The Arctic Under The Midnight Sun - Iceland & Greenland

Discover Iceland's modern capital

Your expedition cruise of Iceland and Greenland starts in Reykjavík – a vibrant city full of culture and history. Enjoy a walk around this compact city. Take a stroll down Laugavegur – the main shopping street – to the striking Hallgrímskirkja church. Or why not visit one of its many art galleries and museums.

With so much to explore, you may want to arrive early to join one of our optional Pre-Programmes..

The adventure at sea starts when you board the ship. Find your cabin, meet your Expedition Team, explore the ship and enjoy a relaxed welcome dinner as we set sail towards our first stop, Stykkishólmur.

Gateway to spectacular Snæfellsnes

It's as though time has stood still at Stykkishólmur, the small fishing town in Breiðafjörður bay, where colourful houses stand out in contrast to distant mountains.

Nearby, you'll find Snæfellsnes Peninsula National Park, with the striking, ice-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano at the peninsula's western tip. It's nicknamed 'Little Iceland' for its array of landscapes.

At the national park you can visit Djúpalónssandur's black sand beach and the Lóndrangar basalt cliffs. Or why not ride a snowcat to the top of the Snæfellsjökull glacier or take a guided coastal hike with a glacial cave tour.

Birdwatching, waterfalls and stunning beaches

Patreksfjörður is unforgettably beautiful. Here, you'll learn all about the fishing traditions in Europe's most westerly village. You can even enjoy a dip in the town's outdoor pool, with wonderful fjord views!

You'll have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area on a hike through the fjords, or visit Rauðasandur beach and see seals. You can also join a tour to the Dynjandi waterfalls – six falls combined that together make the largest and most spectacular cascade in the Westfjords.

Birdwatchers shouldn't miss a visit to Látrabjarg, where puffins, Northern Gannets, guillemots and razorbills cling to Europe's largest bird cliff.

Exploring Northwest Iceland, expedition-style

One of the best things about expedition cruising is the feeling of freedom. We plan to spend the day in Iceland's Northwestern Region, but as conditions can vary, there's no preset plan. Rest assured, your Captain and Expedition Team will find the best opportunities for adventure.

We may take you ashore in our small expedition boats for a hike or a beach clean-up. Or perhaps we'll launch our kayaks. If we spot a pod of whales as we sail, we may stop to enjoy the sight. Be ready for anything!

Don't forget, you can also join onboard lectures, visit the Science Center, get tips from our professional photographer, or soak in a hot tub!

See dramatic moonscapes and waterfalls

Gaze at snowcapped peaks as we cruise along Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord. It's one of the best places in Europe to spot humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Look out for orcas, blue and fin whales here, too.

Iceland's 'Northern Capital', Akureyri, sits at the fjord head. Here, you can enjoy the oasis of a botanical garden, and visit top-notch eateries and museums.

A little further afield, you can witness the picturesque Goðafoss waterfall, where turquoise waters pound against black rocks. You can also keep an eye out for Eider and Harlequin Ducks at Lake Mývatn, one of Iceland's more active volcanic areas.

Cross the Arctic Circle and see Atlantic Puffins

This remote and windswept island, home to just 60 people, is well known for its Atlantic Puffin colonies. Grímsey is steeped in folklore, including tales of the island's first settler, Grímur.

Grímsey is probably best known for its proximity to the Arctic Circle, which cuts across the island – the only part of Iceland where it does so. You'll have the opportunity to step across that line, hopping over to the Arctic and back!

Hike to the Orbis et Globus landmark, a huge concrete sphere sculpture that's repositioned each year to fit the northward movement of the Arctic Circle. By 2050, Grímsey will lie outside the Arctic

Local folklore and staggering natural beauty

Your cruise continues to Bakkagerði, a tiny, remote settlement. According to folklore, Bakkagerði is inhabited by a large population of local land spirits or elves, known as huldufólk, meaning 'hidden people'. Walk around town to explore this magical place.

A popular hiking area, here you can walk through lush, green valleys and gorgeous scenery among colourful rhyolite rocks. The coastal cliffs are home to fulmars, kittiwakes, eiders and puffins. We may also visit the Atlantic Puffin colony on Hafnarhólmi – a true gem for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.

Discover the town that defied a volcano

Heimaey is the only inhabited island in the Westman Islands, found off the south coast of Iceland. It has a fascinating history, and still bears the scars of a powerful volcanic eruption that nearly destroyed the island.

Visit Eldheimar, a museum that features an excavated home frozen in time, and learn more about the eruption and its aftermath. Or why not take a hike to seek out puffins at Stórhöfði, where around eight million nest every summer. Don't miss climbing Mount Eldfell – at the volcano's summit you'll have incredible views of the town below.

Enjoy an outdoor spa experience at the Blue Lagoon

Returning to Reykjavík, you'll have another opportunity to explore the delights you may have missed on your first visit. In this city of art and culture, there are plenty of galleries and museums to enjoy. Or if you simply wish to relax, why not take a trip to the famous Blue Lagoon.

Enjoy an unforgettable outdoor spa experience as you relax in the geothermally heated water that gets its iconic bright blue colour from silica and other minerals carried down from the volcanic landscape. As you soak, enjoy a drink and a chat with locals and fellow guests as you look forward to the next step on your adventure – Greenland!

In the wake of Vikings

We sail to Greenland across the Denmark Strait, the route taken by Erik the Red, supposedly the first European to have settled there.

Your Expedition Team will explain the protocols of respectfully visiting wildlife habitats and indigenous Arctic communities. In the Science Center, you can learn more about Greenland's geology, or join one of our Citizen Science projects. Then hit the gym, swim in the infinity pool, book a treatment in the wellness area or enjoy a delicious meal in one of our three onboard restaurants.

Visit one of Greenland's most beautiful towns

Qaqortoq has been settled since prehistoric times. The colourful houses and lush scenery of Qaqortoq provide a beautiful setting in which to discover its rich culture.

Explore the local museum, with its rare Inuit artifacts, or enjoy the beautiful green scenery on a walk to a nearby lake. Join an optional excursion to meet friendly locals and hear their stories at a traditional kaffemik social gathering.

Discover the glacial beauty of the west coast fjords

Experience your first sight of Greenland's sublime west coast fjords as we reach Kvanefjord in Sermersooq, meaning 'Place of Much Ice'.

Have your camera ready for glistening icebergs and semi-submerged glacial ice – pure white with undertones of crystalline blue. These sculpted ice blocks are some of Arctic nature's finest creations.

Few people venture into this remote fjord, making it even more special to spend the day exploring here. The Expedition Team will select places to venture ashore and enjoy the beautiful scenery on a nature walk, or head out in boats to scout for wildlife.

A historic trading post in a dramatic setting

Today our expedition cruise reaches Maniitsoq. Nicknamed the 'Venice of Greenland' for its natural canals, the surrounding mountains deliver awe-inspiring views. You might even spot pods of humpback whales from shore.

Once a regional hub for trading reindeer hides, people have lived here for 4,000 years. Discover figurines carved from walrus ivory, traditional Greenlandic costumes and many works of art in the local museum.

Maniitsoq has many hiking options with different viewpoints to discover. And don't miss an opportunity to chat to the town's welcoming locals.

Enjoy a warm welcome in Arctic Greenland

We reach spectacularly situated Sisimiut, just 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle, where you'll experience the Midnight Sun at the height of summer.

Old traditions are alive and well here, and you can learn more about the ancient Saqqaq artifacts in the local museum. If you're looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of a musk ox, said to be 10 times warmer than sheep wool.

One of the best things you'll experience is meeting the local communities in the places we explore – authentic interactions that make for fantastic memories.

Nature's artwork in UNESCO-listed icefjord

Today we reach Disko Bay – a haven for whales and seals. The Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, regularly tops the list of things to see and do in Greenland, and today you'll find out why. Enjoy breathtaking scenery as you walk to the ice fjord and the old Inuit settlement of Sermermiut.

Marvel at giant icebergs floating past in the deep blue waters, as they take on different hues of white, grey and blue. Even amateur photographers will return to the ship with the most enviable images. Back in pretty Ilulissat, perhaps enjoy a hot drink among the colourful houses by the water.

Remote, untamed landscapes and bountiful nature

Rugged Vaigat Sound is our most northerly point, and you'll feel like the first person to walk here. We're in the hands of Mother Nature today and the Expedition Team will identify the best landing sites to explore.

If possible, we'll take the expedition boats out on shore landings, or go on optional kayaking trips between icebergs. You may visit Camp Frieda, trek across tundra and get up close to a glacier and learn how it moves.

Have your binoculars and camera ready as wildlife sightings in Disko Bay can include orcas and bowhead whales, as well as harp, hooded, bearded and ringed seals.

The ethereal beauty of Evighedsfjord

We are now heading back south. You'll enjoy an exploration day in magical yet imposing Evighedsfjord near Kangerlussuaq. We'll determine on the day what exciting adventures lie in store for you.

The 'Fjord of Eternity' is fed by an ice cap that calves huge icebergs into its 2,300 ft deep waters. It's surrounded by mist-cloaked mountains with beautiful white ridges, punctuated by crystal blue ice caves.

Nature reigns here. The only settlements in this region are tiny fishing hamlets clinging to the shores. As ever, we'll be on the lookout for Arctic flora, and wildlife including whales and seabirds.

Experience Greenlandic culture, old and new, in Nuuk

After several days exploring remote, idyllic icescapes, you'll cruise into Nuuk, Greenland's colourful capital. With a population of 18,000, it has a striking mix of old and new buildings.

Compare the old buildings – such as Hans Egede House and Nuuk Cathedral – with the ultra-modern architecture of the Parlaiment of Greenland building.

Visit the national museum to gain fascinating insight into life here 500 years ago and see the six Qilakitsoq mummies. Or, join a long nature walk through Paradise Valley and around Mt. Lille Malene as part of an optional excursion.

Ivittuut's fascinating WWII history

As you wander around the abandoned ruins of this ghost town, it's hard to believe that Ivittuut, a former mining outpost, once played a pivotal role in the course of history.

During WWII, the US secretly stationed troops here to prevent rare cryolite – used to make aluminum alloys – falling into enemy hands. Supplies were instead shipped to the UK to manufacture aircraft, used in the Battle of Britain.

Here, you can walk among the area's deserted buildings. Once the last Viking settlement in Greenland, these days the only inhabitants you're likely to see are musk oxen.

Breathtaking panoramas and abundant wildlife

We aim to explore the incredible waters of the 60-mile-long Prince Christian Sound today. Sharp-peaked granite mountains provide a stunning contrast to the bright white glaciers. Look out for calving icebergs and colourful houses in the village of Aappilattoq.

Nature is abundant here. Keep an eye out for ringed and bearded seals resting on the ice, and Glaucous Gulls and Black Guillemots soaring above. You may even spot minke and humpback whales.

If sea ice prevents us entering the sound, we'll head to craggy Cape Farewell, the southernmost point of Greenland

Time to rest, relax and reflect

After exploring the ethereal, rugged beauty of western Greenland, we set our course back to Iceland. You'll enjoy two days at sea recapping highlights with the Expedition Team, learning more about the delicate ecology of Greenland in the Science Center, and relaxing.

Out on deck, you might spot seabirds or whales that like to follow our ship. Our onboard photographer can share tips to capture them in action. You can even log any whales you see for our Happywhale Citizen Science project.

This might be the time to enjoy the panoramic sauna, on-deck hot tubs or heated pool. Or why not book a treatment in our wellness area.

Unforgettable memories of your Grand Expedition

Your Grand Expedition Cruise to Iceland and Greenland comes full circle as you arrive back in Iceland's stylish capital in the early morning. Your mind, and your camera, will be a kaleidoscope of unforgettable memories of your journey, from the spectacular vistas to the incredible encounters.

If you want to discover more, why not join one of our optional Post-Programmes.