Northwest Passage and Northern Lights cruise

Kangerlussuaq→Kangerlussuaq

03.09.26 - 17.09.26

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Bookings for this date are closed, but the itinerary below is kept for reference. The same voyage usually returns in a following season — and there are other departures open right now.

V2526090314SH VEGA

Ports14

Countries3

Nights14

Embark on a captivating cruise from Greenland to Canada, tracing the historic ice-filled Northwest Passage. This luxurious round trip begins and ends in the vibrant capital of Nuuk, Greenland, and journeys through breathtaking locations like Sisimiut, Disko Bay, and Pond Inlet, eventually taking you to the dramatic Arctic waters of Canada's Nunavut. The cruise offers incredible encounters with varied landscapes and wildlife

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Explore Nunavut's Arctic coast, home to polar bears and narwhals, experience Greenland's iconic icebergs, and visit remote Inuit communities with colorful homes. Uncover the heritage of the Ilulissat Icefjord in Disko Bay and delve into the intriguing exploration history in places like Radstock Bay. Take part in a multitude of activities designed for an unforgettable luxury cruise experience. Engage in kayaking with the expedition team, enjoy expert lectures, and sharpen your photography skills. Spend leisurely sea days mingling with fellow travelers, or savor panoramic ocean views from the ship’s observation decks, all while soaking in the rich exploration history of this mesmerizing region

NOTE: This itinerary provides general information about each destination. Also, please be aware that some of the venues and highlights mentioned may not be open or accessible on the day we visit. For the most accurate tour program, we recommend contacting your Swan Hellenic agent or travel agent closer to your departure date.

Overview

Day 1

Kangerlussuaq

Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen

Day 2

Sisimiut

The second largest town in Greenland, just above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains remarkably ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub all year round. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Dorset, Thule and eventually the Inuit people, dog sledding remains a vital form of transportation. The area is home to humpback whales and Arctic foxes in their summer coat

Activities:

Optional

Inuit Historical Hike

2 hours

Explore Tele Island (Sallinnguit), where ancient Inuit artifacts and modern telecommunication installations coexist. Learn about Inuit life before European arrival, early colonization, and visit ruins from various eras. Enjoy breathtaking views of the town and historic hunting grounds.

Optional

ATV Backcountry Tour

2 hours

Explore Sisimiut’s rugged backcountry on an ATV adventure along its rare gravel road. Pass through the town, cross a river with pristine water, and reach a breathtaking viewpoint before retracing the scenic route. This thrilling experience requires an 18+ driver’s license and good physical fitness.

Included

Local cultural event incl. entrance to the Old Museum area

1 hour

Immerse yourself in Greenlandic culture through a tasting tent offering a selection of local specialties, a singing tent showcasing Greenlandic melodies, and a Greenland Dog presentation highlighting the sled dogs and their cultural significance. Experience the rich heritage, camaraderie, and traditions of Greenland in this unforgettable event.

Optional

Panoramic Sisimiut

2 hours

Explore Sisimiut and its scenic viewpoints on a guided tour that brings the town’s rich history and vibrant culture to life. Continuously inhabited for 4,500 years, Sisimiut blends ancient Inuit traditions with the rhythm of modern Arctic living. Over the past 250 years, it has grown from the colonial settlement of Holsteinsborg into Greenland’s second‑largest city, where contemporary industries and educational institutions stand alongside enduring hunting and fishing practices, offering a vivid glimpse into life north of the Arctic Circle. As you travel through town, the tour includes several stops for photos and time to enjoy the dramatic landscapes that surround Sisimiut. A special highlight is an exclusive visit to Sled Dog Town at Greenland Dog Adventure, where you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Greenland’s dog‑sledding heritage and learn about the Greenland Dog Preservation Program—an essential effort to protect one of the Arctic’s most iconic working animals.

Day 3

Disko Bay

Known for its Inuit culture, whales, and icebergs, Disko Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Western Greenland. The bay is also home to the Ilulissat Icefjord, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. First visited by Europeans in 1596 in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia, the region has been inhabited by Inuit communities for centuries. The village of Qeqertarsuaq embodies thriving Inuit traditions, preserving a rich and evolving cultural legacy

Activities:

Included

Expedition day at Disko Bay

Today is an expedition day. Landings and activities are subject to local weather and ice conditions on the day of operation. The final programme will be communicated by the Expedition Leader the day before, based on the most up-to-date weather forecasts and ice charts. Any additional activities will also be announced by the onboard team. If, for unforeseen reasons, a scheduled landing cannot take place as planned, alternative arrangements will be made by the Captain and the Expedition Leader. Flexibility and adaptability to changing weather conditions are the essence of expedition travel.

Day 4

Day at sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Day 5

Pond Inlet, NU

The views of snow-capped mountains have given Pond Inlet in northern Baffin Island the name of Canada’s ‘jewel of the north’ and the area is a prime breeding ground for narwhals, toothed whales with a distinct large tusk. The traditional Inuit community living in the hamlet of Mittimatalik are renowned for their craft skills from printmaking and stone carving

Activities:

Included

Pond Inlet Discovery & Community Activities

2 hours

Venture into the enchanting hamlet of Pond Inlet, also called Mittimatalik in Inuktitut, and discover this traditional Inuit haven drenched in history and culture. Come ashore by zodiac and get to know the daily lives of the community that thrives here with a visit to a remarkable sod house and to the meticulously curated Nattinak visitor’s centre to deepen your understanding of Inuit heritage.

Day 6

Croker Bay

Gracing the eastern high Arctic, Croker Bay, a mesmerising Arctic waterway, carves its way into Devon Island within the vibrant Qikiqtaaluk Region. This deep inlet, an extension of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, unveils a landscape of captivating beauty. The Devon ice cap feeds the huge South Croker Bay Glacier that calves into the bay

Activities:

Included

Expedition Day at Croker Bay

Day 7

Radstock Bay, NU

This area is closely associated with the exploration of Canada’s High Arctic and the Northwest Passage. Much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was mapped while searching for the missing crew of British explorer Sir John Franklin’s fateful 1845-46 Northwest Passage Expedition. Radstock Bay sits below the mighty Caswall Tower mountain and hides many secrets, with evidence of sledge tracks, camps and food tins that may help reveal what happened

Day 7

Beechey Island, NU

Beechey Island Sites, five historical locations in Canada’s High Arctic, mark where Sir John Franklin wintered in 1845–46 during his ill-fated Northwest Passage expedition. The search for his crew led to much of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago being mapped. Nearly six decades later, in 1903, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage

Activities:

Included

Expedition day at Beechey Island

Day 8

Port Leopold, NU

Port Leopold is a place of raw, rugged natural beauty and landscapes that evoke a sense of awe and wonder. The pristine wilderness and untouched terrain create a feeling of remoteness and isolation, while the Arctic wildlife that calls this place home adds a touch of wildness and unpredictability. The area's history as a former Hudson's Bay Company trading post also lends a sense of nostalgia and intrigue

Activities:

Included

Expedition day at Port Leopold

1 hour

Day 8

Batty Bay, NU

Uninhabited Batty Bay, Nunavut, part of Prince Regent Inlet on Somerset Island, features dramatic cliffs and hills and is a historic Arctic site. It saw early explorers like Sir John Franklin and Captain John Ross, who left boats there in 1832. Batty Bay's history and pristine Arctic setting continues to attract explorers and researchers. While not a beluga hotspot, the wider region sees significant beluga migrations

Day 9

Cruising Bellot Strait, NU

The Bellot Strait, named in honour of the French explorer Joseph-René Bellot, is a narrow, 2.3-km-wide, and 25-km-long waterway. It separates Somerset Island to the north from the Boothia Peninsula to the south. This strait played a historical role during an expedition to locate Sir John Franklin's lost expedition, tragically marked by Bellot's death in the area in 1853

Day 9

Strzelecki Harbor

Strzelecki Harbour, on the east coast of uninhabited Prince of Wales Island, lies within Peel Sound opposite Bellot Strait. Its nutrient-rich waters attract arctic marine mammals like beluga whales and narwhal, while the surrounding low tundra offers occasional sightings of polar bears and muskoxen. This remote island was first encountered by Europeans in 1851 during Sir Francis McClintock's search for the lost Franklin Expedition

Activities:

Included

Expedition day at Strzelecki Harbor

Day 10

Cunningham Inlet, NU

Cunningham Inlet, on the eastern side of Nunavut's Somerset Island, draws crowds of beluga whales each summer. Up to 2,000 whales gather around the Cunningham River estuary. The whales come to the inlet to mate, raise their young, socialise and shed their old, yellowed skin in the warm, shallow waters, revealing their snow-white epidermis beneath. Observers can witness these activities firsthand, often enjoying close-up views from the shore

Activities:

Included

Expedition day at Cunningham Inlet

Day 11

Day at sea

Day 12

Buchan Gulf, NU

Buchan Gulf, a remote Arctic fjord on Baffin Island's northeastern coast, is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for northern fulmars, who roost on the towering cliffs and rocks. Polar bears roam the shores of Icy Arm, a narrow fjord with the relics of an ancient Thule semi-subterranean home sitting on the edge of the boggy tundra. Pods of narwhals are at home in the deep waters of this glacial fjord system on eastern Baffin Island

Activities:

Included

Expedition day at Buchan Gulf

Day 13

Qikiqtarjuaq

Qikiqtarjuaq is a remote, beautiful Baffin Island community surrounded by towering mountains and glaciers. The rugged landscape and pristine wilderness offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, from kayaking to wildlife watching. The town's Inuit culture and traditions are still alive. But what sets Qikiqtarjuaq apart is the warmth and hospitality of its people, who welcome visitors and share their rich history and traditions with pride

Activities:

Included

Expedition day at Qikiqtarjuaq

Day 14

Day at Sea

Day 15

Kangerlussuaq

Onboard Experts & Lecturers

David Drewry

Professor David Drewry, a leading polar scientist, former Director of the British Antarctic Survey and a Chief Scientific Advisor at the UK Commission for UNESCO. David has led expeditions to the Arctic and worked extensively in Antarctica. He has been awarded the Polar Medal by HM Queen Elizabeth, and has a mountain and a glacier named after him in Antarctica. David brings unparalleled expertise in climate science, geophysics and glaciology

John Wright

John is a senior polar guide with extensive Arctic and Antarctic experience, including field work and two winters (one unplanned!) with the British Antarctic Survey and numerous expeditions to both Polar regions. Following his time with BAS, John had a long career in the British and Canadian Armies. In 1999 he was awarded the British Polar Medal with Antarctic and Arctic clasp by HM Queen Elizabeth II. He’s a Fellow of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society.