Discover Greenland in Luxury

Your thrilling Arctic Greenland trip begins in Reykjavik, the vibrant Icelandic capital, where after arriving independently you will make your way to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel. After settling into your supremely comfortable cabin and familiarising yourself with the fantastic facilities on board, you can enjoy the first of many delicious meals on board.

An extra night on board in Reykjavik will allow you to discover some of this fascinating city’s many charms before we depart in the early evening of day 2. As we set sail, you might wish to make your way to the deck to watch as we leave Iceland behind and set sail into the Denmark Strait towards Greenland.

We recommend arriving in Reykjavik a few days ahead of departure to allow you time to soak up the sights of this very special city and its beautiful surroundings. Please let us know if you would like any advice on places to visit and stay.

Today will be spent at sea sailing towards Greenland. This will be the perfect time to relax and enjoy the luxurious facilities on board including the spa, wellness centre, fitness centre, swimming pool and panoramic lounge. You might also choose to spend some time on deck looking for seabirds and whales following the ship and soaking up the beautiful surroundings.

Our first visit on Greenland’s stunning and only recently explored east coast will take us to the Ammassalik region where alpine mountains, snow-capped fjords and drifting icebergs of all shapes and sizes make for an incredible backdrop. Here we will hope to enjoy an exploration around the small island of Ammassalik itself to visit the local community of Tasiilaq, one of only two inhabited areas on this coast.

We will then spend some time sailing around the spectacular Sermilik Fjord area where the landscapes of glaciers, dazzling icebergs, and the Schweizerland Alps vistas are sure to impress.

Moving south along the east coast, the next stop is the uninhabited Skjoldungen Island, which is surrounded by a stunning fjord, mountains, glacial valleys, rocky outcrops, tundra and willow forests, making for some of the most unforgettable scenery of your whole expedition. As you enjoy an exploration around the area, make sure to be on the lookout for the bearded seals, orcas, and unique birds that are found here including common redpoll and the northern wheatear amongst many more.

As we sail into the wild landscape of the Prins Christian Sund Passage, surrounded by jagged mountains, rocky cliffs and waterfalls, we will arrive at the small Inuit village of Augpilatok to see its picturesque colourful houses and learn about the way of life here which revolves around fishing, hunting and livestock farming.

In the heart of the fertile lands of Greenland’s south, where semi-wild sheep and horses roam, we will come across the flower-filled meadows of Hvalsø. The highlight here is the imposing granite rocks and well-preserved ruins of a church which hark back to the time between the 10th and 14th century when this site was colonised by the Vikings. Your expert expedition leaders can introduce you to the fascinating Viking history here.

Continuing our exploration of the southern coast, we will enjoy a sail-by of the town of Narsaq where you are likely to be dazzled by the beauty of the icebergs and lush mountains surrounding the traditional town and its multicoloured houses.

Moving up the west coast now, we will visit the fascinating abandoned mining town of Ivigtut before making our way to Nuuk, Greenland’s charming capital. Situated at the mouth of one of the largest networks of fjords in the world, the town spreads gently out towards the Davis Strait and enjoys an historic centre that is particularly rich in national heritage and is a delight to explore. We plan to spend some time here wandering around and soaking up the sights and sounds of this colourful place.

From the largest town in Greenland, we make our way to Sisimiut, the second largest town. Boasting enchanting panoramas, this typical Greenlandic town features colourful stilt houses, a number of historic buildings, a small church, craft shops and a museum which retraces the history of the Inuit people. The gateway to the icy realms that lie north of the town, when your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically Arctic atmosphere.

Moving into the ice-factories of Greenland’s more northern reaches, next up is a visit to the Eqi glacier, one of the region’s most impressive sights. Surrounded by the sounds of the roaring and cracking of the ice, we will hope to take an unforgettable Zodiac cruise to see this natural wonder up-close. After the thrill of the morning, we will then hope to visit the famous Paul-Émile Victor’s shelter, from which the French Polar Expeditions’ anthropological and geographic explorations set off in the 1950s.

Today may bring one of the highlights of your trip as your ship makes its way to the iceberg-filled Disko Bay close to the incredibly impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The spectacular sight of this gallery of enormous ice sculptures is likely to live long in your memory. As we sail you can also be on the lookout for the many humpback whales that are often spotted in this natural icy paradise.

Optional small boat and coach excursions may be available available today and offer a different perspective on this wonderful area. Please enquire for full details and prices.

Your last full day in Greenland will see you visit the tiny island of Itilleq which lies within the Arctic Circle and is home to around 100 people. We will make land to enjoy a chat with the locals and maybe enjoy a game of football with them as we learn all about life this far north, including the area’s fishing and hunting practices and traditions.

Having sailed through the incredible Kangerlussuaq fjord, upon arrival in Kangerlussuaq you will disembark and join your included flight to Paris, France where your itinerary sadly comes to an end.