Follow in the Wake of Legendary Explorers on a Voyage to Remote Icebound Realms
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Aboard the expedition ship National Geographic Explorer, trace pioneering routes in the far northern reaches of the Arctic, including the quest for the legendary Northwest Passage. This is a realm dominated by ice, where changing climatic conditions are the subject of intensive scientific inquiry. Hardy wildlife manages to thrive in daunting conditions, and we keep watch for polar bears, walrus, seals and whales. It is a region that also has deep and ancient roots in Inuit culture, whose history and traditions in the Circumpolar North date back millennia. On a rare itinerary bridging Greenland with Nunavut via Baffin Island, this expedition voyage combines captivating angles on both nature and culture in the High Arctic, revealing abundant wildlife and the deep connection of the Inuit people to these icebound lands.
Trip Highlights
- Ply the Northwest PassageNavigate the eastern entrance of Canada’s fabled Northwest Passage, the long-sought sea route connecting the North Atlantic with the North Pacific via the Arctic Ocean
- Cruise Greenland's Premier IcefjordExplore Greenland’s fjords and cruise to Ilulissat Glacier, a rapidly retreating tongue of the Greenland ice sheet, to witness the vivid effects of a warming Arctic
- Scout for Arctic WildlifeSpend a full week in the Canadian High Arctic observing northern wildlife: look for polar bears, walrus, ringed seals, Arctic fox, belugas, bowhead whales and the elusive narwhal
WWF In Action
Sail with the World Leader in Small-Ship Conservation-Focused Cruising
We’re proud to offer a worldwide slate of Adventure Cruises through our partner Lindblad Expeditions. Nat Hab joined forces with Lindblad in 2016 to expand our mutual collection of nature adventures. Founded in 1958 by Lars-Eric Lindblad, the company pioneered eco-conscious expeditions for “citizen explorers" and today is the world leader in conservation-focused small-ship cruises.
- Small Ships Get You Closer to Nature
Lindblad's nimble expedition ships offer a close-up view of glaciers, icebergs, vertical fjord walls, waterfalls, seals floating on pack ice, and more natural features..which are the reason you come to these wild northern realms! Our ships' smaller size allows us into narrow inlets and secluded bays that big cruise ships can't access, while full stabilization and cutting-edge technology ensure comfortable, safe transit. With fewer guests aboard, you'll enjoy personal connections with our ship's expedition team, including naturalist guides and seasoned crew. - Tap Lindblad's Decades of Polar Cruising Experience
This is an authentic expedition-style cruise with a world-class polar captain,crew and staff. Lindblad was the first commercial company to take travelers to the world's polar realms, and today draws upon more than a half-century of experience in the often challenging ice conditions Arctic waters can present. Our onboard team includes a veteran Expedition Leader, assistant Expedition Leader and a corps of naturalists with specialties pertinent to our destinations. A NationalGeographic-certified photo instructor also travels with us to help guests get outstanding photographs of dramatic scenery, Arcticwildlife and local communities. - Diverse Activity Options Enhance Your Adventure
A hallmark of a Lindblad cruise is the wide array of choices you have for each day's adventures. From motorized Zodiac rides to self-paddled kayaks, guided hikes and nature walks to horseback rides and bicycling, educational museum tours and archaeological site visits, you're immersed in the nature and culture of our destinations. You choose what you want to do each day, and which guides you want to explore with. And, if you're new to something, like kayaking, members of the ship's team are always alongside to coach you—besides, our stable sea kayaks are practically untippable by novices! - A Flexible Itinerary Lets Us Linger Where the Action Is
Given the expeditionary nature of our operations, we aren't confined to a strict timetable. If we're sitting in front of a glacier that's actively calving tons of ice, we can stay and watch. If the weather is better halfway down a long fjord, we can chase the sun. If too much ice chokes our access to one place, our ship's captain knows where else we can go for clearer sailing.Flexibilty lets us craft the optimal adventure cruise for our guests. - See the World Beneath the Sea
An undersea diving specialist is an exciting addition to our Arctic voyage. Carrying nearly 200 pounds of specialized equipment and wearing heavy gear ensuring survival in frigid waters, ourdiver shoots high-definition footage of the undersea realm. Even among all this ice, marine life abounds, from whales to seals to varied fish and much tinier creatures. Each day, the footage is shown on plasma TV screens in the ship's lounge. The ship also carries a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that can dive as deep as 1,000 feet to reveal submarine realms as unexplored as the surface of the moon. By sharing videos of potentially new species with scientists, Lindblad Expeditions contributes directly to scientific research. - Custom Tools Expand Your Perspective on Nature
A video microscope helps naturalist guides show and explain various elements in the Arctic environment, including tiny organisms in the marine ecosystem’s building blocks—like a krill’s body, at 80x magnification. Atop the ship’s mast, a crow’s nest camera surveys our surroundings, offering a 360-degree view that you can watch on your cabin television. And below the surface, underwater microphones let us listen to Arctic marine mammals, revealing the otherworldly sounds of whales swimming near us, and other marine life. - Arctic Experts Enhance Your Knowledge
You'll cruise with an avid expedition team whose in-depth knowledge brings our Arctic environs alive. They are selected in large part for their expertise about the natural and cultural history of the areas we visit, though they are also warm, gifted communicators, adept at making scientific research clear and accessible for our guests. Each voyage includes an Expedition Leader, a team of seasoned naturalists, a National Geographic photographer, an undersea specialist, expert guest speakers, a video chronicler and a wellness specialist. The team's focus is the Arctic, and you'll hear from diverse speakers including wildlife biologists, ornithologists, marine scientists and polar historians. - We’re Committed to the Planet
Natural Habitat Adventures is a world leader in environmentally responsible travel. We were the world’s first 100-percent carbon-neutral travel company. And we continue to break ground in innovating practices that help to protect our global environment. Because of our concern for the natural world, we are enthused to partner with Lindblad Expeditions as the operator for our Adventure Cruises, a company that shares our values and commitment to conservation. - Natural Habitat Adventures is WWF's Travel Partner
Because of our environmental commitment and the outstanding quality of our adventures, World Wildlife Fund has chosen Natural Habitat Adventures as its worldwide travel partner, a designation we’re very proud of! When you book your Lindblad Expeditions cruise with us, a portion of your trip fee supports WWF.
