East Greenland & Iceland Northern Lights

Arrive in Reykjavik and transfer to your included hotel. Take time this afternoon and tomorrow morning to explore this fascinating city with its shops, impressive cathedral, galleries and thermal baths.

In the afternoon it’s time to join your transfer to the port and board the luxury expedition ship M/V Sea Spirit. Settle in to your cabin and explore the ship’s excellent facilities as your crew slip the moorings and sail out of the harbour into the bay of Faxaflói, where you may enjoy the first whale sightings of your expedition.

Leaving Iceland behind your expedition ship will sail cross the Denmark Strait towards the stunning landscapes of Eastern Greenland, crossing the Arctic Circle on the way. Keep an eye out on deck for the likely whale sightings and as night falls there are excellent chances of getting your first glimpse of the famous Northern Lights.

Welcome to the lands of towering icebergs, huge mountains and blooming tundra landscapes. It’s time to discover the many wonders of the world’s largest National Park! As with all Polar expeditions, flexibility here will be key, and each day your captain and crew will assess the weather and ice conditions to map out a route for an unforgettable day of adventure. Onboard and on thrilling Zodiac cruises and land excursions, you will venture through miles upon miles of untouched wilderness, sailing through ice floes and alongside snowy peaks to soak up the enchanting sights and sounds of this remarkable and incredibly expansive area that is more than 100 times the size of Yellowstone National Park and larger than all but 29 nations around the globe. Walk along the tundra and prisitng Polar beaches in search of sightings of musk oxen and Arctic hares, hike across breathtaking landscapes, and sail through the incredible Franz Josef Fjord and Kong Oscar Fjord as you become one of only around 1000 people who will step foot on these magnificent lands this year!

Scoresby Sund is the world's longest and most visually stunning fjord system and contains some of the Arctic region's most impressive scenery with deep, narrow channels and icy peaks, where icebergs calve off glaciers and drift in the waters towards the sea. Our explorations here will reward in unforgettable scenery and incomparable photo opportunities. As we explore through this breathtaking area you can enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises, land visits and hiking opportunities, with good chances of regular encounters with the area’s intriguing wildlife including myriad birds, seals, narwhals and walrus. In this region there are also fields of tundra where we hope to spot musk oxen and Arctic hare, and we will also hope to visit some ancient Thule archaeological sites, old trappers' huts and modern Inuit hunters' cabins.

We plan to visit the modern Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the only permanent settlement in the region for an opportunity to mix with the locals and get an insight into their lifestyles.

Your days in Greenland will be filled with exciting Zodiac and land excursions as well as the opportunity to join a kayaking tour through the icy waters of these unique and remarkable lands. Each night brings new possibilities for incredible displays of Aurora Borealis — the Northern Lights. This is the perfect time of year and one of the best places in the world to experience this enthralling phenomenon.

After a fantastic time in East Greenland, your expedition ship will set course back across the Denmark Strait towards Iceland. Spend time on the panoramic decks looking out for the seabirds following the ship and even more whale sightings. Nightfall may bring another opportunity to enjoy the Northern Lights.

Before the end of your exciting expedition there is time for one last stop as we explore the rare beauty of the Westfjords, Iceland’s hidden gem. The goal today will be to take a Zodiac cruise to the magnificent Dynjandi waterfalls, also known as “the Jewel of the Westfjords.” Dynjandi means ‘thunderous’ in Icelandic and as you get closer you will soon understand why the falls got this name.

Arrival back into Reykjavík signals the end of our journey and after breakfast it will be time to say farewell. A transfer will be provided to the international airport or to a downtown location should you wish to extend your stay here to experience more of this beautiful city. From Reykjavík the entire country is accessible through day tours or longer journeys by rental car. The options for additional adventures are endless!