1 / 6

Complete East Greenland

An entrancing Greenland expedition tracing the footsteps of Inuit hunters, WWII outposts, and Arctic explorers.

Highlights Itinerary Dates Extras

Starting at:

Per Person

Sold Out

Length

12 Days

Embark

Reykjavik

Disembark

Reykjavik

Starting at:

Per Person

Sold Out

Highlights

Encounter Greenland’s enduring spirit in isolated settlements like Kuummiut, Tasiilaq, and Ittoqqortoormiit—where traditional hunting, dog sledding, and ancient shamanic myths live on
Sail through the jaw-dropping landscapes of Northeast Greenland National Park and the mighty Scoresbysund fjord system, home to polar bears, musk oxen, and multicolored mountains.
Step into history frozen in time with a surreal visit to the abandoned WWII-era Ikateq Airbase—intact after 80 years in the Arctic wilderness.

Embark on an unforgettable 12-day Arctic voyage from the cosmopolitan charm of Reykjavík to the remote and rugged wonders of East Greenland. This rare expedition reveals the cultural heartbeat and dramatic beauty of one of the most isolated corners of the world. You’ll journey through iceberg-strewn fjords, stand among Inuit settlements untouched by time, and trace the haunting legacy of wartime outposts abandoned in vast wildernesses. As your ship sails past jagged coastlines and into the world’s largest national park, the silence and scale of this untouched Arctic landscape will stir something deep within.

Timed for late summer, this voyage takes advantage of Greenland’s brief and brilliant thaw. Longer daylight hours and calmer seas grant prime access to coastal settlements, active wildlife—including whales, seals, and seabirds—and the hidden reaches of Greenland’s glacier-fed fjords. From the ghostly relics of WWII at Ikateq, to the community spirit of Ittoqqortoormiit, and the raw immensity of the Blosseville Coast, every stop offers a new lens into Greenland’s human resilience and natural power.

On board, guests enjoy enriching lectures by expert naturalists and historians, panoramic views from hot tubs or the observation lounge, and cozy camaraderie in the Nordic bar. Daily excursions via Zodiac bring you face to face with Greenland’s awe-inspiring landscapes and cultural heritage—whether hiking through Flower Valley, observing wildlife in Moskusokse Fjord, or learning ancient stories of the tupilak from East Greenlandic locals.

This voyage will leave you feeling deeply connected—to the planet, to the past, and to a primal sense of wonder. It’s a journey for the culturally curious, the wil...

Ships

No departures available at this time

Standard Activities

Lectures

Hiking

Zodiac Cruises

About the Complete East Greenland

This voyage will leave you feeling deeply connected—to the planet, to the past, and to a primal sense of wonder. It’s a journey for the culturally curious, the wilderness seeker, and those drawn to places few have ever seen. Whether you’re chasing Arctic wildlife, collecting passport stamps from the edge of the world, or simply longing to feel small in nature’s grand design, this is more than a trip—it’s a true polar achievement.

Itinerary

Fly

Cruise

Day 1

Reykjavik, Iceland

The rock-like columns of Hallgrímskirkja Church loom over the city of Reykjavík, a hip Scandi capital which needs little introduction. With new Nordic cuisine, excellent shopping, fantastic excursions and an easy relaxed vibe, Reykjavík is one of Scandinavia’s most welcoming and exciting cities.

In the afternoon, we await to welcome our guests onboard Ocean Albatros. After our mandatory safety drill, enjoy dinner and a glass of champagne as we set sail a course for adventure as we set out across the Denmark Strait, bound for Greenland.

Reykjavik

Embarkation Point

Day 2

At sea, crossing the Denmark Strait

Day 3

Kuummiut and Ikateq

We will spend the morning in the small 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 larger villages in the area, and one of the most prosperous. 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 mostly 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 skin boats which brought people to these shores long ago. It is a perfect place to simply sit, watch the icebergs pass, and perhaps see the whales which often frolic in the calm waters offshore.

In the afternoon, we will sail slightly eastward from Kuummiut to 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 into the airport was hazardous, with frequent fog masking the treacherous mountains. Huge resources were invested into Ikateq Airbase (also known as Bluie 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 bone of 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), leaving the rest of the equipment in place as an important part of regional history. Over 80 years later however, almost everything remains as it was on the day the Americans left. Ikateq is a truly unique place, a time warp to the Second World War: eerie, fascinating and surrounded by staggering natural beauty.

Kuummiut

Ikateq

Day 4

Tasiilaq

In the morning we arrive in Tasiilaq, the largest settlement in East Greenland. Unlike the west coast, which has 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, and the language, traditions and culture of East Greenland therefore differ significantly to those in 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 it could be turned back by a more powerful magic user to attack its creator. The first Europeans were curious as to 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 are considered among the best in the country.

Tasiilaq sits in a perfect natural harbour on Ammassalik Island (meaning ‘the Place of Many Capelin’). While superficially similar to towns on the West Coast, visitors will quickly notice differences; the landscape here is much more rugged, the people fewer, and the sled dogs much more numerous. Tasiilaq offers excellent opportunities to explore, with excellent hiking routes such as the Flower Valley easily accessible from town. For those wishing to delve into Tunumiit culture, visit the museum, located 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. For those wishing to indulge in some retail therapy, visit the Stunk Artist’s Workshop, where skilled craftsmen create beautiful pieces from natural local materials.

Tasiilaq

Day 5

At sea, en route to Ittoqqortoormiit

Day 6

Ittoqqortoormiit

Entering Scoresbysund, Earth’s largest and longest fjord system, one could be forgiven for not realising this huge 35km inlet is a fjord at all! Scoresbysund is named for English whaler and explorer William Scoresby, one of the first Europeans to map this region; the local name for this vast fjord system, Kangertittivaq, is a typical Greenlandic understatement, roughly meaning ‘The Rather Large Fjord’.

The only settlement in this region is Ittoqqortoormiit (meaning ‘the People who Live in Big Houses), which surely ranks among the most remote communities on Earth. As the name suggests, the town is relatively new, having been established by Danish authorities in 1925. Colonists were relocated from the Ammassalik region further south in response to what were seen as poor living conditions in the area, as well to establish Danish sovereignty in the region during a territorial dispute with Norway. While the establishment of the town was challenging, the settlers soon realised the region was hugely rich in game, with excellent hunting and trapping opportunities. This tradition continues to this day – the majority of residents continue to live a subsistence hunting lifestyle, essential in a town where supply ships arrive only once or twice each summer. The only access to the outside world is via the heliport to the nearby airport, from where small aircraft depart for Iceland.

Ittoqqortoormiit is a town with a strong sense of community and traditional culture, where foreigners are welcomed warmly. The town hosts an excellent museum, a beautiful traditional Greenlandic church, and locals often welcome visitors to their community wearing colourful traditional costumes. The town represents a wonderful introduction to the culture and lifestyle of Northeast Greenland, in one of the most spectacular natural locations anywhere in the world.

Ittoqqortoormiit

Days 7-9

Northeast Greenland National Park

During the night we cruise past the rugged peaks of the Liverpool Land peninsula and reach the mouth of King Oscar Fjord. We are now in the vast Northeast Greenland National Park; measuring almost a million square kilometers (almost twice the size of France), this is the largest National Park and the largest area of protected land on Earth and includes the northernmost land on the planet.

There are no permanent settlements in the area, but up to the middle of the 19th Century various nomadic Inuit hunters lived in this spectacular region, harvesting the natural riches of the area.

The program for our days in the National Park depends on wind, sea, weather and ice conditions. In such a remote region so far north, Mother Nature dictates all human activity. Our exact route and activities will be determined by the Captain and the Expedition Leader jointly and are typically announced the night before.

Some of the interesting landings we may visit include the 1300-meter-high rock wall Bastionen on the coast of Ella Island. Further north we may pass pass the small Maria Island, where the Germans had a camp during World War II. The Germans’ attempt to gain a foothold in Greenland during World War II is a fascinating story in itself. Past Ruth Island, we hope to make a landing on Ymer Island at Blomsterbugten, a small oasis in the national park. From the tiny hunting lodge Varghytten we can enjoy the formidable view of the characteristic, flat mountain Teufelsschloss, where the multicolored rock layers testify to the area’s exciting geological development. From here, we may aim to sail by the mighty iceberg-producing Waltershausen Glacier before entering beautiful Moskusokse Fjord. On our way back towards open sea we might aim for landings on Jameson Land, which is a breeding ground for polar bears.

Wherever we go in this vast wilderness, our guests can be sure of encountering excitement, adventure, and mind-boggling natural beauty. Our experienced Expedition Team will be on hand to provide guests with as much knowledge of the region as possible; either in hand-crafted lectures, evening recaps, onshore, or over a cup of coffee on deck. Throughout our time in the National Park, our skilled Expedition Team members will be constant lookout for the charismatic wildlife of the region – keep your binoculars handy!

Northeast Greenland National Park

Day 10