Iceland & Greenland Expedition with Seabourn

Enjoy complimentary airport lounge access before your flight from the UK to Keflavik International Airport in Iceland. On arrival, you will be transferred to your stylish hotel in downtown Reykjavik. The rest of the day is yours to begin exploring Iceland's compact capital city at leisure. If you only have the energy to see one thing, make it Hallgrimskirkja, the 74-metre-tall Lutheran church that towers over the city. Take the lift to the top for superb views over Reykjavik and out towards the surrounding mountains. You'll also want to take a stroll down Laugavegur, the main pedestrian street, to find numerous bars, restaurants and souvenir stores. Continue down to the waterfront to find the famous Sun Voyager monument and the iconic Harpa concert hall.

Today’s Golden Circle excursion brings you to some of South Iceland’s most famous attractions by Superjeep. Your first stop is Thingvellir National Park, the site of the world’s first parliament and the place where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart along a spectacular rift valley. Afterwards, visit the frequently erupting Strokkur geyser and the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, the latter widely considered to be one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls. End the day with a drive to Iceland’s second-largest ice cap, Langjökull, where you can try your hand at snowmobiling. On the way back to Reykjavik, make a brief but memorable stop at the gorgeous Faxi waterfall.

This morning is set aside for relaxation at the Sky Lagoon, one of Iceland’s newest and most impressive geothermal pools. Head just 10 minutes outside of the city centre to take in the ocean views, soak in steaming geothermal water, enjoy the swim-up bar, and rejuvenate with a hot and cold wellness ritual including saunas, plunge pools, steam rooms and more. Later on, you will be transferred to the port to board Seabourn Venture as you begin your luxury all-inclusive Seabourn cruise. The ship departs early this evening, and dinner will be served onboard.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Located around 10 kilometres off the southwest coast of Iceland, Heimaey Island is the largest of the Westman Islands, ringed by dramatic sea cliffs and home to over eight million Atlantic puffins, the highest number anywhere on Earth. Archaeological excavations suggest that people may have lived on Heimaey as early as the 10th century. Heimaey became known as the ‘Pompeii of the North’ when in 1973 the lava flow from a volcanic eruption destroyed much of the town. Indeed, the town’s only harbour was nearly completely blocked by advancing lava. These days, it’s home to over 4,000 residents. It's a fascinating place to learn about Iceland's volcanic history and to see how people have adapted to live in such a challenging (and changeable) environment. 

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Enjoy today at sea, taking advantage of the multitude of amenities available on your luxury cruise ship. With eight dining experiences, an infinity pool, eight lounges and bars, the convivial Seabourn Square common area, and a lovely spa, there are plenty of ways to spend your time as you sail across the Denmark Strait towards Greenland. 

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Set foot in Greenland today as you arrive at Umivik Bay. Whereas elsewhere along much of Greenland's coastline you’ll find sheer cliffs and rugged terrain, the shores within the bay here are smooth, with the gigantic Greenland ice sheet coming right to the shore. It was this smoother terrain that caused Fridtjof Nansen to select the bay as the starting point for his successful 1888 expedition, in which he led the first ever crossing of the Greenland ice sheet by humans. Umivik Bay is home to several large islands, including Uppernattivik, and you'll be able to spot calving glaciers as you cruise by. A landing is possible here as well, depending on conditions.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Skjoldungen Fjord—bordered by rugged peaks, rock walls, and icy rivers—was named with the honorific title of Skjoldungen, which, according to Norse mythology, was given to successors of legendary King Skjold to the Danish throne. This is an awe-inspiring place, filled in the summer with calving tidewater glaciers plunging chunks of ice into the fjord. Silhouetted against the blue Greenlandic sky above are seracs, free-standing pillars of ice. Skjoldungen Fjord does not have any large trees, but colourful dwarf birch and willow forests dot the landscape along with Arctic wildflowers. It is likely that nomadic Inuit people inhabited this fjord as early as 4,000 years ago, and evidence suggests that they lived continuously in the area. You can see the remains of more recently abandoned Inuit dwellings along the fjord’s western shores.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

This morning’s cruising of the Prince Christian Sound is one of the highlights of cruising in Greenland. This 60-mile sound cuts between the mainland and an archipelago of islands from east to west under the edge of the Greenland ice sheet. The sound is sometimes as narrow as 1,500 feet across, so an expedition ship like the Seabourn Venture is necessary to traverse its iceberg-strewn waters. There are more animals than people here, with minke, fin, and blue whales spotted frequently, along with ringed and bearded seals. Spend the afternoon exploring the small village of Appilattoq, home to just 100 people. The town is particularly picturesque, with brightly coloured houses scattered across the peninsula and the little red town church nestled next to a white-picketed churchyard.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Dock in Qaqortog, the largest city in South Greenland. The town was founded in 1775 by a Danish-Norwegian trader called Anders Olsen. Today, it is known for its open-air exhibition, The Stone & Man Project, designed to turn the town into an outdoor gallery. 18 artists from across the Nordics joined forces to create over 40 sculptures celebrating Greenlandic culture. Other points of interest include Mindebrønden, the oldest fountain in Greenland; the Qaqortoq Museum; and the Saviors Lutheran Church. It's one of Greenland's most picture-perfect towns, filled with brightly-coloured timber houses clinging to grassy hillsides. 

Spend the afternoon in Hvalsey, 12 miles by Zodiac from from Qaqortoq. This settlement lasted from the 10th to the mid-15th century. This place represents the last written record of the Greenlandic Norse, making it the most prominent Norse site in Greenland. Your expedition team and archaeologist will help you interpret the fascinating ruins.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Enjoy today at sea, once again taking in the many amenities on Seabourn Venture or simply relaxing with a good book and a drink in hand in your spacious living quarters or in a comfortable common area. If you’re feeling a little tired from the last few days' explorations, a trip to the spa may be in order.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

After a day at sea, you'll arrive in Greenland’s capital city, Nuuk, where tradition and modernity combine to create a fascinating place with a vibrant energy and a proud sense of identity. 650 students call the University of Greenland home, and the Greenland National Museum features extensive historical archives and cultural displays. You may also wish to visit the Nuuk Art Museum, featuring 300 paintings mostly by travelling European artists, and the Kayak Museum, with its impressive collection of sealskin kayaks and traditional hunting artefacts. The site of present-day Nuuk was occupied as far back as 2,200 B.C.E. by ancient pre-Inuit Canadian peoples. It was settled again by Vikings in the 10th century. 

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Yesterday was spent in the city, but today brings you to remote Camp Kangiusaq, located about 40 miles up the fjord from Nuuk and seldom visited by tourists. Go ashore for a display of local music and entertainment, exploring the camp and enjoying tundra walks. Your expedition team will deploy the Zodiacs, kayaks, and submarines as needed for land and sea explorations.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Evighedsfjorden, or Eternity Fjord, is situated in Greenland’s remote wilderness. It was carved over the millennia by ancient glaciers and is flanked by snowcapped peaks and sheer cliffs, plunging into icy Arctic waters. Listen to the cracks and groans of the calving icebergs and take in the awe-inspiring contrast of colours and textures. This is raw, untamed Greenlandic beauty.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

North of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is a true outdoor adventure-travel hub and Greenland’s second-largest city, home to around 5,600 people. This picturesque town is set on a tranquil fjord perched on bare rock outcrops. The 784-metre-tall Mount Nasaasaaq provides the dramatic backdrop for the town’s typically colourful timber houses, painted red, blue, yellow and green. The Sisimiut Museum features a traditional Greenlandic peat house and the remains of a traditional 18th-century kayak.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

Your last full day of explorations brings you to Kangerlussuaq, where, in 1941, the United States Air Force constructed an airbase to help with refuelling on the way to Britain during World War II. While at the time an ever-present fog made navigation a nightmare for those pilots, modern technology means this is no longer an issue. Kangerlussuaq has long hosted the largest commercial airport in Greenland, therefore serving as the main gateway for flights from Denmark and Iceland. However, this will now change following the opening of the new international airport in Nuuk, as the capital takes over as Greenland's primary hub for international travel. Nonetheless, Kangerlussuaq is an interesting place to visit, not least as it's one of the only 'inland' towns in Greenland, situated on a relatively flat alluvial plain – not far from the ice sheet.

Stay: Seabourn Venture

It's time to disembark Seabourn Venture this morning as your cruise adventure comes to an end. You'll take a flight from Kangerlussuaq back to Keflavik International Airport in Iceland to catch your onward flight home.