Expedition to Greenland, land of Northern Lights

Expedition highlights

Follow the Viking routes across high-latitude coasts where glaciers, fjords, and shifting light set the pace, and wildlife watching is part of the day from deck and shore.

Eternety Fjord, Greenland

Ice Fjords

Listen to the symphony of nature as towering icebergs and colossal glaciers crack and calve.

Wildlife Watching

Look for seabirds, marine life, and coastal species from deck and shore, with the expedition team helping spot and identify what you are seeing.

Expert-led Talks

Learn more about this isolated polar region from our on board team of experts.

Citizen Science Workshops

During your trip, join Swan Hellenics Citizen Science programs and contribute to real-world environmental research.

Viking Heritage

Sail through the North Atlantic world where Norse seafarers left a lasting mark. Walk ports and coastal sites tied to Viking routes, with stories of settlement, trade, and exploration that still shape local identity.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

The voyage offers breathtaking views of Disko Bay and its gleaming icebergs, providing an immersive experience of the world's largest island's unparalleled beauty. Throughout this fascinating itinerary, you'll see remarkable places like Evigheds Glacier, where the icy grandeur of the Greenland Ice Sheet captivates. Visit the remote village of Uummannaq, nestled on a tiny island at the foot of the striking Heart Mountain. Your exploration of Ilulissat, the Icefjord capital, offers insights into local culture with sights of thousands of colossal icebergs calving into the sea from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island, marvel at volcanic landscapes and the Lyngemark Glacier. Engage in thrilling activities during your voyage, including optional kayaking with the expedition team, providing a closer connection to this unique environment. As you journey through magnificent fjords, the potential to observe Arctic wildlife, such as humpback whales, enriches your cruise experience. This Greenland in Depth luxury cruise promises adventure, culture, and nature, offering unforgettable encounters at every enchanting stop

NOTE: This itinerary provides general information about each destination. Also, please be aware that some of the venues and highlights mentioned may not be open or accessible on the day we visit. For the most accurate tour program, we recommend contacting your Swan Hellenic agent or travel agent closer to your departure date.

Overview

Day 1. Kangerlussuaq

Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen

Day 2. Evigheds Glacier

Carved by ancient ice and framed by steep granite walls, Evigheds Glacier flows directly into a narrow fjord, creating a dramatic meeting of ice and sea. The glacier is known for frequent calving, with towering chunks of ice breaking away and drifting into the fjord. The surrounding waters and tundra are rich in Arctic life, and the stillness of the landscape is broken only by cracking ice, seabirds overhead, and the distant echoes of moving glaciers

Day 3. Qeqertarsuaq

Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland’s largest island, where colourful houses pop against dramatic red basalt mountains. Overlooked by striking Lyngemark Glacier, the area is shaped by its volcanic origin, unique terrain featuring dramatic basalt columns, rolling hills black sand beaches. Thanks to its relatively fertile landscape, it supports unique plant species, such as wild angelica, rarely found elsewhere in Greenland

Day 4. Uummannaq

Set beneath a striking heart-shaped mountain, Uummannaq is one of Greenland’s most visually dramatic settlements. This small island town is deeply rooted in Inuit culture and traditional hunting life. Colorful houses cling to the rocky shoreline, while nearby icebergs drift slowly through the fjord. The surrounding waters are rich in seals and whales, and the ever-changing light, ice, and mountains give Uummannaq a quiet, almost otherworldly atmosphere

Day 5. Eqip Sermia Glacier

One of Greenland’s most active tidewater glaciers, Eqip Sermia spills directly into the fjord, offering a front-row view of the ice in motion. Massive ice walls regularly calve into the water below, sending waves across the fjord and filling it with freshly broken ice. Surrounded by stark Arctic wilderness, the glacier is a powerful reminder that this landscape is still alive and constantly reshaping itself under the force of ice, sea, and time

Day 6. Ilulissat, Disko Bay

Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat is home to many sled-dogs

Day 7. Sisimiut

The second largest town in Greenland, just above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains remarkably ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub all year round. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Dorset, Thule and eventually the Inuit people, dog sledding remains a vital form of transportation. The area is home to humpback whales and Arctic foxes in their summer coat

Day 8. Kangerlussuaq

This is where our journey comes to an end. From here, you can continue exploring Kangerlussuaq at your own pace — walking the tundra trails, visiting local viewpoints, or simply taking in the vast Arctic silence before your onward travels. It’s a moment to pause, reflect on the landscapes you’ve crossed, and let the scale of Greenland settle in, before heading onward with memories shaped by ice, light, and open space