← Northwest Passage Experience cruise guide
wildlife · Northwest Passage Experience

Polar Bear & Arctic Wildlife Tundra Safari, Resolute Bay

Board a specially equipped tundra vehicle for a guided wildlife safari across Cornwallis Island, seeking out polar bears, Arctic wolves, musk oxen, and snowy owls in one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth.

What to expect

Departing Resolute Bay in a heated all-terrain vehicle, your guide — a naturalist who has lived and worked in the High Arctic for years — begins narrating the ecology and geology of Cornwallis Island as the settlement shrinks behind you. The vast, treeless tundra unfolds in shades of rust, gold, and olive, punctuated by pingo formations and Arctic ponds. Polar bear sightings are common in late summer as bears patrol the coast; Arctic fox, ringed seals and migratory shorebirds are near-certainties. The safari pauses frequently for extended wildlife observation, with the guide explaining behaviour, diet, and the fragile balance of this ecosystem.

Book it with
High Arctic Expeditions (Resolute Bay)
USD 600–850 per person (half-day guided tundra wildlife safari)
Book it →

Good to know

Resolute Bay is one of the most remote airports in North America — dress for extreme cold even in August (temperatures can drop to -5°C with wind chill). Book at minimum 6 weeks in advance as guide and vehicle availability is severely limited. Confirm your ship's all-aboard time; the safari is designed to fit within a standard port call window of 5–6 hours.

← Back to the full Northwest Passage Experience guide

⚓ Your bucket-list concierge

Doing the whole cruise?

Tell us your sailing and we'll send the bucket list for every port — the operator to call, real prices, and an honest verdict on each ship tour.

No spam. The honest plan, even when it says skip the ship’s tour.