19 Night In the Heart of the Northwest Passage Cruise on Le Boreal from Kangerlussuaq sailing August 25, 2025 on iCruise.com

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Depart: 18:00:00

From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometres from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons, and eagles live.

Kitsisarssuit, Greenland

The Dutch were the first to come and hunt whales on this island they called "isle of dogs" - Kitsissuarsuit in Greenlandic. Indeed, when they arrived there in the summertime, the inhabitants had left the island, leaving behind their dogs, and moved to the neighbouring fjords for a season of fishing. Kitsissuarsuit is considered to be the larder of the small town of Aasiaat, which is further away from the fishing areas, and the villagers still live self-sufficiently thanks to the marine resources, while trying to keep their age-old traditions alive.

Cruising Ilulissat / Disko Bay, Greenland

To the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, scattered with countless icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the region's many humpback whales. The encounters with wild fauna and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile nature will be pure moments of wonder for you.

At Sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

At Sea

Pond Inlet, Canada

On Baffin Island, located in northern Canada at the mouth of the famous Northwest Passage, there is a small Inuit settlement at the very bounds of infinity. To get there, cross the Arctic Circle, the imaginary line that separates man from lands of mystery and wonder. It's not so much the way of life that sets Pond Inlet's inhabitants apart, so much as the setting. Snow-capped mountains, fjords, and glaciers combine in a dazzling natural environment that fills space and expands time. Some discoveries change you forever: this is one of them.

Queen Harbour, Nunavut, Canada

Located on the eastern coast of Devon, in Nunavut, the Queen Harbour bay is an ideal place to stop and admire the raw beauty of the Canadian Far North. In this isolated place, the retreating glaciers have made way for small beaches alternating with majestic fronts that, if conditions allow, can be observed from the Zodiacs. The site is also perfect for observing polar bears that you will perhaps be able to spot from afar, while the floating icebergs offer refuge to seals and birds in search of rest.

Dundas Harbor, Canada

On the southern coast of Devon Island, Dundas Harbour, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police post in the early 20th century, keeps watch over the entrance to the Northwest Passage. This site has been frequented for centuries by the Inuit, who call it Talluruti - or "woman's chin with tattoos on it" in Inuktitut - in reference to the lines of the landscape which are reminiscent of their traditional tattoos. Its hills, covered in taiga reflecting greens, browns, and golds, are edged by the deep navy waters of a bay dotted with white and turquoise ice floe glistening in the sunlight.

Crocker Bay, Canada

Discover Croker Bay, located on the southern coast of Devon Island, during this scenic sail. Facing the glacier tongue and the surrounding tundra, amidst the drifting icebergs, make sure you keep your eyes peeled. Perhaps you will be able to spot some of the iconic inhabitants of these remote lands: polar bears, musk oxen, seals, or birds such as black guillemots, seagulls, northern fulmars, and common eider ducks.

Port Leopold, Canada

The Canadian Arctic Circle is home to one of the planet's best preserved natural sanctuaries: Somerset Island. This immaculate northern desert is renowned for its phenomenal landscapes, its midnight sun, and its huge tundra, where musk oxen roam. Covering 24,786 square kilometers (15,400 square miles), it is the Arctic Archipelago's ninth-largest island. Vegetation is rare except in some hollows and lowlands, where Peary caribou are common.

Cruising Bellot Strait, Canada

A key stage in the Northwest Passage, the Bellot Strait, crossed by strong currents, promises you an unforgettable sailing experience. The entrance to the strait is dominated by the Ross Cairn. The buildings of Fort Ross also stand not far from here. Separating Somerset Island from the Boothia Peninsula, this 2-kilometer-wide strait was discovered in 1852 by Captain William Kennedy of the Royal Navy, and the Frenchman Joseph-Rene Bellot, during an expedition in search of Sir John Franklin. Discover a magnificent decor covered in snow, fragmented by large ice floes. As you sail between them, your ship will perhaps be accompanied by a few polar bears.

Strzelecki Harbour, Nunavut, Canada

Nestled into the wild boundaries of the Canadian Arctic, Strzelecki Harbour will open its doors to strikingly beautiful wild nature. During a walk into the heart of the Arctic tundra, between permafrost and moss, fall under the spell of these majestic open spaces and keep your eyes peeled. In this wild expanse, life can appear where it is least expected. Polar bears, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and myriad migratory birds - snowy owls, Arctic terns, eiders - populate this harsh yet fascinating territory.

Prescott Island, Nunavut, Canada

Prescott Island is located between Somerset Island and Prince of Wales Island, in the heart of Peel Sound, and its shorelines provide a perfect playground for belugas. However, the opportunity to observe and listen to these "sea canaries" is not the only reason to scan the horizon: here, between the icebergs and the dramatic landscapes, you may also be able to spot polar bears, as well as summon up memories of Sir John Franklin, who was the first to cross Peel Sound in 1846 during his expedition in search of the Northwest Passage, followed in 1903 by Roald Amundsen, who was the first to find a route through that passage!

Beechey Island, Canada

Beechey Island, at the eastern end of Resolute Bay, will call to mind some of the most important moments of Franklin's expedition. Sir John set off in 1845 in search of the mythical Northwest Passage and was forced to take shelter in Erebus Harbour for two long years, while he waited for the ice floes to recede and allow him a way through. It is a spectacular location; seeing the three wooden grave markers, bleached by the sun (indicating the burial places of at least three of Captain Franklin's men), and visiting the memorial that has been erected in memory of Franklin and his men can only reinforce the hushed sense of reverence. If the surrounding wilderness impresses us, the ochre and yellows of the rocky desert soften the landscape.

Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada

Located in Baffin Bay, Devon Island is part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Anchored on the Arctic Cordillera, its rocky surface, similar to that of Mars, is of great interest to scientists. Robert Bylot and William Baffin were the first Europeans to sight Devon Island in 1616 but it would be mapped two centuries later by the British sailor William E. Parry, who named it after the eponymous English region. Around 1920, the Hudson's Bay Company set up a fur-trading outpost there, until the departure of the Inuits in 1936. A new attempt to populate it was made at the beginning of the 1950s. Only a few buildings in ruins, vestiges of that time, remain today.

Maxwell Bay, Nunavut, Canada, Canada

In the heart of Devon Island, Maxwell Bay will reveal the austere and grandiose landscapes of the polar desert. Opposite cliffs of sedimentary rocks sculpted by erosion, set off in a Zodiac dinghy or on foot to discover this mineral setting, home to polar bears, bearded seals, ringed seals, Arctic foxes, belugas, and black-legged kittiwakes. A captivating immersion into one of the planet's most extreme ecosystems.

Arctic Harbour, Aulitiving Island, Nunavut, Canada

Arctic Harbour is on the small island of Aulitiving, barely 15 km long and 5 km wide, at the entrance to Isabella Bay. A major whale hunting site, this small natural harbour still has remnants from those times, notably some whaler graves. This port of call will be the opportunity to go for a lovely hike in the heart of the Arctic tundra, and perhaps to reach the highest point of the island, located at an altitude of 410 metres.

At Sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

Coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

In Canada's Far North, the Baffin Fjords region reveals a unique natural spectacle. Massive cliffs rise over 1,000 meters, plunging steeply into the crystal-clear waters of the Baffin Sea. These spectacular geological formations, carved by time, reveal a wild and pristine landscape. When the ice melts, Nunavut becomes an exceptional place to observe Arctic wildlife. Set out in search of the polar bear seeking the coolness of the permafrost. On the water's surface, discover the enchanting dance of narwhals and orcas, while in the sky, northern fulmars and other seabird species glide with striking elegance.

Coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

At Sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

Sisimiut, Greenland

During your cruise, we invite you to discover Sisimiut, the second-largest town in Greenland founded in 1756 and. This small town is typical of Greenland, boasting bewitching panoramas: here and there, colourful stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town centre, it is home to a number of historic buildings, a small church, and a museum which retraces the history of the Inuit people, as well as many craft shops. When your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometres from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons, and eagles live.

19 Night In the Heart of the Northwest Passage Cruise from Kangerlussuaq

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