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Glacial ice in Greenland

South Greenland Adventure: The Majestic Alpine Arctic

Reykjavik - Reykjavik - Example 13 Day Cruise aboard Ultramarine
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Embark on a 13-day expedition cruise roundtrip to Reykjavik aboard the Ultramarine. Discover South Greenland's fjords, glaciers, and mountains. This expedition allows for a range of activities, from high-energy adventures to more leisurely, immersive experiences. Enjoy Heli Hiking and the Greenland Ice Sheet Experience, along with hikes, community visits, and Zodiac cruises. This voyage promises a remarkable exploration of South Greenland.



































































































 
Humpback whale in GreenlandFlightseeing in GreenlandHouses of GreenlandBeautiful Toronto SkylineGlacial ice in Greenland
Highlights
  • Explore Reykjavik, Iceland's capital known for stunning natural landscapes
  • Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Westlands in Greenland, with its lush valleys, pastures, and organic farms
  • Discover the stunning Arctic Patagonia in Southern Greenland, with its dramatic mountains, glaciers, and unique culture
  • Immerse yourself in the wild and remote fjords of the East Coast
Places Visited
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik

Arrive at Reykjavik and make your way to your included hotel. Have the rest of the day to explore this vibrant city on your own.

Day 2: Fly to Nuuk | Embark

In the morning, after breakfast, guests and their luggage will be transferred to the airport for their charter flight to the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk. This picturesque city of 17,000 is situated on a fjord with the Sermitsiaq mountain in the background. Upon arrival, guests will be transferred to their ship.

Day 3-5: Nuuk | Westlands

Today, head south along the spectacular west coast of Greenland on your way to the Westlands. Following in the footsteps of the Greenlandic Norse into the Western fjords, it’s easy to appreciate why Erik the Red chose this land as his home and gave Greenland its name: every direction you look rewards visitors with vistas of blue, ice-strewn waters set against a breathtaking backdrop of lush, verdant valleys and pastures bursting with blooms.

Unique to Greenland and indeed the entire Arctic, warm microclimates deep in the fjords have created a surprisingly fertile Arctic Garden of Eden. South Greenlandic farming traditions dating back to Viking days are still kept alive. Many families work their remote sheep farms along the shores of the fjords, their lives very much attuned to the seasons as they produce a variety of organic home-grown produce (such as potatoes, turnips, and kale).

Also in the west, you can find the perfect access points to the Greenland Ice Sheet, which you can reach by helicopter. Enjoy the most incredible views of the largest mass of ice in the northern hemisphere and the second largest in the world, flowing from the heights of the polar plateau to sea level. Become one of the very few people to ever set foot on this incredible body of ice during your included Greenland Ice Sheet Experience. Over these two days, you can have the opportunity to explore the Ice Sheet, hike the surrounding foothills, cruise or paddle through the azure ice-filled waters, and engage with the local friends and partners during the most meaningful and in-depth community experiences offered on any Quark Expeditions voyage.

Learn more about the history and culture of this region at the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a living history lesson in Viking farming. The team aims to provide the opportunity for a visit to charming Qassiarsuk, a small sheep farming settlement across the fjord from Narsarsuaq, where you can experience true South Greenland hospitality and gain insight into the fascinating lives of sheep farmers living at the edge of the Ice Sheet. It is suggested that you take time to explore the remains and replicas of Brattahlíð, Erik the Red’s estate, once the epicenter of the Greenland Norse Eastern Settlement.

Day 6-8: Arctic Patagonia

The stunning maze of fjords, sounds, islets, inlets, and skerries (rocky islands) in and around Cape Farewell (Nunap Isua) at Greenland’s most southern tip possesses its own particular magic. Transiting the 100-km-long Prins Christian Sund (Ikerasassuaq)—one of the world’s most scenic fjords—will be truly unforgettable. You can then look forward to dramatic mountains and seascapes, with glaciers tumbling down to the sea and stunning vistas around every corner. Inhabiting this domain are Southern Greenlanders living on the frontier, a people as unique as the landscape they call home. This is where the migrating hunting peoples from the east finally settled around the European trading posts.

The few villages in this southern region have gained a level of fame thanks to the inhabitants, who remain steadfastly faithful to their hunting and fishing heritage. Visit Aappilattoq, perched on the shores of Prins Christian Sund (Ikerasassuaq), to introduce you to the team's friends and partners there. The team aims to offer you the opportunity to listen to their stories, hear their music, taste their food, learn about their hunting traditions, and perhaps even join a friendly game of soccer as a player or spectator.

If you are looking for the most iconic peaks of South Greenland, reach the Tasermiut Fjord in the heart of what’s known as “Arctic Patagonia,” where you can sign up for overnight camping (with local hosts) along the 70-km fjord. Marvel at the impressive Sermeq glacier at its head, with rivers of ice tumbling almost down to sea level and the imposing peaks of Nalumasortoq and Ulamertorsuaq dominating the skyline, making for the most scenic backdrops to your hike or helicopter-enabled excursions.

Day 9-11: The Wild East & Journey Back to Nuuk (Northbound)

Set out for the wild fjords of the uninhabited east coast, one of which is Lindenow Fjord, also known by its Greenlandic name, Kangerlussuatsiaq. Thousands of years ago, groups of paleo-Inuit hunters and fishermen made their home in these isolated fjords, living off the land and surviving mostly on the resources the sea provided, before European explorers and the subsequent establishment of settlements prompted one of the biggest waves of migration in Greenland. Traces of these once-proud peoples can still be found today against the backdrop of cascading glaciers and steep-walled mountains.

These fjords are frequented by marine mammals. Rare sightings of polar bears are possible as they drift down from the north on sea ice floes propelled by the East Greenland current. Humpback whales are often sighted when entering fjords, as the shallowing seas bring an upwelling of nutrients to the surface. While you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, the magnificent alpine terrain invites you to explore by sea, land, and air to immerse yourselves completely in the remote icescapes of the region. The wild east is ideal for heli landings, hiking, paddle excursions, Zodiac cruises, and shore landings.

Day 12: Disembark | Explore Nuuk | Flight to Reykjavik

After breakfast, transfer from the pier to the town. You can have time to wander the streets of the historic Old Nuuk neighborhood and see the Hans Egede Church and Hans Egede statue near the waterfront. You can also have the opportunity to visit the Greenland National Museum & Archives to view the collections and exhibitions and to better understand Greenland’s cultural heritage, such as the significance of the kayak, which is Greenland’s national symbol and can be traced back over 4,000 years.

There will also be an opportunity to visit the famous 500-year-old Greenlandic mummies. After a half-day of exploring Nuuk, meet at a designated spot in town for the transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Reykjavik.

Day 13: Depart Reykjavik

After a restful night at your included hotel, make your way to Keflavik international for your onward flight, or continue your independent explorations of Reykjavik at your leisure.

Ship/Hotel

Ultramarine

Ultramarine
Ultramarine Dining Room
Bistro 487

Reykjavik - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$13,295 2-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Ultramarine - Solo Panorama Cabin
Solo Panorama
Located on Deck 6, approximately 132 sq. ft. Features a single bed, floor-to-ceiling window, desk, refrigerator, TV, a private bathroom with shower and heated floors.
Ultramarine - Explorer Triple Cabin
Explorer Triple
Located on Deck 3, approximately 285 sq. ft. Features three single beds (two of which can be combined into a double bed), sitting area, picture window, desk, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom with shower and heated floors.
Ultramarine - Explorer Suite Cabin
Explorer Suite
Located on Deck 3, approximately 285 sq. ft. Features one double or two single beds, sitting area with sofa bed, picture window, desk, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom with shower and heated floors.
Ultramarine - Balcony Suite Cabin
Balcony Suite
Located on Decks 4 and 6, with approximately 226 sq. ft. Features one double or two single beds, sitting area with sofa bed, private balcony, desk, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom with shower and heated floors.
Ultramarine - Deluxe Balcony Suite Cabin
Deluxe Balcony Suite
Located on Decks 4 and 6, with approximately 299 sq. ft. Features one double or two single beds, sitting area with sofa bed, private balcony, desk, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom with shower, bathtub and heated floors.
Ultramarine - Terrace Cabin
Terrace Suite
Located on Deck 6, with approximately 350 sq. ft. Features one double or two single beds, sitting area with sofa bed, private extra-wide balcony, desk, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom with shower, bathtub and heated floors.
Ultramarine - Penthouse Suite Cabin
Penthouse Suite
Located on Deck 7, with approximately 369 sq. ft. Features one double or two single beds, sitting area with sofa bed, private balcony, desk, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom with shower, bathtub and heated floors.
Ultramarine - Owner's Suite Cabin
Owner's Suite
Located on Deck 6, with approximately 446 sq. ft. Features one double or two single beds in a private bedroom with walk-in closet, sitting area with sofa bed and additional closet, private balcony, desk, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom with shower, bathtub and heated floors and separate powder room.
Ultramarine - Ultra Suite Cabin
Ultra Suite
Located on Deck 6, with approximately 563 sq. ft. Features one double or two single beds in a private bedroom with walk-in closet, sitting area with sofa bed and additional walk-in hallway closet, private balcony, refrigerator, TV, private bathroom.

Notes

- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.

- Standard Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a Premium Cabin is 2 times the shared rate.
Included
  • 11 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
  • Coffee, Tea and Cocoa Available Around the Clock
  • Leadership throughout the expedition by our experienced Expedition Leader
  • Loan of Waterproof Boots for Landings
  • Official Expedition Parka to Keep
  • Select Beer and Wine During Dinner
  • Photographic Journal Documenting the Expedition
  • All Miscellaneous Service Taxes and Port Charges Throughout the Program
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
  • Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
  • All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Greenland voyages cruise passenger tax
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • 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
  • Government arrival and departure taxes
  • Internet & Phone Charges
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Mandatory Waterproof Pants for Zodiac Cruising & Any Other Gear Not Specifically Mentioned
  • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
  • Mandatory Transfer Package fees not included, prices vary by departure
  • Arrival transfers in Toronto

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