Iceland & East Greenland Northern Lights

After being picked up from your hotel, enjoy a half day shared tour covering the city from one end to the other. Visit the Blue Lagoon, a unique natural pool of mineral rich geothermal water located in the middle of a lava field in the pure, beautiful Icelandic wilderness. At the end of the tour you will be returned to your hotel. (Entrance into the Blue Lagoon not included).

After a leisurely morning exploring Reykjavik on your own, you and your fellow shipmates will be transferred to Reykjavik’s port to begin your expedition to Greenland.

Welcome aboard!

Take some time to get settled in to your stateroom, and explore the length of your ship.

As you sail out to sea, your first wildlife sightings will be seabirds above and whales below, get ready for a great adventure!

Today is a full day spent relaxingly at sea, as you sail the Denmark Strait, en route to mysterious Greenland.

Enjoy the company of your fellow cruisemates as you spend some time in the onboard social hot spots: the  Club Lounge or Oceanus Lounge.

Today is another day spent sailing onward toward Greenland, which you will arrive at tomorrow.

Your onboard Expedition Team will keep you informed and entertained with presentations about Greenland’s wildlife, history and geography.

Upon arrival to Greenland, fjords and flower meadows punctuate the scenery of Greenland National Park, where Arctic Fox and Musk Oxen roam free. Your days will be spent exploring and learning about the unique history and geology of Greenland.

King Oscar Fjord is a hiker’s paradise. You may walk across the delicate flower-and-berry-strewn tundra at Holm Bay, Zodiac-cruise through spectacular Alepfjord or challenge yourself with a climb to the top of nearby Ella Island (the views are worth it).

From Ella Island you’ll head to the Antarctic. Yes, curiously, there is an Antarctic Sound in the Arctic. The area is home to beautiful purple and gold colored rocks with Ymer Island and Blomsterbugten, the “Bay of Flowers”, ready to explore in the distance.

Keeping a constant eye out for wildlife, you will then head south along the Liverpool Coast. Weather conditions are variable here, but you’ll aim to visit Storefjord and the “warming island” of Uunartoq Qeqertaq, which was only discovered in 2005.

Arriving at Scoresbysund, you’ll find yourself mesmerized by the largest, longest, and – some say – most beautiful fjord system in the world. This area was named for William Scoresby, who charted the east coast of Greenland in 1822.

At the start of the sound, Itoqqortoormitt is East Greenland’s most northerly community and one of the world’s last remaining examples of a living hunter society. With clear skies, you’ll have a great opportunity to see the Northern Lights here. You can also support the local Inuit artisans by purchasing unique handicrafts. Your time here is spent bonding with the Inuit people and gaining an appreciation of their way of life.

Sailing on, deeper into Scoresbysund you’ll encounter massive icebergs and an ancient Thule settlement as you approach Sydkap and Øfjord. The scenery here is something you can’t even imagine, with towering mountain sides and hundreds of apartment size icebergs playing tricks with your sense of perception.

Pushing onward, your expedition will come to Rypefjord and Kap Hofmann Halvø. We will keep our eyes peeled for sightings of rare blue icebergs, which are more normally seen in the Antarctic. With binoculars in hand, birders should keep watch for Wheatears, Snow Buntings and Ravens at Rypefjord.

At Cape Hofmann Halvø you’ll have your best chance for closer encounters with grazing Musk Oxen and enjoy a final hike out on the colorful tundra.

Your homeward journey re-crosses the Denmark Strait, giving you a couple of days for whale watching. During crossings, guests have seen White-beaked Dolphins and Humpback, Minke and Blue Whales.

Today is your final day at sea, as tomorrow morning you'll make landfall back in Reykjavik.

Recount the highlights of your journey, huddled around with your expedition friends.

Be sure to maintain an eye out for wildlife. Birders have enjoyed spotting Kittiwakes, Gannets, Guillemots, Fulmars and Razorbills on the journey back to Iceland.

This morning you'll disembark from your ship, and bid farewell to your fellow expeditioners.

Relax on your airport transfer in Reykjavik with a private vehicle and driver. Please note that a surcharge may be post billed to you if you require a transfer after 8pm or before 7am.