Canadian Arctic Cruises & Tours
Highlights
- Vibrant Inuit communities on Baffin Island and elsewhere, weaving traditional practices into modern life
- Top-of-the-world scenery ranging from icefields and fjords to sublime peaks and sweeping tundra barrens
- One of the Arctic’s premier bird rookeries on Prince Leopold Island
- Impressive variety of wildlife, including both polar and barren-ground grizzly bears, Arctic wolves, muskoxen, caribou, bearded and ringed seals, walruses, narwhals, belugas, snowy owls, snow geese, and great whales
- High Arctic wilderness tours show off some of the world’s most untouched sanctuaries, including Auyuittuq National Park, where Mount Thor in the Baffin Mountains claims the world’s tallest rock wall, and Quttinirpaaq, most northerly national park in Canada
The sheer vastness of the Canadian High Arctic, comprising better than 40 percent of the country, boggles the mind and stokes any traveler’s spirit of adventure. The legendary Far North—which can be explored on general Canadian Arctic cruises as well as Northwest Passage tours (treated separately)—encompasses some of Earth’s greatest remaining wilderness as well as Inuit communities that have been integral to this realm of tundra, glacier, and sea ice for millennia. The zone includes the 36,000-plus islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, including immense Baffin and Ellesmere islands. Among the most resplendent mountains in the Arctic are found here, from the big walls of the Baffin Mountains to Ellesmere Island’s farflung Challenger Mountains, the northernmost mountain range on Earth.
From ancient Viking sites to still-strong traditional Inuit lifeways, the human story of the Canadian High Arctic is as engrossing as the landscape. And the wildlife lineup here is spectacular: from polar and grizzly bears to the bowhead whale, the Arctic specialist among baleen whales.
About Canadian Arctic Cruises & Tours
The sheer vastness of the Canadian High Arctic, comprising better than 40 percent of the country, boggles the mind and stokes any traveler’s spirit of adventure. The legendary Far North—which can be explored on general Canadian Arctic cruises as well as Northwest Passage tours (treated separately)—encompasses some of Earth’s greatest remaining wilderness as well as Inuit communities that have been integral to this realm of tundra, glacier, and sea ice for millennia. The zone includes the 36,000-plus islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, including immense Baffin and Ellesmere islands. Among the most resplendent mountains in the Arctic are found here, from the big walls of the Baffin Mountains to Ellesmere Island’s farflung Challenger Mountains, the northernmost mountain range on Earth.
From ancient Viking sites to still-strong traditional Inuit lifeways, the human story of the Canadian High Arctic is as engrossing as the landscape. And the wildlife lineup here is spectacular: from polar and grizzly bears to the bowhead whale, the Arctic specialist among baleen whales.
Northwest Passage: Greenland To Alaska (Eastbound)
Northwest Passage: Greenland To Alaska (Westbound)
Arctic Odyssey: Iceland, Greenland & Canada
Canadian Arctic Map
Canadian Arctic Cruise FAQs
Are there cruises to the Canadian High Arctic?
Yes, cruises venture deep into Canada’s High Arctic, visiting legendary sites and rarely seen wilderness.
What can I expect during a Canadian Arctic cruise?
Expect dramatic scenery, cultural encounters with Inuit communities, and remarkable wildlife encounters in a remote, ice-chiseled landscape. These are moderately to highly challenging, involving rugged shore excursions and remote travel logistics.
When is the best time to go on a Canadian Arctic cruise?
The season runs from late July to early September, when ice conditions permit safe passage.
How long do Canadian Arctic cruises typically last?
They generally span 10 to 20 days.
How much is a cruise to the Canadian Arctic?
Expect fares anywhere between $10,000 and $30,000 depending on length and vessel.
What type of wildlife can I see on a Canadian Arctic cruise?
Look for polar bears, musk oxen, Arctic hares, and migratory birds like snowy owls and jaegers.
Yes, cruises venture deep into Canada’s High Arctic, visiting legendary sites and rarely seen wilderness.
Expect dramatic scenery, cultural encounters with Inuit communities, and remarkable wildlife encounters in a remote, ice-chiseled landscape. These are moderately to highly challenging, involving rugged shore excursions and remote travel logistics.
The season runs from late July to early September, when ice conditions permit safe passage.
They generally span 10 to 20 days.
Expect fares anywhere between $10,000 and $30,000 depending on length and vessel.
Look for polar bears, musk oxen, Arctic hares, and migratory birds like snowy owls and jaegers.
Canadian Arctic Cruise Ships
Cruise aboard ice-strengthened vessels that provide unparalleled access to the Canadian High Arctic, ensuring both comfort and adventure.
National Geographic Resolution
National Geographic Explorer
Recommended Reading
What & Where Is The Northwest Passage? Definition & Location
The Search For The Northwest Passage: An Exploration History
Franklin’s Lost Expedition & The Search For Erebus & Terror
5 Doomed Polar Expeditions That Failed Fatally