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A polar bear wanders onto an iceberg in Greenland

Greenland In Depth

Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq - Example 13 Day Cruise aboard SH Vega
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Join us on a 13-day Greenland Discovery: West Greenland cruise on board the boutique ship to see a remote and fascinating part of the world. Traditional ways of life can still be seen against a backdrop of stunning arctic scenery and immense mountains. Navigate through an intricate fjord system that keeps the secrets of Norse people and settlements more than 4,500 years old, the pathways of Inuit migrations and Viking ruins. Discover unspoiled, gorgeous waterways dotted with icebergs and UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites. 
Reflection of colorful houses in GreenlandMidnight sun light, IlulissatWalrus in the ArcticBoat, barn, and iceberg on Disko BayNuuk structures, GreenlandArctic northern lights on a small ship cruiseA polar bear wanders onto an iceberg in Greenland
Highlights
  • Learn about the history of the Inuit, Dorset and Thule people
  • Admire the sparkling icebergs from glaciers into the meltwater
  • Capture huge narwhal pods, curious seals, and strong muskox
  • Explore the turbulent history of the Vikings who lived in west Greenland
  • Marvel at more than 40 species of seabird at Sirmilik National Park
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Reykjavik

Arrive in Reykjavik, relax, and spend the overnight in Courtyard by Marriott Reykjavik Keflavik Airport or similar.

Day 2: Reykjavik | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do in this diminutive but dramatic city. 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 harbor – 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 kilometers outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.

Day 3: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of the knowledgeable on-board experts.

Day 4: Skjoldungen

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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 with the Thrym Glacier at one end. 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 also have the opportunity to see whales under pure blue skies.

Day 5: Prins Christian Sund | Aappilattoq

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The small, colorful and pretty Nordic homes of Aappilattoq, the only settlement in Prins Christian Sund, stand stark against snow-tipped mountain ridges in this icy wilderness. A beautifully dramatic fjord in the south of Greenland, in Prins Christian Sund, moves among fin, blue and minke whales, while you may also see muskox, polar bears and bearded seals. Enjoy these unspoiled, picturesque waterways where magnificent glaciers tower and granite cliffs yield to crystal-clear waterfalls.

Day 6: Ivigtut

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today, explore Ivigtut's deserted buildings, enormous cryolite hole and above-ground cemetery. This settlement played a crucial role in WWII as cryolite was used to produce Aluminium to build fighter planes. Walk around the abandoned houses and learn about the history of the Ivigtut.

Day 7: Nuuk (Godthab)

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk can easily deceive you that you’re travelling through such a wild and secluded country. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), you’ll see the busy old Colonial Harbor with Nuuk Cathedral prominent, colorful wooden houses, avant-garde architecture and a wonderful array of fjords with clear ice waters and an unspoiled mountain backdrop. Look out for whales and on land arctic foxes, arctic hares and reindeer.

Day 8: Sisimiut

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Just north of the Arctic Circle and the northernmost city in Greenland, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport and have a chance to see abandoned settlements but it also has a cool, modern side. Watch out for humpback whales and walrus between Sisimiut and the Thule district in the north.

Day 9-10: Ilulissat | Disko Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is home to as many sled-dogs as people.

Day 11: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
At the head of one of the longest fjords in western Greenland, Kangerlussuaq has a history as a World War II airbase. Visit the 60-metre tall face of the Russell Glacier on the edge of the Greenland ice cap to hear and see it crack and break off into the meltwater. Other popular activities include kayaking on the fjords and wildlife tours of the glacial areas that attract muskoxen, reindeer, arctic foxes and gyrfalcons.

Day 12: Kangerlussuaq | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Kangerlussuaq airport to catch your flight to Reykjavik. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Courtyard by Marriott Reykjavik Keflavik Airport or similar.

Day 13: Reykjavik

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and catch your flight home.

Ship/Hotel

SH Vega

SH Vega
SH Vega Club Lounge
SH Vega Club Lounge

Reykjavik - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$10,580
Rates are subject to change without notice. Book early to get the best rate.
SH Vega Suite OceanViewOceanview
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Oceanview D4
19 m2, Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
SH Vega Suite OceanViewOceanview
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Oceanview M4
19 m2, Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony
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Balcony D5
28 m2, Located at the forward and aft of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedrooms with a living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Balcony
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Balcony M5
28 m2, Located at the center of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedrooms with a living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Balcony
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Balcony D6
28 m2, Located on deck six, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
SH Vega SuitePremium suitePremium Suite
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Suite
44 m2, Our Suites features a super king bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
SH Vega Suite PremiumSH Vega Suite PremiumPremium suitePremium Suite
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Premium Suite
49 m2, Our grandest suites feature a super king bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, a spacious walk-in wardrobe, and a 12 sq.m private balcony.
Included
  • 12 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 10 Dinners
  • 12 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Room Service 
  • Wifi
  • Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
  • Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
  • Onboard gratuities & port taxes
  • Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions.
  • All transfers between Airport, Hotel and Ship
  • One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
  • One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
  • Regional flights start or end at the ports of embarkation/disembarkation in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq.
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • We recommend every traveler to take out a travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance and a travel health insurance policy with an assumption of the return transport costs of repatriation

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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