Iceland, South Greenland & East Coast Canada

Having arrived independently to Reykjavik, Iceland’s vibrant capital city, you will transfer to your hotel for your included overnight stay. The rest of the day will be at your leisure and you may want to sample some of the unique gastronomy and warm hospitality that Reykjavik is renowned for, before enjoying a good nights’ sleep in preparation for the adventures that lie ahead.

On the morning of day 2 you can join your included tailor-made tour of Reykjavik and its surroundings. Highlights will include a drive to the historical area of Thingvellir National Park to enjoy a walk along the unique landscape, and a visit to Gullfoss, a magnificent waterfall that is considered to be the most beautiful of all of Iceland’s many waterfalls. In the late afternoon we will make our way to the port to board your expedition vessel, and after settling in to your stylish cabin there will be time to familiarise yourself with the ship before we cast off and begin our journey deep into the Arctic.

The first stop on our Arctic adventure cruise will allow us to sample a taste of Iceland’s unique geology as well as its rich Viking history and heritage. We will arrive at the beautiful Westman Islands, just off Iceland’s south coast and will board our Zodiacs for the first time to visit Heimaey, the main island of the archipelago. There are numerous options for exploration here as many of the island’s main attractions are reachable on foot. You may wish to join an optional walking tour to the Eldfell volcano, or perhaps take a more in-depth city tour. This city tour can be booked ahead and will take you to see some enchanting sights including the Helgafell and ldfell volcanoes, and Herjólfsdalur valley where you will see the ruins of some old Viking houses. It will also include a visit to the Eldheimar museum where you can learn all about how a volcanic eruption here created the UNESCO world-heritage site of Surtsey Island.

Leaving mythical Iceland behind, we will now spend two days at sea sailing across the Denmark Strait towards Greenland. As we sail, the programme of expert lectures and presentations covering everything from Iceland and Greenland’s geology and wildlife to historic Polar exploration will keep you entertained. This is also a great time to get to know your fellow passengers and enjoy some relaxation in the comfort of your ship before the adventures that await you on Greenland. We recommend spending some time on the viewing platforms and in the observation lounges looking out for sightings of seabirds such as northern fulmars and black-backed gulls, as well as possible whale and dolphin sightings.

Our first day in Greenland will bring us to the spectacular Prince Christian Sound. This famous channel surrounded by imposing snow-capped mountains measures around 60 miles long, with narrow passages of less than 500metres, and connects the Irminger Sea and the Labrador Sea. Your ship will gently cruise through the iceberg-dotted Sound, allowing for time on the viewing platforms capturing pictures of the stunning surrounding scenery, before reaching the magnificent Kangersuneq Qinngorleq fjord. Here we hope to enjoy the first of many full Zodiac cruises of your voyage, and for those who have opted to kayak this will be an excellent spot for some paddling along the glacier. After getting back on board, your ship will sail on to the southern part of the sound where there will be more photo opportunities as we pass by the beautiful settlement of Appilatoq which boasts a dramatic landscape of sharp mountain peaks surrounding colourful wooden houses.

As we continue our exploration of stunning South Greenland, over the next three days we will sail along the south coast to visit some of the world’s most beautiful fjords and landing sites. Our first stop is likely to be the striking Tasermiut fjord where a dramatic landscape of lush valleys and majestic mountains will herald our arrival. We plan to reach Klosterdal to see the Nalumasortoq, Ketil and Napasorsuaq mountains, the three most impressive mountains in the area. Here we hope to go ashore at Nalumasortoq where we can enjoy a gentle hike through the valley. This will also be a great spot for kayaking should this be something you choose to participate in. Getting back onboard, we will sail on to visit Nanortalik where we will enjoy a warm welcome from the local community as we come ashore to visit the interesting Nanortalik Museum and Nanortalik Church. This area’s unique landscape of rugged cliffs and mountains, deep fjords and sweeping grasslands makes for some excellent photo opportunities.

Moving on, next we will visit Narsarsuaq to enjoy a walk to see the Norse ruins, old farm houses and Inuit graves that are found here before, reaching Uunartoq island where you can enjoy a bathe in one of the island’s unique hot springs. This invigorating activity is definitely recommended but should you wish not to participate there will be plenty of other sites to explore here including visiting the remnants of some of the historic buildings that have been here for over 500 years.

Our next stop will be Hvalsey where you can see the best-preserved Norse ruins in Greenland and learn all about early life in this remote part of the world, before reaching Qaqortoq for our last stop on Greenland. Going ashore by Zodiac we will once again be warmly welcomed by the local residents who will invite us to enjoy a walk around the town to see the many cultural art displays, sample the local cuisine and watch a cultural kayak performance.

Leaving Greenland in our wake, we will now spend two days at sea sailing towards Canada’s mighty East Coast. Your programme of expert lectures and presentations will continue, with the focus now being on Arctic Canada and its incredible geology and unique wildlife. Some time on deck should reward with good sightings of Arctic seabirds and possibly whales, and this will also be a great time to collate the countless images you will have no doubt taken on your journey so far. As we approach the Canadian coastline we will prepare for our time in this remote region of the world’s second-largest country.

As we finally reach East Coast Canada, our first stop is likely to be Kangiqsualujjuaq where an abundance of natural attractions will offer a fantastic introduction to the area. Here we will go ashore to take a walk around this easternmost village of the Nunavik region, and will be warmly welcomed by the local residents who will be happy to introduce you to the distinctive characteristics of their cultural and linguistic heritage, art and stories.

There will be some great hiking opportunities here and a gentle walk along the tundra may reward in some excellent wildlife sightings including the iconic Black bears as well as foxes, wolves and some members of the world’s largest caribou herd.

The following two days may well be the highlight of your whole trip as we reach the unforgettable Torngat Mountains National Park and enjoy two days of exploration around some of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth. With 9,700 square kilometres of spectacular wilderness there is much to explore, and our time here will be spent wisely, making the most of every opportunity for memorable scenic and wildlife experiences. Exploring by ship through the deep channels and fjords, on Zodiac cruises and on enjoyable hikes, we will visit archaeological sites and discover fascinating geological sites including rock formations that are thought to be around 3.92 billion years old!

Throughout our time here we will be on a constant lookout for the wide variety of wildlife that resides here including polar bears, and our chances of seeing these majestic “kings of the Arctic” on a cruise through the Saglek Fjord are very good. Although our exact itinerary will be dictated by weather and sea conditions, we can also expect to sail through the exceptional Eclipse Channel or Nachvak Fjord, with dramatic scenery providing the most impressive backdrop imaginable.

Our chances of seeing the Northern Lights here are also excellent, and the feeling of witnessing this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon in the middle of one of the world’s most enchanting wildernesses will be one that will surely live long in the memory.

After our memorable exploration of the Torngat Mountains National Park, we will spend a day at sea sailing south towards Nain, the most northern and largest community in Nunatsiavut. Upon reaching this beautiful area we will go ashore to explore around this unique town, which was founded by Moravian Missionaries in 1771 and still is home to many buildings and artefacts that have remained as a reminder of the town’s importance in the Moravians’ missionizing efforts.

After an introduction to the town, local guides will invite you to join a small group walking tour to see the town’s key sites, including its church, museum and crafts shops. You may also wish to join an enjoyable hike to Mount Sophie. As bears are frequent in the areas just outside of town, a local Inuit bear guard will accompany you on your hike.

Moving further south along Canada’s east coast we have two more interesting landing sites to look forward to, the first of which will be Hopedale, the legislative capital of the Nunatsiavut Government. Here we will enjoy a walk around the area to see the legacy of structures and artefacts from the time of the Moravians and some of the oldest wooden-framed buildings in all of Canada. You can also visit the interesting Nunatsiavut Assembly Building and the Moravian Mission Museum Interpretation Centre.

Next stop will be the restored 19th-century fishing village of Battle Harbour, where we will get an insight into the residents’ unique way of life here. This remote settlement on a small island in the Labrador Sea has no cars or paved roads, no power lines or phone towers, and is a delight to explore. An amble around the walking trails accompanied by local hosts will introduce you to the island’s Arctic vegetation and rock formations, and in the evening there will be more great chances of seeing the Northern Lights

Day 19 will bring another highlight as we reach the enthralling UNESCO World Heritage Site of L’Anse Aux Meadows to enjoy a full day of exploration around the area. The first authenticated Norse settlement in North America, L’Anse aux Meadows is home to the excavated remains of a complete 11th-century Viking settlement. We will spend some time walking around these sites which tend to transport you back to another time, and learn all about how this settlement proved the existence of Norse explorers to this part of the world. During our time here we will also learn all about Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, a young English doctor renowned for bringing medicine and education to the Inuit and poor European settlers along the harsh Labrador Coast.

As the last day of our voyage begins there will be time for one last adventure as we visit Twillingate, the “Iceberg Capital of The World”. Scenic opportunities are endless here, and we will go ashore to meet the local guides who will take us to fascinating spots including the Long Point Lighthouse, the Twillingate Museum and the Auk Island Winery.

Our exciting Arctic expedition will come to an end in beautiful St. John’s, where after breakfast it will be time to disembark and bid a fond farewell to your expedition crew and new-found friends. After disembarkation a group transfer will be provided to the airport for onward flights, or a downtown location should you wish to spend some further time here to discover the area’s colourful Victorian streets and spectacular harbour. This is a great place to spend a few days relaxing after your energetic cruise and if you would like any help or advice on where to stay or what to do here then please feel free to ask us.