Greenland to Iceland - Arctic Explorer

This expedition cruise links coastal communities, cultural sites and Arctic nature in a clear, well paced itinerary. You begin in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland’s only inland town and an important air hub with Cold War history, and board the Ocean Victory by Zodiac. Over the following days you visit Kangaamiut and Evighedsfjorden with bird cliffs and glaciers, explore Nuuk as Greenland’s political and cultural centre, and then continue south along the rugged coast. In South Greenland you call at Qassiarsuk and the historic sites of Brattahlíð and Igaliku, followed by the passage through Prins Christian Sund. On the East Coast you reach fjords such as Skjoldungen, the ice filled Sermilikfjord, the military remains at Ikateq, and communities where Tunumiit culture is present, including Kuummiit and Tasiilaq. After a sea crossing to Iceland, the voyage ends in Reykjavík.

Greenland to Iceland - Arctic Expedition: The Itinerary

Day 1: Boarding in Kangerlussuaq
The tour services begin with dinner. After arriving in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland’s only inland town and an important air hub with a history from the Cold War era, you will board via Zodiac. After settling in and the safety drill, the first voyage takes you through Kangerlussuaq Fjord and sets the tone for the coming days between coast, ice, and vast open spaces.

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Day 2: Kangaamiut and the Evighed Fjord
Kangaamiut offers a glimpse of everyday life shaped by hunting, fishing, and the weather. On site, hikes to viewpoints are possible, along with a cultural welcome featuring local handicrafts, food, and performances. In the afternoon, a Zodiac cruise follows into the Evighed Fjord, the Eternity Fjord, passing glaciers and striking bird cliffs, before the ship sets course along the coast again.

Day 3: Nuuk, Capital of Greenland
Nuuk combines culture and history with a landscape that reaches right up to the city. Traces go back to the earliest settlements by Paleo Inuit and later Norse settlers, today Nuuk is the political and cultural center. In the cityscape, traditional houses stand alongside modern architecture, and the day offers time for places such as Parliament, the National Museum with the Qilakitsoq mummies, the Katuaq cultural center, art workshops, as well as cafés.

Day 4, At Sea Toward South Greenland
During the journey south, views open up of Greenland’s rugged coastline and the settlement areas on the west side facing the Davis Strait. Warmer Atlantic currents make these waters rich in wildlife, so along the way there are good chances of spotting marine mammals and seabirds. On board, there is time for context and preparation for the fjords of South Greenland.

Day 5: Qassiarsuk and Itilleq Kujalleq
Through the Tunulliarfik Fjord, the expedition reaches Qassiarsuk, a green village known for sheep farming and its Norse past. Erik the Red once lived here at Brattahlíð, linked to the tradition surrounding Thjodhild and the construction of an early church. In the afternoon, a hike leads from Itilleq across green areas to Igaliku, to the ruins of Garðar, the former bishop’s seat, which marked the centers of power in Norse Greenland.

Day 6: Aappilattoq and Prins Christian Sund
In the morning, Aappilattoq is on the program, a remote village beneath granite cliffs, known for its traditional way of life, hiking opportunities, and a local choir. Later comes the passage through the Prins Christian Sund, a roughly 60 kilometer long strait between East and West Greenland, where icebergs often drift. Mountains, glaciers, and valleys accompany the transit and illustrate how strongly ice and weather determine the day’s dramatic arc.

Day 7: Skjoldungen (Saqqisikuik)
On the southeast coast lies Skjoldungen, called Saqqisikuik by locals, uninhabited today and only rarely visited. The backdrop of peaks, the Thryms Glacier and the Dronning Marie Dal shapes the scenery. Depending on the weather conditions, a landing and exploration on shore are possible, or a Zodiac cruise along the glacier front, where the shapes of the ice can be experienced up close.

Day 8, Sermilikfjord
The Sermilikfjord is a broad fjord, often filled with ice, that drains the ice of the Helheim Glacier. Large icebergs drift from the Greenland Ice Sheet toward the North Atlantic, constantly changing the landscape. A Zodiac cruise with the expedition team offers a calm view of the dimensions of the ice formations and of the dynamics that currents, wind, and temperature create in this fjord system.

Day 9: Ikateq and Kuummiit
In the morning, the ship approaches Ikateq, also known as Bluie Two East, a relic of the American military presence in World War II, which has felt like a silent place of history since it was abandoned in 1947. Afterwards, the journey continues to Kuummiit, a small settlement in the Ammassalik Fjord. In the sheltered fjord landscape, there are encounters with locals and insights into East Greenlandic culture.

Day 10: Tasiilaq, East Greenland
Tasiilaq is the largest settlement in East Greenland and is located on Ammassalik Island, long shielded from European contact and only founded in 1894 as a trading post. Here, the culture of the Tunumiit is still clearly tangible today, also in stories about Tupilak, which are now present as an art form. Depending on local possibilities, the program items range from hikes across tundra meadows to cultural encounters, and with the owners’ permission, sled dogs can also be visited.

Day 11: At Sea Across the Denmark Strait
The crossing through the Denmark Strait between Greenland and Iceland passes through a sea area known for abundant marine life, so wildlife is regularly spotted from the outer deck. Along the way, team members provide insights into the ecology, geology, and wildlife of the region. Toward the end of the day, a farewell cocktail hosted by the ship’s management is planned as a shared conclusion to the expedition.

Day 12: Reykjavík Disembarkation
Reykjavík welcomes you with striking cityscapes such as Hallgrímskirkja and a Nordic influenced cultural scene. After breakfast, the travel services end. Disembarkation follows, and you bid farewell to the crew and expedition team.

Special features:
Note: The special aspects of this expedition (dependence on weather and ice, with possible short notice changes to the order of landings and Zodiac cruises, guided activities, wildlife viewing without a guarantee of sightings, local rules and consideration in settlements, including visits to sled dogs only with the owners’ consent, and a sensitive approach to historical places such as Ikateq as remnants of military use) can be found in the Special notes section of the detailed trip description.
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