Northwest Passage: Greenland to Alaska

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. Located between mountains, it is a beautiful mixture of urban and wilderness. Thanks to its proximity to the Chugach State Park with its 45 species of mammals and the city's rich history, there is so much to be seen in this unique destination.

Nome is located on the edge of the Bering Sea, on the southwest side of the Seward Peninsula. Unlike other towns which are named for explorers, heroes or politicians, Nome was named as a result of a 50 year-old spelling error. In the 1850's an officer on a British ship off the coast of Alaska noted on a manuscript map that a nearby prominent point was not identified. He wrote "? Name" next to the point. When the map was recopied, another draftsman thought that the “?” was a C and that the “a” in "Name" was an o, and thus a map-maker in the British Admiralty christened "Cape Nome." The area has an amazing history dating back 10,000 years of Inupiaq Eskimo use for subsistence living. Modern history started in 1898 when "Three Lucky Swedes”, Jafet Lindberg, Erik Lindblom and John Brynteson, discovered gold in Anvil Creek…the rush was on! In 1899 the population of Nome swelled from a handful to 28,000. Today the population is just over 3,500. Much of Nome's gold rush architecture remains.

As you sail eastward along the northern coast of Alaska, scan the water for marine life and enjoy life on board. Take a yoga class, unwind with a massage in the wellness center and curl up next to the fireplace in the library. Visit the Bridge and learn about navigation. Relax in one of the twin infinity hot tubs or spend some time in the only igloo at sea. Learn about the area from or onboard historians, naturalists and photographers, and enjoy exceptional dining options.

Once a thriving whaling village off the coast of the Yukon Territory, Herschel Island is now classified as a Natural Environmental Park. The island protects the wildlife alongside the heritage of the Inuvialuit people and the whaling industry. As you wander through Herschel's historic dwellings, keep an eye out for the wildlife residents, which include bears, musk oxen and arctic foxes. The area is also home to the largest colony of black guillemots in the Western Arctic.

Herschel Island—also known as Qikiqtaruk—is a remote Arctic island in the Beaufort Sea and part of a territorial park. It was once a major hub during the late 19th-century whaling boom and still has preserved historic buildings from that era. Today, it’s valued for its rich wildlife, including caribou, muskoxen, and migratory birds, as well as its importance to the Inuvialuit people. The island’s tundra landscapes and rapidly eroding coastline also make it an important site for studying climate change in the Arctic.

Indulge in National Geographic Resolution's many amenities as you continue along the shores of the Canadian High Arctic. Soak in the ship's infinity-style outdoor hot tubs, take in panoramic views from the rooftop observation deck and enjoy talks from onboard experts.

National Geographic Resolution, purpose-built to ply polar waters, navigates the Northwest Passage following nature's path—dependent on ice and weather conditions. Taking cues from nature, follow wildlife, stop for hikes on the tundra or drop anchor in a beautiful fjord or an icy bay to explore and kayak beneath massive ice sculptures and soaring cliffs.

Cross the top of the Northwest Territory of Canada to search for polar bear, ringed seals, arctic foxes, musk oxen and walruses. Along the way, explore ice-studded channels and glacier-carved islands that stretch for hundreds of miles—a stunning display of raw geology. Sail past the northernmost part of mainland North America through the Bellot Strait, one of the narrowest and most infamous straits of the passage. Visit Devon Island and take a walk with your ship's archaeologist to learn about the Thule people—ancestors of the modern Inuit—that once inhabited this region.

History and culture are also on the itinerary. Learn about the Inuit peoples who have hunted and fished here for thousands of years, and hear heroic stories of the early explorers: Roald Amundsen, John Ross, William Edward Parry and James Clark Ross, among others.

As the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest in the world, Baffin Island is a majestic Arctic wilderness defined by towering granite cliffs, sweeping fjords, and the ancient ice caps of the Penny Highlands. This rugged landscape serves as a vital cultural heartland for the Inuit people, whose vibrant communities like Iqaluit blend modern life with deep-rooted traditions of hunting and artistry. From the world-renowned climbing walls of Auyuittuq National Park to the drifting ice floes where polar bears and narwhals roam, the island offers one of the most raw and awe-inspiring natural experiences on the planet.

Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, where you'll be welcomed by floating icebergs calved off the world's most active glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. Enjoy an extraordinary cruise aboard local boats among towering icebergs of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ilulissat Icefjord. Visit the town of Ilulissat and hike into the Sermermiut Valley, once an Inuit settlement and now the home to a peaceful boardwalk overlooking the Icefjord.

Disko Bay is a large bay located on the western coast of Greenland, opening into the Baffin Bay. It is known for its dramatic Arctic landscapes, floating icebergs, and cold, clear waters. The bay is surrounded by glaciers and coastal settlements, with Ilulissat being one of the most well-known towns nearby. Disko Bay is famous for the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where massive icebergs calve from the Greenland Ice Sheet. It is also an important area for Arctic wildlife, including whales and seals, and is a popular destination for polar tourism and scientific research.

Cruise the length of Kangerlussuaq Fjord en route to Sisimiut. Dozens of deep fjords carve into Greenland’s west coast, many with glaciers fed by the ice cap that covers 80 percent of the country. At Sisimiut, a former whaling port, enjoy your choice of guided walks through the sights and sounds of the village, including Dog Town or Sallinnguit, a small island with centuries of history from Inuit culture through colonization and current day industry. In your free time, enjoy a local food tasting, visit the open-air museum or explore the local artisan workshops.

Located just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is the northernmost town in Greenland where the port remains free of ice in the winter. Yet it is also the southernmost town where there is enough snow and ice to drive a dogsled in winter and spring. In Sisimiut, travelling by sled has been the primary means of winter transportation for centuries. In fact, the area has been inhabited for approximately 4,500 years. Modern Sisimiut is the largest business center in the north of Greenland, and is one of the fastest growing Greenlandic cities. Commercial fishing is the lead economy in the town‘s thriving industrial base.

Disembark in Nuuk and join the recommended group flight to Keflavík; transfers to the nearby hotel and luggage assistance will be provided. Upon arrival, enjoy an included dinner and overnight.

Perched on the seaside in the shadow of ice-capped Sermitsiaq Mountain, Nuuk is the world’s smallest capital city by population, with some 19,000 inhabitants experiencing tremendous cultural and economic growth. Watch for harp seals as you enter the harbor, and hear from local residents to learn how the community has changed over the generations. At the National Museum, examine the extraordinary 15th-century Qilakitsoq mummies found near Uummannaq—a discovery that was featured in a National Geographic magazine cover story in 1985. The Arctic ice preserved these mummies so well that researchers have been able to study their tattoos, their medical conditions and even what they ate.

Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs. Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs. Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around. You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities. A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel. This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums. The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day. Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.