ICELAND AND GREENLAND: EDGE OF THE ARCTIC

SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY

National Geographic Endurance

Launching in 2020, the National Geographic Endurance is a next-generation expedition ship, purpose built for polar navigation. The Category A vessel is a fully stabilized, highly strengthened ship designed to navigate polar-passages and uncharted waters all year round. Designed to provide an extremely smooth ride in even the most adverse of conditions, reduced spray on deck and wave-splicing action making for superior observation.

Day 1 Reykjavik, Iceland

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just south of the Arctic Circle. Take a walking tour of the Old Town, and venture into Hallgrimskirkja, a modern, Nordic-style church whose steeple soars to 210 feet, making it the tallest building in Iceland. Visit the National Museum, and browse a collection of unusual whalebone carvings and Viking treasures and artefacts. In the afternoon you will board the ship and settle into your cabin on the National Geographic Explorer.

Day 2 Flatey Island

Explore Iceland’s western frontier, visiting Flatey Island, a trading post for many centuries. Walk around the charming little hamlet that grew here, keeping a lookout for the seasonal puffin population on the cliffs and in the surrounding bay.

Day 3 Arnafjörður / Ísafjarðardjúp

Early this morning, glide into beautiful Arnafjörður, an inlet that reaches deep into the northern Westfjords. If you wish, disembark early and hike several miles along the shore to the fjord’s end, where the spectacular Dynjandi Waterfall tumbles some 300 feet over many tiers of rock. Alternatively, join our expedition staff on the deck of the ship to watch our approach to the falls and go ashore by Zodiac to explore the different plateaus of the waterfall on the mountainside. There’s a chance we’ll spot nesting arctic terns along the way. Later this evening, enter Ísafjarðardjúp and land at Vigur Island, a privately owned island that is operated by polar explorers and is home to numerous species of seabirds, including a large colony of eider ducks. Visit the family farm to learn how they process and clean eiderdown sustainably, without harming the birds.

Day 4 Ísafjörður

The capital of the Westfjords, Ísafjörđur lies on a tiny spit jutting out into the fjord against a backdrop of steep hills. Take a walking tour of the town, stopping to enjoy local tastes and Icelandic specialties. Alternatively, hike through pristine landscapes to a remote waterfall or enjoy a bike ride along the fjord, weather permitting.

Day 5 Crossing the Denmark Strait

Follow in the wake of the legendary Viking Erik the Red as our ship makes its way across the Denmark Strait to Greenland. Listen to talks by our experts, relax with a book in the lounge or the observation deck, and keep an eye out for wildlife as we sail across the continental shelf.

Day 6 East Greenland

The Greenland ice sheet is the second largest body of ice in the world after Antarctica and covers roughly 80% of Greenland’s surface. The island’s coast is etched with thousands of fjords, some of which reach the ice’s edge. Spend the day exploring the islands and inlets of the eastern coast, using our underwater cameras and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to discover marine life and fascinating underwater geology. Venture deep into Skjoldungen fjord and take a Zodiac or a kayak for a foray among the icebergs.

Day 7 Prins Christian Sund & Nanortalik

Sail into Prins Christian Sund, which cuts far into the southern tip of Greenland, passing between soaring pinnacles and glaciers. Anchor off the small fishing village of Nanortalik, and go ashore to explore Greenland’s most southerly town, and meet some of the residents for a performance of local folk music and dance. In the tundra outside of town, walk among multitudes of wildflowers. Visit reconstructed longhouses and learn about the construction of traditional umiaks and kayaks.

Day 8 Hvalsey Ruins & Qaqortoq

Today, explore two remarkable sites on the Viking Trail. On the shores of Qaqortukulooq fjord lies the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hvalsey, one of the best-preserved Nordic sites in the world. Part of the settlement founded by Erik the Red’s cousins in 986 AD, Hvalsey has yielded fascinating clues to the daily life of the Vikings and their mysterious disappearance. Explore the church constructed in the 14th century, possibly by Norwegian stonemasons, and the living quarters and banquet hall for celebrations. Continue to Qaqortoq, inhabited since the Viking era and now the largest town in South Greenland—with just over 3,200 residents. The Scandinavian influence is apparent in the wooden houses painted primary colors and scattered on the hillside, and colonial architecture dating back to the late 1700s can be found in the town center. Stroll through the town square and visit the museum, where Greenlandic kayaks, hunting equipment, and local art and handicrafts are on display.

Day 9 Eriksfjörd & Brattahlíð

Follow the waterway known as Eriksfjörd to Brattahlíð, where Erik the Red established his farm in 982 AD after his exile from Iceland. Erik’s wife, Þjódhild, built the first Christian church in the western hemisphere here. Visit replicas of the church and Erik the Red’s longhouse and see the shores from which their son, Leif Eriksson, launched the first voyages to North America—500 years before Columbus.

Day 10 Nuuk

Perched on the seaside in the shadow of ice-capped Sermitsiaq Mountain, Nuuk is the world’s smallest capital city by population, with some 19,000 inhabitants, experiencing tremendous cultural and economic growth. Watch for harp seals as we enter the harbor and take a walking tour with local residents to learn how the community has changed over the generations. At the National Museum, examine the extraordinary 15th-century Qilakitsoq mummies found near Uummannaq—a discovery that was featured in a National Geographic magazine cover story in 1985. The Arctic ice preserved these mummies so well that researchers have been able to study their tattoos, their medical conditions, and even what they ate.

Day 11 Kangaamiut and Evighed Fjord

In the early morning, the ship enters Evighed Fjord (Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord), which winds picturesquely past steep mountains and stunning tidewater glaciers. Take a Zodiac cruise along the face of one of the many glaciers or hike over glacial moraines to a waterfall. In the afternoon, visit the small fishing community of Kangaamiut. Climb the small mountain behind the village to take in the views or walk through the village and photograph the colorful houses clustered on the seaside slope.

Day 12 Sisimut

Dozens of deep fjords carve into Greenland’s west coast, many with glaciers fed by the icecap that covers much of the island. At Sisimiut, a former whaling port, visit the museum and stroll among its 18th-century wooden buildings. Choose from a variety of walks to explore the town and its surroundings.  Sample traditional Greenlandic food this afternoon.

Days 13 & 14 Ilulissat & Disko Bay

Sail into Disko Bay and encounter the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ilulissat Icefjord, a tongue of the Greenland ice cap that calves enormous icebergs into the bay. Take an extraordinary cruise among these towering sculptures in ice. Enjoy views of the bay on a visit to the town of Ilulissat, and hike in the panoramic Sermermiut Valley. Spend the next day cruising Disko Bay as we make our way north and, weather permitting, land on Disko Island for expedition-style hiking. Ice conditions permitting, we’ll follow the inside passage past Disko Island to the Nuussuaq Peninsula. As we sail, join our expedition team in the lounge for presentations on Greenlandic culture and history.

Day 15 Uummannaq & Qilakitsoq

Overview:

After many days exploring Greenland it is time to disembark the ship in Kangerlussuaq and board the charter flight to Reykjavik. You will stay the night in Reykjavik and the following morning you will be transferred to the airport.

Day 16 Exploring Greenland’s Fjords

Enjoy an expeditionary day exploring Greenland’s fjords, covered in spongy tundra, and look for Arctic foxes and, with luck, caribou. Paddle a kayak along the steep sides of the fjord or ride a Zodiac to see the glacially carved landscape up close.

Day 17 – 18 Kangerlussuaq / Reykjavik

Disembark in Kangerlussuaq and take a charter flight back to Iceland. Check into our hotel near the airport, the Courtyard by Marriott Reykjavik/Keflavik. On our final morning take a tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula. After lunch, transfer to the airport for flights home.