We strongly recommend that you arrive into Reykjavik today and have a hotel night in the city, ready to begin your adventure tomorrow.

You will have much of today free to spend exploring the vibrant city of Reykjavik. This afternoon you will make your way to the port where you will embark your expedition ship. You will set sail this evening, heading west towards Greenland.

You will spend today at sea crossing the Denmark Strait, a narrow passage between Iceland and Greenland teeming with rich marine life. Be sure to spend some time with your Expedition Team on the outer decks to watch for wildlife. Nearing Greenland, the team shares insights on ecology, geology, and wildlife, as well as briefings preparing guests for Zodiac operations and polar bear safety in the wilderness of Greenland. 

Tasiilaq is East Greenland’s largest settlement, sitting on rugged Ammassalik Island. Isolated from European contact until its founding as a trading post in 1894, it preserves the unique culture of the Tunumiit people. Once home to Greenland’s last shamans, Tasiilaq is the origin of the tupilak, a feared magical creature – now a celebrated art form. Here you may be able to meet sled dogs (with owners’ permission), experience drum dancing, hike tundra meadows, and visit the famous Stunk Artist’s Workshop.

This morning you will plan to approach Ikateq, also known as Bluie Two East – a haunting remnant of the American military presence on Greenland during the Second World War. Marvel at the remains of this vital airbase, untouched since it was abandoned in 1947. In the afternoon you will reposition to Kuummiit – a small village deep in the calm waters of Ammassalik Fjord. Here you will have a chance to connect with the friendly locals and experience East Greenlandic culture in one of the country’s most beautiful and welcoming villages.

Your next stop is likely to be the breathtaking Sermilikfjord – a vast ice-choked fjord which drains the colossal Helheim Glacier. Armadas of vast icebergs drift from the Greenland Ice Sheet out into the North Atlantic, creating one of the most spectacular natural sights on Earth. Your Expedition Team will plan a Zodiac cruise where you can marvel at the gigantic icebergs, natural ice sculptures tens of thousands of years in the making!

Today, you will plan to explore Skjoldungen, a stunning fjord on Greenland’s southeast coast, known to locals as Saqqisikuik. Once visited by Inuit and briefly settled in the 20th century, it is now remote and uninhabited. Surrounded by breathtaking peaks, highlights include Thryms Glacier and the valley of Dronning Marie Dal. Weather permitting, you may land to explore or cruise by the glacier.

This morning you will plan to sail through spectacular Prins Christian Sund, a 60 km iceberg-filled strait linking East and West Greenland. Surrounded by mountains, glaciers, and valleys, it’s one of the world’s most spectacular waterways. By afternoon, you should reach Aappilattoq, a small, remote village beneath granite cliffs, known for its traditional lifestyle, scenic hiking, and famous local choir.

You will cruise through Tunulliarfik Fjord to Qassiarsuk, a lush village known for sheep farming and its rich Norse history. Founded in 1924, the modern village sits on the site of Erik the Red’s 10th-century farm, Brattahlíð. Legend has it that his wife Thjodhild refused to join her pagan husband’s bed until he built her a church – the first in the Americas. In the afternoon, you will plan to hike from nearby Itilleq through lush green fields to Igaliku and the ruins of Garðar, the seat of Norse Greenlandic power.

From South Greenland, you will sail north along the rugged coast. Nearly all of Greenland’s settlements lie on the western coast, facing the Davis Strait. Warm Atlantic currents enrich these waters, attracting whales, seals, human hunters, and many seabirds - be sure to spend some time out on deck as you sail.

Home to 20,000 residents, Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, offers culture, history, and stunning natural beauty. Inhabited since 2200 B.C. by Paleo-Inuit and later by Norse settlers, Nuuk is now Greenland’s cultural and political centre, featuring the Parliament, National Museum (home of the Qilakitsoq mummies), Katuaq cultural centre, local art shops, and cozy cafés. Affectionately known as “Nuuk York” by locals, it stands as a singular blend of the ancient and the contemporary.

On the final full day of your voyage, you will arrive in Kangaamiut, a village where traditional hunting, fishing, and weather shape daily life. Here you can join a hike for panoramic views, and enjoy a warm cultural welcome with local crafts, food, and performance. In the afternoon, you will plan to venture into Evighedsfjorden - “The Eternity Fjord” - by Zodiac, cruising past majestic glaciers and dramatic bird cliffs, a thrilling and unforgettable finale to your Arctic voyage.

As your journey draws to a close, you will sail up the 160km Kangerlussuaq Fjord and disembark by Zodiac. Though Kangerlussuaq is more known for its Cold War-era military roots and role as a transport hub than cultural heritage, its surrounding wilderness offers striking natural beauty. From there, you will depart from Greenland, taking a charter flight to Copenhagen, where your journey will end.  

You can arrive into Reykjavik at any time today and will have a hotel night included as part of your trip (either an airport or city hotel, please ask us for details)

You will have much of today free to spend exploring the vibrant city of Reykjavik. This afternoon you will be transferred to the port where you will embark your expedition ship. You will set sail this evening, heading west towards Greenland.

As you sail across the Denmark Strait, your Expedition Team will offer a series of lectures and presentations on the wildlife and enthralling history of Greenland, its fascinating geology, ecology and climate, and the incredible sights you will soon explore. The team will also keep watch for the seabirds you’ll likely see soaring around your ship, as well as the whales that can be encountered here.

Your exploration of Greenland begins with South East Greenland, one of the least visited and most remote parts of the island. Your days sailing along the coast will be guided by weather and ice conditions, with each day and each excursion presenting new adventures. The region is a sight to behold, boasting a mesmerising maze of vast glaciers, steep mountains and breathtaking fjords. One location you can hope to visit, conditions permitting, is Skjoldungen Fjord (Saqqisikuik), where you can hope to cruise between steep mountains to view glaciers. The narrow reaches offer an ideal setting to launch the Zodiacs for a closer, more immersive exploration. If conditions allow, you may also visit the site of an abandoned Inuit settlement, whose residents were relocated to larger, more accessible communities around 1961.

If you are feeling even more adventurous, perhaps you might join an optional paddling excursion (extra cost), an unforgettable opportunity to glide past icebergs and glaciers and capture some photographs from a unique perspective. Another possible destination is Lindenow Fjord (Kangerlussuatsiaq), and if conditions are favourable, it is a great spot for hiking through lush and varied flora, surrounded by epic mountain vistas. This rarely visited deep fjord is fed by a number of glaciers and offers ample opportunities for your camera to get a workout.

Sailing on, you will next explore Greenland’s fertile southern coast. Nicknamed Arctic Patagonia, this region is as rich in spectacular scenery as it is in history and culture. Here, it’s easy to see why Erik the Red gave Greenland its name: everywhere you look rewards with vistas of icy waters set against a backdrop of soaring mountains and unbelievably lush, green valleys.

Scattered around the shores of the fjord systems that dominate the area are several small settlements, both ancient and present day, making South Greenland an ideal place to explore. Prins Christian Sund (Ikerasassuaq) is a mesmerizing maze of narrow fjords and winding channels - an exceptional place to explore by ship. You will plan to cruise through this dramatic sound, where calving glaciers, jagged mountains and sheer cliffs plunge into the water. Sailing through this fjord from the vantage point of your ship or a Zodiac is an exhilarating experience. If conditions allow, venturing ashore provides opportunities for all levels of hiking.

Steeped in Norse history, the southern coast of Greenland provides plenty of opportunities to learn about this ancient culture. One such landing you can hope to make is at Hvalsey (Qaqortukulooq), the site of Greenland’s largest and best preserved Norse ruins. Exploring the remains of the circa 14th-century church will feel like stepping back in time, as the building appears much as it did when it was abandoned in the 15th century and the surrounding fells and fjord remain similarly untouched. The little village of Igaliku, home to about 25 inhabitants, is Greenland’s oldest sheep-farming settlement. It’s a charming place to go ashore, as sheep peacefully graze on the grass, surrounded by bloom-covered rolling valleys and tall mountains.

The area is also known for its storied past, as evidenced by the remarkable red sandstone ruins of the Gardar cathedral (the largest church in Greenland in the Middle Ages) and bishop’s residence, which date back to the early 12th century, when Greenland’s first bishop was appointed. Wandering the foundations, excavated in 1926, you’ll get to see a bit of history first-hand as you learn about this interesting relic of the Viking period. Together with four other historic farming communities, Igaliku is part of the newly established UNESCO World Heritage Site Kujataa.

Boasting spectacular glaciers, mountainous landscapes, and vibrant communities, the west coast of Greenland will leave you awestruck. Heading north, each day you will plan to take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels and landing sites, discovering some of the quaint communities dotting the islands and fjords in the region and cruising in some of Greenland’s most picturesque places.

The west coast is home to Nuuk, the charming Greenlandic capital. Here you will have time to wander the streets of the historic Old Nuuk neighbourhood and see the Hans Egede Church and Hans Egede statue near the waterfront, both named after the missionary who founded the settlement. History buffs will want to visit the national museum to view the famous Greenlandic mummies, found under a rock outcrop in 1972 by two brothers who were ptarmigan hunting. Sisimiut is another interesting place to go ashore. You will have time to wander the town’s historic area, where several 18th-century colonial buildings still stand, including Greenland’s oldest surviving church. Your expedition team will also look to arrange a traditional kayak demonstration. Experiencing a cultural resurgence, the kayak is a symbol of Greenland and can be traced back over 4,000 years to the Inuit, who used the vessels for hunting and transport.

Another beautiful locale, and one of west Greenland’s highlights is the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to the world’s most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, Jakobshavn Glacier or Sermeq Kujalleq in Greenlandic, this is a great place to enjoy a cruise through the icebergs for a unique perspective not afforded by land. Venturing ashore in the nearby town, Ilulissat (which means “iceberg”), rewards with its own spectacle: enormous bergs floating out to Disko Bay. A hike from the town to the icefjord will allow you to view this unforgettable river of ice from the rocky shore. Given that in the past, it has been known for having more sled dogs than people, it’s not surprising that Ilulissat is the birthplace of the first European to traverse the Northwest Passage by dogsled, explorer Knud Rasmussen.

Surrounded by sea and mountains, the fishing community of Itilleq (meaning “crossing place”) is situated in a scenic hollow on a small island, about a mile (2 km) above the Arctic Circle. Explore traditional wooden houses painted in a rainbow of colours, chat with the locals and join a customary football (soccer) match between visitors and residents, and you’ll be experiencing Itilleq’s famous friendly vibe in no time.

You will arrive into Nuuk, Greenland's capital city where you will be ferried from ship to shore on one last Zodiac ride, then transferred to the airport where you will board your charter flight to Reykjavik. On arrival you will be transferred to your included hotel.

You can depart from Reykjavik at any time today, or opt to stay longer to explore this modern city or just outside on a series of day trips which can include the Golden Circle, diving or snorkelling between two tectonic plates at Silfra, or perhaps joining a Northern Lights trip to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. Please ask us for more information on single and multi-day trips here in Iceland.