Iceland & Greenland Explorer

Welcome to Copenhagen, the buzzing capital of Denmark. Enjoy your one-night stay and explore at leisure.

Your journey above the Arctic Circle begins as you fly from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq to board Scenic Eclipse. Toast the start of your adventure at tonight's welcome reception where the Captain will introduce the crew and your expert Discovery Team.

Spectacular days await as you cruise Disko Bay. Ilulissat is named from the Inuit word for ‘icebergs’. Formerly called Jakobshavn, the town is best known for large number of icebergs forming from the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord, into which one of the world’s fastest moving and most active glaciers calves 46 cubic kilometres of ice annually. Listen for the rumbling sounds in the distance of ice bergs calving from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier.
 

Freechoice:
Town walk of Ilulissat: Walk through the town of Ilulissat, previously called the town of ten thousand souls. During the town walk pass by various sites including the polar explorer, KnudRasmussen's bust and birth home, the Zions church and local kayak club, various shops and the handcraft. Learn about the history of these locations, and gain insight into life above the Polar Circle.

Kangia Ice Fjord Cruise: Board local boat and head for the mouth of the Ilulissat Kangia Fjord. Cruise among the huge icebergs that are stationary due to an underwater moraine. The only way for the icebergs to break loose is the pressure from behind or tide water, which results in multitude of huge icebergs just in front of Ilulissat. After cruising around the icebergs, the local captain will find a suitable place to stop the engine, so you can enjoy the silence of the Arctic.

Greenlandic Kaffemik: Visit a Local Family: Join a local family for a cup of coffee. The Greenlanders are famous for welcoming visitors into their homes, inviting everyone over for a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. The latest gossip is shared, they will show their national costume and tell stories about living so far north in the past and present.
 

Discovery:
Sermermiut hike: Start your hike along the boardwalk through the old valley, learning of the Saqqaq people the used to live here thousands of years ago. During the walk your guide will make stops to talk about the landscape, vegetation and Inuit history. Finish at the witch cliff and a view point. Look into the stunning fjord and enjoy the silence of the wild Arctic and the beautiful, white scenario.

Continue to discover Disko Bay.

Meander through the Evighed Fjord or “Eternity Fjord”, listening as chunks from the ice cap break away and collapse into the water. Gaze up at the highest mountains in West Greenland, watching as the mist swirls around them.

Nuuk means ‘headland’ or ‘cape’ in Greenlandic. The capital and largest city in Greenland, Nuuk has been inhabited by many settlers over the centuries, but the present town was only established in 1728. A guided tour through the picturesque Old Harbour reveals history and traditions that remain strong to this day.
 

Freechoice:
City tour with museum visit and Katuaq: Stroll through the old part of town, passing the parliament, the open-air market, the cathedral and the old colonial harbour. Visit the National Museum where you will learn about the collections, exhibitions and the intangible culture heritage. Walk to the Culture House Katuaq for Greenland an experience some local tapas.

Afternoon tea with local family: Walk through the town of Nuuk before being invited into the home of a local family. Enjoy some coffee and cake while you get a glimpse of living in Greenland.

Storytelling and local food tasting: Join a local guide to the beach where a range of foods are prepared on open fire. Learn from the local chefs as they tell stories about the foods and living conditions in Greenland, both past and present.

Greenlandic beer tasting: Visit the local brewery where the brew master will tell you all about brewing Greenlandic beer. During your tour, enjoy a tasting three different kinds of local beers.

The most striking agricultural town located on the edge of a fjord, Narsaq is known for its Greenlandic 'cowboys', lush agricultural land supporting sheep farming and cattle ranching and intriguing Norse history. In the 1960s, a long house was unearthed and is believed to be the very first place Eric the Red settled. Discover this quaint town and its close connection to the Mother Nature and visit the Narsaq Museum to learn about Norse history. As you arrive into Narsaq, join a local guide around the charming village.

Freechoice:
Food and Beer tasting: Taste some of the local Greenlandic specialties, including fish, shellfish, musk ox and deer. Narsaq is also one of the few towns in Greenland with their own brewery with a wide selection of high-quality beers. Enjoy the tasting while your guide explains some of the local customs.

Brewery visit: Narsaq is known as the Pearl of South Greenland. It is a charming village, where you can get a feel for the real Greenland and enjoy the Arctic nature up close. Today you will visit the local micro-brewery, see and hear about the production and finally taste the products.

Town Walk of Narsaq: Narsaq is a town known for its colourful wooden houses, where modern living is mixed with ancient traditions. It is the youngest town in Greenland, founded as late as in 1959. Join a local guide as you walk through the town of Narsaq.

Over the coming days, explore Greenland's east coast, the fjords of Skjoldungen and Prins Christianssund. Carving a breathtaking, naturally formed path separating the mainland from the islands of Cape Farewell, Prins Christianssund is one of Greenland's most scenic waterways. Over a hundred kilometres in length, and flanked by magnificent glaciers and granite cliffs, this narrow passage is only accessible during summer, when the largest ice blockades melt away. Scenic Eclipse brings you close to the towering glaciers, huge icebergs and imposing peaks for unmissable photo opportunities.
 

Discovery:
Weather depending, partake in Scenic Discovery excursions by Zodiac, kayak and on nature walks. Discover majestic scenery, tundra landscapes, and native wildlife and marine life.

Continue cruising the coast of Greenland. Due to the extraordinary nature of the region, the sailing and expedition schedule is flexible. Your experienced Captain and Discovery Leader will use their expertise to design this section of your voyage from day to day. 

Continue cruising the coast of Greenland. Due to the extraordinary nature of the region, the sailing and expedition schedule is flexible. Your experienced Captain and Discovery Leader will use their expertise to design this section of your voyage from day to day. 

Cruise across Denmark Strait to Iceland. The Discovery Team will enthrall you with their knowledge and passion for this region. From your suite's verandah, scan the horizon through your included binoculars to look for whales.

Weather depending, today we visit the jewel of the Westfjords. Stand back and admire the cascading bridal veil and discover why it was nicknamed ‘the thunder’. Made up of seven waterfalls, it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland.

Your cruise ends this morning in the world’s northernmost capital city, Reykjavík. Say farewell to your crew, disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Please book your flight to depart out of Reykjavik after 11:00 AM.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the voyage will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.