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Jewels of the Arctic - Greenland Solar Eclipse

A rare Arctic journey from Svalbard’s wilds to East Greenland’s icy fjords, ending with a total solar eclipse in polar silence.

Highlights Itinerary Map Dates Extras

Starting at:

Per Person

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Length

15 Days

Embark

Oslo

Disembark

Reykjavik

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Highlights

Explore Svalbard’s icy fjords where walrus rest on sea ice and cliffs come alive with puffins, guillemots, and little auks.
Discover East Greenland’s icy fjords, encounter musk oxen, and visit remote Ittoqqortoormiit on an unforgettable Arctic journey.
Witness a rare Arctic total solar eclipse, a breathtaking celestial event above Greenland’s ancient, glacier-carved landscapes.

This awe-inspiring voyage transports you from the gateway city of Oslo to the heart of the High Arctic, where the wild realms of Svalbard and East Greenland await with staggering scenery, rich wildlife, and a rare astronomical event. Beginning in Longyearbyen, you’ll sail through Svalbard’s dramatic fjords and fossil-rich polar deserts, where walrus lounge on sea ice and seabirds wheel above towering cliffs. Then, crossing the Greenland Sea, your journey continues to one of the most remote and visually arresting coastlines in the world: East Greenland.

Ships

No departures available at this time

Standard Activities

Bird Watching

Hiking

Historic Hut Visits

Lectures

Photography Workshops

Polar Plunge

About the Jewels of the Arctic - Greenland Solar Eclipse

Departing during Arctic summer, this expedition offers near-continuous daylight—ideal for wildlife encounters, photography, and deep exploration. The warmer months also awaken Greenland’s tundra, bursting into color beneath jagged peaks and revealing the full spectrum of life, from musk oxen and reindeer to Arctic foxes and circling seabirds. Weather and ice permitting, your ship will navigate labyrinthine fjords filled with calving glaciers and colossal icebergs, while off-ship excursions by Zodiac, kayak, and on foot bring you closer to this untouched world.

A centerpiece of this voyage is the chance to witness a total solar eclipse from within the path of totality—an exceedingly rare opportunity in such a remote and pristine environment. As the moon slips across the face of the sun and the Arctic plunges into sudden twilight, you’ll share this extraordinary moment with fellow travelers in a scene of profound natural wonder.

Along the way, you’ll visit Inuit villages like Ittoqqortoormiit, where you can connect with Greenlandic culture in one of the world’s most isolated settlements. You’ll hike among ancient Thule sites, bubbling fumaroles, and multi-hued sedimentary formations that speak to the Earth’s deep history.

This expedition is ideal for curious travelers, photographers, stargazers, and those yearning to connect with the raw beauty of the polar world. It’s a journey filled with unforgettable firsts—from witnessing totality over glacial fjords to stepping foot on remote Arctic tundra—leaving you with stories, photographs, and memories few on Earth will ever share.

Itinerary Day to Day

Day 1

Arrive in Oslo

Having made your way to Oslo, you will be met by a representative and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, please visit the Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to share with you about pre-embarkation or to provide you with information about where to dine, withdraw cash or purchase last minute items from a local pharmacy or supermarket.

The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardermoen

Oslo

Embarkation Point

Day 2

Fly to Longyearbyen, embarkation

Days 3-5

Svalbard

Days 6-7

At sea

Days 8-13

East Greenland

In the coming days, a host of choices are available to us, and depending on ice and weather conditions, the east coast of Greenland is ours to explore. Our experienced Expedition Team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor our itinerary on a day-to-day basis. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and encounters with wildlife. We generally attempt up to two landings or Zodiac excursions per day, including cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales feeding near the surface.

East Greenland contains some of the Arctic’s most impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp ice-clad peaks up to 2,000 m (6,562 ft) high. Gigantic icebergs calved from glaciers drift throughout the fjord system creating breathtaking scenery. The landscape is filled with multi-colored tundra home to musk oxen and arctic hare. Throughout the area are ancient Thule archaeological sites, historical trappers’ huts, and modern Inuit hunters’ cabins.

A highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the region, with approximately 500 inhabitants. Here you can explore the village, the fascinating museum or sit in the beautiful Lutheran Church. The locals are friendly, and from underneath their Arctic fox-fur jackets, the shy young children are keen to say hello and practice their English. The community boasts an excellent museum, gift shop, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and the opportunity to meet Inuit people.

Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil mountains that protects areas from the strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything from muskox and arctic foxes to mountain hares and even reindeer near the fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds including common eider, glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, and arctic terns gracefully gliding or plunging into icy bays for zooplankton.

The voyage builds with excitement as we set sail towards our prime viewing position within the totality path. Enjoy lunch onboard while our crew expertly navigates the ship towards the perfect spot to witness the eclipse. As anticipation mounts, gather on deck with fellow eclipse chasers in preparation for the celestial event. The drama unfolds as the moon starts to take a bite out of the sun, slowly plunging the landscape into an ethereal twilight. Then, the grand finale arrives. Totality transforms the day into night for a breathtaking 2 minutes and 18 seconds. As totality recedes, the sun peeks through, creating a stunning diamond ring effect. Relax and relive this unforgettable experience with your fellow travelers over a celebratory dinner. Note: subject to weather, cloud cover, sea state, ice and other conditions beyond our control.

Continue to explore the fjord systems in Greenland, each one encompassing several smaller fjords and sounds. Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil and the surrounding mountains offering protection from strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything from musk ox and arctic foxes to mountain hares, and even reindeer, near the fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds, including the glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, common raven and common eider.

There are great hiking options in the area, where flowering tundra plants, scattered bones of whales and muskox from centuries of hunting by the Inuit and fumaroles can be found. These are areas where heated groundwater boil to the surface creating bubbling pools and mineral formations as the water reacts with the atmosphere.

The area also boasts some of the most striking sedimentary sandstone, shale, and siltstone formations imaginable. The layers of sediment here are estimated to have taken about 4,000 years to be laid down, and the alternating colors and patterns in the layers of rocks are stunningly beautiful.

Ittoqqortoormiit

Day 14