Sailing the Northwest Passage: a Hurtigruten Expedition

Your adventure begins in the Emerald City of Seattle, on the Pacific coast of the United States.

Why not arrive early and head to the Seattle Aquarium to see sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus. Or for incredible views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains, take a stroll through the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, admiring the work of renowned artists as you go. And for a feast of the senses, visit the famous Pike Place Market. Operating for over a century, this lively farmer’s market boasts everything from buskers and bars to salmon-throwing fishmongers!

You’ll spend the night here in Seattle before your connecting flight to Alaska tomorrow.

If you have the time to go farther afield, we recommend booking a pre-cruise stay and discovering some of the region’s natural highlights.

Today you’ll take an early flight from Seattle to Nome, Alaska, where your state-of-the art expedition ship awaits to take you on a journey through the famed Northwest Passage and beyond.

Prospectors first came to Nome in 1898, and people still hunt for gold here today. You’ll see evidence of the Gold Rush era all around, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the century steam engines and old railroad tracks, lending the town a unique and intriguing atmosphere.

You’ll be in good company as you explore the town. Wyatt Earp, the famous sheriff, opened a saloon here. Nome was also the end point of three of Roald Amundsen’s great polar expeditions.

Upon boarding the ship and after collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it’s time to check out your cabin, meet the Expedition Team and explore your new home-from-home. Your adventure has truly begun!

Pic: Oscar Farerra /HX

Join the Expedition Team for insightful lectures as you journey through the Beaufort Sea towards Amundsen Gulf, the gates to the Northwest Passage, on this eastbound transit. Topics might include subjects such as wildlife, tectonic activity, glaciology and local history, which will prepare you for the adventures ahead.

The highlights of this transit include:

Spend eight days exploring the Western section of the fabled Northwest Passage

Your excursions begin on day seven as you enter the Western Canadian Arctic. Over the next eight days in this section of your voyage you will transit through three distinct regions – Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon – and two traditional Inuit Territories – Inuvialuit and Nunavut.

During your time here, you can anticipate up to five days of shore excursions and four transit days. Excursion stops and possible local highlights include:

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The ‘Rubicon’ of the Canadian Arctic that divides West from East is the infamous Bellot Strait. This narrow body of water separates the northernmost part of mainland North America from Somerset Island, one of the largest islands in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.

Bellot Strait is approximately 15 nautical miles long and just over half a mile wide at its narrowest point. The ability to navigate this passage will be determined by ice and weather conditions.

Pic: Oscar Farerra /HX

 Explore the Eastern stretch of the Passage

On the eastern shores of Somerset Island, we find ourselves in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. The main waterway of this area is Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), the eastern gates to the Northwest Passage.

This chapter of our exploration is likely to be action-packed, with excursions planned on each of the five days we hope to spend in and around this area. Remember, all our excursion plans are weather and ice dependent but, conditions permitting, our days will be filled with excitement and discovery.

Excursion stops and local highlights we hope to share with you include:

Leaving Nunavut behind, our expedition cruise continues to Greenland across Baffin Bay. The Expedition Team will continue their onboard lectures on topics such as the wildlife of the Arctic, Inuit culture and the history of exploration in this region.

Why not take part in one of the Citizen Science projects, helping photograph and track whales, or observing the clouds to help scientists study our climate by contributing to the GLOBE Program.

Pic: Oscar Farerra / HX

Discover the magical beauty of Greenland

The final chapter of your journey encompasses the majestic coast of West Greenland.

You will begin by sailing into Disko Bay – a haven for whales and seals. Over the next three days you’ll experience some of the most iconic sites in all of Greenland. These include:

Ilulissat

Nestled at the edge of the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Ilulissat. Here you’ll find an ever-changing gallery of passing icebergs set against a backdrop of colourful houses. In town you can visit a multitude of shops selling local crafts, and on the outskirts walking trails take you along the epic icefjord.

Sisimiut

Sisimiut is Greenland’s second city, situated in a spectacular location just above the Arctic Circle. This area has history spanning more than 4,500 years, and old traditions are alive and well.

Learn more about ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum or stretch your legs on a hike.  If you’re looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of the musk ox that’s said to be 10 times warmer than sheep’s wool.

Evighedsfjord

As we head north, we plan to offer an exploration day in the magical and pristine Evighedsfjord near Maniitsoq. We’ll determine on the day what adventures we can take part in.

The ‘Fjord of Eternity’ is fed by an ice cap that calves huge icebergs into its 2,300 ft deep waters. It’s surrounded by mist-cloaked mountains with beautiful white ridges, punctuated by crystal blue ice caves.

Pic: Ted Gatlin / HX

Today you arrive in Nuuk, Greenland’s colourful capital. It has a population of 18,000, and boasts a striking mix of old and new buildings.

Explore this fascinating city, comparing the old buildings – such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral – with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parliament of Greenland.

Your voyage ends with a flight from Nuuk to Copenhagen, and an overnight stay.

Pic: Arnau Ferrer/HX

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and discover the city before connecting to your onwards flight home.

Enjoy this stylish and compact city, packed with architectural gems, coffee shops and parks. The colourful canal district of Nyhavn is a great place to people watch and enjoy a Danish pastry.

No visit to Copenhagen would be complete without a visit to see the Little Mermaid – getting there by bike or on foot beside the waterfront is easy.