Upon arriving in Reykjavik, an Aurora Expeditions representative will greet you and arrange your transfer to the designated group hotel. Upon check-in, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and consult with the ground operations team. They will provide pre-embarkation details and offer recommendations on dining, cash withdrawals, or any last-minute purchases from local pharmacies or supermarkets.  

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

Accommodation: The Grand Hotel Reykjavik

This morning, ensure your cabin luggage is securely tagged with your name and cabin number. Your luggage will be collected from the hotel, transferred directly to the port for clearance, and delivered to your cabin before your boarding arrival. Keep all valuables and personal items with you throughout the day.  

Today, you embark on a journey along Reykjavik’s renowned Golden Circle, a route showcasing Iceland’s seismic wonders. Your first stop is Þingvellir National Park, the historic site of Iceland’s first parliament and the dramatic meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Next, you visit Gullfoss, a breathtaking waterfall that plunges 34 meters into the Hvítá River, offering an exceptional photographic opportunity. You then explore Iceland’s famous geothermal fields, where bubbling hot springs and erupting geysers display the immense geothermal power beneath the earth’s surface.  

By late afternoon, return to Reykjavik to board the Sylvia Earle. After settling into your cabin, attend essential safety briefings before you ‘throw the lines’ and set sail for your Greenland adventure. This evening, meet your expedition team and crew at the Welcome Dinner.

Crossing the Greenland Sea, sail through the Polar Basin’s nutrient-rich waters, searching for encroaching pack ice, fin whales, and seabirds. The experts entertain you with informative talks about sea ice, glaciers, European arctic plants and animals, and epic tales of early explorers such as Nansen, Andreé, and Scoresby.

Popular among skilled rock climbers, Kangertitivatsiaq Fjord is home to spectacular mountain peaks and essential big walls that attract daring climbers. A discovery for Aurora Expeditions in 2022, the 26-kilometer (16-mile) fjord is filled with glaciers, including the Glacier of France. It’s an ideal place for ship cruising, zodiac excursions, and discovery hikes.

Continue south along Greenland’s King Frederik VI Coast, always looking for whales, especially the rare sperm whale occasionally seen here. Weaving through the narrow channels of Skjoldungen Fjord, land at the end of the fjord for a walk along a glacial river across a tundra valley covered in northern willow and blooming pink wildflowers. Kayakers can paddle across the front of a tidewater glacier and search for harp seals, ivory gulls, and whales.

Back on board, enjoy the stunning surroundings with a drink in hand, basking in the soft light of the setting sun.

Prince Christian Sound connects the Labrador Sea with the Irminger Sea. Approximately 100 km (60 mi) long and, in parts, as narrow as 500 m (600 ft) wide, the fjord is flanked by jagged mountain peaks, some reaching over 2,200 m (7,200 ft) high, with countless glaciers coming all the way down to the sea. Slowly cruise through the sound to enjoy the spectacular scenery. Icebergs sculpted into fantastic shapes often block the entrance to the sound, a great spectacle for photography.

Aappilattoq is a small settlement in the southern section of a sound. Aappilattoq means red in Greenlandic, and the town is named after the red mountains rising above it. Aappilattoq is well-known in Greenland for the jagged mountain peaks that surround it—a delight for photographers.

The towering, jagged mountains surrounding Tasermiut Fjord are why it's often called the 'Patagonia of the North.' At Klosterdal, you are surrounded by three giant mountains: Napasorsuaq, Ketil, and Nalumasortoq. You can walk to a Norse ruin, hike along the valley, or explore the bay by kayak.

Continue to Nanortalik, the southernmost town in Greenland, located on an island of the same name. Its name derives from the West Greenlandic word ‘Nanoq,’ meaning ‘the place where bears pass through,’ describing the polar bears that were once seen floating past on sea ice. Deep fjords, woodlands and grasslands, and rugged mountainside cliffs, some over 1,000 m (3,280 ft), attract enthusiastic climbers worldwide.

On arrival, receive a warm welcome from the local community, who have opened up their town for you to explore. Nanortalik is a town known for its love of singing and being treated to choir performances.

Visit Nanortalik Church, a wooden Danish Lutheran church built in 1916 that is currently the only church serving the Nanortalik congregation. The church is in the old colonial quarter of the town. Next to the church is a landmark boulder called the ‘Knud Rasmussen Stone,’ named after Greenland’s most famous citizen, Dr. Knud Rasmussen, an explorer and ethnologist.

Hvalsey Church is the best-preserved Norse ruin in Greenland. ‘Hvalsey’ is old Norse for ‘Whale Island.’ Christianity arrived in Greenland around 1,000 AD, and churches began gradually being built. Late medieval documents indicate up to 14 parish churches in the Eastern Settlement. Hvalsey was constructed in the early 14th century but was not the first church built on this site.

After exploring Hvalsey ruins, continue to Qaqortoq, where the Zodiacs shuttle you ashore. Qaqortoq is the capital of South Greenland. With a history dating back to 1775, the town offers various cultural activities and attractions, including an outdoor art project called “Man and Stone,’ which features stone carvings created by local artists scattered throughout the town. Qaqortoq is Greenland’s southernmost town and the administrative center of south Greenland. Built from yellow stone and dating back to 1804, the building that now houses the Qaqortoq Museum originally belonged to the town’s blacksmith. Qaqortoq’s landmark building is the Church of Our Saviour. This large wooden Lutheran church, known as the ‘Red Church,’ is near the harbor in the historic part of town.

At Igaliku in Tunulliarfik Fjord, lush valleys filled with tall grass hint at Greenland’s first sheep farming settlement. Igaliku also guards the entrance to the well-preserved remains of Norse ruins, allowing visitors to explore Norse history hike within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed surroundings to discover lakes, mountains, and hidden Norse ruins. 

Narsarsuaq is the gateway to hiking trails through lush valleys and Norse ruins spotted along Tunulliarfik Fjord.

Narsarsuaq holds historical significance for Greenland’s history. The Norse Vikings settled in this area in the 12th century and named Narsarsuaq to suggest that an Arctic forest covered the immense plain. Taking home stories of lush valleys and plains nestled in deep fjords, the Vikings called this country Greenland. Marked trails allow hikers to enjoy the superb scenery, with one of the most popular hikes leading to the spectacular lookout over icebergs in the Tunulliarfik Fjord and the Qooroq Glacier.

At Qassiarssuk, located directly across the Tunulliarfik Fjord, follow in the footsteps of Erik the Red and discover why he made it his home. The remains of a church, stables, hall, and other buildings can still be seen. Visit the tall statue of Leif Erikson (son of Erik the Red), overlooking the town and fjord.

Sailing between Hvalsey, Igaliku, and Qassiarssuk allows you to connect the dots of Viking history in Greenland.

As you sail towards Nuuk, enjoy some free time relaxing or attending a presentation from the expedition team. This evening, share stories and celebrate with fellow expeditioners at the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.

During the early morning, you cruise into Nuuk and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell to your expedition team before transferring to the airport for a charter flight to Toronto for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out of your room and continue your journey with a transfer to the airport.