Wild Greenland: An Active Arctic Expedition - M/V Sylvia Earle

On arrival into Reykjavik (REK), you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. Visit the hospitality desk to collect your cabin luggage tags and speak with our ground operations team. They will share any important pre-embarkation information and can assist with local dining suggestions, cash withdrawals or last-minute purchases. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Please ensure your main luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Keep valuables, travel documents, medication and anything needed during the day in your hand luggage. Your main bag will be delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival onboard. After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board our charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Here, Sylvia Earle 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.

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.

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. Colourful houses climb the rocky slopes above the harbour, 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 Nasasaq, 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.

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.

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.

Return to Kangerlussuaq and transfer to the airport after breakfast on board, for your charter flight back to Reykjavík.