Wild Greenland: An Active Arctic Expedition

Voyage Overview

A high energy expedition designed to bring you into direct contact with West Greenland’s ice, mountains, tundra and remote coastal communities.

Designed for active travelers who want to move, climb and explore. We aim to step onto the Greenland Ice Sheet in crampons, hike part of the legendary Arctic Circle Trail, climb towards Lyngmark Glacier and explore Sisimiut by bike if local access allows. Between these headline adventures, Zodiac cruises, kayaking, wildlife encounters and spontaneous landings keep the pace dynamic. This is true expedition travel, so flexibility is essential. Activities, routes and landings are subject to weather, ice, local conditions, permits and the judgement of the Expedition Team. Not every experience can be guaranteed—but that freedom to adapt is exactly what allows us to pursue the best adventure available each day. Dedicated Sea Kayaking Program Travellers who select the sea kayaking program will aim to paddle on every available expedition day. Specialist guides choose routes daily according to weather, ice and local conditions—from sheltered fjords and remote coastlines to iceberg-filled bays. Kayakers may occasionally follow a separate schedule or miss part of a shore activity. All launches remain subject to wind, sea state, visibility and the guides’ safety assessment.

Trip Details

Duration: 9 Days

Ship: Sylvia Earle, Premium Ship, 130 Guests

Start: Reykjavik, Iceland

End: Reykjavik, Iceland

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavík
On arrival in Reykjavík, you will be met by a representative and transferred to the included group hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense. Accommodation: Reykjavík airport hotel (to be advised).

Day 2: Fly to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and Embarkation
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board our charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Here, your ship awaits at the head of a vast fjord. Once onboard, settle into your cabin before joining the mandatory safety briefings. This evening, meet your Expedition Team and crew over a welcome dinner as we prepare for the active days ahead.

Day 3: Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq sits at the end of a 190-kilometre (118-mile) fjord and provides rare road access to Greenland’s vast interior. Today, we aim to offer a choice of active experiences across a landscape shaped by ice, rock and tundra. Final options will depend on permits, weather, surface conditions and local operations.

Greenland Ice Sheet Hike – Limited Places
Journey towards Point 660, where the road ends at the edge of the ice. After a safety briefing and equipment fitting, step into crampons and follow an experienced guide onto the Greenland Ice Sheet. Move across an extraordinary frozen surface of ridges, channels and ancient blue ice while learning how this immense body of ice continues to shape Greenland and influence the planet. Previous crampon experience is not required, but good fitness, balance and mobility are essential.

Point 660 and Russell Glacier
Discover two of Kangerlussuaq’s defining ice landscapes. Stand at Point 660 for sweeping views across the ice sheet, then continue towards Russell Glacier, where a towering wall of compressed ice rises above the surrounding moraine. Short walks and viewpoints reveal the glacier’s immense scale and the raw terrain left behind by its movement.

Tundra Wildlife Safari
Head into the broad glacial valleys surrounding Kangerlussuaq in search of musk oxen, reindeer and Arctic birdlife. Explore by vehicle and on foot, scanning the open tundra with local guides who understand the animals, seasonal conditions and subtle signs of movement across this expansive landscape. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the search is all part of the adventure. Kayakers will aim to launch in Kangerlussuaq Fjord, following a route selected for the day’s conditions and operating separately from the inland excursions.

Day 4: Sisimiut
After sailing north across the Arctic Circle, we arrive in Sisimiut, Greenland’s second-largest city and an outdoor-adventure hub framed by mountains, sea and open tundra. Colorful houses climb the rocky slopes above the harbor, while the old blue church and its whalebone gate offer a glimpse into the city’s distinctive character.

People have lived in this region for approximately 4,500 years. The Saqqaq, Dorset and Thule cultures each left traces across the landscape, and modern Sisimiut remains a vibrant centre of Greenlandic life, where traditional knowledge, fishing and hunting coexist with contemporary Arctic culture.

Today is about choosing how far you want to go. Strong hikers may tackle a section of the legendary Arctic Circle Trail, which begins beyond Sisimiut and stretches through Greenland’s backcountry towards Kangerlussuaq. Another option includes climbing towards Nasaasaaq, the rugged mountain dominating the city, where steep terrain is rewarded with far-reaching views. If bikes and local permissions can be secured, we also hope to explore Sisimiut on two wheels, linking the harbour, neighbourhoods and surrounding trails. Shorter guided walks will reveal coastal viewpoints, colourful streets and cultural landmarks at a more relaxed pace. Final routes and activities remain subject to conditions, access and group safety.

Meanwhile, kayaking-program participants may trace Sisimiut’s rocky coastline, sheltered bays or small islands beneath the city’s dramatic mountain backdrop.

Day 5: Ilulissat
Ilulissat means ‘icebergs’, and the name could not be more fitting. Nearby Sermeq Kujalleq—also known as Jakobshavn Glacier—moves with extraordinary speed, releasing immense volumes of ice into the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay. The result is a constantly changing procession of icebergs, some rising like mountains above the sea.

Set out on foot along the Icefjord trail network, crossing open rock and tundra towards viewpoints over the ice-filled fjord. Choose a route suited to your energy and experience, from a shorter walk to a more sustained hike revealing the landscape from different angles. The sound of shifting ice and the scale of the frozen panorama make this one of Greenland’s most powerful experiences. There may also be time to visit the architecturally striking Icefjord Centre and learn more about the glacier, its surrounding environment and thousands of years of human connection to this place.

Days 6–8: Disko Island and Surrounds
Over the next three days, we leave the timetable behind. Ice, weather and opportunity will shape our exploration of Disko Bay and its surrounding fjords. We may Zodiac cruise among sculpted icebergs, scout a remote shore for an unplanned hike or visit a rarely reached community. The kayaking group may seek out a longer paddle in sheltered water, while everyone can keep watch for humpback and minke whales, seals and seabirds as the adventure unfolds.

Volcanic Disko Island rises dramatically from the bay, its black-sand beaches, broad valleys and dark mountains contrasting with the granite landscapes found elsewhere in Greenland. We plan to use Qeqertarsuaq as a launch point for some of the voyage’s biggest adventures, while retaining the freedom to adapt to local conditions.

The headline challenge is the hike towards Lyngmark Glacier. Beginning near sea level, the route climbs steadily through tundra and mountain terrain, gaining around 800 metres (2,625 feet) towards the ice above Qeqertarsuaq. It is a demanding day requiring strong fitness, sure footing and stamina, but the reward is an immense panorama across Disko Bay, scattered islands and drifting icebergs. Snow, trail and glacier conditions will determine how far the group can safely progress.

For a more moderate challenge, the Kuannit trail follows the coast through tundra and volcanic terrain to basalt columns, freshwater springs and open views across the bay, with continued opportunities to watch for whales and seabirds.

Beyond these planned highlights, conditions may open the door to additional hikes, Zodiac cruises, kayaking or a community visit. Routes, landings and activities remain subject to weather, ice, permits and the Expedition Team’s assessment—but with three days in the region, we have time to pursue the strongest opportunities across Disko Island and its surrounds.

Throughout our time in the region, kayakers will aim to explore Disko Island’s volcanic coastline and sheltered, iceberg-filled bays whenever conditions allow.

Day 9: Disembark in Kangerlussuaq and fly to Reykjavík
Return to Kangerlussuaq, where we farewell the crew and Expedition Team before transferring to the airport for our charter flight to Reykjavík. On arrival, continue your onward journey with the satisfaction of having explored Greenland under your own power—on ice, trail, water and tundra.

Note: Our arrival time in Reykjavík depends on the allocated charter-flight slots, which we expect to receive in March 2028. We recommend allowing flexibility when arranging onward travel.

In true expedition style we encourage exploration and adventure, offering flexibility in challenging environments in a way that puts you among the action to see and do as much as possible. This itinerary is only a guide and subject to change due to ice and weather conditions. On this voyage, we visit remote Inuit hamlets and settlements, where the local Inuit people still practice traditional hunting methods including whaling that some people may find confronting. If you find yourself feeling upset and disturbed by what you see, please alert a member of the expedition team immediately, who will do their best to address your concerns and take action to mitigate the problem, wherever possible.