Self-Launched Canadian Arctic & Northwest Passage Expedition

Fly into Reykjavík Keflavík International Airport (KEF) on a standard commercial flight — Icelandair, easyJet, and Wizz Air all serve KEF from major UK/European hubs from around £80–£200 return. Take the Flybus or Strætó public bus (£20–£25) into the city centre rather than a private transfer. Check into a well-rated central hostel such as KEX Hostel, Hlemmur Square, or Oddsson — all offer private rooms and dorms with great facilities. Spend the day exploring Hallgrímskirkja, the Harpa Concert Hall, and the old harbour. Grab a hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (~£3).

🚌Flybus from KEF to Reykjavík city centre (~£25). Walk or use local buses within the city.

🛏KEX Hostel or Hlemmur Square — private double/twin room ~£80–£110/night, or dorm from £35

• →Self-guided walk around central Reykjavík — Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Rainbow Street
• →Hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
• →Visit the free National Museum of Iceland or the Settlement Exhibition (£10–£15)
• →Browse the old harbour area for atmosphere and sea views

Book a commercial flight from Reykjavík (RKV/KEF) to Kangerlussuaq (SFJ) with Air Greenland — these run seasonally in summer and cost approximately £350–£550 return when booked in advance. Arrive in Kangerlussuaq and make your own way the short distance to the small harbour (shared taxi or arranged shuttle ~£10). Board your independently booked expedition ship. Operators to check for open-booking Northwest Passage voyages departing Kangerlussuaq include Albatros Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions, and Quark Expeditions. The ship's meals and activities are included in your voyage fare from this point.

🚌Commercial flight Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland (~£400 one-way or part of return). Short taxi/shuttle to harbour (~£10).

🛏Triple-share or quad-share cabin on expedition vessel (included in voyage fare)

• →Board your independently booked expedition vessel
• →Attend embarkation briefing and safety drill
• →First dinner on board — meals included for the duration of the voyage
• →Evening deck watch as the ship sails from Kangerlussuaq

A full day at sea crossing the Davis Strait toward Baffin Island. Your expedition ship's naturalists and polar experts will deliver lectures on Arctic ecology, wildlife, geology, and the history of Northwest Passage exploration — all included in your voyage fare. Spend time on deck scanning for seabirds (fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets) and cetaceans including humpback and fin whales. This is a great opportunity to attend onboard workshops, meet fellow passengers, and kit up your gear.

🚌Ship passage — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Attend onboard polar lecture series (included)
• →Wildlife watching from the deck — seabirds and whales
• →Explore the ship's facilities and meet expedition staff
• →Photography workshop or briefing if offered on board

Arrive at Qikiqtarjuaq (Broughton Island), a welcoming Inuit hamlet just north of the Arctic Circle overlooking the Davis Strait. Zodiac tender ashore to explore the community — all Zodiac excursions are included in your expedition voyage fare. Meet local Inuit residents, browse handcrafted artwork and jewellery from community artisans, and enjoy sweeping views across the Davis Strait. Arctic foxes may be spotted near the settlement. Your ship's Expedition Team leads all shore operations.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Zodiac tender to Qikiqtarjuaq community (included in voyage fare)
• →Walk through the hamlet and interact with Inuit residents
• →Browse and purchase local Inuit artwork and crafts
• →Arctic fox spotting on the tundra surrounding the settlement

One of Baffin Island's most dramatic destinations — Sam Ford Fjord stretches approximately 110km inland with sheer granite walls rising up to 457m almost vertically from the water. Zodiac cruise deep into the fjord to experience the extraordinary sense of scale. Conditions permitting, land excursions on the tundra may be possible. Polar bear sightings have been recorded in this area, and your Expedition Team will provide safety briefings for all shore visits. Sea kayaking may be available as an optional add-on (~£50–£80/session) depending on your operator.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Zodiac cruise into Sam Ford Fjord (included in voyage fare)
• →Scenic photography of granite cliffs and Arctic wilderness
• →Optional sea kayaking session (~£50–£80 if available)
• →Wildlife watching — polar bears, Arctic foxes, seabirds

A flexible day shaped by ice and weather conditions — a hallmark of genuine expedition travel. Your Expedition Team will select the best available landing or cruising opportunity along the eastern Baffin coast. This might include additional fjord cruising, tundra walks, or time at a secondary Inuit community. Use the flexibility to attend onboard presentations on Inuit culture and Arctic natural history, or simply spend hours on deck absorbing the extraordinary landscape.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Flexible landing or Zodiac cruise determined by conditions (included)
• →Tundra hiking with expedition naturalists
• →Onboard lecture on Inuit history and culture
• →Deck wildlife watching — whales, seals, and seabirds

Arrive at Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), one of the most scenically dramatic communities in the Canadian Arctic, looking across Eclipse Sound to the glaciated peaks of Bylot Island. Zodiac ashore to meet local Inuit residents and experience one of the most meaningful cultural encounters of the voyage. The community has deep historical roots and residents are proud to share their heritage. Browse the local Co-op store and interact with elders.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Zodiac landing at Pond Inlet (included)
• →Walk through the community — views toward Bylot Island glaciers
• →Cultural exchange with Inuit residents and elders
• →Photography of Eclipse Sound and surrounding tundra landscape

Enter Lancaster Sound (Tallurutiup Imanga), one of the Arctic's most biologically productive marine habitats. Ice-free summer waters attract extraordinary concentrations of whales, walruses, and seals. Zodiac cruises from the ship allow close (but respectful) encounters with wildlife. Narwhal sightings are possible — this is one of the world's most important narwhal summering grounds. Keep cameras ready at all times.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Zodiac cruise in Lancaster Sound wildlife hotspots (included)
• →Narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whale spotting
• →Walrus haul-out observation from Zodiacs
• →Onboard evening presentation on Arctic marine ecosystems

Coburg Island's soaring coastal cliffs, protected within the Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area, support hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds including Brünnich's guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, and black guillemots. This is one of the most spectacular wildlife spectacles in the entire Arctic. Your Expedition Team will position Zodiacs at the base of the cliffs for unforgettable bird colony photography.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Zodiac cruise beneath Coburg Island seabird colonies (included)
• →Wildlife photography — guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars
• →Guided natural history presentation by expedition ornithologist
• →Seal and walrus spotting in surrounding waters

At approximately 76° North, Cape Norton Shaw is likely the northernmost point of the voyage. Multiple tidewater glaciers calve directly into iceberg-filled seas. The planned combined helicopter and Zodiac operation explores this rarely visited coastline from both land and sea — helicopter flightseeing is included in your Exodus voyage fare. If you're booking independently, confirm that helicopter operations are included with your chosen operator (some charge ~£120–£250 supplement). The views of glaciers, icebergs, and the frozen High Arctic from the air are simply extraordinary.

🚌Ship's helicopters (check inclusion) and Zodiac excursions

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Helicopter flightseeing over tidewater glaciers and icefields (check inclusion with your operator)
• →Zodiac cruise among calving glaciers and icebergs
• →Shore landing on remote Arctic coastline
• →Wildlife spotting — polar bears possible in this area

Rising from the confluence of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, the sheer limestone cliffs of Prince Leopold Island form one of the most significant seabird sanctuaries in the eastern Arctic. Hundreds of thousands of birds wheel above perfectly still Arctic waters — one of the defining sights of any High Arctic expedition. Zodiac cruise around the island's dramatic base.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Zodiac cruise around Prince Leopold Island cliffs (included)
• →Mass seabird colony observation — one of the Arctic's great wildlife spectacles
• →Wildlife photography from Zodiacs
• →Scanning for polar bears on cliff edges and sea ice

Attempt a shore landing at Beechey Island, a National Historic Site of Canada — one of the most evocative destinations in the entire Arctic. This desolate raised beach is the final resting place of three members of Sir John Franklin's doomed 1845–46 Northwest Passage expedition, discovered in 1850. Standing at the graves and looking out across Lancaster Sound is a profoundly moving experience. Your expedition historians will provide context on one of history's great polar tragedies.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Shore landing at Beechey Island (conditions permitting, included)
• →Visit Franklin expedition graves and historic monuments
• →Guided historical interpretation by expedition historian
• →Photography of the stark, haunting landscape

Fort Ross, at the southern tip of Somerset Island, marks the entrance to Bellot Strait — the narrow, current-swept channel that forms a critical link in the Northwest Passage. Once a Hudson's Bay Company trading post, the ruins are a powerful reminder of the era when commerce, survival, and exploration converged at the top of the world. A possible shore visit to Radstock Bay may reveal one of the Arctic's most impressive ancient Thule sites, with subterranean house remains including whale bone roof supports.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Shore landing at Fort Ross HBC ruins (included)
• →Zodiac transit of Bellot Strait if conditions allow
• →Possible shore visit to Radstock Bay Thule archaeological site
• →Expedition historian talk on Northwest Passage history

Admiralty Inlet is one of the Arctic's longest fjords — a silent, ice-ringed channel where whale blows punctuate the stillness. This is among the world's most vital narwhal summering grounds. Zodiac cruising here may deliver some of the expedition's most unforgettable marine wildlife encounters. Belugas and bowhead whales are also regularly sighted. Take time on the bow of the ship to watch for the distinctive long tusk of the narwhal breaking the surface.

🚌Zodiac excursions — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Zodiac cruise in Admiralty Inlet narwhal habitat (included)
• →Narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whale spotting
• →Arctic landscape photography — ice-ringed fjord scenery
• →Evening onboard presentation on narwhal biology and conservation

The Arctic Bay area has been inhabited by Inuit for over 5,000 years. With very few outside visitors, the community is typically excited to welcome an expedition ship. A gathering on the outskirts of town features Inuit arts, cultural activities, and possibly tastings of traditional local cuisine shared by community elders. This is one of the voyage's most authentic cultural exchanges — take time to listen, ask questions respectfully, and purchase locally made crafts directly from artists.

🚌Zodiac tender to shore — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Community cultural gathering — Inuit arts, games, and traditional food (included)
• →Purchase locally made Inuit crafts directly from artists
• →Walking tour of Arctic Bay with community members
• →Photography with community permission

Enjoy the first of two sea days sailing back across Baffin Bay toward Greenland. Ice conditions can produce excellent polar bear sightings from the ship's decks, as well as whales and seabirds. Your expedition team keeps you engaged with recap presentations, photography workshops, and wildlife talks. Take advantage of the ship's onboard spa and sauna facilities to recharge.

🚌Ship passage — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Deck wildlife watching — polar bears, whales, and seabirds
• →Attend recap presentations and photography sessions
• →Spa and sauna relaxation (included on most expedition ships)
• →Socialise with fellow passengers and expedition team

Second sea day crossing Baffin Bay. A great opportunity for reflection, journaling, and processing the extraordinary experiences of the past two weeks. Your expedition team will deliver final recap presentations and help identify best images from the voyage. The ship's library and lounge areas are perfect for quiet reading on Arctic history and Inuit culture. Watch for wildlife right to the end — the Baffin Bay crossing can surprise with beluga pods and bowhead whales.

🚌Ship passage — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Final onboard presentations and recap sessions
• →Photography editing and curation session
• →Arctic library reading and journaling
• →Continued deck wildlife watching

Arriving back in Greenland, visit the colourful community of Sisimiut — Greenland's second-largest town. Locally led city tours showcase the town's history from Saqqaq culture through to the present day. A 'Taste of Greenland' experience features samples of traditional Greenlandic foods including mattak (whale skin) and dried fish — approach with an open mind. Back on board, head to the deck to watch a traditional Greenlandic kayak demonstration on the water.

🚌Zodiac tender to shore — included in voyage fare

🛏Expedition vessel cabin (included in voyage fare)

• →Locally guided walking tour of Sisimiut (included)
• →Taste of Greenland — traditional food tasting experience
• →Browse the local museum and historic old town
• →Traditional Greenlandic kayak demonstration from the ship's deck

Disembark in Kangerlussuaq this morning. Rather than the group charter flight included in the Exodus package, you'll have pre-booked your own Air Greenland commercial flight back to Reykjavík (~£350–£500). This is the main area where independent booking costs money but also gives flexibility — you can choose your own flight time and Reykjavík hotel rather than being assigned one. Check into a central Reykjavík guesthouse for your final night.

🚌Air Greenland flight Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavík (~£400). Flybus or taxi from KEF to city (~£25).

🛏Reykjavík guesthouse or hostel private room — e.g. Skuggi Hotel, Centerhotel Þingholt, or KEX Hostel (~£80–£120/night)

• →Final breakfast on board and disembarkation
• →Commercial flight Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavík with Air Greenland (~£400)
• →Check into Reykjavík guesthouse
• →Evening dinner independently in Reykjavík — try Grillmarket or Messinn for Icelandic cuisine (£25–£40)

After a final Icelandic breakfast, make your way independently to Keflavík Airport. The Flybus runs directly from the city's BSÍ bus terminal and costs around £25, or book a shared airport shuttle (~£20). If your flight is not until the afternoon, consider a final morning visit to the Reykjavík Flea Market (Saturdays) or a dip in one of the city's famous geothermal pools — the Sundhöllin or Vesturbæjarlaug are locals' favourites and much cheaper than the Blue Lagoon (~£6–£10 entry). Fly home.

🚌Flybus or shared shuttle from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport (~£25)

🛏Depart — no accommodation required

• →Final Icelandic breakfast at the guesthouse
• →Optional morning swim at a local geothermal pool (~£8)
• →Flybus or shared shuttle to Keflavík Airport (~£25)
• →Fly home from KEF