Epic Northwest Passage: Iceland to Japan

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. Transfer from the airport to the city and spend the day exploring at your own pace. Check in with the hospitality desk this afternoon before embarking the ship.

Meals Included: Dinner

*This itinerary does not include any flights.

Explore Iceland’s western frontier, visiting Flatey Island, a trading post for many centuries turned sleepy summer islet. Walk around the charming little hamlet and hike across hiking trails that trace the path past seasonal puffin population on the cliffs.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore the beautiful and peaceful Westfjords region of Iceland. Enjoy a hike to a remote waterfall, a Zodiac cruise alongside stunning scenery or bike along the coast of the Westfjords. Enter Ísafjarðardjúp and land at Vigur Island to visit the eider farm and learn about the down cleaning process.  Get to know the capital of the Westfjords, Ísafjörður, through a walking tour complete with local sights, sounds and tastes.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail away from the Westfjords of Iceland and across the Denmark Strait, which connects the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. The Strait is home to the world’s largest waterfall, caused by powerful currents and glaciers. Listen to talks by experts, relax with a book in the lounge or the observation deck and keep an eye out for wildlife as the ship sails across the continental shelf.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The coast of the world’s largest island is etched with thousands of fjords, some of which reach back to the Greenlandic ice sheet. Spend the day exploring these stunning inlets of the eastern coast as the staff uses the ship’s underwater cameras and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to help you discover marine life and fascinating underwater geology. Ice permitting, sail deep into Skjoldungen fjord and soak in your arrival to Greenland on a Zodiac cruise or in a kayak among the icebergs.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail into Prins Christian Sund, which cuts into the southern tip of Greenland, passing between soaring pinnacles and glaciers, allowing the ship to sail through the sheltered waters of this dramatic landscape. As you round the southern coast of Greenland, enter Tasermuit Fjord, known as Arctic Patagonia, for its sheer granite rock faces and dramatic valley filled with glaciers or their moraines. Spend time exploring by foot, kayak or zodiac along its shores.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Qaqortoq and Tunulliarflik Fjord provide two days of insight, culture and local interactions. Walk through the ruins of Bratthlid, Erik the Red’s farm, visiting replicas of the church and the family’s longhouse. Explore the same shores from which their son, Leif Eriksson, launched the first voyages to North America—500 years before Columbus.

Visit the unofficial capital of southern Greenland at Qaqortoq, with just over 3,200 residents. The colonial influence is visible throughout the town, with houses painted in primary colors and architecture dating back to the 1700s. Stroll through the town square and visit the museum, where Greenlandic kayaks, hunting equipment and local art and handicrafts are on display.

Finally, walk through the walls of Hvalsey church, located in the fjords behind Qaqortoq, the best-preserved Norse ruins in all of Greenland and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 take a walking tour with 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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the early morning, the ship enters Eternity Fjord (Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord), which winds picturesquely past steep mountains and stunning tidewater glaciers. In the far reaches of the fjord, take a Zodiac cruise along the face of one of the many glaciers or hike over glacial moraines to a waterfall. In the afternoon, continue exploring this varied landscape and fjord system either by foot, kayak, or zodiac and hear from experts about the physical changes to the landscape year over year.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Upon arrival to Sisimiut, a former whaling port, enjoy your choice of guided walks through the sights and sounds of the village, including a meeting with the caretakers of the Greenlandic Dog Project, or hiking part of the Arctic Circle trail. In your free time, enjoy a local food tasting, visit the open-air museum or explore the local artisan workshops.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, and 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 home to a peaceful boardwalk overlooking the Icefjord. As the ship make its way north through Disko Bay, if ice conditions permit, you’ll follow the inside passage of Disko Island and trace the shores of the Nuussuaq Peninsula as you keep watch for a glimpse of the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The village of Uummannaq sits on a tiny, yet dramatic island in the Uummannaq Fjord, dominated by a massive peak rising at its center. Visit the town’s excellent community museum to see traditional clothing and tools along with scenes of everyday life on these islands and enjoy a stroll through the streets of this northern outpost.

In the afternoon, with special village permissions, cross the fjord to the site of Qilakitsoq, an important archaeological site for Greenlanders, where eight mummies, dating back to 1475, were discovered in 1972. These eight individuals, all extraordinarily well-preserved women and children, were Thule people, the ancestors of the modern Inuit and was featured on the cover of the February 1985 issue of National Geographic magazine.

For the adventurous hikers, make your own respectful journey up to the final resting place of these ancestors.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail along Greenland’s fjords and look for Arctic foxes, whales and—with luck—caribou. Paddle a kayak along the steep sides of the fjord or ride a Zodiac to see the glacially carved landscape up close.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a scenic sailing out of the Nuuk fjord and into the open water of the Davis Strait as you navigate north along the coastline. Guests not continuing on to the next voyage will disembark.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The massive ice sheet that blankets much of Greenland feeds dozens of fjords and glaciers on the dramatic western coast. Be on the lookout for humpback and minke whales as you trace these rugged shores. During a stop at the former whaling port of Sisimiut, visit the local museum and stroll among the town’s 18th-century wooden buildings.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail into Disko Bay to explore the World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, a tongue of the Greenland ice sheet that extends to the bay. Here, the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves enormous amounts of ice at an astonishing rate, releasing icebergs that can soar up to 300 feet. A cruise among these gigantic sculptures of ice is a highlight of your voyage. Explore the remains of the historic fishing village of Sermermiut and take in spectacular views of the ice-laden mouth of the fjord.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin your exploration of the Canadian High Arctic with a visit to the small Inuit community of Pond Inlet, Nunavut. Explore some of the beautiful bays and inlets along Baffin Island’s Lancaster Sound, a favorite Inuit hunting and fishing location for hundreds of years. Carved by Ice Age glaciers, Lancaster Sound is also the eastern gateway to the Arctic Archipelago, where European explorers like William Baffin first ventured in the 17th century to search for the Northwest Passage.

Days here are spent searching for ringed seals, arctic foxes, walruses and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales. Visit Devon Island and take a walk with the ship’s archaeologist to learn about the Thule people—ancestors of the modern Inuit—that once inhabited this region.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your ice-strengthened ship, National Geographic Resolution, navigates the Northwest Passage following nature’s path—dependent on ice and weather conditions. Taking cues from nature, you’ll 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.

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 in the Bellot Strait, one of the narrowest and most infamous of the passage; and cross the top of the Northwest Territory of Canada to search for ringed seals, arctic foxes, musk oxen, walruses and polar bears, as well as beluga and bowhead whales.

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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Indulge in National Geographic Resolution’s 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. Take time to reflect on the amazing wildlife and geology that have highlighted your journey so far.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As you continue to sail westward along the northern coast of Alaska, reflect on your adventures while scanning the water for marine life and enjoying 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. Share images with your National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions certified photography instructor and marvel at footage captured by the ship’s underwater camera.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in the remote city of Nome, Alaska, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Disembark to explore the town prior to heading back on ship. Guests not continuing on to the next voyage will disembark.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A naturalist’s paradise, the Pribilof Islands welcome three million seabirds and a million marine mammals each summer during the breeding season. Cruise beneath the cliffs of St. George, rocky outcrops that harbor one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere. Watch for horned and tufted puffins, red-legged kittiwakes, crested auklets and rare Asian vagrant species seldom seen in North America. Go ashore on St. Paul, home to the majority of the Pribilofs’ more than half a million northern fur seals.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The westernmost tip of the Alaskan mainland gives way to a 1,100-mile-long string of islands that separate the Bering Sea from the northern Pacific: the Aleutian Islands. Begin your exploration of this wildlife-rich archipelago at the Baby Islands, east of Unalaska. Here, dynamic tides offer the chance to look for sea otters and fur seals, as well as rare seabirds.

Stand on deck as the ship navigates Baby Pass and be on the lookout for the islands’ wildlife. Arrive at Dutch Harbor, site of a fierce World War II battle and now one of the world’s most important fishing ports.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With 69 islands, countless islets and tens of millions of seabirds, the Aleutians offer much to discover. Spend four days exploring these rugged and remote volcanic islands—some of which still harbor active volcanoes. Learn about the culture of the Aleuts, a fishing and hunting people who have inhabited these islands for millennia. Observe marine mammals such as northern fur seals, Steller sea lions and a variety of whales, as well as prolific birdlife. Witness how the weather–wind, rain, fog and glorious sunshine–impacts all aspects of life in this spectacularly scenic region.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As the ship sets a course for Japan, enjoy discussions with your naturalists as they set the stage for your time exploring the northern shores of Hokkaido. Join them on deck to identify the seabirds that follow the ship and the volcanic cones in the distance that make up the “Ring of Fire.” Be on the lookout for unexpected visits from whales and other mammals.

There is also an array of shipboard activities to enjoy: attend a photo workshop with your National Geographic Photography Expert, treat yourself to a massage or a wellness class or snuggle up in the library and enjoy a good book. As you make your way to Asia, you will lose a day crossing the International Date Line.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive on the northeastern shore of Hokkaido, your first stop in Japan. With a deep connection to the sea, Kushiro is known for a variety of seafood, fresh from the sea. Experience the bustle of the local market, where the daily catch is on display. Explore the Kushiro City Museum and delve into the rich history of the city and the traditions of the Ainu people. Following your morning of exploration, enjoy a meal loved by locals: Robata-yaki, or “fireside grilling.” You will select your favorite seafood and grill it over the hot coals at your seat—a very special treat.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dock at Muroran and choose to drive to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park, filled with mirror-like lakes and forest-covered hills set against the silhouette of the snowcapped Mount Yotei stratovolcano. Alternatively, drive to the lush town of Shiraoi to visit the newly opened National Ainu Museum and Park, an open-air museum where visitors can experience various elements of Ainu culture.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your first call on the northern coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu is Aomori City. With the Hakkoda mountains in the distance, this bountiful countryside is famous for apple orchards, world-famous seafood, local treasures of Tsugaru lacquerware and painted kites. Explore the tranquil Seiryuji Temple with its impressive bronze statue of Dainichi Nyorai. Learn about Nebuta Matsuri, the summer festival with colorful papier-mâché floats, and see the amazing artistry up close.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nestled between mountains and sea, Sendai’s lush greenery earned it the nickname of “Forest City.” As you tour this beautiful city, wind your way to the hills above town to the site of Sendai Castle. Built in 1600 by the powerful feudal lord, Date Masamune, the castle has survived anti-feudal warfare, bombings of World War II and the powerful earthquake of 2011.

Continue on to Zuihoden, the mausoleum of the Date clan, whose spectacular grounds and intricate design pay tribute to the powerful Masamune and his descendants. Just outside of the city, explore the secluded bay on the shores of Matsushima. Known as one of Japan’s three most scenic views, this gorgeous bay is dotted with pine-clad islets.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today long stretches of white-sand beaches welcome you to the seaside city of Oarai. Heading inland, visit Mito, a power base during the Edo period and best known today for Kairakuen Garden, considered one of Japan’s three finest landscape gardens. Originally created in 1841 for the ruling lord, the park was also intended for the enjoyment of all. Paths wind through 3,000 plum trees, cedar woods and a bamboo grove. Learn about the treasures of the samurai that went beyond swords and armor. The Tokugawa Museum houses exhibits which chronicle the life of the powerful Tokugawa family, as well as those who lived under their rule.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Be on deck as the ship sails into Shimizu to get your closest view of Mt Fuji yet (weather permitting). Get your morning steps in as you climb the zigzag pathway of 1,200 steps to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, enjoying beautiful views of the coastline as you go. For those feeling a little less inclined to embark on the stairs, you can take the ropeway to the top. This complex houses many bright-red buildings, accented in gold and adorned with colorful carvings—a dazzling vision. You may also choose to visit the Ukiyoe Museum, which houses a lovely collection of Edo-period works.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in Osaka, the largest commercial center on the island of Honshu. Guests not continuing on to the next voyage will disembark. Travel to Himeji Castle, one of Japan’s most spectacular. Also known as “White Heron Castle,” this UNESCO World Heritage site is at once imposing and elegant. Following lunch, transfer back to the National Geographic Resolution.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, take a short ferry ride to Naoshima Island, which was converted into a hub for art and artists by the Benesse Corporation in 1992. Naoshima is an eclectic mixture of nature, art and architecture–you’ll discover famous works, like Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin, displayed in unexpected places.

This afternoon, choose to visit Okayama, home to Korakuen Garden, one of the three best landscape gardens in Japan. Stroll the elegant garden paths, enjoying the beauty and the views of Okayama Castle and its impressive black silhouette. You may also choose to walk along Kurashiki’s lovely canal, lined with beautifully preserved storehouses now selling locally made handicrafts, or visit the Ohara Museum of Art and the Ohashi House, an example of a wealthy merchant’s home from the 18th century.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early this morning, sail to Takamatsu on Shikoku Island. Explore Shikoku Mur, an open-air museum that showcases traditional building styles. Learn how people lived during the Edo and Taisho eras. Visit Ritsurin Garden–earning three stars in the Michelin Green Guide, it is one of the most beautiful gardens in all of Japan. End the day at Kinashi Bonsai Town, dedicated to the art of pine tree bonsai.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start the day on the island of Miyajima, home of Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its red torii gate that seems to float atop the water at high tide.

In Hiroshima, visit the Peace Memorial Park, see the Atomic Bomb Dome, one of only a few buildings left standing after the attack and learn about the city’s dedication to peace following World War II.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rise early for a morning hike to Uwajima Castle, one of just 12 original Edo-period castles that remain intact. Continue to Uchiko, once a center of wax production. Take a walk in the town’s well-preserved Yokaichi district, where beautifully crafted wooden merchant homes recall the prosperity of the Meiji period.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The diverse ecology of Yakushima Island, including a subtropical coast and temperate rainforest in the interior, has earned this island World Heritage status. On a hike, discover the island’s ancient Yakusugi cedar trees, many of which date back more than a thousand years. Back on board the ship in the evening, head north toward the island of Kyushu.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

At the southern end of Kyushu, the city of Kagoshima sits just across the bay from the active volcano Sakurajima. Take a walk in Sengan-en Garden, designed by the city’s ruling Shimadzu clan in 1658 to incorporate the bay and its simmering volcano. After lunch, travel along the Satsuma Peninsula to the village of Chiran, where the samurai designed gardens inspired by their travels.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Long before World War II, Nagasaki was a cosmopolitan trading center, drawing merchants from Europe and China to its picturesque harbor as early as the 1500s. Visit Oura Cathedral, the oldest Christian church in Japan and venture into Sofukuji, a 400-year-old Ming-style Zen Buddhist temple. Visit Nagasaki Peace Park, where a poignant exhibition illustrates the aftermath of the atomic bomb attack on the city, and see the somber monument erected at ground zero. This afternoon, chart a course for the Korean Peninsula.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dock in Busan and travel to Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla kingdom and the crown jewel of Korea’s cultural heritage. Packed with the ruins of temples, pagodas and palaces dating back more than a thousand years, the historic areas of the city have been collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Bulguksa Temple, a masterpiece of Silla architecture originally built in A.D. 528. At the Gyeongju National Museum, examine jewelry, weapons and other Silla artifacts. See Cheomseongdae, a seventh-century observatory and wander among towering royal burial mounds.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail up the coast to Matsue, situated between a lake, a lagoon and the sea. Tour the 17th-century Matsue Castle built as a defensive fortress and discover its clever design elements intended to foil the enemy. Continue to the Adachi Museum of Art, which blends an impressive collection of 20th-century Japanese art with a gem-like traditional garden.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With its location in line with the route from Honshu to Shanghai, Moji has a long history as a prominent trading post. The bustling modern day ship traffic has moved to another port, leaving Moji with a slower pace. You’ll have the opportunity to step back in time and stroll the promenade, exploring the well-preserved buildings of the Meiji and Taisho periods. Moji is also known for its limestone caves. You will pass through a cedar grove to enter one of Japan’s largest limestone caves: Akiyoshidai. Exploring this cave, you’ll only touch a very small corner of the national park that spans 100 meters underground.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Located in the Seto Inland Sea, Mitarai is a seaside village that did not get swept up with all the changes and development that the 20th century brought. The traditional wooden buildings and narrow streets date back to a traditional past. The mature gardens add even more beauty and serenity to the sheltered bay. Explore this hidden gem that has been designated a Historic Preservation District of Traditional Architecture.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Upon disembarkation, transfer to Kyoto. Once the capital of Japan, this beautiful city still holds many of the Japanese traditions very dear. It’s a unique blend of modern day and ancient culture that has been refined over the last 1200 years. Spend two days exploring an array of sites, including the impressive Torii Gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine; Nishiki Market with its assortment of beautiful fresh foods; Higashiyama District one of Kyoto’s best preserved historic districts; and the soaring stalks of bamboo in Arashiyama. No visit to Kyoto is complete without a glimpse into the secret life of the Geisha as you learn about the customs and experience a traditional ceremony.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for flights home.

Meals Included: Breakfast