Overview
More than a thousand years ago, the legendary Viking Erik the Red set sail from Iceland to Greenland and was exiled to a stark and spectacular land of endless ice, rocky pinnacles, and steep-sided fjords. Follow his route from Iceland’s magnificent Westfjords peninsula across the Denmark Strait to the ice-sculpted shores of Greenland. Trace the coast of the world’s largest island from the rugged eastern fjords to the fishing villages of the western coast. Search for whales and caribou, and use our ship’s exploration tools to discover the undersea. Visit archaeological sites of Viking and Thule settlements and learn about everyday life near the Arctic Circle in charming coastal villages from Flatey Island to Uummannaq.
Trip Highlights
- Explore the vast Greenlandic landscape amongst the icebergs of Sermeq Kujalleq in the Ilulissat Icefjord; discover the ever-changing streets of Nuuk, the bustling capital city; and hike across the backcountry tundra of Disko Island
- Learn about the rich layers of Greenlandic culture as we sail with locals and visionaries along this iconic coastline, visiting remote fishing villages, meeting local farmers, and enjoying traditional tastings and vibrant traditions
- Experience landing on the same shores as Eric the Red in southern Greenland where he and his family established Brattahlid, his farming estate in the 10th century, and meet the locals who continue this farming tradition today in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Kujataa
- Witness fjords filled with glaciers and moraines connecting the Greenland Ice Sheet with the ocean, and capture your own photos of these magnificent geologic features alongside a National Geographic Photography Expert
Itinerary
Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. Transfer from the airport and have a panoramic overview of the Old Town, including Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral with its 210-foot tower before embarking the ship in the afternoon.
Arrival Time: Arrive by 10:00 a.m.
Arrival City: Reykjavík, Iceland
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Explore Iceland’s western frontier, visiting Flatey Island, a trading post for many centuries turned sleepy summer islet. Walk around the charming little hamlet and hike across hiking trails that trace the path past seasonal puffin population on the cliffs.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the beautiful and peaceful Westfjords region of Iceland. Enjoy a hike to a remote waterfall, a Zodiac cruise alongside stunning scenery, or bike along the coast of the Westfjords. Enter Ísafjarðardjúp and land at Vigur Island to visit the eider farm and learn about the down cleaning process. Get to know the capital of the Westfjords, Isafjordur, through a walking tour complete with local sights, sounds, and tastes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the beautiful and peaceful Westfjords region of Iceland. Enjoy a hike to a remote waterfall, a Zodiac cruise alongside stunning scenery, or bike along the coast of the Westfjords. Enter Ísafjarðardjúp and land at Vigur Island to visit the eider farm and learn about the down cleaning process. Get to know the capital of the Westfjords, Isafjordur, through a walking tour complete with local sights, sounds, and tastes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail away from the Westfjords of Iceland and across the Denmark Strait, which connects the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. The Strait is home to the world's largest waterfall, caused by powerful currents and glaciers. Listen to talks by our experts, relax with a book in the lounge or the observation deck, and keep an eye out for wildlife as we sail across the continental shelf.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The coast of the world's largest island is etched with thousands of fjords, some of which reach back to the Greenlandic ice sheet. Spend the day exploring these stunning inlets of the eastern coast, using our underwater cameras and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to discover marine life and fascinating underwater geology. Ice permitting, sail deep into Skjoldungen fjord and soak in our arrival to Greenland on a Zodiac cruise or in a kayak among the icebergs.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail into Prins Christian Sund, which cuts far into the southern tip of Greenland, passing between soaring pinnacles and glaciers. Anchor off the small fishing village of Nanortalik, and go ashore to explore Greenland’s most southerly town, and meet local residents during a visit to their open air museum. Visit reconstructed longhouses and learn about the construction of traditional umiaks and kayaks.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Qaqortoq and Tunulliarflik Fjord provide us two days of insight, culture, and local interactions. Walk through the ruins of Bratthlid, Erik the Red's farm, visiting replicas of the church and the family's longhouse. Explore the same shores from which their son, Leif Eriksson, launched the first voyages to North America—500 years before Columbus. Visit the unofficial captial of southern Greenland at Qaqortoq, with just over 3,200 residents. The colonial influence is visible throughout the town, with houses painted in primary colors and architecture dating back to the 1700s. Stroll through the town square and visit the museum, where Greenlandic kayaks, hunting equipment, and local art and handicrafts are on display. Finally, walk through the walls of Hvalsey church, located in the fjords behind Qaqortoq, the best-preserved Norse ruins in all of Greenland and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Qaqortoq and Tunulliarflik Fjord provide us two days of insight, culture, and local interactions. Walk through the ruins of Bratthlid, Erik the Red's farm, visiting replicas of the church and the family's longhouse. Explore the same shores from which their son, Leif Eriksson, launched the first voyages to North America—500 years before Columbus. Visit the unofficial captial of southern Greenland at Qaqortoq, with just over 3,200 residents. The colonial influence is visible throughout the town, with houses painted in primary colors and architecture dating back to the 1700s. Stroll through the town square and visit the museum, where Greenlandic kayaks, hunting equipment, and local art and handicrafts are on display. Finally, walk through the walls of Hvalsey church, located in the fjords behind Qaqortoq, the best-preserved Norse ruins in all of Greenland and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Perched on the seaside in the shadow of ice-capped Sermitsiaq Mountain, Nuuk is the world’s smallest capital city by population, with some 19,000 inhabitants, experiencing tremendous cultural and economic growth. Watch for harp seals as we enter the harbor and take a walking tour with local residents to learn how the community has changed over the generations. At the National Museum, examine the extraordinary 15th-century Qilakitsoq mummies found near Uummannaq—a discovery that was featured in a National Geographic magazine cover story in 1985. The Arctic ice preserved these mummies so well that researchers have been able to study their tattoos, their medical conditions, and even what they ate.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the early morning, the ship enters Evighed Fjord (Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord), which winds picturesquely past steep mountains and stunning tidewater glaciers. In the far reaches of the fjord, take a Zodiac cruise along the face of one of the many glaciers or hike over glacial moraines to a waterfall. In the afternoon, conditions permitting, visit the small fishing community of Kangaamiut. Climb the small mountain behind the village to take in the views or walk through the village and photograph the colorful houses clustered on the seaside slope.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Upon arrival to Sisimiut, a former whaling port, enjoy your choice of guided walks through the sights and sounds of the village, including Dog Town or Sallinnguit, a small island with centuries of history from Inuit culture through colonization and current day industry. In your free time, enjoy a local food tasting, visit the open-air museum, or explore the local artisan workshops.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, and be welcomed by floating icebergs calved off the world's most active glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. Enjoy an extraordinary cruise aboard local boats among towering icebergs of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ilulissat Icefjord. Visit the town of Ilulissat and hike into the Sermermiut Valley, once an Inuit settlement and now home to a peaceful boardwalk overlooking the Icefjord. As we make our way north through Disko Bay, if ice conditions permit, we follow the inside passage of Disko Island and trace the shores of the Nuussuaq Peninsula as we keep watch for a glimpse of the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, and be welcomed by floating icebergs calved off the world's most active glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. Enjoy an extraordinary cruise aboard local boats among towering icebergs of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ilulissat Icefjord. Visit the town of Ilulissat and hike into the Sermermiut Valley, once an Inuit settlement and now home to a peaceful boardwalk overlooking the Icefjord. As we make our way north through Disko Bay, if ice conditions permit, we follow the inside passage of Disko Island and trace the shores of the Nuussuaq Peninsula as we keep watch for a glimpse of the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The village of Uummannaq sits on a tiny yet dramatic island in the Uummannaq Fjord, dominated by a massive peak rising at its center. Visit the town’s excellent community museum to see traditional clothing and tools, along with scenes of everyday life on these islands, and enjoy a stroll through the streets of this northern outpost.
In the afternoon, cross the fjord to the site of Qilakitsoq, an important archaeological site for Greenlanders, where eight mummies, dating back to 1475, were discovered in 1972. These eight individuals, all extraordinarily well-preserved women and children, were Thule people, the ancestors of the modern Inuit. Their discovery was featured on the cover of the February 1985 issue of National Geographic magazine. Adventurous hikers may make their own respectful journey up to the final resting place of these ancestors.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail along Greenland’s fjords and look for Arctic foxes, whales, and—with luck—caribou. Paddle a kayak along the steep sides of the fjord or ride a Zodiac to see the glacially carved landscape up close.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Disembark in the arctic outpost of Kangerlussuaq and take a charter flight back to Iceland. Check into our hotel near the airport and prepare for flights home the next day. In the morning, transfer to the airport for flights home.
Departure Time: Depart anytime.
Departure City: Reykjavík, Iceland
Disembark in the arctic outpost of Kangerlussuaq and take a charter flight back to Iceland. Check into our hotel near the airport and prepare for flights home the next day. In the morning, transfer to the airport for flights home.
Departure Time: Depart anytime.
Departure City: Reykjavík, Iceland
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What's included
- All accommodations aboard ship or in hotels per itinerary;
- all meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and
- onshore; beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits aboard the ship
- (except certain super premium brands which are available
- for purchase); hors d’oeuvres, 24-hour access to snacks,
- premium coffees and teas, non-alcoholic beverages, and
- filtered water; excursions and airport transfers to and from
- recommended flights, as indicated in the itinerary; crew
- gratuities; exploration tools curated to destination, such as
- Zodiacs, kayaks, snowshoes and cross-country skis; guidance
- and company of our leading expedition staff; assistance
- by the National Geographic Photography Expert and
- Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo
- instructor; access to the OM System Photo Gear Locker;
- presentations by expedition staff and expert guest speakers;
- complimentary reusable water bottle; services of a physician,
- physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or paramedic;
- morning stretch classes and 24-hour access to exercise
- equipment; 24-hour access to lounges, observation decks,
- library, and other shared spaces; park and site entrance fees,
- special access permits, and port taxes. Unused services or
- items included in our programs are non-refundable.
Not included in price
- Airfare (except flights when indicated as included); pre- and
- post-expedition extensions; additional hotel nights (except
- when indicated as included); private transfers; laundry,
- spa treatments, Wi-Fi, and phone services (except when
- indicated as included); travel protection plans; and passport,
- visa, and immigration fees.
