HIGHLIGHTS
- Witness the dast-moving ilulissat icefjorf with massive,
calving icebergs.
- Engage with local Inuit communities, gaining insight into
their traditional way of life.
- Spot hardy muskoxen as they graze and roam in one of the
world's most remote environments.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Oceanview D4 |
|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 | 10,580 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Oceanview D4 |
|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 | 10,580 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 : Reykjavik
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 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 : 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 : Cruise 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
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
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
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
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
7 : Maniitsoq
Picturesque
Maniitsoq, Greenland’s sixth-largest town, is nestled among
jagged peaks on Maniitsoq Island. Cliffs teem with birdlife and whales
visit the waters seasonally. The small museum, housed in four old
colonial buildings, displays Maniitsoq's history and intricately beaded
collars from West Greenlandic women's national dress. Staircases offer
panoramic views, including the 470-step climb up the “Eiffel
Tower” or Sakkortusaavik.
Day
7 : Semilinnguaq Fjord
Sailing
through Semilinnguaq Fjord reveals the raw, untamed beauty of the
Arctic. Sheer granite walls rise dramatically from deep waters, their
reflections shimmering in mirror-like stillness. Whales occasionally
breach or glide below the surface, adding life to the scene, while the
calls of seabirds echo through the serene landscape. This journey
offers a glimpse of some of the planet's most untouched and
awe-inspiring scenery.
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
9 : Qeqertarsuaq
Qeqertarsuaq
is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland's largest island, on its
west coast, part of Disko Bay, a UNESCO-listed site for its icebergs.
The Lyngemark Glacier rises above the town. The area’s hills,
basalt columns and black sand beaches reflect its volcanic origin. The
area is fertile and home to species not found elsewhere in Greenland.
Keep an eye out for its hot springs as we move through floating
icebergs.
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
10 : Disko Bay
Known
for its Inuit culture, whales and icebergs, Disko Bay is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site located in Western Greenland. The bay is also home to the
Ilulissat Icefjord, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world.
First visited by Europeans in 1596, in search of a Northwest Passage to
Asia, it has been an Inuit home for millennia. The village of
Qeqertarsuaq embodies thriving Inuit traditions, preserving the
cultural legacy.
Days
10-11 : 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
12 : Sisimiut
The
northernmost city 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
13 : Nuuk
Home
to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk 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,
SH Vega (Luxury Expedition, 152-guests)
Making her maiden voyage in April 2022, our 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offers you an intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage.
Our brand new ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Adventure
Options:
- Zodiac Cruising and/or Nature Walk With your Swan Hellenic
Expedition Team.
- Kayak With Swan Hellenic Expedition Team (single outing)
- Kayaking with Expedition team
