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Glacier edge beneath the striped sedimentary cliffs of Croker Bay, Devon Island, on a Swan Hellenic Arctic Canada cruise

Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 15 days

Northwest Passage

Between Toronto or Reykjavík and Calgary, with charter flights to and from the ship included. Two sailings in 2027, two in 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$30,601 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Aerial view of fog rolling over the hills and turquoise shallows of Dundas Harbour, Devon Island, on a Swan Hellenic Arctic cruise

15 days, Greenland to the Canadian High Arctic

The passage, the way Franklin never finished it

For four centuries the Northwest Passage was the sea route that could not be sailed. Aurora sails it in fifteen days, from the icefjord at Ilulissat to the Beaufort Sea. The voyage opens in West Greenland, with Sisimiut and the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, then crosses Baffin Bay to Pond Inlet and the Inuit communities of Nunavut. From there the route follows the explorers: Dundas Harbour and Croker Bay on Devon Island, the seabird cliffs of Prince Leopold Island, Beechey Island where three of Franklin’s men lie buried, the Bellot Strait, Cambridge Bay where Amundsen’s Maud sank, and Kugluktuk, where the charter flight to Calgary ends the journey. Polar bears, belugas, narwhal and muskoxen live along the way, and September brings the first northern lights. Aurora sails the passage in both directions, and ten solo cabins carry no single supplement.

The Northwest Passage is a voyage guests plan for years, and we plan it with them: which season, which direction, which cabin, and how the long flights from Australia fit around the charters. We hold our own offers for Arctic Cruise guests and tell you plainly which departure is the better value. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • 2 countries
  • 12 expedition days
  • 15 days

Signature sites

Seven places along the passage

Ice decides the passage every year. The expedition team works through the places below as conditions allow, by Zodiac and on foot.

Ilulissat Icefjord

A UNESCO World Heritage site, where the fastest glacier in the northern hemisphere fills Disko Bay with icebergs.

Day by day

Fifteen days, in outline

The outline below follows the eastbound direction from Greenland to Kugluktuk; the September sailings run in reverse from Calgary. Ice decides each day. The full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

Arrive and settle into the included hotel.

Aboard Sylvia Earle

Aurora Expeditions is Australian owned and sails the Arctic with Sylvia Earle: purpose-built expedition ships of around 130 guests, with the X-Bow hull for a steadier crossing, a fleet of Zodiacs and an expedition team that leads every landing. Dining is one open seating, with wine and beer at dinner, and ten solo cabins on every sailing carry no single supplement.

Sylvia Earle
Guests gathered on the beach at Radstock Bay, Devon Island, after a Zodiac landing on a Swan Hellenic Arctic Canada cruise

Zodiacs at the bird cliffs

Pair of walrus resting on an ice floe in Croker Bay, Devon Island, photographed from SH Vega on a Swan Hellenic Arctic cruise

Kayaking, for those who book it

Drone view of a mosaic of pack ice floes off the East Greenland coast, navigated by SH Vega on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

The bow deck in the ice

Polar bear mother and cub together on the shore at Croker Bay, Devon Island, photographed from SH Vega on a Swan Hellenic cruise

Tundra walks with the team

Expedition guide giving an expert-led presentation to passengers in the lounge aboard a Swan Hellenic cruise

Lectures between landings

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

One hotel night with breakfast at the start, charter flights to the ship and from the ship at the end, thirteen nights on board, all meals and drinks including premium spirits, wine and beer, the Captain’s farewell dinner, all Zodiac outings and shore excursions, lectures and guiding by the expedition team, a 3-in-1 polar jacket to keep and the use of boots on board, port fees, permits, landing fees and gratuities for local guides, Wi-Fi where available

Flights from Australia to the start city and home from Calgary or Toronto, meals beyond those listed, kayaking and other optional activities, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, the onboard crew gratuity added to your account

Aurora includes the charter flights at both ends of the voyage and the first hotel night. We arrange your flights from Australia and any extra nights in Canada, so the whole journey is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Greenland can also be sailed with Swan Hellenic in September, and the Viking routes to Canada aboard SH Vega. Each voyage shows its from price in Australian dollars; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

All expeditions
16 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$22,871

Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin

Reykjavík to Reykjavík via Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq, flights and helicopter flightseeing included. Two sailings in August 2027, with 2028 and 2029 to follow. From US$22,871 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

13 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$12,921

Greenland to Newfoundland: Ice, Inuit and the Vikings

Fly Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq, sail to St John’s. Four sailings from September 2027 to September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$12,921 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

11 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,500

Viking Routes: Canada, Greenland and Iceland

Halifax to Reykjavík in May, Greenland to Canada in September. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,500 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$28,414

Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard and East Greenland

Oslo to Reykjavík, or the reverse, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$28,414 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

12 Nights
Ponant
From A$34,910

Beyond the Inhabited World

Nuuk to Nuuk, 16 to 28 April 2027, with 2028 to follow. From A$34,910 per person, Paris charter flights included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

15 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$19,281

West Greenland and the Far North: Ilulissat to Qaanaaq

Reykjavík to Reykjavík via Nuuk, flights across the Denmark Strait included. One sailing in September 2027, one in September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$19,281 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Polar bear crossing the autumn tundra at Dundas Harbour, Devon Island, photographed on a Swan Hellenic Arctic Canada cruise

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Fifteen days aboard Sylvia Earle. Fares are Aurora Expeditions’ published Australian fares per person, twin share, with the current early-booking offers applied and the charter flights included. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

Eastbound through the passage, from Greenland to Kugluktuk, with charter flights Toronto to Kangerlussuaq and Kugluktuk to Calgary.

Westbound in reverse, from Kugluktuk to Greenland, under the first northern lights of the season.

The 2028 eastbound sailing, starting in Reykjavík with the charter flight to Kangerlussuaq.

The 2028 westbound sailing, at the lowest fare on this route.

Tell us the direction and the cabin you have in mind and we hold your place on our list, then come back to you with dates and Australian fares the day they open.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right cabin and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.