Professor Julian Dowdeswell has over 40 years of experience in glaciology, with a current focus on research into how glaciers and ice caps respond to climate change. He was awarded the Polar Medal by HM Queen Elizabeth II for ‘outstanding contributions to glacier geophysics’ and served as Director of SPRI for almost 20 years. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Friends.
Northwest Passage with Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute
Voyage from West Greenland to Canada’s high Arctic with Professor Julian Dowdeswell and Celene Pickard, in partnership with the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI).
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/08/27 | 14/09/27 | 16 days | £17,995 pp | On Request | Professor Julian Dowdeswell | 130 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
In partnership with The Friends of The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI), join our late August / September 2027 Northwest Passage expedition, beginning in West Greenland and sailing through Canada’s Baffin Bay into one of the world’s most storied Arctic routes.
The price of this voyage includes an early bird discount and an exclusive Friends of SPRI group discount.
Hosted by Professor Julian Dowdeswell, glaciologist and Chair of the Friends of SPRI, whose 40 years of expertise in polar environmental change shape in-depth onboard talks and guided shore landings, alongside Friends Executive Secretary Celene Pickard and the ship’s expert team.
Witness Greenland’s colossal UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, where Ilulissat Glacier – the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere – spills millions of tonnes of ice into Disko Bay each year. Continue into polar bear and muskoxen territory in the high Canadian Arctic where the remains of centuries-old polar expeditions are etched into the landscape.
In addition to the expedition, travellers are invited to a pre-cruise private dinner at one of the Cambridge colleges, as well as a viewing of behind-the-scenes displays at the Polar Museum, of the SPRI.
Introducing your experts
Professor Julian Dowdeswell
Celene Pickard
Celene Pickard has been the Executive Secretary of the Friends of SPRI since 2007, and is currently a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. She previously worked as a researcher for Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ seminal biography ‘Captain Scott’. A passionate polar advocate, Celene has organised many previous Friends voyages to both the Arctic and Antarctic.
Why Steppes?
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Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Expert Hosts
Hosted by Friends of SPRI Chair, Professor Julian Dowdeswell and Executive Secretary Celene Pickard.
Polar Activities
Zodiac excursions, guided hikes and epic icebergs in West Greenland.
Early Explorers
Follow in the footsteps of early explorers and visit the graves from Franklin’s expedition.
Artic Wildlife
A chance to see bearded seals, seabirds, whales and muskoxen, and voyage through polar bear territory.
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Days 1-2
Toronto-Nuuk
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Day 3
Sisimiut, Greenland
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Day 4
Ilulissat, Greenland
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Days 5-7
Expedition Cruising West Greenland and Baffin Bay
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Day 8
Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
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Days 9-14
Expedition Cruising Northwest Passage
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Day 15
Resolute-Calgary
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Day 16
Calgary
Days 1-2
Toronto-Nuuk
On arrival into Toronto take a complimentary shuttle to your airport hotel. After breakfast the following morning, board a charter flight to Nuuk, Greenland, and embark the Sylvia Earle.
Day 3
Sisimiut, Greenland
Sail into the Arctic Circle, arriving in Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town. Here, see the Blue Church with a whale bone gate. Visit Sismiut Museum and see a reconstructed peat house.
Day 4
Ilulissat, Greenland
Explore Ilulissat known as the ‘birthplace of icebergs’. Here, hike to the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord to see Jakobshavn Glacier, the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere.
Days 5-7
Expedition Cruising West Greenland and Baffin Bay
Over the next three days sail the northern reaches of West Greenland, passing remote Inuit settlements and drifting icebergs. Join guided tundra hikes, visits to Inuit communities and zodiac excursions through Uummannaq Fjord, keeping an eye out for minke and humpback whales.
Day 8
Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
Meet the Inuit community of Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) on the northern tip of Baffin Island to learn about life in the Arctic.
Days 9-14
Expedition Cruising Northwest Passage
Spend the next few days sailing through the Northwest Passage. The itinerary will depend on sea ice and weather conditions; possible destinations include Devon Island, Maxwell Bay, Beechey Island, Radstock Bay, Prince Leopold Island, Elwin Bay and Somerset Island. Polar bears, muskoxen, walrus, bearded seals and seabirds inhabit this region.
Day 15
Resolute-Calgary
Disembark in Resolute for a charter flight to Calgary, where the group will transfer to a hotel for a final night.
Day 16
Calgary
After breakfast, transfer to Calgary International Airport for onward travel.
Positive Impact
The Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute
Established in 1920 as part of the University of Cambridge, the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) is a centre of excellence in the study of the Arctic and Antarctic. By joining this cruise you will be directly raising funds for The Friends of SPRI, contributing to crucial polar research projects at the Institute. Hosting the cruise are Professor Julian Dowdeswell and Celene Pickard, the Friend’s Executive Secretary. Julian brings extensive knowledge in glaciology, geography, history and polar environmental change, and Celene provides organisational support as a known point of contact for the Friends.
Land, sea and Inuit culture
Excursions
Hike on Devon Island, an uninhabited polar desert in Canada’s high Arctic and the site of an abandoned Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost. Visit the graves of three explorers from Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition on Beechey Island – a designated Canadian National Historic Site – and board zodiacs to explore Radstock Bay dominated by the flat-topped mountain Caswell Tower. Here, see ancient Thule sites inhabited by early Inuit people thousands of years ago. In Greenland, visit the Sisimiut Museum and see a reconstructed Inuit peat house, as well as artefacts from the Saqqaq culture.
Polar Fauna
The Wild North
In Dundas Harbour and Maxwell Bay, there’s an abundance of Arctic wildlife, including bearded seals, harp seals and sometimes walrus. Polar bears often inhabit the ice floes in this area. On land, guided hikes offer a chance to see muskoxen and caribou. Visit Prince Leopold Island, the most important bird sanctuary in the Canadian Arctic where an estimated 500,000 birds nest in the summer months. The expedition continues to the southeastern coast of Somerset Island where Beluga whales and polar bears thrive.
Expedition Ship
Sylvia Earle
A powerful vessel with minimal environmental impact, built with virtual anchoring to minimise damage to the seafloor. The ship’s Ulstein X-BOW design cuts through icy waters with ease, making sections of the Northwest Passage such as the Bellot Strait – a narrow passage with strong tidal currents and fast-flowing ice – smoother and more comfortable to navigate. On sea days, floor-to-ceiling windows in the glass atrium lounge maximise wildlife viewing.
Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
Single Supplement
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
Flexibility
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
What is included
- Hosted by Professor Julian Dowdeswell and Celene Pickard from The Friends of SPRI
- All transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Overnight accommodation in Toronto and Calgary
- Charter flights from Toronto to Nuuk and from Resolute to Calgary
- On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
- All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices during voyage. Beer and house wine with dinner
- Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages
- Shore excursions and zodiac cruises
- One 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket and use of muck boots
- Port surcharges, permits and landing fees
- Exclusive pre-cruise private dinner at one of the Cambridge colleges
- View of behind-the-scenes displays at The Polar Museum of the SPRI
- One year complimentary membership to the Friends of SPRI at the time of booking for non-members
What is excluded
- International flights
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges
- Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
- Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges
- All items of a personal nature, including but not limited to, alcoholic beverages (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, email or phone charges
- Gratuities. (A $15 USD per person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added to your onboard account. It is at your discretion if you would like to remove or adjust the tip when you settle your bill)
Why a Steppes expert-led group tour
1.Experience matters
We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.
2.Like-minded travellers
Steppes Travellers are like-minded people; interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours, usually consisting of eight to ten travellers, aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.
4.Peace of mind
When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.
3.It’s about who you know
We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.
Other available dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/08/27 | 14/09/27 | 16 days | £17,995 pp | Professor Julian Dowdeswell | 130 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
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