In the Wake of Vikings: Iceland to Greenland Cruise

Europe
Ship Trip
Highlights

Highlights

  • Search for whales while following the Viking route across Denmark Strait to Greenland
  • Experience east Greenland’s pristine, stunning fjords
  • Get close to glaciers, and calving mighty icebergs
  • Experience village life in Greenlandic fishing hamlets
  • Visit the Norse ruins at Hvalsey, abandoned in the 1400s
  • Visit Erik the Red’s former estate at Brattahlíð Explore Greenland’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fertile farmlands of Kujataa
  • Wander the streets of Nuuk, Greenland’s dynamic capital

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Map

Map

Map for In the Wake of Vikings: Iceland to Greenland Cruise

Tour Overview

Like the Vikings of old, we sail west from Reykjavík, into a region of mountains, glaciers, fjords, and icebergs. The icy realm of Greenland awaits.

Greenland’s east coast is just a day’s voyage from Reykjavík. Breathtaking fjords define this seldom-seen region. Whales and seabirds are abundant here. Photographers, birders, and hikers will be in awe.

Villages around Greenland’s southern tip offer glimpses of the island’s remarkable culture. Bask in the Unartoq geothermal springs. Explore the ruins of Brattahlið—a settlement founded by Erik the Red!

Heimaey is home to a bustling puffin colony and rich volcanic history! Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, offers shopping and dining. We’ll sail the mighty Sondre Stromfjord to our final destination, Kangerlussuaq.

Itinerary

This cruise runs bi-annually, on every odd year.

Day 1: Reykjavík, Iceland

Iceland’s cosmopolitan capital, Reykjavík was established in 874 AD. Powered by geothermal energy, Reykjavík is widely considered one of the cleanest, greenest cities on Earth. Food, culture, and nightlife abound. The National Culture House preserves treasures like the Poetic Edda and the Norse Sagas in their original manuscripts. We depart Reykjavík in the evening aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Sailing west from Iceland, we are truly in the wake of the Vikings. We’ll be watching for whales and seabirds as we sail the Denmark Strait. Our onboard program will prepare you for the archaeology, history, culture, and wildlife that awaits us in Greenland!

Our first view of Greenland’s east coast will reveal a coastline traced with innumerable fjords and potentially dotted with pack ice. Our spotters will be watching for bears, seals, and humpback whales. We’ll explore the remote reaches of glaciated fjords by Zodiac.

Joining the Irminger and Labrador Seas through the islands of the Cape Farewell Archipelago, Ikerasassuaq (Prince Christian Sound) is among the world’s most majestic waterways. Craggy mountain peaks tower over still waters fed by calving glaciers. We’ll make the most of our deck time, scouting for landing opportunities on the skirts of the mountains.

South Greenland lives up to its namesake; the land is fertile and agriculture thrives. Farms and vegetable husbandry contrast with the barren ice that covers so much of the country. Jagged mountains rise from beyond green pastures, with sheep farms directly bordering ice fjords. Here we find the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Norse settlement history intersects with contemporary Greenland life.

The settlement at Hvalsey was a major Norse centre in the early centuries of the last millenium. Hvalsey Church is the best-preserved Norse ruin in Greenland. The last known record from the original Norse colony is of a wedding held here in September 1408!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Brattahlíð is in the most fertile part of Greenland and was the home of Viking explorer Erik the Red and his descendants until the 1400s. A reconstructed Norse church and Viking longhouse are featured here. Greenlandic Inuit now run the sheep farms originally worked by Norse settlers.

The Sermersooq region of Greenland has a stunning myriad of mountain peaks, glaciers, and deep fjords. Our time will be spent on the western coast of the region, where records of human habitation stretch back over 1,500 years. We’ll explore by Zodiac or by foot, as landing conditions permit. We’ll keep a look out for nattoralik (white-tailed eagles), seabirds, marine mammals, and enjoy the lush vegetation of southwest Greenland.

Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, bridges old and new. The old harbour region of town includes many buildings dating from the Danish colonial days. Nuuk is known for art, shopping, and cafes.

The Greenland National Museum is one of Nuuk’s many outstanding features: the world-famous Qilakitsoq mummies rest here.

Defined by jagged mountain peaks, sheer bird cliffs, cascading streams, and calving glaciers, Kangerlussuatsiaq lives up to its Danish name, Erighedsfjorden which means “the fjord of eternity.” Whether by ship, Zodiac cruise, or kayak, a visit to the face of the glacier is truly a sublime experience.

Kangerlussuaq Fjord (Søndre Strømfjord) offers 190 kilometres of superb scenery. Kangerlussuaq, the settlement at the head of the fjord, is a former U.S. Air Force base and Greenland’s main flight hub. Here we will disembark the Ocean Endeavour and transfer to the airport for our charter flight to Toronto.

What's Included

Tour Price Includes

  • Passage aboard the Ocean Endeavour
  • Pre-departure materials
  • Special access permits, entry and park fees
  • Team of expedition staff
  • Applicable taxes
  • Educational program
  • Interactive workshops
  • Evening entertainment
  • Guided activities
  • Sightseeing and community visits
  • All shipboard meals, including on deck barbeques & afternoon tea
  • All zodiac excursions
  • Port Fees

Tour Price Does Not Include

  • Commercial Flights to start/end locations
  • Charter Flight (Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Toronto, Ontario - evening arrival): $1495
  • Gratuities (suggested $15 USD per passenger per day)
  • Fuel surcharge of $48 USD per person per day
  • Personal expenses
  • Mandatory Medical evacuation insurance
  • Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
  • Possible fuel surcharges
  • Pre & post hotel accommodation
  • Optional excursions
  • Additional costs associated with payments by credit card

What to Expect

Our small ship Iceland to Greenland cruise program allows you to experience the best of the natural world, while enjoying the comforts of our friendly floating hotel. The ship generally makes crossing between islands at night, so every morning you awake to new vistas and discoveries. Every day we offer a combination of interesting shore excursions and fun shipboard activities. You can choose which elements of the program you want to participate in.

Our excursions onshore will involve a relatively low level of exertion, but you will need a reasonable level of mobility to get up and down the gangway and climb into and out of Zodiacs (with assistance). Some of our shore landings will be ‘wet’, requiring waterproof boots. Once you have left the zodiac, you’ll find our shore excursions accommodate both those who wish to enjoy a gentle stroll and those who prefer more active hikes. Our onboard specialists will join us on these shore excursions to provide interpretation and narration to these wonderful landscapes and experiences.

Each evening we will gather in the lounge to recount the day’s events and share memorable stories. Our onboard musician will provide some lively entertainment during happy hour and the expedition leader will outline the following day’s schedule. Our resource staff of naturalists, historians, and other guest speakers will give informative talks at various times throughout the voyage.

Meals in the ship’s dining room are a great opportunity to meet new friends and recount the day’s adventures. Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Safety is also a top priority with Eagle-Eye Tours – our team has extensive experience in the field, and all of our Voyages are run in conjunction with operators with the highest safety standards.

When the ship is underway, it is a wonderful time to join a naturalist on deck, take photos of the stunning scenery, or get caught up on some reading in the library.

We know that everyone travels for different reasons. Over the years, however, we have found one common element among the guest who choose to travel with us – a thirst of knowledge and authentic experience. Knowing this drives us to ensure the highest quality learning experience on our trips, by taking time to carefully design each trip we offer.

Ship & Deck Plan

Ocean Endeavour

Ocean Endeavour

Sailing with a maximum of 198-passengers, Ocean Endeavour is the perfect vessel for expedition cruising. Outfitted with twenty Zodiacs, advanced navigation equipment, multiple lounges and a top deck observation room, she is purpose-built for passenger experiences in remote environments. The Ocean Endeavour boasts a 1B ice class, enabling her to freely explore throughout the Arctic summer.

Launched in 1982, she has had numerous upgrades, most recently in 2010 and 2014. At 137 meters (450ft) in length, Ocean Endeavour has plenty of interior and exterior space. Enjoy multiple decks offering comfortable lounge chairs, outdoor dining, a swimming pool, sauna and even a hot tub! The spacious interiors allow for multiple workshops and presentations to occur simultaneously. Community is at the heart of Adventure Canada’s expedition experience. We gather together to learn, enjoy a drink, sing a song or share a yarn – connecting with one and other. The three lounges aboard Ocean Endeavour are fantastic public spaces for seminars, events and dialogue.

The Ocean Endeavour’s private spaces are stylish and comfortable. All cabins have private washroom facilities, a phone for internal calls, radio, TV and air-conditioning.

Ocean Endeavour’s crew is experienced, and friendly. Her shallow draft and maneuverability allow her to access isolated fiords, bays and secluded communities. The stylish vessel is at home among the glorious settings we seek. Enjoy the class and comfort of a boutique hotel, while venturing to some of the world’s last great frontiers aboard the Ocean Endeavour!

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