Ocean Victory, Out of the Northwest Passage ex Kugluktuk to Kangerlussuaq

Highlights:
– Travel through Inuit Nunangat with Inuit cultural educators and guides
– Sail the storied Northwest Passage and learn from Inuit knowledge holders
– Visit Beechey Island, a poignant site of Arctic history
– Explore Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound), home to extraordinary wildlife
– Witness the monumental icebergs of Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
– Experience Greenland’s dramatic western coast and glacial fjords

Itinerary:

Day 1: Kugluktuk (Coppermine), NU, Canada – The Place of Moving Waters
Your journey begins at Kugluktuk – the westernmost community in Nunavut – where the Coppermine River meets the open sea. Its Inuinnaqtun name means “place of moving waters,” a fitting departure for a voyage defined by flow and connection.

Explore this welcoming community known for artistry and warmth. Local hosts share stories of life in the western Arctic, where tradition and modern life move together with the rhythm of tide and season. As you embark on your ice-class expedition vessel, the horizon opens before you – an expanse of muted blues and greys threaded with drifting ice. The ship turns east, tracing the first lines of the storied Northwest Passage.

Days 2–4: Kitikmeot Region – Through the Heart of the Passage
The Kitikmeot Region stretches across the central Arctic, a landscape of tundra, island chains, and shifting sea ice. This is the heart of the Northwest Passage – a place where the stories of Inuit and explorers intertwine across centuries.

Visit a community where you are welcomed as a guest. Hear from Inuit hosts about local history, hunting traditions, and daily life. The scent of tundra moss, the laughter of children, and the steady thrum of a drum dance create a portrait of life deeply rooted in place. Zodiac excursions explore quiet bays where caribou and muskoxen graze beneath wide skies.

Day 5: Ikirahaq (Bellot Strait) – Where Currents Meet
Reach Ikirahaq – known to many as Bellot Strait – a narrow channel where the tides of east and west converge. Threading between Somerset Island and the Boothia Peninsula, it marks the northernmost tip of continental North America.

Granite headlands rise close on either side, streaked with scree, snow, and time. The currents twist and surge beneath the hull, where seals, seabirds, and occasional belugas or narwhals forage for food. For Inuit, Ikirahaq has long been a place of movement and gathering – a reminder that the meeting of waters mirrors the meeting of stories.

Day 6: Beechey Island – Echoes of the Franklin Expedition
At Beechey Island, history lies close to the surface. In 1845, Sir John Franklin set out from England with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, attempting to sail through the Northwest Passage. His crew overwintered here, where three of his men died. Later, in 1854, Thomas Morgan of HMS Investigator was buried beside them – a solemn witness to the relentless search for Franklin’s lost expedition.

Beechey became a depot and landmark for numerous search parties that followed. Amundsen, Bernier, and Larsen all stopped here, leaving their traces among the ruins of Northumberland House. The landscape is stark and wind-scoured: gravel, ice, and the call of gulls echoing across still water. Inuit oral history preserved what records could not, guiding modern searchers to the resting places of the ships and the men who vanished with them. Standing here, you feel the continuity between ambition and endurance – held quietly in the land’s enduring silence.

Days 7–8: Tallurutiup Imanga (Lancaster Sound) and Devon Island – Where Life Gathers in the North
Enter Tallurutiup Imanga, a great inlet where glaciers feed cold, life-rich waters. Designated as one of Canada’s largest National Marine Conservation Areas, it is a confluence of nature and culture. Inuit knowledge and stewardship sustain a balance as intricate as the migration of narwhal and bowhead.

Watch for polar bears on the ice, walrus on floes, and seabirds circling overhead. Devon Island rises to the north, vast and uninhabited – a landscape of stone and silence. Hike across tundra valleys where traces of ancient camps speak to the endurance of those who have travelled this coast for generations.

Day 9: Ausuittuq (Grise Fjord) – The Northernmost Community
Arrive in Ausuittuq, a community established in the 1950s when families were relocated from Inukjuak, Québec, to this high Arctic environment – “the place that never thaws.” Surrounded by peaks and glaciers, it is Canada’s northernmost community.

Feel the welcome of residents who share stories of family, hunting, and adaptation. Listen to the cadence of Inuktitut and feel a quiet generosity amid the stark beauty of ice and stone. As you walk the shoreline, the balance between isolation and belonging becomes palpable – a living connection between people and the land that sustains them.

Day 10 : Smith Sound – Edge of the Known World
Sail into Smith Sound, a broad waterway marking the meeting place of Canada and Greenland—and, historically, the threshold to the North Pole. Icebergs drift south from Greenland’s glaciers, glowing with every hue of blue.

For centuries, Inuit hunters have crossed its frozen expanse, while European expeditions sought passage north through its icy corridors. Today, its silence is punctuated only by wind and the slow fracture of ice. As we continue eastward, the sense of scale deepens – water and sky expanding endlessly, carrying us forward through time and tide.

Day 11: At Sea – Passage to Greenland
As we sail from Smith Sound toward northwest Greenland, the day invites relaxation and delight. Out on deck, guests linger over coffee, watching icebergs drift past under shifting light. Seabirds wheel overhead, and the fresh Arctic air feels both bracing and serene.

Inside, conversation and curiosity flow easily – perhaps a talk from the expedition team, a shared story, or quiet reading by the window. Between moments of learning and laughter, there’s time simply to enjoy the rhythm of the sea and the pleasure of being carried through one of the North’s most beautiful reaches.

Days 12–13: Northwest Greenland – Where Ice Meets Sky
Crossing into Greenland, the coast reveals a world sculpted by ice. Glaciers descend from the inland cap, feeding fjords that stretch deep into the land. Scattered villages dot the shoreline, their bright homes vivid against the vastness of rock and snow.

Go ashore where conditions allow to explore bays fringed with bergs or hike along tundra scented with Arctic cotton and crowberry. Ice and light combine to create a palette of silvers and aquas. Each moment shows how landscape shapes life – and how people, in turn, shape their bond with it.

Day 14: Ilulissat – The Icefjord’s Sculpted Power
Arrive at Ilulissat, a name that means “iceberg” in Greenlandic. The Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, among the world’s most active, sends vast icebergs into the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord. From the boardwalk, watch as icy cathedrals drift through mirrored water, glowing blue beneath shifting light.

Listen to the thunder of calving ice, then the hush that follows. In town, explore a thriving community where Greenlandic culture, art, and daily life flow together with the rhythm of the ice.

Days 15–16: Sisimiut Coast – Life Along the Greenlandic Shore
Sailing south along the west coast, encounter the Sisimiut region – a place of mountain silhouettes, fjords, and enduring story. Colourful houses cling to granite hillsides, reflected in still waters. This is Greenland’s second-largest town, marked by fishing boats and the warmth of community.

Go ashore to walk through town and meet local residents. Learn about the blend of ancient and contemporary traditions that define Greenlandic life. Hikers may climb to panoramic viewpoints where sea, ice, and sky converge.

Day 17: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland – A Passage Completed
Your voyage concludes in Kangerlussuaq, where the vast fjord stretches nearly two hundred kilometres inland. Here, the ice cap appears and vanishes at the horizon – occasional glimpses of white above the fjord, close enough to feel its breath but never in full view.

As you disembark and prepare for your flight south, reflect on a journey completed – the communities visited, the stories shared, and the countless shades of light and ice that shaped the days. The Northwest Passage is not only a route through geography but through knowledge and kinship – a journey that continues long after you leave its waters.

https://youtu.be/9nwWQ7Ksi4o

The Ocean Victory, launched in 2021, is one of the most modern small expedition vessels at sea. Purpose-built for discovery, it combines comfort, capability, and a deep commitment to sustainability – an ideal platform for Adventure Canada’s small-ship journeys to some of the world’s most remarkable places. Its innovative X-BOW® hull delivers smoother, quieter crossings and greater stability, while its ice-strengthened design ensures safe passage into areas few ships can reach.

On board, travellers are welcomed into bright cabins, panoramic decks, and inviting spaces designed to spark conversation, laughter, and learning. Shared meals, engaging presentations, and quiet moments of reflection as icebergs drift past create a sense of community and curiosity. The Ocean Victory offers a rare combination of comfort, connection, and environmental care.

Founded in 1987, Adventure Canada was created to bring travellers to Canada’s “blank spaces”, those areas whose remoteness alone made them special. Over the last fifteen years, along with our guests, we have discovered that there is so much that is extraordinary about the places we travel, from the landscape, wildlife and culture to the history, art and archeology that is unique to every destination. It is our belief that there is so much to see “beyond the binoculars” that drives us to delve deeper into our favourite places with every expedition and continually seek out new destinations.

We travel by small expedition ship, the best suited mode of transportation for remote exploration. The number of passengers on our voyages run between 45 and 100, depending on the ship we choose. We believe that these small vessels are superior, as they not only allow us to gain access to places not accessible by larger vessels, but our fleet of Zodiac landing craft permit us to visit some of the most remote places imaginable – the key to expeditionary travel.

Select the Deck to view detail.

Ocean Victory - Deck 3

Ocean Victory - Deck 4

Ocean Victory - Deck 5

Ocean Victory - Deck 6

Ocean Victory - Deck 7

Ocean Victory - Deck 8

Ocean Victory - Deck 9

Select the Cabin to view detail.

Category A - Single Cabin

– Porthole window
– Double bed
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Desk and a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 151 square feet (14 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 9 - Premium Suite

– Private balcony
– Two-bedroom suite
– Double bed or twin beds
– Spacious bathroom with shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Sitting area with sofa bed
– Desk and a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 452 square feet (42 sqm)

Category 8 - Junior Suite

– Private balcony
– Double bed or twin beds
– Spacious bathroom with shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Sitting area with sofa bed
– Desk and a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 388 square feet (36 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 7 - Balcony Suite

– Large private balcony
– Double bed or twin beds
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Desk and a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 280-344 square feet (26-32 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 6 - Grand Balcony Cabin

– Balcony
– Double bed or two single beds
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Desk and a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 269-323 square feet (25-30 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 5 - Superior Balcony Cabin

– Balcony
– Double bed or twin beds
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Seating area featuring a sofa, table, and chair
– Optional connecting staterooms available upon request
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 237-269 square feet (22-25 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 4 - Balcony Cabin

– Balcony
– Double bed or twin beds
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Desk with a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 194-237 square feet (18-22 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 3 - French Balcony Cabin

– Floor-to-ceiling windows
– French-style balcony
– One queen size bed
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Desk with a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 151 square feet (14 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 2 - Albatros Cabin

– Porthole window
– Double bed or two single beds
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Desk and a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Approximately 140-237 square feet (13-22 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary

Category 1 - Triple Cabin

– Porthole window
– Two twin beds or double bed, plus sofa bed
– Bathroom with a shower
– Selection of bath products (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and hair dryer
– Bathrobes and slippers
– Desk and a chair
– Refrigerator
– Private air conditioning
– Television
– Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
– Several 230V outlets and USB ports
– Safety box
– Close to mud room and loading platforms
– Approximately 194-237 square feet (18-22 sqm)
– Cabin layout and size may vary