Greenland Explorer 30% Advantage

This expedition starts in Reykjavík and crosses the Denmark Strait towards Greenland’s east coast. In Tasiilaq and Kuummiit you gain insight into local life and regional culture, before exploring the ice filled Sermilik Fjord and the remote fjord systems around Skjoldungen. Further south, you sail through Prins Christian Sund and visit Aappilattoq, then continue into South Greenland to reach Qassiarsuk and Igaliku, key places connected to Norse history. After a sea day along the west coast, the route includes Nuuk, Kangaamiut and a Zodiac excursion in Evighedsfjorden. Optional activities such as kayaking and citizen science may be available, complemented by onboard talks and practical briefings from the Expedition Team.

Greenland Explorer: Itinerary

Day 1: Embarkation in Reykjavík
Your journey begins in Reykjavík, a compact capital known for Nordic cuisine, museums and a lively city centre. Hallgrímskirkja rises above the skyline and is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. During the day you board your expedition ship and settle into life on board. Before departure, the crew and Expedition Team conduct the required safety briefings and introduce the basic routines for the days ahead. In the evening the ship leaves the harbour and heads towards East Greenland, while Iceland’s coastline gradually fades into the distance.

Day 2: At sea, crossing the Denmark Strait
Today you cross the Denmark Strait, the narrow stretch of water between Iceland and Greenland, known for productive seas and rich marine life. Together with the Expedition Team you can spend time on the outer decks watching for wildlife and seabirds. The sea day also provides space to get used to the ship’s rhythm and to join the first background sessions on the region. The team shares context on Greenland’s ecology, geology and wildlife, and explains what to expect during landings. Practical briefings prepare you for Zodiac operations and for safety procedures in Greenland’s wilderness, including guidance related to polar bear awareness.

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Day 3: Tasiilaq, East Greenland
Tasiilaq is the largest settlement in East Greenland, located on rugged Ammassalik Island. The area remained largely isolated from European contact until it was founded as a trading post in 1894, which helped preserve the distinct culture of the Tunumiit people. Tasiilaq is also linked to strong storytelling traditions and is associated with Greenland’s last shamans. The town is known as the origin of the tupilak, once feared as a magical creature and today widely represented in local art and carving. Depending on the day’s plan, you may have the chance to see sled dogs with the owners’ permission, experience drum dancing, walk through tundra meadows and visit the well known Stunk Artist’s Workshop, a frequent stop for travellers in the region.

Day 4: Ikateq and Kuummiit
In the morning you approach Ikateq, also known as Bluie Two East, a striking remnant of the American military presence in Greenland during the Second World War. The remains of this former airbase have largely been left untouched since it was abandoned in 1947, creating a sober and atmospheric setting where history and landscape meet. The visit focuses on observing the site and understanding its role in the wider North Atlantic context of the time. In the afternoon the ship repositions to Kuummiit, a small village set deep within the calm waters of Ammassalik Fjord. Here you have the opportunity to meet local residents and gain a closer view of East Greenlandic culture and everyday life in a community known for its welcoming character and beautiful surroundings.

Day 5: Sermilik Fjord
Sermilik Fjord is a vast fjord often filled with ice, draining the immense Helheim Glacier. From here, large icebergs calve from the Greenland Ice Sheet and drift out towards the North Atlantic, shaping the character of the entire area. A Zodiac cruise with the Expedition Team is planned, allowing you to move among the ice and observe the scale and structure of the bergs at close range. The ice forms can appear like natural sculptures, shaped over long time spans and constantly altered by wind, currents and temperature. The fjord also offers a clear setting to discuss glacier dynamics and the geological forces that define Greenland’s coastline. The exact route depends on ice and weather conditions, but the day’s focus remains on exploring the ice landscape from the water.

Day 6: Skjoldungen Saqqisikuik
Today you explore Skjoldungen on Greenland’s southeast coast, known locally as Saqqisikuik. The fjord was visited by Inuit and briefly settled in the twentieth century, but it is now remote and uninhabited. The scenery is framed by steep peaks and shaped by a mix of sheltered bays, glacier tongues and open water. Key features include Thryms Glacier and the valley of Dronning Marie Dal, a distinct lowland area set between surrounding mountains. Weather and conditions permitting, a landing may be possible to explore on foot. Alternatively, the day may centre on cruising near the glacier front to take in the landscape from the ship and Zodiacs.

Day 7: Prins Christian Sund and Aappilattoq
In the morning you sail through Prins Christian Sund, an approximately sixty kilometre strait linking East and West Greenland. The passage is often dotted with icebergs and bordered by mountains, glaciers and valleys, creating changing views throughout the transit. Time on deck allows you to follow the geography of the waterway and observe how the landscape shifts with each turn. By afternoon you reach Aappilattoq, a small and remote village set beneath granite cliffs. The community is known for a traditional way of life and offers opportunities for short hikes in the surrounding terrain when conditions allow. Aappilattoq is also recognised for its local choir, which holds a special place in the region’s cultural life.

Day 8: Qassiarsuk and Itilleq Kujalleq
You cruise through Tunulliarfik Fjord to Qassiarsuk, a green settlement associated with sheep farming and with a central chapter of Norse history in Greenland. The modern village was founded in 1924, but it stands on the site of Brattahlíð, the tenth century farm of Erik the Red. A well known story tells that his wife Thjodhild refused to share his pagan household until he built her a church, often described as the first church in the Americas. In the afternoon you hike from nearby Itilleq across green fields towards Igaliku, where the ruins of Garðar mark the former seat of Greenland’s bishops and an important centre of Norse power. The day combines South Greenland’s softer landscapes with specific historical locations.

Day 9: At sea, en route to Nuuk
From South Greenland you sail north along a rugged coastline. Nearly all of Greenland’s settlements lie on the western side of the island facing the Davis Strait, and your route follows this broader pattern. The sea day offers time to watch the coastline and light conditions that can be distinctive at these latitudes. Warm Atlantic currents enrich the waters, supporting seabirds and marine mammals and also shaping human activity through hunting and fishing. Keep watch for whales and seals during the day, as well as for birdlife following the ship. On board, the Expedition Team continues with talks and context, and the day also serves as preparation for your arrival in Nuuk.

Day 10: Nuuk, capital of Greenland
Nuuk, home to around twenty thousand residents, is Greenland’s political and cultural centre and a place where older traditions and contemporary life sit side by side. The area has been inhabited since around 2200 BC by Paleo Inuit, later also by Norse settlers, and today it functions as the country’s administrative hub. Key sites include the Parliament, the National Museum with the Qilakitsoq mummies, and the Katuaq cultural centre. You can also find local art shops and cafés that reflect everyday life in the city. Locals sometimes refer to the city as Nuuk York, a nickname that points to its distinctive blend of modern infrastructure and Greenlandic identity. The visit offers time to observe these contrasts directly in the streetscape.

Day 11: Kangaamiut and Evighedsfjorden
On your final full day you arrive in Kangaamiut, a village where hunting, fishing and weather conditions strongly shape daily routines. There may be opportunities to hike to viewpoints for broad panoramas over the surrounding coast. A cultural welcome can include local crafts, food and a performance, offering insight into community traditions. In the afternoon you venture into Evighedsfjorden, known in English as Eternity Fjord, recognised for its glaciers and dramatic bird cliffs. By Zodiac you cruise deeper into the fjord, passing glacier fronts and steep rock walls. This excursion forms the landscape focused conclusion of the voyage before the final approach to Kangerlussuaq.

Day 12: Disembarkation in Kangerlussuaq
As the journey concludes, you sail up the roughly one hundred and sixty kilometre long Kangerlussuaq Fjord and prepare to leave the ship. Disembarkation is by Zodiac, after which you continue on land. Kangerlussuaq is best known for its Cold War era military roots and its role as a transport hub rather than for a strong cultural heritage. At the same time, the surrounding wilderness has a more open character than the coastal fjords you have visited, offering a different impression of Greenland’s landscapes. From here you depart Greenland on a charter flight to Copenhagen, where your trip ends.
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