Greenland In Depth

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn about the history of the Inuit, Dorset and Thule people from our experts on board
• Marvel at the glistening icebergs that crack and calve spectacularly off glaciers into the meltwater
• Get your camera ready for large pods of narwhal, playful seal, mighty muskox, arctic foxes and gyrfalcons
• Dig into the tumultuous history of the Vikings who made west Greenland their home

ITINERARY

DAY 1
REYKJAVIK
Despite its small size, you won’t be short of things to see and do in this diminutive but dramatic city. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city’s other renowned building Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated harbour – also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of course, just 50 kilometres outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s original Viking parliament.

DAY 2
DAY AT SEA
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

DAY 3
SKJOLDUNGEN
On the craggy east coast of Greenland, the stunningly scenic, U-shaped Skjoldungen Fjord is surrounded by lofty snow-capped mountains, dwarf birch, Arctic wildflowers and willow forests with the Thrym Glacier at one end. High rock walls, serpentine rivers and large crevasses of ice pillars known as seracs give way to carved icebergs in the fjord that gleam in a white to blue spectrum. You also have the opportunity to see whales under pure blue skies.

Expedition Activities

DAY 4
CRUISE PRINS CHRISTIAN SUND
A beautifully dramatic fjord in the south of Greenland, in Prins Christian Sund we move among fin, blue and minke whales, while you may also see muskox, polar bears and bearded seals. Enjoy these unspoilt, picturesque waterways where magnificent glaciers tower and granite cliffs yield to crystal-clear waterfalls.

DAY 4
AAPPILATTOQ
The small, colourful and pretty Nordic homes of Aappilattoq, the only settlement in Prins Christian Sund, stand stark against snow-tipped mountain ridges in this icy wilderness.

Expedition Activities

DAY 5
IVITTUT
Today, explore Ivigtut's deserted buildings, enormous cryolite hole and above-ground cemetery. This settlement played a crucial role in WWII as cryolite was used to produce Aluminium to build fighter planes. Walk around the abandoned houses and learn about the history of the Ivigtut.

Expedition Activities

DAY 6
NUUK
Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk can easily deceive you that you’re travelling through such a wild and secluded country. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), you’ll see the busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral prominent, colourful wooden houses, avant-garde architecture and a wonderful array of fjords with clear ice waters and an unspoiled mountain backdrop. Look out for whales and on land arctic foxes, arctic hares and reindeer.

Shore Excursion

DAY 7
SISIMIUT
Just north of the Arctic Circle and the northernmost city in Greenland, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport and we have a chance to see abandoned settlements but it also has a cool, modern side. Watch out for humpback whales and walrus between Sisimiut and the Thule district in the north.

Shore Excursion

DAY 8
ILULISSAT, DISKO BAY
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, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is home to as many sled-dogs as people.

Shore Excursion

DAY 9
DISKO BAY
Disko Bay is known for its large icebergs and whales. The bay is also home to Inuit culture and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first European to visit the area was the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596, but Inuit people inhabited it for thousands of years.

Expedition Activities

DAY 10-11
KANGERLUSSUAQ
At the head of one of the longest fjords in western Greenland, Kangerlussuaq has a history as a World War II airbase. Visit the 60-metre tall face of the Russell Glacier on the edge of the Greenland ice cap to hear and see it crack and break off into the meltwater. Other popular activities include kayaking on the fjords and wildlife tours of the glacial areas that attract muskoxen, reindeer, arctic foxes and gyrfalcons.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (ONLY available for Antarctica cruises starting or ending in Ushuaia, Arctic cruises starting and ending in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq)
• Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
• One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
• All meals onboard
• Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
• 24-hour room service
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
• Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
• One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
• Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
• Standard WiFi
• Onboard gratuities & port taxes

DAY 3
Expedition Activities

Kayak With Swan Hellenic Expedition Team (single outing)
Duration: 02 h 00 m
Optional
Observe scenery, coastlines, ice formations and polar wildlife from the comfort and silence of your kayak
Experience the polar regions, from water level, with all your senses as there is no interference with artificial sounds
Amazing opportunity to kayak in the world’s last great wilderness

Zodiac Cruising and/or Nature Walk With your Swan Hellenic Expedition Team
Duration: 01 h 00 m
Included
Navigate in the Skjoldungen fjord, far from any settlement. Enjoy the navigation in sometimes narrow passages, among the growlers in this area surrounded by many glaciers
Watch out for Arctic Wildlife like Polar Bear, seabirds and Musk ox
Enjoy spectacular landscapes and learn interesting facts about this most remote part of Greenland with your knowledgeable Swan Hellenic Expedition Team

DAY 4
Expedition Activities

Discover the tiny settlement of Aappilattoq
Duration: 02 h 00 m
Included
See this picturesque settlement, perched at the edge of the water with towering mountains all around
See the locals in their daily life and learn how they survive in this harsh environment
Enjoy a very special moment with the local choir at the little church as choir singing has become an important element in Greenlandic national culture

DAY 5
Expedition Activities

Explore Ivittuut abandoned mining town
Duration: 02 h 00 m
Included
Founded in 1854, the town of Ivittuut once held the world’s largest reserve of naturally occurring cryolite. This settlement played a crucial role in WWII as cryolite was used to produce Aluminium to build fighter planes.
Explore Ivittuut's deserted buildings, enormous cryolite hole and above ground cemetery. Walk around the abandoned houses of this ghost town
Learn how this open-air mine was an essential economical resource for Greenland from the 19th century until 1963

DAY 6
Shore Excursion

Nuuk Sightseeing
Duration: 01 h 30 m
Included
Explore the highlights of Nuuk and see the Colonial Harbour with its beautiful old buildings
View the award-winning Culture Centre
Discover Greenland’s past at the National Museum

DAY 7
Shore Excursion

Sisimiut Sightseeing Drive
Duration: 01 h 30 m
Included
Learn about everyday life in Greenland’s second-largest city
Meet the working sled dogs that provide transport around the city
Take in the incredible view of the mountains and sea from the Sisimiut’s highest point

Historical Walk to the Tele Island
Duration: 02 h 10 m
Optional
Learn about the Tele Island’s 4,000-year Inuit history
Visit turf farm ruins and an ancient burial ground
Enjoy the beautiful views of Sisimiut’s landmark mountain, the 785m Nasaasaaq

DAY 8
Shore Excursion

Shuttle to Ilulissat Icefjord, boardwalk and Icefjord centre
Duration: 02 h 00 m
Included
Marvel at Sermeq Kujalleq, the glacier at the base of the Ilulissat Icefjord, the fastest glacier in the northern hemisphere, moving around 40 meters per day
Easy hike along the boardwalk World Heritage Trail to the icefjord
Visit the icefjord centre and learn everything about the cycle of the ice, the abundant wildlife around the icefjord and the human existence in the area throughout thousands of years
Experience one of Greenland’s most exceptional panoramas from the icefjord museum roof, where you can enjoy the view of the Icefjord Kangia.

DAY 9
Expedition Activities

Cruising among the spectacular icebergs
Duration: 01 h 00 m
Included
Near Ilulissat, the famous Icefjord calves the most impressive icebergs of the northern hemisphere
The Sermeq Kujalleq is the biggest glacier and biggest ice stream outside Antarctica. As soon as you look onto the bay, these big icebergs are omnipresent.