Greenland : Treasures of Southern Greenland

Visit Greenland and the Arctic Circle on one of our cruises which will take you on an epic adventure around the world's biggest island, dazzling all of your senses. For twelve days you will encounter astonishing wildlife, spectacular scenery and intriguing culture at every port. Our Greenland Arctic Circle Cruises are the best way to visit a truly captivating island.

South Greenland to Iceland
South of the Arctic Circle the world’s largest island takes on the true mantle of a ‘Green Land’. The most fertile part of this vast frozen region, its rugged landscape takes on an altogether softer aspect as its valleys and hills lie swathed beneath a deep blanket of verdant flora. Taking in the southern reaches of Greenland's culturally diverse western and eastern coastlines we enjoy the magnificent splendour of its spectacular natural attractions and staggering wildlife, as well as its vibrant mix of native and colonial interaction on a voyage of true discovery.

Greenland Past and Present
Beginning our voyage in the icy realms of Kangerlussuaq, ‘the long fjord’, we journey south, following the western coastline and crossing the Arctic Circle as we head for Greenland’s oldest town, Nuuk. The country’s capital, it is an eclectic mix of the old and the new, a fusion of its colonial past with the trappings of modern life and a visit to this most fascinating of towns will give us a unique insight into the distinctive nature of life in these northern lands. Continuing along the coast we visit the southern communities of Ivittuut and Qaqortoq, stopping to visit cyrolite mines, spectacular sculpture parks and enjoying the natural wonders of the Karsakn Strait and the Great Lake as we learn more of the history and diversity of this wonderful region.

In the Footsteps of the Norsemen
Over a thousand years ago the Viking renegade Eric Raude was banished from his Icelandic homeland, and found sanctuary at the southern tip of what he was to later call “Green Land”. Following in Eric’s footsteps we will journey to the tiny settlement of Qassiarsuk, visiting its reconstructions of Eric’s longhouse and the church he built for his wife Tjodhildur. Then we will continue to the small island of Uunartoq, located off the point of Alluitsup Paa, a breathtakingly beautiful region of azure fjords, drifting icebergs and abundant marine life. Whales often play in the deep waters offshore. Here we will enjoy the warming waters of the island’s hot springs, revered since ancient times by the Inuit and the Norsemen for their therapeutic properties.

Wildlife and Inuits
From the comfort of our superbly appointed vessel we learn more of the history of the region and the wildlife that inhabits it. At Skjoldungen Island our Polar Cirkel boats will take us to some uninhabited mountainous coastline, to enjoy some of Greenland's most breathtaking scenery. Ringed seals are often here and if you look into the sky you may see fulmars, kittiwakes and gannets. As our journey starts to draw to a close we will experience a little of the traditional Inuit culture of colourful Tasiilaq, and have the opportunity to explore farther afield on foot and by dog sled, before finally arriving in Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital city.