Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage

Voyage into the great unknown to one of the least visited places on earth - explore the wild and majestic Northwest Passage as part of our unique charter experience!

Embark on the magnificient Grey Wolf at the port on the Kangerlussuaq Fjord. You will be greeted by the friendly crew members and will receive a short safety briefing.Take time to unpack and settle down as your exploration begins spotting unique wildlife from the yacht as the Kangerlussuaq area is home to some of Greenland’s most diverse fauna including muskoxen, caribou and gyrfalcons.Prepare to set sail from the south east of Greenland, heading over to the remote province of Nunavut in Canada and finishing your journey in Alaska

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 157NM

Wake up in the city of Sisimiut (The People of the Fox Holes) and enjoy breakfast on board. Sisimiut is the largest arctic city in North America and has a young and diverse population with students from across the country living here.

Across the day, there are a range of activities available such as fly fishing for arctic char in crisp rivers,hiking up the mountains to enjoy beautiful views of the Fjords, snowmobiling or for the brave perhaps some ice-diving.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 167NM

Ilulissat, translated from the native language as ‘icebergs’, is fitting for this incredible town which is adorned with huge icebergs. Here you’ll find the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, known as the Jakobshavn glacier. This glacier produces 10% of all the icebergs from the Greenland ice sheet.

Whilst visiting, take the opportunity to take a helicopter tour, from which you can see some spectacular aerial views of the glacier.

Alternatively, Illulisat is a popular area for whale-watching, so take a safari trip for a chance to spot humpback whales, minke whales or possibly even a blue whale!

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 30NM

Be greeted with spectacular views on day 4 as you drop anchor at the Eqi Glacier. Known locally as the calving glacier, visiting gives you the chance to see large pieces of ice breaking off the five kilometre wide glacier.

A popular excursion involves hiking up from the Glacier Lodge up to the moraine at Eqi Glacier. From this vantage point, you are rewarded with the most stunning picture of the glacier.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 221NM

The next stop on the journey is the town of Uummannaq, meaning heart-shaped, referring to the the mountain’s two summits which take the shape of a heart.

Whilst visiting we recommend taking a trip to where the Qilakitsoq mummies (Greenland’s oldest mummies) were discovered or exploring the “Arctic Desert” with rocks more than 1.5 billion years old.

Uumannaq provides keen photographers with ample opportunities to capture some awesome shots.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 504NM

Located in northern Baffin Island, Pond Inlet is a small, predominantly Inuit community, with a population of roughly 1,500 inhabitants. In 1818, the British explorer John Ross named a bay in the vicinity after the English astronomer John Pond.

Today Pond Inlet is considered one of Canada’s “jewels of the North” thanks to several picturesque glaciers and mountain ranges nearby. Many archaeological sites of ancient Dorset and Thule peoples can be found near Pond Inlet.

Pond Inlet is also known as a major center of Inuit art, especially the printmaking and stone carving that are featured in the town’s art galleries.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 158NM

Next up is a visit to the largest unhabitated island in the world called Devon Island.

Whilst here, you shall visit Dundas Harbour, which was first built in 1924 as a Canadian outpost on the southeast coast of Devon Island. Although researchers settled here several times, it was finally abandoned, making it feel like a ghost town.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 151NM

After breakfast, you will take your first stop of a busy day nine. Waking up at Radstock Bay gives you plenty of time to enjoy the serene views from the yacht, looking out to Caswall Tower that overlooks the bay.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 19NM

Following a relaxing morning at Radstock Bay, Grey Wolf will make the journey across to Beechey Island, which is famously assosciated with Franklin’s unsuccessful expedtiion along the Northwest Passage.

Sir John Franklin and his crew stayed on the island during the winter of 1845–1846. Three of Franklin’s crew members’ mummified bodies were found, providing more information about the events leading up to the expedition’s disappearance.

It has now been made a National Historic Site of Canada, with a wide range of historical attractions including the Franklin Camp, Northumberland House and the HMS Breadalbane crash site.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 59NM

Following Beechey Island, we travel across Lancaster Sound to Prince Leopold Island.

This is a great chance to see some impressive seabirds as the island has been identified as a Canadian Important Bird Area, a federally listed migratory bird sanctuary, and a Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat site. This is due to large numbers of Thick-billed Murres, Northern Fulmars and Black-legged Kittiwakes that breed there.

Finally, we shall settle for the evening in Fort Ross, situated at the Eastern end of the Bellot Strait. The abandoned former trading post here is the perfect, calming spot to relax at after a busy day with dinner and drinks onboard

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 162NM

Relax whilst experiencing the breath-taking views as you sail down the Bellot Strait. Since the straight is narrow, it is highly like you will sight narwhal in the water, and possibly polar bears of wolves along the shore.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 155NM

Exit the Bellot strait and head along the James Ross Strait, towards King William Island. This journey will take you through the ice ridden waters past towering icebergs. Simply enjoy the scenery whilst your expert captain steers you through this amazing, icy expanse

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 102NM

On day 12, you will dock at the sole settlement on King William Island. The inuit name for the area is Uqsuqtuuq, meaning ‘lots of fat’, refeering to the blubber of the vast marine life in the region’s waters.

Gjoa Haven gives you a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Inuit culture. Visit the Nattlik Heritage centre which preserves the history of the local inuit. Alternatively, explore the village to fully embrace the vibrant, welcoming inuit community and learn about their local traditions and cuisine.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 139NM

Named after the famous Scandinavian Opera singer, Jenny Lind Island is the site of the Distant Early Warning Line radar station which you can see on the shoreside. This was set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers during the Cold War, and provide early warning for a land based invasion. Furthermore, keep an eye on the skies as the island is a Canadian Important Bird Area. This is due large numbers of Lesser Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese breeding there and a Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat recognized by the Canadian Wildlife Service

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 430NM

Holman, now known as Ulukhaktok, is a small hamlet on the west coast of Victoria Island. Although the main sources of income in the area were fishing and trapping, printmaking has recently become key for the local economy. You can’t leave without picking up an exquisitie Inuit art print.

For fans of sport, you can enjoy a round at the world’s most northerly golf course. This nine-hole course offers a unique playing experience as you traverse the artificial greens surrounded by arctic tundra

Sail into the heart of the ice floe, into the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, surrounded by changing landscapes. A great opportunity to kick back, relax and take in some of the breath-taking views.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 201NM

Another area named after it’s physical feature, the smoking hills were discovered on Franklin’s expedition, where they observed the rocks and soil seeming to produce a white smoke.

Watch this natural phenomenon sailing around the cape of Bathurst as the sulfur-rich lignite deposits self-ignite. Described as a hellish landscape due to the red coloured rocks, the white smoke provides a gorgeous contrast which makes capturing a picture here even more important.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 238NM

Designated as a Natural Environment Park, Herschel Island is 3 kilometres from the Yukon Coast. With the help of a local guide, you can explore this unsettled island and hear stories about the past whaling communities that resided on the island.Some of the diverse fauna that can be spotted here include caribou, muskox, polar bear, and brown bear on land and bowhead and beluga whales, ringed and bearded seals, and occasionally walrus in the surrounding waters.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 207NM

The largest oil field in the United States is located in Prudhoe Bay and the neighbouring company town of Deadhorse, both of which are located on Arctic Alaska’s North Slope Borough.

There is a great opportunity to spot some wildlife whilst on land such as Arctic Fox, Arctic Ground Squirrels, Brown Bears, Polar Bears, Musk Ox, Arctic Hares, Caribou. Also, the area is home to over 200 different bird and waterfowl species including geese, swans, seagulls and eagles.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 726NM

Wake up feeling like you have been transported to a land time has forgot as you reach King Island, located in the Bering Straits.

This island was used by Eskimos as residence when walrus and seal hunting, but over time lost inhabitants who felt pressured to move to Nome for employment opportunities. It is still held under tribal ownership and is a distinct village with a small population.

The sight of the old village situated on the precarious steep cliff edges is fascinating, with each of the building’s being held up on stilts.

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 170NM

Disembarking the yacht in Nome gives you a chance to explore an Alaskanwhich combines the region’s gold rush history with rich Inupiat culture. Based on the south side of the Seward Peninsula along the Bering Sea coast, there is plenty to explore in this town with tours involving walking, hiking, widlife viewing and many more.

An interesting place to visit whilst here is the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Musuem, which showcases the lives of gold prospectors and presents rare artifacts and photos of the Inupiat people.

From here, you can use Nome airport for onward travel.

Voyage into the great unknown to one of the least visited places on earth - explore the wild and majestic Northwest Passage as part of our unique charter experience!

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