This summer, HX Expeditions will launch a first-of-its-kind excursion program in Arctic Canada that’s been developed in partnership with Inuit Elders, local residents and community-born staff. It marks the first time a global cruise company has introduced a community-led program of this scale in the region.
These community-led excursions will be available on HX’s 25-day Northwest Passage sailings, westbound from Greenland to Alaska aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, HX’s newest hybrid-powered vessel, and eastbound from Alaska to Greenland aboard MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery hybrid-powered cruise ship.
A key member of the development team for these new experiences—with 100 percent of the revenue going directly to individuals and businesses in Nunavut—is Mariah Erkloo, an HX Product Planner and Inuk who was born and raised in Pond Inlet.
“This kind of collaboration is exactly what’s needed in Arctic tourism,” said Erkloo in a media statement. “It’s encouraging to see it begin in a way that centers Inuit voices and priorities. From the community side, if this model continues to grow with care, it will strengthen the experience for both locals and visitors. I look forward to seeing how it evolves and the lasting positive impact it will have for our communities and the people who travel through them.”
This new line of community-led excursions will debut in Gjøa Haven, Pond Inlet, and Cambridge Bay—communities in the eastern Canadian Arctic that can be visited only during a short summer window. The HX experiences include:
- Guided hikes to local landmarks with Inuit storytelling
- Participating in the lighting of the traditional Qilliq and learning its cultural significance
- “Arctic Conversations”: small-group discussions with community members about life in the North
- Arctic char fishing with local harvesters using traditional weir techniques
- Visiting summer cabins to learn how Inuit continue to live off the land
- Collaborative art-making sessions using techniques and materials unique to each region
- Storytelling with respected Elders sharing personal experiences and ancestral knowledge
- Joining community events like bingo, card games, or demonstrations of Arctic sports
“These intimate excursions are an opportunity for travellers to create meaningful personal connections with local residents and experience the beauty of Inuit hospitality like never before,” said Chief Expedition Officer Alex McNeil, in a media statement. “By keeping excursions to an average of 10 to 12 guests, 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.”
