Hurtigruten Expeditions Launches Inuit-Led Arctic Shore Tours
HX Expeditions is introducing an innovative shore excursion program in Arctic Canada, co-created with Inuit elders, local residents and community-born staff. The new offerings will debut this summer on the line’s 25-day Northwest Passage voyages aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen, bringing guests ashore in Gjøa Haven, Pond Inlet and Cambridge Bay in the eastern Canadian Arctic.
The program was developed through close collaboration with Inuit communities to ensure that local voices drive every aspect of the experience. By engaging elders and regional experts, HX Expeditions has designed excursions that blend cultural heritage with environmental awareness, creating authentic connections between visitors and the people who have lived on these lands for generations.
These community-partnered excursions will host just 10 to 12 guests each, allowing for meaningful personal interactions and respectful engagement. Visitors will join small groups led by Inuit guides who share traditional knowledge and contemporary perspectives, ensuring that every moment ashore deepens understanding of Arctic life and the challenges facing northern communities today.
Mariah Erkloo, an HX product planner and Inuk native of Pond Inlet, played a central role in shaping the new experiences. Erkloo emphasizes that centering Inuit priorities is essential for sustainable tourism growth in the Arctic. She believes that if this collaborative approach continues with care and respect, it will strengthen local economies and enrich the journey for both residents and visitors alike.
Excursion activities range from guided hikes to landmarks rich in Inuit storytelling, to participating in the lighting of the traditional Qulliit lamp and learning about its cultural meaning. Each outing is crafted to balance outdoor adventure with moments of reflection, highlighting the beauty of the Arctic environment and the wisdom of those who call it home.
In addition to physical exploration, guests can take part in “Arctic Conversations,” intimate discussions with community members about daily life in the North. These small-group dialogues offer insights into modern challenges such as climate change, traditional hunting practices and the preservation of Indigenous languages. Visitors may also tour summer cabins to see how Inuit families continue to live off the land.
Collaborative art-making sessions will introduce guests to region-specific techniques and materials, from carving soapstone to working with locally sourced Arctic flora. Community events—like bingo nights, card games and demonstrations of traditional Arctic sports—provide opportunities for laughter, camaraderie and spontaneous cultural exchange.
“We ensure each experience is personal and rooted in genuine exchange, offering a level of access, connection and cultural integration you won’t find with other cruise lines,” says Alex McNeil, chief expedition officer for HX. “We are not just visitors; we are partners in a shared journey of discovery.”
In a show of commitment to community benefit, HX Expeditions will forgo any profit margin on these excursions during the program’s first phase. One hundred percent of the revenue generated will be directed straight to individuals, artists and small businesses in Nunavut, supporting local entrepreneurship and cultural preservation.
McNeil adds that this initiative marks the beginning of a new era in expedition travel. By forging strong partnerships with Arctic communities, HX aims to redefine responsible tourism and ensure that exploration delivers lasting positive impacts. As the Northwest Passage sailings set course this summer, guests will not only witness breathtaking landscapes but also contribute directly to the well-being and resilience of northern cultures.
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