Greenland Explorer: By Air, Land & Sea

Your itinerary begins in Reykjavik, the vibrant capital of Iceland, where having arrived independently you will make your way to the group hotel for an overnight stay. The rest of today will be at your leisure.

The following afternoon you will transfer to Keflavik airport for your private charter flight to Narsarsuaq in the Tunulliarfik Fjord in southern Greenland. This scenic village is known as the gateway to south Greenland and we will have time to explore around before boarding our Polar expedition vessel. Settle into your stylish cabin and familiarise yourself with the ship as we sail out of the fjord and deep into the Greenlandic waters ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

Over the course of the next 7 or 8 days we will immerse ourselves completely in the spectacular fjords, icy blue waters, verdant valleys, meandering coastlines and mountainous landscapes of breathtaking southern and southeastern Greenland. Surrounded by dramatic snow-capped mountains and blooming pastures, each day will bring a new, exciting and unforgettable experience. Thanks to the unrivalled powers of your state-of-the-art Polar vessel we will sail deeper and explore further into the fjords than on any other expedition, gaining unprecedented access to some of the world’s most remote and fascinating places.

This ultra-immersive and ultra-adventurous itinerary will offer you the chance to see Greenland in ways that few others have experienced. With two twin-engine helicopters onboard you can enjoy thrilling flightseeing experiences, flying over the incredible Polar landscapes below, with landings on the Greenland Ice Sheet accompanied by expert glaciologists and opportunities for hikes in some of the highest and most hard to reach viewpoints on the island.

Thanks to the adventurous nature of this trip, there is no fixed itinerary as such, and each day your crew will take advantage of the weather and ice conditions to design a route for the day that will allow you to fully experience authentic Greenland. Daily Zodiac cruises will bring you ashore for enjoyable walks and hikes in some of the lesser-known areas of the island, as well as some of the more better-known landing sites, and we will cruise deep into the fjord systems.

Throughout each day you will head off in small activity groups, with numerous optional activities constantly available to you, or on some days you could choose to simply relax on the ship as it continuously sails around the coastline and fjords, soaking up the incredible surroundings. You could hop in the helicopter for an Alpine hike, enjoy an exhilarating kayak paddle across the face of an icy fjord, take a leisurely stroll across the tundra, step foot on the largest ice cap in the northern hemisphere…the list of opportunities is endless! You could join an unforgettable overnight camp in the picturesque Tasermiut Fjord where you will sleep under the dazzling Polar skies, chat with the locals and help the chef to forage and prepare dinner in the open, join a memorable Table to Tundra culinary adventure, or let the helicopters take you high up into the mountains and drop you off at the glacial lakes for stunning vistas. Whichever adventures you choose to partake in you can be assured of being one of the few people who get to experience Greenland as up close and personal as this!

Your first stop will take you to the wild southeastern coastline where we will arrive alongside the isolated Lindenow Fjord. Discover a backdrop of cascading glaciers and steep–walled mountains as you keep your eyes peeled for sightings of marine mammals including humpback whales. Rare sightings of polar bears are possible.

Helicopter flightseeing, Zodiac cruises, paddling and hikes are all included as part of your expedition. Camping and Table to Tundra experiences incur an additional cost and should be booked in advance.

We now move along to the stunning maze of fjords, sounds, islets, inlets and skerries of Greenland’s most southern tip as we reach Cape Farewell (Nunap Isua) and sail along the 100km long Prins Christian Sund, one of the world’s most scenic fjords. This is sure to be an unforgettable journey as we cruise amongst a backdrop of dramatic mountains and seascapes, and glaciers tumbling down to down to the sea. Along the way we will pass many scenic villages where the inhabitants have remained steadfastly faithful to their hunting and fishing heritage, and we will hope to make a stop in beautiful Aappilattoq to meet some of the locals and have the opportunity to learn about their way of life here in this vastly remote area.

Reaching the spectacular Tasermiut Fjord, you will quickly understand why this area is known as “Arctic Patagonia” as we stand in awe at the breathtaking landscapes surrounding us including the impressive Sermeq glacier and the imposing peaks of Nalumasortoq and Ulamertorsuaq. It is here that you will be offered to join an unforgettable overnight camping experience with local hosts. (Camping experience should be booked in advance an incurs an additional charge).

As we follow in the footsteps of the Greenlandic Norse into the Western fjords, every direction rewards with vistas of blue, ice–strewn waters set against a breathtaking backdrop of lush, verdant valleys and pastures bursting with blooms. Warm microclimates here which unique to this area of Greenland, and indeed to the whole of the Arctic, have created a surprisingly fertile Arctic Garden of Eden. We will hope to make some stops here to visit some local communities to learn about how the South Greenlandic farming traditions dating back to Viking days are still kept alive.

It is in this area that we will find the perfect access points to the Greenland Ice Sheet, the largest mass of ice in the northern hemisphere and second largest in the world. Become one of the very few people to ever set foot on this incredible body of ice during your included Greenland Ice Sheet Experience as you explore the ice sheet, hike the surrounding foothills, cruise or paddle through the azure ice–filled waters, and engage with local residents for in-depth community experiences.

Your final day in Southern Greenland will be a little less fast-paced than your previous days, with some planned visits to some of the picturesque, historic and geologically fascinating sites surrounding Narsarsuaq. We will hope to visit the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a living history lesson in Viking farming, along with charming Qassiarsuk, a small sheep farming settlement where you can experience true South Greenland hospitality and gain insight into the fascinating lives of sheep farmers living at the edge of the Ice Sheet. We will also hope to visit the remains of Erik the Red’s estate in Brattahlíð before heading back across the bay to Narsarsuaq to visit the museum, hike to Signal Hill for a panoramic view, and enjoy the frontier–town ambience.

You will then be able to enjoy a special “farewell to Greenland” dinner ashore at the iconic Hotel Narsarsuaq, before we make our way to the airport for the flight back to Keflavik. Upon arrival at Reykjavik’s international airport, you will transfer to a nearby hotel for an overnight stay.

As your expedition comes to an end, it will time to bid farewell to your newfound friends as you make your way to the airport for onward or homeward flights. There are countless reasons to stay on in Reykjavik for a few more days so please let us know if you would like some help in organising tour extensions or further hotel stays and flights.