Iceland’s Wild West Coast to East Greenland

12 Days

Overview

Discover a region of epic fjords and pristine ice that is home to the Arctic’s iconic creatures: polar bears, whales, and vast seabird colonies. Explore Iceland’s wild Westfjords region and see where Erik the Red sailed from in the year A.D. 982, bound for Greenland. Ice permitting, venture into the world’s largest fjord system and visit traditional communities. Conditions permitting, watch for the northern lights along Eastern Greenland and Iceland.

Arrive in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. Transfer from the airport to the city and spend the day exploring at your own pace. Check in with the hospitality desk this afternoon before embarking the ship.

Explore the beautiful and peaceful Westfjords region of Iceland. Hike to a remote waterfall, explore the remote fjords by kayak or take a Zodiac cruise alongside stunning scenery and wildlife. Enter Ísafjarðardjúp and capture stunning wildlife from the bow alongside your National Geographic Photography Expert.

Sail west across the Denmark Strait, where the cold East Greenland current carries icebergs south. Scan the water for marine life and enjoy life on board. Take a yoga class, unwind with a massage in the wellness center and curl up next to the fireplace in the library. Visit the Bridge and learn about navigation. Relax in one of the twin infinity hot tubs or spend some time in the only igloo at sea. Learn about the area from your onboard historians, naturalists and photographers and enjoy exceptional dining options. As the days grow shorter in August, this is also a great time to keep watch for the northern lights as they start to reappear on clear nights.

Encompassing roughly 80 percent of the surface of Greenland, the Greenland ice sheet is the second-largest body of ice in the world. Weather and ice dictate the exact route, but plan to explore well north of Scoresbysund in the largest national park in the world: Northeast Greenland National Park. Set a course for Scoresbysund, the largest and longest fjord system on earth, with the village of Ittoqqortoormiit at its entrance. At the end of summer, the ice has retreated as far as it ever does, allowing you to explore the fjords, bays and nooks and crannies of this stunning coastline. With luck, you’ll see iconic Arctic wildlife: polar bears, seals and whales. You’ll also be on constant watch for the northern lights, conditions permitting.

Return across the Denmark Strait, headed just south of the Arctic Circle, to the Westfjords, a remote area backed by majestic cliffs. Explore by biking, hiking, enjoying local tastes or photographing flowering plants in the oldest botanical garden in Iceland.

Disembark in Reykjavík and transfer to the airport for flights home.