Iceland & East Greenland: Under the Northern Lights

Upon arriving in Reykjavik, meet an Aurora Expeditions representative for a transfer to the designated group hotel. Once at the property, visit the Aurora Expeditions desk to collect the necessary cabin tags for your luggage and speak directly with the ground operations team regarding essential pre-embarkation details. The on-site staff can also provide practical local advice, including recommendations for dining, withdrawing cash, and locating nearby pharmacies or supermarkets for last-minute purchases. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure exploring the city, keeping in mind that all meals today are enjoyed at personal expense.

Accommodation: Reykjavik Hotel (to be advised)

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, complete the hotel check-out process and bring all luggage to the Embarkation Suite. Pack any essential items needed for the day in a carry-on bag, as main luggage transfers directly to the ship. The Embarkation Suite provides a comfortable space featuring secure luggage storage, staff assistance for voyage details and city recommendations, cabin check-in services, Wi-Fi, and light refreshments like tea and coffee. Alternatively, take the opportunity to explore Reykjavik independently before returning to the suite at the designated time for the shared transfer to the Douglas Mawson.

Once on board, take a moment to settle into the cabin before attending the mandatory safety briefings. Shortly after, the crew casts off the lines, marking the official start of the Iceland and Greenland adventure. This evening, gather with the expedition team and crew to celebrate the departure during the Welcome Dinner.

Today, you enter the Westfjords, one of Iceland’s most remote and sparsely populated regions. Ancient glaciers have carved a dramatic world of deep fjords, broad valleys and sheer-sided table mountains that fall towards the North Atlantic. Waterfalls thread down the mountainsides, small farms sit beneath immense cliffs and the winding coastline reveals new perspectives at every turn. As you navigate these sheltered waterways, the Expedition Team will interpret the geology, wildlife and human stories of a landscape that feels wonderfully removed from modern life. Conditions permitting, travel ashore by Zodiac to visit Dynjandi, the jewel of the Westfjords. This magnificent waterfall tumbles approximately 100 meters (328 feet) down a broad, tiered mountainside, widening like a bridal veil as it descends. A walking trail follows a succession of smaller cascades towards the main falls, offering ever-changing views across Arnarfjörður and the surrounding peaks. Whether you choose to walk towards the base or admire the panorama from below, the scale, sound and setting of Dynjandi make it one of Iceland’s most memorable natural landmarks.

In the Denmark Strait, cruise towards Greenland. Lookout for whale blows and the many seabirds that trail the ship, riding in the constant winds. In the lecture theater, enjoy informative and entertaining presentations from the experts on topics such as seabirds, wildlife and ice, or catch up on some rest after busy days of travel.

In East Greenland, your itinerary is intentionally open. The Expedition Team will study current ice and weather information, wildlife activity and local guidance before choosing each day’s plan. Landings, Zodiac cruises and community visits remain subject to conditions, permitting, quotas, site availability and local agreements.

Your possible range is vast. Conditions may favor the glacier-lined southern fjords around Tasiilaq, while a more open coast could allow exploration towards Scoresbysund and the great fjord systems farther north. Named places describe the scope of the expedition rather than a promised route, and Ittoqqortoormiit will only be considered when ice, scheduling and community arrangements align.

Wherever you explore, East Greenland’s scale is unforgettable. Icebergs calved from distant glaciers drift through deep waterways beneath mountains banded in pink, orange and purple. Zodiac cruises may take you through sheltered bays and fields of brash ice, while suitable shores offer walks across tundra colored by the approaching autumn.

You remain alert for whale blows, seals and seabirds along the coast. On land, musk oxen and arctic hare may appear where their range and your route coincide. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but the freedom to pause, change course or remain longer can turn an unexpected sighting into a defining moment.

These landscapes hold deep human stories. Archaeological traces and historic remains speak to earlier settlement and exploration, while Greenlandic Inuit knowledge and traditions continue to shape life along the coast. Any community encounter will take place only where it is welcomed and operationally possible.

As darkness returns to the Arctic, you also watch the night sky. Clear conditions may reveal the aurora borealis shimmering above mountains, fjords and drifting ice—a remarkable complement to the discoveries made during the day.

As you cross the Denmark Strait towards Iceland, spend time on deck scanning for whale blows and seabirds riding the ocean winds. The Expedition Team continues the story of the voyage through talks on wildlife, ice, geology and the human history of the North. It is also a chance to share photographs, reflect on your discoveries and enjoy the changing light across the open sea.

During the early morning, cruise into Reykjavik and disembark at approximately 8.00 am. Farewell your Expedition Team and fellow passengers as you all continue your onward journeys. Transfer to Keflavik airport. 

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, it is recommended to book flights departing after 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.