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The Greenland Explorer: Iceland to Greenland Expedition

The Greenland Explorer: Iceland to Greenland Expedition

From AUD $15,875

Description

Throughout the Iceland to Greenland luxury cruise, you will visit numerous remarkable sites. Explore Reykjavik’s iconic Hallgrímskirkja church and Harpa Concert Hall, marvel at Greenland’s majestic fjords, and wander through the historic streets of Nuuk. Experience the otherworldly beauty of Skjoldungen’s ice-filled fjord and the vibrant Inuit village of Aappilattoq. In Disko Bay, witness the stunning glaciers and wildlife at the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord. This extraordinary Iceland to Greenland luxury cruise offers a variety of immersive activities for every traveler. Participate in onboard lectures and refine your photography skills with expert guidance. Discover the thrill of observing marine life in their natural habitat or enjoy an optional kayaking experience with the expedition team. Each stop presents an opportunity to engage deeply with the region’s stunning landscapes and vibrant cultures.

Trip Name
The Greenland Explorer: Iceland to Greenland Expedition
Days
14
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 115 metres Passenger Capacity: 158 Built: 2020/2021/2022 The SH Vega is a boutique, ice-strengthened expedition ship designed for exploring the world’s most remote destinations in refined comfort. Built in Finland’s renowned Helsinki Shipyard, she combines sleek Scandinavian design with advanced cruising technology, including a Polar Class PC5 hull and extra-large stabilisers for smooth sailing in challenging waters. With space for just 158 guests and 122 crew, she offers an intimate and personalised experience, where every detail is considered – from elegant observation lounges and stargazing decks to fine dining venues and a spa with panoramic views. Her facilities include a heated outdoor pool, open deck jacuzzi, gym, and library, ensuring the journey is as rewarding on board as it is ashore. Accommodation ranges from stylish oceanview staterooms to expansive premium suites, all appointed with contemporary comforts such as a flame-effect fireplace, Illy espresso machine, luxury toiletries, and even complimentary binoculars for wildlife spotting. Private balconies in many cabins provide a front-row seat to breathtaking landscapes, while world-class dining, attentive service, and thoughtful touches like a welcome bottle of Champagne enhance the sense of occasion. Whether navigating polar ice or sailing into sunlit harbours, the SH Vega offers a blend of adventure, elegance, and home-like warmth.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Days 0 - 1 Pre Cruise & Reykjavik
Charter flights to the port of embarkation/disembarkationOne night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel (exemptions apply)Make sure there is sufficient timeto explore this diminutive but dramatic capital city. Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city’s other renowned building Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated harbour – also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of course, just 50 kilometres outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.
Day 2 - Day 2. Day at sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers
Day 3 - Day 3. Skjoldungen
 On the craggy east coast of Greenland, the stunningly scenic, U-shaped Skjoldungen Fjord is surrounded by lofty snow-capped mountains, dwarf birch, Arctic wildflowers and willow forests ending with the Thrym Glacier. High rock walls, serpentine rivers and large crevasses of ice pillars known as seracs give way to carved icebergs in the fjord that gleam in a white to blue spectrum. You might also have the opportunity to see whales
Day 4 - Day 4. Cruising Prins Christian Sund
The remote and beautiful Prins Christian Sund fjord carves a dramatic path between magnificent granite cliffs and glaciers, offering a stunning panorama of icebergs, rugged peaks and crystal-clear waters. Stretching 100 km at the southernmost tip of Greenland, this long and winding passage separates the mainland from Sammisoq and the Cape Farewell Archipelago, creating a breathtaking waterway that captivates adventurers and nature lovers alike
Day 5 - Day 4. Aappilattoq
Colourful Nordic houses stand against dramatic mountain ridges encircling Aappilattoq, a remote Inuit village in Greenland’s Prins Christian Sund. Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Aappilattoq is home to around 100 rugged individuals who make a living through fishing and hunting. Often called the southernmost inhabited area in Greenland, Aappilattoq is in fact at the midpoint of the east and west coasts
Day 6 - Day 5. Gronnedal
Kangilinnguit, formerly Grønnedal, is a historic spot in southwest Greenland and an area of exceptional natural beauty. Once a key U.S. WWII naval base, it lies near Ivigtut and the cryolite mine in scenic Arsuk Fjord. Ships navigate a narrow channel past the Kajartalik lighthouse, Arsuk village and Kungnat Bay, where dramatic landscapes unfold, including the towering 4,600-ft Mt. Kungnait and the breathtaking Arsuk Glacier at the fjord's head
Day 7 - Day 5. Ivittut
The deserted mining town of Ivittuut (formerly Ivigtut) was once vital for WWII aircraft production with the world's largest reserve of cryolite, a mineral used in aluminium production. Abandoned houses, the enormous mine pit and above-ground cemetery reveal the history of this settlement. Scattered cryolite chunks on the rocky shore mix with relics like old engines from when Inuit used cryolite for snuff. Now only muskoxen roam this eerie place
Day 8 - Day 6. Nigerdlikasik Fjord & Glacier
Nigerdlikasik, at the end of Kvanefjord, is a remote and relatively untouched wilderness offering solitude and stunning views of steep cliffs, mountains and the Nigerdlikasik Brae, a small glacier ice field. The glacial ice creates dramatic scenery with ice formations, meltwater streams, steep cliffs and valleys. Carved by ancient ice, the fjord's volcanic geology and rare-earth mineral deposits make it visually and geologically significant
Day 9 - Day 7. Nuuk
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Greenland has a thriving cultural scene including the Greenland National Museum, home to the world-renowned Qilakitsoq mummies. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), Nuuk's bustling harbour features Nuuk Cathedral and colourful wooden houses, alongside modern architecture. Nuuk also serves as a gateway to Inuit experiences and adventures in the surrounding fjords and mountains
Day 10 - Day 8. Evigheds Glacier
The Evigheds Glacier, a majestic outflow from the Greenland Ice Sheet, carves through the dramatic Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord, also known as Eternity Fjord. This 75-km-long waterway is a haven for wildlife, with white-tailed eagles and black-legged kittiwakes soaring above. Calving icebergs showcase Greenland's raw beauty, but sadly like many glaciers, it is slowly retreating due to global warming's impact on this fragile Arctic ecosystem
Day 11 - Day 9. 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 12 - Day 10. Eqip Sermia Glacier
Eqi Glacier, or Eqip Sermia in Greenlandic, is one of Greenland's largest and most active calving glaciers, spanning nearly 4 km wide and towering over 200 m. Visitors can almost always witness calving, where pieces of ice break off the glacier's face, creating deafening bangs and giant splashes that send waves across the bay. The contrast between thunderous calving and the ensuing silence provides a glimpse of Greenland's dynamic icy landscape
Day 13 - Day 11. 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 14 - Day 12. 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 15 - Day 13. 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 muskoxenCharter flights to the port of embarkation/disembarkationGroup return transfers from airport to cruise port and to the hotel (where included)
Day 16 - Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change. 

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
31-07-202813-08-2028AUD $15,875Oceanview D4
31-07-202813-08-2028AUD $16,675Oceanview M4
31-07-202813-08-2028AUD $17,475Balcony D5
31-07-202813-08-2028AUD $18,275Balcony M5
31-07-202813-08-2028AUD $27,800Suite
31-07-202813-08-2028AUD $31,750Premium Suite

Inclusions

    • 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.

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