric.
Day 12 - Day 25 Old and New in Nuuk, flight back to Copenhagen
 The trip concludes in colourful NuukYour trip ends in Nuuk, Greenland’s compact capital. Striking contrasts define this city: traditional wooden houses sit alongside contemporary architecture, including the Greenland Parliament Building.Explore Nuuk Cathedral and Hans Egede House, or walk the harbour where fishing vessels and modern maritime activity share the same waters.From here, you fly to Copenhagen, carrying memories of a journey shaped by ice, culture, and the vast scale of the Arctic world.
Day 13 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
24-08-202817-09-2028AUD $44,795Polar Outside. From
24-08-202817-09-2028AUD $49,240Arctic Superior. From
24-08-202817-09-2028AUD $63,665Expedition Suite. From

Inclusions

    • Sail through one of the world’s most legendary routes, tracing the Northwest Passage and the fjords of Baffin Island in one epic voyage.
    • The rare chance to visit remote Inuit communities including Ulukhaktok, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, and Pond Inlet, with expedition experiences created by local residents.
    • Gain insight throughout the journey from our onboard Cultural Ambassadors, who share stories of Inuit heritage, language, and Arctic life.

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