On the first day of your expedition, arrive in Kangerlussuaq, the gateway to Greenland's vast west coast and the island's primary travel hub.

Located at the head of a 160-kilometer fjord, Kangerlussuaq is Greenland's only inland town. American troops established it in 1941 as Sondrestrom Air Base (Bluie West-8). The town still carries a distinct Cold War atmosphere, a reminder of its extensive use by American forces before being handed over to the Greenlandic government in 1992. Today, Kangerlussuaq is the country's busiest air hub, with regular flights from Denmark and across Greenland. Its stable climate and lack of fog make it ideal for aviation, though its inland location gives it the widest temperature range in Greenland—hot summers and frigid winters.

Upon arrival, transfer to the nearby port, where the Ocean Albatros awaits at anchor. A short Zodiac ride will bring you aboard the ship, where you settle into your stateroom. After a mandatory safety drill, enjoy a welcoming dinner and a glass of champagne as you begin your adventure, sailing through the magnificent 160-kilometer Kangerlussuaq Fjord.

On the first full day of your expedition, arrive at the charming village of Kangaamiut, nestled in Greenland’s central Qeqqata region. This picturesque settlement, surrounded by rich cold waters and a vast wilderness teeming with wildlife, offers a glimpse into a traditional way of life. Time seems to slow down here as locals rely on hunting and fishing for survival. You can hike to the hilltop heliport for panoramic views of the town and surrounding fjords or engage with the friendly locals during a presentation of traditional clothing, food, and the art of seal-flensing. Kangaamiut is also home to talented artists, and their remarkable creations can be admired at the village’s small museum.

In the afternoon, sail inland into the magnificent Evighedsfjorden, also known as Kangerlussuatsiaq. The Danish name means “Eternity Fjord,” a tribute to the fjord’s immense scale, while the Greenlandic name translates to “The Rather Large Fjord”—a modest description of this 100-kilometer-long inlet. Evighedsfjorden winds its way between towering, glacier-clad mountains, cutting through the vast ice cap that stretches between Greenland’s two largest cities, Nuuk and Sisimiut. Explore the area on a Zodiac cruise in front of the impressive Evigheds Glacier, which flows down from the Maniitsoq Ice Cap. Watch for calving icebergs, guillemots, and kittiwakes that nest along the dramatic bird cliffs nearby.

A mixture of skyscrapers and traditional wooden houses, as well as quaint and cosmopolitan, Nuuk is a city of contrasts. The vibrant, bustling capital of Greenland, Nuuk, feels much larger than its 19,000 inhabitants and offers a wealth of experiences to visitors. The calm fjords around Nuuk have been inhabited by Paleo-Inuit cultures since at least 2200 BCE, and archaeological evidence indicates waves of migration through the area as ancient hunters followed migrating prey. Around the year 100 CE, Norse colonists from Iceland established the Western Settlement in the green meadows of Nuuk Fjord; these settlers mysteriously disappeared several hundred years later, leaving the island to the Inuit, who were far better equipped to live in Greenland's harsh environment.

The next Scandinavian to visit was Hans Egede, the controversial Danish missionary who 'rediscovered' Greenland, founding Nuuk as Godthab ("Good Hope") in 1728. Danish initiatives to modernize Greenland in the 1950s significantly impacted Nuuk. While they significantly improved the city's infrastructure, the many large apartment blocks attest to rapid (and sometimes haphazard) urbanization. In 1979, the Home Rule Act created the Greenlandic Parliament (Inatsisartut) and proclaimed Nuuk the capital. The city's population continues growing rapidly, with new suburbs being constructed beneath Ukkusissat, the mountain looming east. 

Nuuk offers a huge amount to the discerning visitor; larger than any other city in Greenland, Nuuk has a bustling cosmopolitan vibe and hosts some of Greenland's best attractions. Swing by Kolonihavn district to visit the Greenlandic National Museum, a treasure trove of history stretching back to the first inhabitants of this icy island - including artifacts from the Paleo-Inuit and Norse periods, as well as the spellbinding Qilakistoq mummies. Explore Greenlandic culture at Katuaq, the city's cultural center, and an architectural marvel; shop for authentic Greenlandic artworks in the city's many boutique shops, or simply relax at a hip curbside cafe with a Greenlandic coffee and watch this vibrant city in action. Nuuk York (as proud locals call it) is unlike any other city in Greenland or the world.

From Nuuk, Ocean Albatros will follow the rugged coast of Greenland southwards. All settlements in Greenland (except Kangerlussuaq) are situated directly on the ocean coast of the country, and the vast majority of residents (some 50,000 or so) live on the narrow strip of coast on the west of the country, facing the Davis Strait. Ocean currents bring warm water from the Atlantic to the West Coast, enriching these wildlife-filled waters. During your day at sea, keep your eyes on the sea! Whales, seals, and many seabirds are common in these rich waters. 

Days at sea are never dull. Various activities are arranged onboard for you to enjoy and engage your mind, body, and soul. Join your knowledgeable Expedition Team lecturers in the Theatre to hear specially crafted lectures on local history, wildlife, geology, culture, and more, unwind with a massage in the Albatros Polar Spa, or watch the seabirds gliding along the ship from the hot tubs as the Ocean Albatros cruises along the coast of Greenland.

In the early morning, Ocean Albatros will sail through the majestic mountains of Tunulliarfik Fjord towards the small sheep-farming village of Qassiarsuk. While the modern village was founded in 1924, the location has a fascinating and much longer history; it was here that legendary Norse explorer Eric the Red settled after being banished from Iceland. He named the land he discovered 'Greenland' to encourage other settlers to follow him - a marketing ploy that has stood for over a thousand years!

Erik the Red settled in this green landscape and set up a small farmstead in typical Norse style, naming his new home 'Brattahlid.' Erik kept fiercely to the Norse gods, but his wife Thjodhild was a Christian. Legend has it that she refused to join his bed until he built her a church, which he eventually did, constructing a tiny hut (Þjóðhildarkirkja) which was nevertheless the first church in the Americas (although he refused to have it within view of his house). 

The southern fjords of Greenland offer a very different environment to the chilly north and east of the country. Situated at roughly 60°N, this region is level with northern Scotland or southern Scandinavia, with a climate to match. Here, the weather is calm, stable, and humid, with much warmer summers and milder winters than the rest of the country. In place of rocky hillsides, the fjords here are lined with lush green meadows and dotted with small sheep-farming settlements, of which Qassiarsuk and Igaliku are perhaps the best known. 

Over lunchtime, the plan is to reposition to the sheltered bay of Itilleq, where a farm trail beckons you inland. During the afternoon, trek through the lush green hills to see the remains of the Norse Bishop's palace at Gardar - once a place of great power and influence in this remote corner of the Norse world, now surrounded by the charming modern farming village of Igaliku.

The Norse settlers in Greenland stayed for almost 500 years but disappeared from all historical records in the early 1400s. Whether some plague or famine struck them or the deteriorating climate forced them to return to Scandinavia remains a topic of lively debate. Today, the outlines of buildings (including Erik's house, Thjodhild's church, and the Bishop's palace) and stunningly accurate reconstructions of Eric's farm, where modern Inuit farmers continue to raise sheep. A statue of Erik now overlooks the area, commemorating the first European to reach the Americas and whose son Leif would be the first European to reach Baffin Island and Newfoundland. Sites rich in fascinating history and culture, old and new, the settlements of Brattahlíd and Gardar are today part of the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site.

South of Skjoldungen lies Kap Farvel, or Cape Farewell, renowned not only as Greenland's southernmost point but also for its infamously challenging weather, which commonly features large swells and gale-force winds.

With this in mind, you deliberately opt for a far more comfortable but also more spectacular route, cruising via the inside passage of Prins Christian Sund. Known in Greenlandic by its typically descriptive name of Ikerasassuaq ('the Big Strait'), this 60 km long waterway reaches from Aappilattoq to the southeastern coast of Greenland, connecting the Labrador and Irminger Seas. 

In the morning, you approach the small village of Aappilattoq, which sits hunkered beneath the towering mountains at the end of Prins Christians Sund. The village is a world away from busy Nuuk or even Kangaamiut; life here moves slower, following the rhythms of the wind, waves, and tides. Aappilattoq (meaning 'Red' in Greenlandic, referring to the stark granite bluffs above) offers excellent hiking opportunities, and the local choir is renowned throughout Greenland.

Prins Christian Sund is one of the most spectacular waterways anywhere on Earth. Kept free of ice year-round by strong tidal currents, the strait is hemmed in on either side by mountains that rise straight out of the water, some reaching over 2,000 m. Large glaciers flow from the ice sheet into the sea on the northern side of the strait, while sapphire blue mountain glaciers loom over the water from the southern side, and vast icebergs stud the glassy waters. Join your Expedition Team on deck to experience the staggering beauty of this legendary waterway.

Today's adventure begins as you sail into magnificent Skjoldungen, a staggeringly beautiful fjord on the southeastern coast of Greenland. The fjord is named for Skjold, an ancient Danish King of legend, while the Greenlandic name, Saqqisikuik, references the area's sunny climate. Various archaeological finds on the island, which sits in the middle of the fjord, suggest nomadic Inuit groups visited and stayed in the area in years gone by; more recently, settlers were brought from Tasiilaq to settle the island in the 1930s but returned there thirty years later; some houses can still be seen on the southern side of the fjord. The Allies also operated a small weather station on the island during WWII. 

Today, uninhabited, Skjoldungen sits almost 300km from the nearest village, with Mother Nature as its only ruler. Vast saw-toothed mountains lined with opalescent glaciers line the deep, chilly waters of the fjord, which can freeze even in summer. At the head of the fjord lies the magnificent Thryms Glacier, a magnificent river of ice flowing down from the ice sheet. On the southern side of Thryms Glacier lies the sweeping U-shaped glacial valley of Dronning Maries Dal - a textbook example of a glacially-produced landscape. Join your expedition team for a walk on the flower-lined floor of this valley and marvel at the stunning scenery. Ensure you are on the outer decks when approaching and departing this magnificent fjord.

As the sun rises on the crystalline waters, join your Expedition Team on deck to watch for the abundant whales that frolic in these frigid waters. You are now arriving in East Greenland, a land steeped in myths, legends, and ancient Inuit traditions. 

Separating Ammassalik Island from the Greenlandic mainland lies the vast Sermilik Fjord. Sermilik is a typically descriptive Greenlandic placename, roughly meaning 'the Glacial Fjord,' and it is no mystery why: this waterway is choked with vast icebergs and surely ranks among the most spectacular natural wonders of the region. The icebergs here mainly originate at the vast Helheim Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in this icy country. The Helheim and other glaciers that empty into the fjord pour directly off the Greenland Ice Sheet, the edges of which can be seen to the east, rising thousands of meters towards the frozen core of this vast island.

The volume of ice will dictate your precise activities in Sermilikfjord. However, options include coming ashore to marvel at the area's spectacular scenery and untouched nature or exploring the water and marveling at the natural ice sculptures of the area on a Zodiac cruise through the icebergs. Whatever you do, prepare to be amazed by the jaw-dropping beauty of this otherwordly place.

In the morning, Ocean Albatros will visit the village of Kuummiut, which sits in breathtaking surroundings in the calm reaches of Ammassalik Fjord. Kuummiut - meaning 'People who Live by the River' - is one of the area's largest and most prosperous villages. Sitting upon some of East Greenland's richest fishing grounds, Kuummiut holds the only fish factory in the region, and fishermen from miles around come through Ammassalik Fjord (which is wide enough to stay primarily ice-free year-round) to sell their catch here.

Kuummiut is an ideal place to experience life in an East Greenlandic settlement. Where other towns have traffic, Kuummiut has the yowling of sled dogs and the sigh of the wind through the grass. No roads lead in or out of this isolated village, and the sea is the highway for local transport - although motorboats have replaced the skinboats that brought people to these shores long ago. It is a perfect place to sit, watch the icebergs pass, and perhaps see the whales, which often frolic in the calm waters offshore, or chat with the friendly locals, who are rightly proud of their spectacular home. 

During the afternoon, move slightly eastwards towards Ikateq, a spectacular fjord with a fascinating history. During the darkest days of the Second World War, American forces established an airbase here (one of the network of air bases which includes Kangerlussuaq on the west coast) to serve as a stepping stone for aircraft transiting between Europe and North America. The rugged landscape of East Greenland meant the approach to the airport was hazardous, with frequent fog masking the treacherous mountains. Huge resources were invested into Ikateq Airbase (Blue 2 East), with a 5,000ft runway, hangar, barracks, and port constructed. A fleet of military vehicles and thousands of barrels of fuel were also brought to this remote region. With Germany defeated, improvements to intercontinental aircraft, and increasing tensions with the Soviet Union, the United States Military abandoned the base in 1947, leaving almost everything behind.

The air base has been a contention between Nuuk, Copenhagen, and Washington for many years. Many in the Greenlandic government wanted the site cleaned up and the ruins removed, an expensive and logistically challenging task. Eventually, the Danish Government agreed to remove hazardous waste from the site (mainly decaying fuel drums), but leaving the rest of the equipment in place as an essential part of regional history. Over 75 years later, however, almost everything remains as it was on the day the Americans left. Ikateq is a unique place, a time warp to the Second World War: eerie, fascinating, and surrounded by staggering natural beauty.  

Spending the night in the calm waters of Ammassalik Fjord, be sure to keep an eye on the sky - conditions are often excellent for spotting the northern lights! 

Your final port of call in Greenland is Tasiilaq, the largest settlement in East Greenland. Unlike the west coast, which had uninterrupted contact with Europe since the 1700s, the coast of East Greenland remained more or less uncontacted until around 1894 when a Danish trading post was established at Tasiilaq. The vast distances involved in Arctic travel meant that the people of East Greenland (Tunumiit) were isolated from their cousins to the west. Therefore, the language, traditions, and culture here differ significantly from other parts of the country.

Ancient traditions are strong here. This region of Greenland was the home of the last Angakkuit (Shamans) of Greenland and is the home of the tupilak - a monster fashioned from animal (and sometimes human) body parts and animated by the power of an Angakkuq to wreak havoc on enemies. Creating such a monster was dangerous, as a more powerful magic user could turn it back to attack its creator. The first Europeans were curious about what these dark beasts looked like, and locals carved facsimiles in bone or horn, beginning one of Greenland's finest artistic traditions. The tupilaat made by artisans in Tasiilaq is considered among the best in the country and can be purchased directly from the artist at the Stunk Workshop in the middle of town. 

Tasiilaq sits in a perfect natural harbor on Ammassalik Island (meaning 'the Place of Many Capelin'). While superficially similar to towns on the West Coast, the landscape here is much more rugged, the people fewer, and the sled dogs much more numerous. Tasiilaq offers excellent exploration opportunities, with excellent hiking routes such as the Flower Valley, easily accessible from town. For those wishing to delve into Tunumiit culture, visit the museum in the city's old church, hear the city's exquisite choir perform in the modern church, or watch a drum dancer in traditional East Greenlandic costume perform a millennia-old spiritual tradition. Otherwise, hike up the hill towards the hotel to enjoy some of the best views anywhere in the country, or join your Expedition Team for a trek through Tasiilaq's famous Flower Valley.

During your time at sea approaching Reykjavik, various activities will be arranged on board to allow you to reflect on your voyage. Relax with an expertly crafted cocktail in the Nordic Bar in the company of new friends, soak up the knowledge and passion of the Expedition Team during lectures, or enjoy the flight of the fulmars that accompany you towards Iceland. Remember to take in the crisp ocean air and look for wildlife in this rich marine environment.

During your last evening onboard, join the Captain and Officers for the Farewell Cocktail Party, followed by a presentation of photos and video by your onboard photographer - the ideal opportunity to re-live your Arctic adventure.

The rock-like columns of Hallgrimskirkja Church loom over Reykjavik, a hip Scandinavian capital that needs little introduction. Reykjavik is one of Scandinavia's most welcoming and exciting cities, with new Nordic cuisine, excellent shopping, fantastic excursions, and an easy, relaxed vibe. Such a bustling capital may feel strange after the remote wilderness of the Arctic! 

After a hearty breakfast, it is time to bid a fond farewell to the Crew and Expedition Team of Ocean Albatros and descend the gangway back to dry land with memories of the voyage of a lifetime.