Deep Greenland Expedition: Disko Bay & the Northwest

Follow the Viking routes into one of the world's last truly wild frontiers. This 12-night expedition traces the northwest coast of Greenland, from glacial corridors to remote Polar Inuit communities among the northernmost permanently inhabited places.


Greenland
© SWA

Duration: 12 nights
Starts: Reykjavík, Iceland
Ends: Reykjavík, Iceland
Language: English speaking voyage

The itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather and ice conditions. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible experience.


Included
Optional


Follow the historic routes of Norse seafarers into one of the last truly pristine frontiers on Earth aboard a boutique vessel, featuring a pre-cruise hotel stay in Reykjavík. The voyage begins and concludes in Kangerlussuaq, a former WWII airbase positioned at the head of a dramatic fjord and surrounded by a vast tundra ridge that acts as a true haven for Arctic wildlife, including thousands of muskoxen, reindeer, and foxes. The expedition traces Greenland's western and northwestern coastline, taking you through the colossal corridors of Eternity Fjord, the striking red basalt mountains of Disko Island, and into the iceberg capital of the world at Disko Bay, where the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord receives thousands of gargantuan icebergs calving from the polar ice cap.

As the ship charts courses toward the high-latitude rim of the habitable world, travelers will gain a rare window into authentic Arctic existence by visiting Thule, Qaanaaq, and Siorapaluk—one of the northernmost permanently inhabited outposts on Earth where hunting, fishing, and dog sledding traditions remain vital to daily life. The itinerary seamlessly blends outdoor marine exploration with an exceptional onboard lifestyle, highlighted by expert naturalists sharing the secrets of this polar ecosystem, citizen science research programs, and world-class ship amenities including a state-of-the-art gym, a Balinese spa with a sauna with a view, and a heated outdoor infinity pool perfect for unwinding after an active day ashore.

Highlights:
Scenic cruising through the iconic Disko Bay and the jaw-dropping UNESCO World Heritage Site at Ilulissat Icefjord.
Cultural encounters in Siorapaluk and Qaanaaq, meeting the isolated Polar Inuit communities at the edge of the world.
Witnessing the active calving symphony and thunderous bangs at Eternity Fjord and Eqip Sermia Glacier.
Immersive onboard lectures, briefs, and real-world environmental research via Citizen Science programs.
Discovering Viking, colonial, and maritime history at Kangerlussuaq and the open-air Upernavik Museum.

Itinerary

© SWA
© SWA
© SWA

Day 1: Kangerlussuaq
Once a WWII Airbase
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen.

Day 2: Evigheds Glacier
Eternity Fjord
The Evigheds Glacier, a majestic outflow from the Greenland Ice Sheet, carves through the dramatic Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord, also known as Eternity Fjord. This 75-km-long waterway is a haven for wildlife, with white-tailed eagles and black-legged kittiwakes soaring above. Calving icebergs showcase Greenland's raw beauty, but sadly like many glaciers, it is slowly retreating due to global warming's impact on this fragile Arctic ecosystem.

Day 3: Qeqertarsuaq
Disko Island
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland’s largest island, where colourful houses pop against dramatic red basalt mountains. Overlooked by striking Lyngemark Glacier, the area is shaped by its volcanic origin, unique terrain featuring dramatic basalt columns, rolling hills and black sand beaches. Thanks to its relatively fertile landscape, it supports unique plant species, such as wild angelica, rarely found elsewhere in Greenland.

Day 4: Uummannaq
Heart-Shaped Mountain
The word Uummannaq means ‘heart-shaped’ in Greenlandic and refers to the twin-peaked granite mountain shaped like a heart, which covers nearly the whole northern half of the island. Folklore has it that a piece of your heart remains on the island forever, calling you back. Sheltered by glaciated mountains, this charming fjord region is referred to as the sunniest spot in Greenland and has been a refuge for Inuit migrations for over 4,500 years.

Day 5: Day at sea
Onboard Facilities
Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the hot tub while 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 our knowledgeable experts.

Day 6: Thule
Edge of the Habitable World
Once home to one of the world's most strategically significant air bases, Thule sits at the edge of the habitable world — a place where Arctic wilderness and 20th-century history collide. Surrounded by vast frozen landscapes and dramatic coastal scenery, this remote corner of northwest Greenland offers a rare glimpse into a land shaped by ice, wind, and extraordinary human endurance. The area is rich in wildlife, with opportunities to spot seabirds, Arctic foxes and marine mammals against a backdrop of glaciers and open sea.

Day 7: Siorapaluk & Qaanaaq
Polar Inuit Culture
One of the northernmost permanently inhabited settlements on Earth, Siorapaluk is home to a small community of Polar Inuit who have called this remote Arctic outpost their home for centuries. Life here revolves around the rhythms of the sea and seasons — dog sledding, hunting and fishing remain central to daily existence. A visit to Siorapaluk offers a rare and humbling encounter with a culture that has thrived at the very edge of the world, maintaining traditions largely unchanged despite the passage of time. The main hub of northwest Greenland, Qaanaaq is the heart of Polar Inuit culture — a small but vibrant community perched above a stunning fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and sea ice. Known as one of the most isolated towns on the planet, it offers an extraordinary window into Arctic life, where dog sleds remain a primary mode of transport and the hunting traditions of the Inuit have been preserved for generations. The landscape around Qaanaaq is breathtaking in scale and silence, with icebergs drifting through the fjord and the possibility of wildlife encounters in every direction.

Day 8: Day at sea
Boutique Cruise Experience
Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the hot tub while 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 our knowledgeable experts.

Day 9: Upernavik
Norse History & Bird Cliffs
Colourful homes dot the hillside of this harbour town. Upernavik's history unfolds at the open-air Upernavik Museum with a church, grocers and original colonial buildings, alongside whale hunting, sea kayaking and Viking and Norse history with the Kingittorsuaq Runestone. To the north, the Upernavik Icefjord is dotted with icebergs. Nearby Apparsuit Island hosts the world's largest seabird cliffs, teeming with black-legged kittiwakes.

Day 10: Eqip Sermia Glacier
Thunderous Calving
Eqi Glacier, or Eqip Sermia in Greenlandic, is one of Greenland's largest and most active calving glaciers, spanning nearly 4 km wide and towering over 200 m. Visitors can almost always witness calving, where pieces of ice break off the glacier's face, creating deafening bangs and giant splashes that send waves across the bay. The contrast between thunderous calving and the ensuing silence provides a glimpse of Greenland's dynamic icy landscape.

Day 11: Ilulissat, Disko Bay
Iceberg Capital of the World
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 is home to many sled-dogs.

Day 12: Sisimiut
Adventure Sports Hub
The second largest town in Greenland, just above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains remarkably ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub all year round. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Dorset, Thule and eventually the Inuit people, dog sledding remains a vital form of transportation. The area is home to humpback whales and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.

Day 13: Kangerlussuaq
Return to the Fjord
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen.

Itinerary

Day 1: Kangerlussuaq
Once a WWII Airbase
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen.

Day 2: Evigheds Glacier
Eternity Fjord
The Evigheds Glacier, a majestic outflow from the Greenland Ice Sheet, carves through the dramatic Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord, also known as Eternity Fjord. This 75-km-long waterway is a haven for wildlife, with white-tailed eagles and black-legged kittiwakes soaring above. Calving icebergs showcase Greenland's raw beauty, but sadly like many glaciers, it is slowly retreating due to global warming's impact on this fragile Arctic ecosystem.

Day 3: Qeqertarsuaq
Disko Island
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland’s largest island, where colourful houses pop against dramatic red basalt mountains. Overlooked by striking Lyngemark Glacier, the area is shaped by its volcanic origin, unique terrain featuring dramatic basalt columns, rolling hills and black sand beaches. Thanks to its relatively fertile landscape, it supports unique plant species, such as wild angelica, rarely found elsewhere in Greenland.

Day 4: Uummannaq
Heart-Shaped Mountain
The word Uummannaq means ‘heart-shaped’ in Greenlandic and refers to the twin-peaked granite mountain shaped like a heart, which covers nearly the whole northern half of the island. Folklore has it that a piece of your heart remains on the island forever, calling you back. Sheltered by glaciated mountains, this charming fjord region is referred to as the sunniest spot in Greenland and has been a refuge for Inuit migrations for over 4,500 years.

Day 5: Day at sea
Onboard Facilities
Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the hot tub while 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 our knowledgeable experts.

Day 6: Thule
Edge of the Habitable World
Once home to one of the world's most strategically significant air bases, Thule sits at the edge of the habitable world — a place where Arctic wilderness and 20th-century history collide. Surrounded by vast frozen landscapes and dramatic coastal scenery, this remote corner of northwest Greenland offers a rare glimpse into a land shaped by ice, wind, and extraordinary human endurance. The area is rich in wildlife, with opportunities to spot seabirds, Arctic foxes and marine mammals against a backdrop of glaciers and open sea.

Day 7: Siorapaluk & Qaanaaq
Polar Inuit Culture
One of the northernmost permanently inhabited settlements on Earth, Siorapaluk is home to a small community of Polar Inuit who have called this remote Arctic outpost their home for centuries. Life here revolves around the rhythms of the sea and seasons — dog sledding, hunting and fishing remain central to daily existence. A visit to Siorapaluk offers a rare and humbling encounter with a culture that has thrived at the very edge of the world, maintaining traditions largely unchanged despite the passage of time. The main hub of northwest Greenland, Qaanaaq is the heart of Polar Inuit culture — a small but vibrant community perched above a stunning fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and sea ice. Known as one of the most isolated towns on the planet, it offers an extraordinary window into Arctic life, where dog sleds remain a primary mode of transport and the hunting traditions of the Inuit have been preserved for generations. The landscape around Qaanaaq is breathtaking in scale and silence, with icebergs drifting through the fjord and the possibility of wildlife encounters in every direction.

Day 8: Day at sea
Boutique Cruise Experience
Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the hot tub while 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 our knowledgeable experts.

Day 9: Upernavik
Norse History & Bird Cliffs
Colourful homes dot the hillside of this harbour town. Upernavik's history unfolds at the open-air Upernavik Museum with a church, grocers and original colonial buildings, alongside whale hunting, sea kayaking and Viking and Norse history with the Kingittorsuaq Runestone. To the north, the Upernavik Icefjord is dotted with icebergs. Nearby Apparsuit Island hosts the world's largest seabird cliffs, teeming with black-legged kittiwakes.

Day 10: Eqip Sermia Glacier
Thunderous Calving
Eqi Glacier, or Eqip Sermia in Greenlandic, is one of Greenland's largest and most active calving glaciers, spanning nearly 4 km wide and towering over 200 m. Visitors can almost always witness calving, where pieces of ice break off the glacier's face, creating deafening bangs and giant splashes that send waves across the bay. The contrast between thunderous calving and the ensuing silence provides a glimpse of Greenland's dynamic icy landscape.

Day 11: Ilulissat, Disko Bay
Iceberg Capital of the World
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 is home to many sled-dogs.

Day 12: Sisimiut
Adventure Sports Hub
The second largest town in Greenland, just above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains remarkably ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub all year round. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Dorset, Thule and eventually the Inuit people, dog sledding remains a vital form of transportation. The area is home to humpback whales and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.

Day 13: Kangerlussuaq
Return to the Fjord
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen.


© SWA
© SWA
© SWA


INCLUSIONS

Charter flight included: Reykjavik → Kangerlussuaq
Charter flight included: Kangerlussuaq → Reykjavik
Charter flights to the port of embarkation/disembarkation (Longyearbyen, Kangerlussuaq, Nuuk, Honiara, Jayapura and Sorong)
Group return transfers from airport to cruise port and to the hotel (where included)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel (exemptions apply)
Your selected stateroom
All meals onboard
Complimentary hot & cold beverages, beer, wine & spirits any time throughout your cruise
24-hour room service
Lecture programs by expedition team and guest speakers
One selected shore excursion per port of call
All expedition landings
Entry level WI-FI (upgraded packages available)
Gym, sauna, pool
24/7 self service laundry
Waterproof backpack and refillable water bottle, yours to keep
In polar regions: branded parka, yours to keep and use of rubber boots
Memory Package
Onboard gratuities & port taxes

EXCLUSIONS

Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the program.


Dates & Rates


Ship: SH Vega | Date: 13 Aug 2028 - 25 Aug 2028 (5389)
Oceanview
$10,250
Balcony
$11,275
Suite
$17,925
Premium Suite
$20,475

* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** Rates are correct at the time of publication. All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

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