Reykjavik, founded by Viking settler Ingolfur Arnarson around 870 C.E., marks Iceland's first permanent settlement. By 1703, a census recorded the town with just 69 residents, consisting primarily of a farm and a church. In the city center, a striking statue of Leif Erikson honors Iceland's proud Viking heritage. "Reykjavik," meaning "smoky bay," reflects the geothermal steam rising from the surrounding landscape.

Heimaey Island, the largest of the Westman Islands, lies just four miles off Iceland's southwest coast. Known for its dramatic landscape, the island is surrounded by towering sea cliffs that rise hundreds of feet, making it one of Iceland's most visually stunning destinations. Heimaey is also home to over eight million Atlantic puffins—the largest puffin nesting population in the world. A charming local tradition tells of puffin chicks taking their first flights at night, sometimes landing in village streets, where local children rescue them and release them free the next day.

Included Heimaey Island & Reception Experience

A short drive leads to Herjolfsdalur Valley, where you can view ancient Viking ruins. Continue to Cape Storhofdi for panoramic views over the island and glaciers on Iceland's mainland. Pass through Skansinn, where a wooden church gifted by Norway honors Iceland's Christian heritage. Finally, enjoy a warm welcome at the Eldheimar Museum, built around a home impacted by the 1973 volcanic eruption.

Sailing the vast and open waters, the horizon stretches endlessly. The ship's deck provides breathtaking views of the ocean, offering an immersive experience with the surrounding maritime beauty.

On the King Frederick VI Coast of Greenland’s southeast quadrant, the semi-circular Umivik Bay is carved out just north of the Denmark Strait. Unlike the sheer cliffs and rugged terrain of much of the coastline, the shores inside the bay are smooth, and the massive Greenland Ice Sheet comes right down to the shore on undulating slopes. This profile persuaded Fritjof Nansen to select the bay as the starting point of his successful 1888 expedition to cross Greenland over the ice sheet. Several large islands are in the bay, including Uppernattivik Island, which is smack in the middle. There are calving glaciers to survey, and a landing is also possible here.

Imagine a narrow fjord bordered by rugged peaks, vertical rock walls, and winding rivers of ice plunging into the sea. This is Skjoldungen Fjord, named by Wilhelm August Graah after the honorific title Skjoldungen, which, according to Norse mythology, was given to successors of legendary King Skjold to the Danish throne. 

Numerous tidewater glaciers calve during the summer, releasing large chunks of ice that plunge into the fjord. Above, huge crevasses and free-standing ice pillars, known as seracs, are silhouetted against a blue Greenlandic sky. Barren of large trees, Skjoldungen Fjord is carpeted in colorful dwarf birch and willow forests that may grow several feet high and a variety of low-growing Arctic wildflowers. 

This fjord was likely inhabited by Paleo-Eskimo (Inuit) nomadic people as early as 4,000 years ago. Archaeological remains of later historical periods, such as Thule culture graves, have also been found, indicating that Inuit people have lived in the area continuously. Scattered within this stunning scenery are remains of more recent abandoned Inuit dwellings along the fjord’s western shores.

The transit of the Prince Christian Sound is one of the highlights of cruising in Greenland. The approximately 60-mile sound cuts between the mainland and an archipelago of islands from east to west under the southern edge of the massive Greenland Ice Sheet, which covers 80 percent of the island. The sound is narrow, sometimes as little as 1500 feet across, and numerous glaciers reach the sea on its shores, calving icebergs into the sound. High, barren, and sharply defined peaks tower on both sides. The only indications of humanity to be seen are the Ikerassasuaq weather station (using the Greenlandic name for the sound), where the ship enters, and the small village of Appilattoq, housing approximately 100 people. Animal life is more abundant, with minke, fin, and blue whales seen frequently and ringed and bearded seals that haul out on the floating ice. It is a breathtaking display of natural splendor in the severe, rugged vernacular of rock, ice, and sea, unique to the Arctic realm.

Tiny Aappilattoq is located in the Prince Christian Sound at Greenland’s southern tip, in the municipality of Kullaleq. Its name means ‘red’ in Greenlandic. The sound is enfolded by steep, unglaciated mountains, rising from the water to sharp, shattered peaks. The town’s setting is particularly picturesque, its brightly painted houses scattered across a small peninsula of humped granite domes under a backdrop of a looming pyramid of stone. The little red town church nestles next to a white-picketed graveyard. The sound itself is dotted with icebergs slowly melting into expressionist sculptures. It is where infrequent visitors routinely fill their camera cards with unforgettable images of Greenland’s spectacular visual splendor.

Qaqortoq is the largest city in Southern Greenland, with 3,300 inhabitants. The town rises steeply above the natural small-boat harbor with fish, shrimp, and fur processing plants. It was founded in 1775 by the Dano-Norwegian trader Anders Olsen, working on behalf of the General Trading Company.

Qaqortoq is best known for its open-air art exhibition. The Stone & Man project, designed to transform the town into an outdoor gallery, had the participation of 18 Nordic artists from Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Greenland. Initially, 24 stone sculptures were created using the town's existing rock faces and boulders. Now, over 40 sculptures are celebrating Greenlandic culture.

Other points of interest include Mindebronden, the oldest fountain in Greenland, the Qaqortoq Museum, and The Saviors Lutheran Church. Eighteen kilometers northwest of town are the famous remains of the Viking church of Hvalsey. It represents the last written record of the Greenlandic Norse, who attended a wedding there in A.D. 1408. Hvalsey is the most prominent Norse site in Greenland.

Twelve miles by Zodiac up the Hvalseyjarfjord from Qaqortoq, the largest community in South Greenland, lies the most prominent Norse archaeological site in Greenland. The so-called Eastern Settlement lasted from the 10th until the mid-15th century. Your expedition team archaeologist can interpret the ruins of the great halls and church at Hvalsey that hint at a prospering medieval farmstead. The site evokes an era when the Norse were trading with the indigenous Thule people of the area for furs and ivory, which were prized commodities in Europe. A wedding held in the church in 1408 comprises the last written record of the Norse adventure in Greenland. Within a few years, Hvalsey and the rest of the Norse communities of Greenland withered as immigrants returned to the more established communities in Iceland and Norway. The site's meadows of wildflowers sloping up from the fjord give a sense of the peaceful community that existed here in that long-ago summer.

Sailing the vast and open waters, the horizon stretches endlessly. The ship's deck provides breathtaking views of the ocean, offering an immersive experience with the surrounding maritime beauty.

Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, is a city of vitality and Greenlandic culture. Here, old traditions and modern influences combine to create a diverse population. Nuuk is the home of the University of Greenland with its 650 students and the Greenland National Museum with its extensive historical archives and cultural displays. Also of interest are the Nuuk Art Museum and the Kayak Museum. The Art Museum holds a body of 300 paintings primarily featuring the work of traveling European artists. At the same time, the Kayak Museum houses a very impressive collection of sealskin kayaks and traditional hunting artifacts. The modest wooden frame of the Nuuk Cathedral, built in 1849, is a recognizable landmark on Nuuk’s skyline.

The site of Nuuk was occupied as far back as 2,200 B.C.E. by ancient pre-Inuit peoples from Canada. It was settled again in the 10th century by Viking explorers. The current city was founded in 1728 by Danish missionary Hans Egede. A statue of Egede stands adjacent to the cathedral.

Camp Kangiusaq in Greenland, accessible only by boat or helicopter, offers a secluded Arctic experience amidst dramatic fjords, towering mountains, and vast glaciers. This remote camp is ideal for adventurers, providing kayaking, hiking, and wildlife observation opportunities. In their natural habitat, guests might spot reindeer, musk oxen, and Arctic foxes. Set in Greenland's untouched wilderness, Camp Kangiusaq combines rugged terrain with serene, immersive isolation, making it an exceptional base for exploring Greenland's landscapes and ecosystems.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the majestic Evighedsfjorden in Greenland, Seabourn's ultra-luxury cruises offer passengers an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Arctic. Carved by ancient glaciers, this fjord's towering cliffs and crystalline waters create a dramatic setting for unforgettable adventures. As the ship navigates through the icy waters, passengers are treated to breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, cascading waterfalls, and pristine glaciers. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot Arctic animals such as seals, whales, and seabirds thriving in their natural habitat. Guided excursions allow guests to explore the fjord's hidden coves, hike along rugged coastal trails, and witness the mesmerizing spectacle of calving icebergs.

Located 24 miles (40 km) north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is “rough, real and remote.” These three words cut to the core of Sisimiut’s reputation as an outdoor adventure-travel hub. It’s the second-largest city in Greenland with 5,600 inhabitants and was founded in 1756 under the leadership of the Danish missionary Hans Egede. The name is Greenlandic, meaning ‘place of fox dens.’  The area has been inhabited for 4,500 years, first by the Inuit peoples of the Saqqaq culture, Dorset culture, and then the Thule people, whose descendants comprise most of the current population.

One of the most picturesque towns in Greenland, Sisimiut is set in a tranquil fjord perched on bare outcrops of rock. Mount Nasaasaaq, 2,572’ (784 m) tall, is the backdrop for the town, where colorful houses of bright red, yellow, green, and blue stand out in stark contrast to a landscape of gray and white. The Sisimiut Museum hosts a traditional Greenlandic peat house and the remains of an 18th-century kayak.

Arrive in Kangerlussuaq and disembark after breakfast. Fly to Reykjavik.

Reykjavik, established by Viking settler Ingolfur Arnarson around 870 C.E., is the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland. The census of 1703 recorded that Reykjavik had 69 residents and consisted of a farm and a church. The impressive statue of Leif Erikson, in the center of town, reminds all of Iceland’s Viking heritage. Its name translates to ‘smoky bay’ due to the geothermal nature of the surrounding area.

Today, about 200.000 people live in the Icelandic capital, roughly 60% of the country’s population. It has evolved into a sophisticated city. The northernmost national capital in the world is also one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest on Earth. Walking Reykjavik streets, one will find rich culture, history, music, shopping, and vibrant nightlife in the late hours. Colorful rooftops and the elegant spire of Hallgrimskirkja Church dominate Reykjavik’s skyline. Known for its arts, Reykjavik hosts several internationally recognized festivals, notably the Iceland Air Music Festival, Reykjavik Arts Festival, and the Reykjavik International Film Festival.