Epic Crossing of the Arctic North

Your flight from Copenhagen lands in Kangerlussuaq in the evening. Find MS Spitsbergen here, ready to start your expedition.

Qeqertarsuaq is the only town situated on the old volcanic island of Disko. The area offers amazing Arctic experiences. Join optional excursions such as a tour of the town, kayaking, or an ice-cruising boat tour. If you appreciate archaeology and history, you should definitely pay a visit to the local museum. Alternatively, you can stroll around the town on your own. 

Ilulissat is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2004. Just outside the town, at the mouth of the fjord, you can often see enormous icebergs that have run aground. They originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere. A variety of optional shore excursions is offered, such as hikes, historic town walks, and a boat tour to the Icefjord.

Sisimiut is the southernmost town on the western coast of Greenland. Choose between a variety of optional shore excursions here, including hikes, boat trips, and sightseeing, as well as the chance to shop for local handicrafts and enjoy some Greenlandic specialties in a local restaurant. 

Nuuk is the oldest town in Greenland and is situated at the mouth of one of the largest and most spectacular fjord systems in the world. Today, this is where old and new traditions meet, from picturesque old buildings in Kolonihaven to the buildings of the Greenland Home Rule. As the capital city, Nuuk is also home to a university, a teacher-training college, many churches, and the Greenland National Museum, which houses the mummies from Qilakilsoq. City tours, hikes, and possibly a flight are among the optional excursions. 

Narsaq is located on the beautiful shores of the Tunulliarfik Fjord. This part of South Greenland has been inhabited for thousands of years. It is a great area for optional activities such as kayaking, hiking, or wandering around the town. Join the optional boat trip or the settlement walk to explore Qassiarsuk, the site where Eric the Red built his Brattahlíð estate in 982 A.D. When Eric the Red was banished from Iceland he escaped to the land he called Greenland. He chose to settle in Qassiarsuk because he believed the area to be the richest and best site on the island.

Many consider Qaqortoq to be one of the most beautiful towns in Greenland thanks to its colorful houses. The excursions offered here include an interesting visit to the only tannery in Greenland, a guided city walk, and a 'kaffemik' – a typical Greenlandic social gathering – to meet the locals. In Hvalsey, find Austurbygd, the best-preserved Norse ruins in Greenland. In 1408, 500 years after the town was established, all the inhabitants suddenly left. Among the ruins, find the remains of the church where the last known Viking wedding took place. 

Greenland’s southern shores contain some of the most culturally and scenically diverse regions on this giant island. Conditions permitting, sail through the narrow, 70-mile-long Prins Christian Sund channel, which crosses the southernmost point of Greenland, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. If the channel is blocked with ice, the ship sails around Nunap Isua (Cape Farewell).

As you cross the Denmark Strait, you can either use the day to relax or join the variety of lectures on topics including history, biology, and geology.

Reykjavik is believed to be the first permanent Viking settlement in Iceland and is now its modern capital. The surrounding area offers fantastic natural beauty: geysers, mountains, glaciers, and geothermal hot springs.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea with onboard lectures as you sail to the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands are a group of 18 volcanic islands in the middle of the North Atlantic, halfway between the Shetland Islands and Iceland. Tórshavn is one of the smallest capital cities in the world, with only 15,000 inhabitants. It was founded in the 10th century, and might very well be the oldest original capital in northern Europe. Since the turn of the 20th century, Tórshavn has grown rapidly, and is now the economic, cultural, and administrative center of the Faroe Islands. The town is a charming blend of old and new, featuring small houses in nearly every color.

Lerwick is the main port in the Shetland Islands, and by far the northernmost town of Scotland. It was founded in the 17th century as a fishing port, and fishing is still the main industry on the island, in addition to the ferry and oil industry. Today, while most of Shetland remains isolated, Lerwick is a bustling, cosmopolitan seaport with services and amenities typically found only in much larger places on the British mainland. The old waterfront is packed with visiting yachts and working fishing boats. In the surrounding area, find some of Shetland's most attractive scenery and an extraordinary concentration of archaeological sites, including two remarkable Iron Age villages and Europe's best-preserved broch, a drystone dwelling also dating from the Iron Age.

Your arrival in Bergen signals the end of this expedition, but you may take the time to explore this charming city before you head home. Stroll through the picturesque streets and enjoy the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of ‘Bryggen’ (the Wharf) and the fish market.