Discover Iceland and Greenland

Your Iceland and Greenland expedition cruise will begin in Reykjavik, the vibrant and unique Icelandic capital. Having arrived in Reykjavik independently you will make your way to the Old Reykjavik Harbour, a five minute stroll from the main squares, to board your expedition vessel. We recommend spending some time either pre or post-cruise to explore the world’s northernmost capital city and we have a number of programmes and extension tours available should you wish to do so.

Embarkation will begin in the early evening and after having familiarised yourself with your home for the next 11 nights we will leave the harbour behind and begin our sail southwards towards the Westman Islands.

The first stop on our exciting expedition cruise will allow you to sample some of Iceland’s hidden gems as we visit the Westman Islands, located off Iceland’s south coast. We will go ashore by Zodiac on Heimaey to spot some of the abundance of birds and whales that reside here in the archipelago’s only inhabited island. As we walk around the area we will discover how the Islands were formed around 10,000 years ago by submarine volcanic eruptions, and the half-buried houses which have remained from a 1973 eruption offer a stark reminder of the dramatic effects of the various catastrophes that have befallen Heimaey and its inhabitants throughout history. One of the most tragic of these was the pirate raid of July 1627, and an optional Trail of the Pirates hike will invite you to enjoy a 2 hour hike whilst learning about and visiting some of the main scenes of this terrible incident.

Other optional extra tours and excursions here include a guided coach tour which will take you through the “Pompeii of the North” and includes a visit to the Volcanic Museum Eldheimar. You could also take the chance to play a round of golf at the famous Vestmannaeyjar Islands golf course which is located beside the sea in a sunken volcanic crater. Please note: all extra optional tours and excursions throughout your voyage should be booked in advance and are not included in the cost of your package.

As we leave Iceland in our wake, today will be spent at sea sailing across the Denmark Strait towards the south coast of Greenland. As we follow the same maritime route used by Norse settlers more than 900 years ago, you can enjoy the fascinating presentation and lecture programme that will be provided by your experienced expedition team covering a wide range of topics. We recommend spending some time on deck or in the observation lounge as we sail, looking out for the seabirds that will be following the ship along with whales and dolphins in the waters below. Alternatively you can simply relax in the comfort of your cabin, enjoy a book in the well-stocked Polar library, indulge in a beauty treatment in the onboard Spa or chill out with a drink in the welcoming bar lounge.

Weather dependent, we hope to spend today at sea sailing along the 70 mile (112 km) long Prince Christian Sound, a narrow, often ice-choked channel which connects the Labrador and Irminger Seas. This exciting portion of your cruise will fully introduce you to the grandeur of Greenland’s spectacular coastline and you will get to witness up-close nature at its most powerful, as the massive inland ice cap pushes glaciers towards the sea. As you spend some time on deck your fully strengthened ship will come so close to huge floating icebergs that you will feel like you could almost reach out and touch them. Make sure to have your cameras ready for an exhilarating scenic experience.

Today we will finally step foot in Greenland as we reach the town of Narsarsuaq and approach by Zodiac to land at Qassiarsuk. This small settlement was founded by the legendary Viking rebel and leader Erik the Red who named it “green land” thanks to the inviting fjords and fertile green valleys that surrounded it. Here you can choose to enjoy a walk around the area at your own pace or join an included visit to the Narsarsuaq Museum where you can find out more about the Norse settlers, and especially Erik the Red, and also learn of the history of the US army “Bluie-West One Base”.

Alternatively, you can join an optional Viking heritage guided walk to learn more about the lives of the early Norse settlers and visit the reconstructions of a Viking longhouse and a small turf church, take a boat trip through the icebergs in the Qoroq Ice Fjord, a hike across the stunning arctic landscapes to the remote community of Tasiusaq, kayaking excursions and helicopter tours. Please enquire for full details and prices of these optional extra tours.

Today we will enjoy an exciting day Zodiac cruising through the spectacular Ikka Fjord. As your experienced expedition crew join you aboard the Zodiacs you will discover all about the remarkable geological features here which create an underwater world like no other. Beneath the surface you will see a forest of remarkable mineral columns growing on the seabed. The columns formed over 10,000 years ago of the extremely rare mineral Ikait.

Today brings us to the capital and largest city in Greenland, Nuuk, where a population of 16,000 people resides amongst a beautiful combination of Arctic traditions and European urbanity. As we make land you can choose to enjoy exploring around the city at your own leisure to take in the sights, sounds and unique architecture that makes Nuuk such a fascinating place to visit.

Alternatively there are a number of extra optional tours which can be booked in advance of your arrival. These include a Greenlandic beer tasting tour which invites you to try out three different kinds of microbrewery beers whilst learning all about the traditions and methods used in the brewing processes, a strenuous hike to the beautiful Lille Malene Mountain, a food tasting tour where you can sample a number of local delicacies and learn all about Greenlandic hunting and food traditions, or a special helicopter flight over the city.

Today’s adventures bring us to Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town which is home to around 5,600 residents. Upon arrival here you can choose to explore at your own pace or join the included tour to the Sisimiut Museum, one of the best preserved museums in Greenland, to learn all about Greenlandic culture, Greenlandic trade and industry history.

Alternatively, you can join one of the extra optional tours which are on offer including a panorama walking tour which will take you through the city whilst learning all about how this relatively modern settlement has firmly held on to some of its ancient traditions, not least its highly important fishing industry. You could also choose to join a guided scenic hike to learn all about the Greenlandic hunting culture, or attend a presentation on the famous Qiviut wool which comes from the wild musk oxen and enjoy a tasting of some local delicacies while you learn.

For many, today may be the highlight of the cruise as we reach Ilulissat village in fabled Disko Bay. Ilulissat is located beside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord and a walk around this picturesque village will reward in exceptional photo opportunities.

There are numerous options here for optional extra excursions which will take you to the heart of the icefjord to discover the thunderous spectacle of icebergs breaking off from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the northern hemisphere, and plunging into the fjord. These options include a cruise around the plentiful icebergs of the ice fjord and an exhilarating flight over the fjord. You could also enjoy a hike to “Holms Bakke” which offers great views to the Jakobshavn Ice Fjord, as well as exploring the Inuit ruins at Sermermiut, or visit a local sledge dog premises to meet the beautiful huskies and hear traditional stories about how the Inuits use and have used the dogs for hunting and travelling. There are also guided city walks available. Please enquire for full details and prices.

In the evening we will reboard the ship and sail to the beautiful Eqip Glacier.

Lying at the foot of a spectacular heart-shaped mountain, Uummannaq is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Greenland. Located on a small island about 300 miles (483 km) north of the Arctic Circle, this tiny, picturesque village is a delight to explore. As we make our way to shore by Zodiac, we can land to enjoy an included visit to the exceptionally interesting Uummannaq Museum. Here we can learn all about the extensive polar exploration in the region and see copies of the famous Qilaktisog mummies, which were discovered in this area in 1972. We can also enjoy a visit to the only stone church in Greenland which is situated next door to the museum.

Today we reach the spectacular Disko Island and will board our Zodiacs to transfer to shore to visit the small settlement of Qeqertarsuaq. Surrounded by the Lyngmark Glacier which towers above the town, Qeqertarsuaq is the only settlement on the island and this stop is a great chance to learn about the whaling and fishing traditions that are still very much present here. Upon arrival you can enjoy an included visit to the famous Church of Qeqertarsuaq, a striking octagonal shaped building, where the local residents will present their national costumes and a choir will entertain us with beautiful hymns and Greenlandic choral singing.

A wide variety of optional extra excursions are available here including a cultural and historical guided walk through Qeqertasuaq’s most famous sites, an exceptionally scenic hike to Blaesedalen Valley (“Valley of the Winds”) to see a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna as well as impressive waterfalls, or an invitation to a Greenlandic Kaffemik, an old tradition where a family invites a large group of people into their home to celebrate a special occasion with folk dances, coffee and treats. This is a very special way to get a closer look at Greenlandic life, traditions and culture. For the ultimate Greenlandic adventure you could also choose to take a special helicopter and dog sledding excursion! Full details and prices for all tours are available on request.

As your fantastic Iceland and Greenland cruise comes to an end your ship will sail into the 120 mile long Kangerlussuaq Fjord to reach Kangerlussuaq and the final port of call on our journey. After breakfast we will disembark and bid a fond farewell to our crew and new-found friend before joining the transfer to the airport for your included flight back to Iceland. There are multiple options available for extending your stay in both Iceland and Greenland and we will be happy to share details of these with you should you wish for more adventures.