Expedition Northwest Passage - the Epitome of Pioneering Spirit

Seward/Alaska/USA, departure 21.00 hrs

Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands/USA (cruising off Kak Island, Chignik , Popof Island , Unalaska Island)

Some impressive chapters of your expedition lie ahead on the coast of Alaska. Land and sea, humankind and nature join together in an abundance of unspoilt scenery. Where the coasts are undisturbed, the animal kingdom untamed and the culture mysterious, your small expedition ship will take you to some truly exciting experiences.

The cliffs teeming with sea birds when cruising off Kak Island will stir up your anticipation of what lies ahead. Your gaze will be drawn back to the sky time and again as millions of sea birds, including auks, guillemots, kittiwakes and horned puffins, nest and breed on the coastline of Alaska. You will be able to identify the different species together with your experts.

When you arrive on the Alaska Peninsula, meet the locals and gain insights into the life of the residents in the small fishing town of Chignik. The name of the town means “strong wind” in the Alutiiq language – and yet there’s a certain serenity in the air here. You will feel the close bond between the Alutiiqs and the land and sea when you encounter this little community. The volcanic island chain of the Aleutian Islands stretches into the Pacific like a great arc. At the southern edge of the Bering Sea, it is lonely, vast and unspoilt. A side of nature that is rarely seen.

The community of Sand Point on Popof Island owes its name to a special feature: several vast sandy beaches are a great place for a walk. Explore the surrounding area on hikes with your experts, with a chance to spot cormorants, kittiwakes and puffins. The island is also home to bison, which were brought here in 1955. The picturesque Russian Orthodox church is testament to the fact that many inhabitants still follow this religion.

The majestic bald eagle is the undisputed king of the sky. Follow its call when it circles over Unalaska Island. History is in the air on a visit to Dutch Harbor and the oldest Russian Orthodox church in North America. Part of the fascinating legacy of Russian America, as Alaska was called until the mid 19th century.

Exciting Zodiac rides and landings promise thrilling expedition moments as you discover the wildlife of far-flung islands. The Pribilof Islands are situated north of the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea. The island group consists of the two inhabited islands of Saint Paul and Saint George, as well as three uninhabited islands. On a hike along the coast of Saint Paul Island, you may be lucky enough to spot a colony of northern fur seals, accompanied perhaps by the cries of countless crested auklets, parakeet auklets and horned puffins. Your sightings will be enriched by the interesting knowledge of your experts or by your own studies in the Ocean Academy.

Just like rich experiences have drawn you to this region, it was gold that was the magnet in Alaska in the early 1900s. In 1889, gold was found near the town now known as Nome. This resulted in the rapid development of a settlement, which by 1899 already had more than 10,000 inhabitants. Although little remains of the original architecture from the gold rush era, the town still bears the marks of its history: with disused steam trains, tracks and gold dredges. The scent of history and adventure is like something out of a Jack London novel. It’s fitting therefore, that huskies also have an important role to play here – Nome is the home of the famous Iditarod, the longest dog sled race in the world.

Adventure in the Northwest Passage – from the Beaufort Sea to Lancaster Sound  (including Herschel Island/Canada, Smoking Hills, Victoria Island, Jenny Lind Island, cruising in the Victoria Strait, cruising in Peel Sound, Prince of Wales Island, Beechey Island, Devon Island)

The adventure of the Northwest Passage: to this day, fascinating legends surround this famous waterway. Your manoeuvrable expedition ship is simply made for this. With the highest ice class and an experienced expedition crew, enjoy an exceptionally up-close experience of the fascinating Arctic. Although the route is carefully planned, the weather and ice often determine the actual course, with the captain and the team adjusting the details each day.

To start your adventures, the rarely visited Herschel Island sets the scene. If the local conditions permit, you can explore the former whaling station. With a little luck, rough-legged buzzards will herald your arrival and the timid Arctic fox might even make an appearance. Franklin Bay is enveloped by the history of Franklin the explorer and the phenomenon of the Smoking Hills: The smoky effect is caused by layers of rocks within the hills that contain pyrite and have ignited themselves – a Zodiac ride gives you unique perspectives of this spectacle. On Victoria Island, you might have the chance to see musk oxen weighing up to 400 kg (882 lb). Will you perhaps even see polar bears here? A great voice echoes on Jenny Lind Island, which owes its name to a Swedish opera singer from the 19th century. As well as opportunities for birdwatching, you may also find yourself surprised by Arctic hares, Arctic foxes and caribou. As the ship cruises in Victoria Strait, the dramatic scenery will reflect the moving history of this area: for a long time, this was said to be the resting place of the missing Franklin ships. Find out about the fate and the unflinching courage of those who braved the forces of nature back then with your experts on board. The ice conditions will decide whether your adventure continues by cruising in Peel Sound. Zodiac rides and landings are possible throughout the habitat of whales, seals and polar bears. For example, Prince of Wales Island invites you to hike through the untouched nature. Follow in the footsteps of past explorers on Beechey Island: A walk to the graves of members of the Franklin expedition will bring its historic significance to the fore. On the world’s largest uninhabited island, Devon Island, you will be welcomed by a vast wilderness – an abandoned station of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reinforces the impression of silent isolation. As the ship then sets sail from Lancaster Sound for Greenland, you’ll have completed the feat and be among the few people who can say they have conquered the Northwest Passage.

West coast of Greenland (Uummannaq, Ilulissat, Disko Bay, Sisimiut)

In the magical Arctic light, the wonders of the west coast of Greenland will be illuminated north of the Arctic Circle. A vast and silent landscape, home to relics of a 4,500-year-old culture – seemingly almost forgotten by the world.

Uummannaq welcomes you with colourful houses and an astonishing creativity of nature. The heart-shaped mountain above the town glows in countless shades of red in the sunlight. In the small settlement, a museum recalls the ice expeditions of Alfred Wegener, a German who conducted research in Greenland. A hike with your experts will take you to “Santa’s summer house”, the setting of a Danish TV series.

Another eternal scene can be found in Ilulissat, when the glacier calves in the world-famous ice fjord. On a hike with your experts, enjoy the glittering, shimmering ice masses, which appear in many different towering formations. An incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Disko Bay will provide even more memorable moments: ice sculptures in all manner of forms drift slowly through the vast area. Enjoy this natural spectacle from your front-row seat on deck – or take a Zodiac ride to the centre of the action. Illuminated by the sunlight, the ice gleams in a fascinating play of colours from white to azure blue.

In Sisimiut, where the remarkable old town seems like a museum village, the oldest settlement traces date back over 4,000 years, deep into the Saqqaq culture. Join your experts to hike over rocks and through tundra – to relics from the whaling era. A hike to Tele Island will also take you back thousands of years to see ancient ruins and graves, crowned by magnificent views of Sisimiut and the coast.

Kangerlussuaq/Greenland, arrival 06.00 hrs 
Charter flight from Kangerlussuaq

Important note on this expedition: This expedition is a very demanding cruise to organise and sail. All of our experience and careful preparation notwithstanding, the actual itinerary depends on official approvals and rules, as well as the weather and ice conditions, which may make it necessary to change the itinerary. The natural experiences and animal sightings described are possibilities and are not guaranteed. We will do everything in our power to ensure that this cruise takes place as advertised, but wish to inform you of the flexibility this requires. The captain will decide on the best possible alternative depending on local conditions.