Beyond Canada’s continental north you will find the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, with over 36,000 islands, most lying deep within the Arctic Circle. A cruise in this remote region takes you through incredible wilderness scenery of fjords, glaciers, mountains and pack ice. The Canadian Arctic is also well known for its diverse wildlife, history and rich Inuit culture. It is home to seals, whales, polar bears, caribou, musk ox, walruses, Arctic wolves and foxes as well as thousands of seabirds that nest in the cliffs. Encounter small indigenous communities and the archaeological remains of hunting lodges that date back thousands of years.

It is in this region that you can follow in the wake of the legendary explorers Amundsen, Baffin and Franklin who searched for the Northwest Passage, a fabled trade route across the Arctic from Europe to the Far East. The two ships under Franklin’s command disappeared mysteriously before Amundsen made the first successful navigation of the route on his 1903-6 Gjoa expedition.

Discover some of the planet’s most dramatic glaciated landscapes on an expedition cruise to the Canadian Arctic, one of the most intriguing destinations of the Far North where not only the scenery but also the wildlife, history and culture will captivate you.