South & West Greenland & Disko Bay

Having arrived independently to Reykjavik, the vibrant capital of Iceland, you can make your way to the hotel for your included overnight stay. This hotel stay has been included to allow you some time to soak up the sights and sounds of Reykjavik and its nearby geysers, waterfalls and glaciers.

After breakfast at the hotel on day 2 you will have further time to explore before joining your included transfer to the port to board the M/V Sea Spirit. After settling in to your comfortable accommodation and familiarising yourself with the ship, you may wish to make your way out to deck to spot minke and humpback whales as your ship sails out of the picturesque bay. This evening you can enjoy a welcome cocktail and your first dinner on board.

As we head towards the magic of Greenland, we will spend two relaxing days at sea sailing across the Denmark Strait. Lectures, presentations and talks will be delivered throughout by your expert expedition team, based around the history, wildlife and culture of the areas you are about to visit. Or you may wish to simply spend some time with your feet up before the adventures that lie ahead.

Over the course of the next week, we will be sailing in true expedition style along the stunning southern and western coasts of Greenland. Weather and ice conditions may sometimes dictate which areas are possible for landings, but your experienced captain and crew will chart a course to take full advantage of the wealth of possibilities here for unrivalled scenic, cultural and adventure experiences.

Our first adventure is likely to bring us to Nanortalik, Greenland’s southernmost town which lies at the mouth of the exceptionally scenic Tasermiut Fjord flanked by imposing mountains. After a walk around the settlement and a visit to the open-air museum to learn about the fascinating Viking and Inuit history here, we will sail on to Uunartoq to visit its famous natural hot springs and perhaps enjoy a soak in the geothermal waters and watch as the icebergs float by around you.

Our next stop will bring us to Hvalsey, the site of Greenland’s largest and best-preserved Norse ruins, where we will spend an enjoyable afternoon learning about Erik the Red and exploring around the fascinating remains of buildings from many centuries ago. In Qaqortoq, Greenland’s most populous town, you will have the chance to learn more about the area’s Danish colonial past, visit the town’s museum and see the colourful historic buildings, stone sculptures and Greenland’s oldest fountain.

Moving north in the wake of the Vikings, we will sail through the beautiful Eriksfjord to reach the sheep farming settlement of Qassiarsuk which was founded by Erik the Red in the 10th century, before moving on to Paamiut to meet some of the friendly locals and enjoy a spot of whale watching in the surrounding waters.

Next up is Nuuk, Greenland’s capital and largest city, where a visit to see the famous Qilakitsoq mummies at the Greenlandic National Museum is highly recommended. There will be ample time to explore around the world’s northernmost capital with its picturesque port and lively spots.

Next up is Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town. Here you can visit the Sisimiut Museum which offers fantastic insight into the local culture and a history of human habitation dating back 4,500 years, as well as enjoying a walk around the town to soak up its youthful, urban vibe and perhaps watch some of the adventure sports that are often on the go here, especially dog sledding.

As we move on to the famous Disko Bay area, known as the “birthplace of icebergs”, the first impressions of this remarkable area are likely to be “Ice, ice and more ice”! We plan to visit the town of Ilulissat which is famous for being surrounded by immense quantities of icebergs coming from the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord. A hike to the historic Sermermiut settlement will reward in some spectacular views and we also recommend a walk through the town to visit its Inuit Art Museum. In this area we also hope to visit the traditional Greenlandic fishing village of Itilleq to learn all about the way of life here where there are said to be more dog sleds than residents!

Your Greenland expedition sadly comes to an end in Kangerlussuaq, where after breakfast you will disembark and join your transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward flights.

Please enquire for details on flights available from Kangerlussuaq.