Led by Bob Jacobel, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Environmental Science, and Allison Jacobel, Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences, Middlebury College
(NASA composite satellite image of Greenland and Nunavut, Canada overlooing the Northwest Passage, taken in August 2016, about a month prior to the annual Arctic sea ice minimum. Start and end points for our journey through the NWP are shown.)
Get a glimpse into the world that has sustained rich Indigenous traditions and captivated early explorers such as Franklin, Amundsen, and Larsen, by exploring the key portions of the fabled Northwest Passage.
Learn about the region’s ancient history and culture from the locals who, along with their ancestors, have thrived in this remote wilderness homeland for millennia.
And watch for enigmatic Arctic wildlife as we navigate variable sea ice that once prevented ships from traversing the Northwest Passage, adding a compelling element of adventure integral to any genuine expedition.
Join climate scientists Bob and Allison Jacobel for an extraordinary 16-day Arctic expedition aboard Aurora Expeditions’ Sylvia Earle. As a counterpart to the Journey to Antarctica they led in 2024, the father-daughter team will lead an exploration of Greenland’s dramatic west coast, visiting Kalaallit Inuit communities and remote ice-filled fjords further to the north. After crossing Baffin Bay, the voyage continues through Lancaster Sound and along the shores of Devon and Somerset Islands, cutting through the narrow Bellot Strait. Continuing west past King William Island and into Victoria Strait, the route goes into historic Cambridge Bay, and ends in the remote Nunavut community of Kugluktuk.
Rather than complete an end-to-end traverse from the Atlantic to the Pacific, requiring more than a month at sea with corresponding costs, this trip focuses on the historic eastern gateway into Lancaster Sound and the central portion of the Northwest Passage, optimizing ship time for exploring the far north. Experience spectacular landscapes and opportunities to encounter polar bears, muskox, Arctic fox, walrus, and the elusive narwhal—all while learning from two accomplished polar scientists.
Allison Jacobel is a Middlebury College Earth and Climate Sciences professor who studies Arctic climate change through ocean sediments and expeditions and Bob Jacobel, a St. Olaf professor emeritus and glaciologist, has extensive Antarctic and Greenland field experience.
Bob says, “We considered many Arctic trips to find a counterpart to the Journey to Antarctica that will provide a comparable experience for our guests, one that is distinct from the usually-visited locations and itineraries and that will explore spectacular areas of the far north.”
With Aurora’s renowned active and science-focused expedition program and the Jacobels’ expertise, this is an unforgettable opportunity to experience the rapidly changing Arctic from a truly distinctive perspective.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hike on Devon Island, the world’s largest uninhabited island, with stunning geology and glacial valleys
- On Beechey Island, visit the graves of explorers from John Franklin’s expedition
- Be greeted by the warm hospitality of the local Inuit, whose deep connection to the land is evident in their culture, traditions and lifestyle
- Spot iconic Arctic wildlife, including musk oxen, polar bears, beluga whales, seals and perhaps the elusive narwhal
- In Ilulissat, hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Icefjord and stand in awe of its immensity
We aim to have full details available and registration open by 10/15/26. Please check back! Or, add your name to the interest list and be in the first group to receive an email when more information is available.
Bob Jacobel is a glaciologist and Professor of Physics Emeritus at St. Olaf and has been doing research on ice since 1987 when he first went to Greenland to work on site selection experiments for the US ice core drilled there. His principal interests are in the evolution and response of ice masses to climate change, and he uses the tools of ice penetrating radar and satellite remote sensing in this research on glaciers and ice sheets around the world. Bob studied physics at the University of California Berkeley and did his dissertation research in high energy particle physics, switching to geophysics and earth science when he came to St. Olaf because of his strong interest in the outdoors and desire to do field research.
In addition to projects in Greenland and Scandinavia, he has been a Principal Investigator of Antarctic field expeditions for more than 25 years and has published numerous papers on ice sheet and glacier dynamics. He has taught in both the physics and environmental science departments at St. Olaf, including courses on global climate change and the history/ literature of the poles. The Jacobel Glacier on the Sulzberger Coast of West Antarctica is named in honor of his accomplishments. Bob has been a speaker on a number of National Geographic trips to both polar regions starting in 2013 when he first led a St. Olaf program to Antarctica. He and Allison returned as leaders of the recent St. Olaf Antarctic program in 2024.
Allison Jacobel is a paleoclimatologist and an Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences at Middlebury College. Allison’s research utilizes records of climate change preserved in marine sediments to reveal past ocean and climate system variability. In particular, she studies the active role of the deep ocean in carbon storage and its influence on climate. She is also interested in records of more abrupt climate changes driven by the polar regions, including dramatic records from the Arctic.
Allison earned her Ph.D. at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and has sailed on several oceanographic research expeditions, including a 2017 cruise to Greenland on the Royal Research Ship Discovery and a second in 2021 on the RV Celtic Explorer. Both cruises focused on understanding accelerating modern ice loss and the influence of meltwater release on the ocean-climate system. Allison is excited to return to the Arctic and share her perspective on the role of the oceans in climate change with another fantastic St. Olaf group.
More info on the itinerary is coming soon!
If you’ve never traveled with a group — or spent this much on a vacation before — it’s completely normal to feel a little hesitant. But you absolutely can make this happen! Here is how we build the perfect safety net for your first big adventure: Your Tour, Your Way.
Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point: including some meals and activities, for example, while making others optional or on your own. Private motor coaches throughout the tour are pricier than public transportation. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.
The program fee varies by cabin category. Rates listed here are per-person, based on double occupancy. Add 50% of the St. Olaf price for single occupancy of staterooms.
| Stateroom Category | Brochure Price | St. Olaf Price |
| Aurora Stateroom Superior | $20,771.25 | |
| Balcony Stateroom C | $21,371.25 | |
| Balcony Stateroom B | $22,496.25 | |
| Balcony Stateroom A | $24,146.25 |
SPECIAL ALUMNI & FAMILY TRAVEL SAVINGS: Save on the public brochure price (as noted above) when traveling with St. Olaf. Valid on this departure date for new bookings only, subject to availability, may not be combined with other offers, and is not applicable on airfare or extensions.
A detailed list of inclusions and exclusions are coming soon.
A $2,500 per-person deposit is required with your registration.
Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure date.
| Days Prior to Departure Date | Per-Person Cancellation Fee |
| 120 days or more prior to departure | Non-refundable deposit |
| Less than 120 days prior to departure | 100% cancellation penalties |
Read each tab in the Participant Documents (coming soon).
Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.
Check your passport: ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour return date and at least one blank visa page.
Take time to Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, a safety overview, and more.
Hold the dates of August 30–September 15, 2028, but do not book non-refundable flights until we can confirm that the St. Olaf group is a go. See our Booking Your Flights page for tips and suggestions.
We aim to have full details available and registration open by 10/15/26. Please check back! Or, add your name to the interest list and be in the first group to receive an email when more information is available.
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