Name: Greenland in Depth
Brand: Swan Hellenic
SKU: V2323082610

Reykjavík, despite its small size, is the capital of Iceland. At the top of the town stands the distinctive Hallgrímskirkja church, designed by renowned Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. The revitalised harbour area features the futuristic Harpa Concert Hall and the Maritime Museum, showcasing the city's cultural heritage A trip to Reykjavík would be incomplete without a visit to the Blue Lagoon, famous for its therapeutic geothermal waters.

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

On the craggy east coast of Greenland, the stunningly scenic, U-shaped Skjoldungen Fjord is surrounded by lofty snow-capped mountains, dwarf birch, Arctic wildflowers and willow forests ending with the Thrym Glacier. High rock walls, serpentine rivers and large crevasses of ice pillars known as seracs give way to carved icebergs in the fjord that gleam in a white to blue spectrum. You might also have the opportunity to see whales.

Zodiac Cruising and/or Nature Walk With your Swan Hellenic Expedition Team

Included

01 h 00 m

Navigate in the Skjoldungen fjord, far from any settlement. Enjoy the navigation in sometimes narrow passages, among the growlers in this area surrounded by many glaciers
Watch out for Arctic Wildlife like Polar Bear, seabirds and Musk ox
Enjoy spectacular landscapes and learn interesting facts about this most remote part of Greenland with your knowledgeable Swan Hellenic Expedition Team

Kayak With Swan Hellenic Expedition Team (single outing)

Optional

02 h 00 m

Observe scenery, coastlines, ice formations and polar wildlife from the comfort and silence of your kayak
Experience the polar regions, from water level, with all your senses as there is no interference with artificial sounds
Amazing opportunity to kayak in the world’s last great wilderness

A beautifully dramatic fjord in the south of Greenland, Prins Christian Sund offers breathtaking vistas of Greenland's wilderness. Magnificent granite cliffs plunge into crystal-clear waters. Minke whales are a common sight, and ringed seals are well-adapted to this harsh Arctic climate.

Colourful Nordic houses stand against mountain ridges, encircling Aappilattoq, a remote Inuit village in Greenland. Nestled within the icy wilderness of Prins Christian Sund, accessible by boat or helicopter, Aappilattoq is home to around 100 rugged individuals who make a living through fishing and hunting. Considered the southernmost inhabited area in Greenland, Aappilattoq is in fact at the midpoint of the west and east coasts.

Discover the tiny settlement of Aappilattoq

Included

02 h 00 m

See this picturesque settlement, perched at the edge of the water with towering mountains all around
See the locals in their daily life and learn how they survive in this harsh environment
Enjoy a very special moment with the local choir at the little church as choir singing has become an important element in Greenlandic national culture

The deserted mining town of Ivittuut (formerly Ivigtut) was once vital for WWII aircraft production with the world's largest reserve of cryolite, a mineral that produced aluminium. Abandoned houses, the enormous mine pit and above-ground cemetery reveal the history of this settlement. Scattered cryolite chunks on the rocky shore mix with relics like old engines from when Inuit used cryolite for snuff. Now only muskoxen inhabit this eerie place.

Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk has a thriving arts scene. Nuuk has a busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral, colourful wooden houses and avant-garde architecture. It also serves as the gateway to Inuit experiences and natural adventures on the fjords among the icy seas and spectacular mountains.

Town Walk with your Swan Hellenic Expedition Team

Included

01 h 00 m

Visit the Capital of Greenland with its modern Scandinavian architecture as well as the more traditional coloured houses
Discover the Greenland Museum which houses national treasures including the incredible set of 500 year old mummies that were frozen in an icy cave under stones for hundreds of years.
Roam around the old harbour with and its landmark, the red-wooden church

The northernmost city in Greenland, just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport. Abandoned settlements lie between Sisimiut and the Thule district to the north. The area is home to humpback whales, walrus, and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.

Historical Walk to the Tele Island

Optional

02 h 10 m

From Tele Island, see Sisimiut’s famous landmark, Nasaasaq Mountain, soaring 785 meters into the sky
Enjoy a walking tour of Sisimiut as you learn about the fascinating history if Inuit cultures that have used this location as a hunting grounds for many years
Other points of interest you will pass on your visit include a burial ground, the local kayak club and the arts and crafts shop

Panoramic Sisimiut & Sled-dogs

Included

01 h 30 m

From the comfort of our vehicle, you'll be treated to a panoramic tour of the city's iconic buildings
Drive to vantage point at the top of Sisimiut where an awe-inspiring view awaits
Visit where the majority of the local sled-dogs are kept and get to know their fascinating lives

Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat is home to many sled-dogs.

Sermermiut view point and Icefjord center

Included

02 h 30 m

Walk through a UNESCO World Heritage Sit
Learn about the ancient Inuit way of life
Take in the stunning view of the valley from the viewpoint

Shuttle to Ilulissat Icefjord, boardwalk and Icefjord centre

Included

02 h 30 m

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Icefjord and see the massive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier at the size of nearly 66,000 football fields wide
Hike along the World Heritage Trail boardwalk and discover amazing views of the icefjord and maybe even have some wildlife encounters
At the Fjord Centre, learn all about the cycle of the ice, the abundant wildlife around the icefjord and the human existence in the area throughout thousands of years

Known for its Inuit culture, whales and icebergs, Disko Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Western Greenland. The bay is also home to the Ilulissat Icefjord, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. First visited by Europeans in 1596, in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia, it has been an Inuit home for millennia. The village of Qeqertarsuaq embodies thriving Inuit traditions, preserving the cultural legacy.

Cruising among the spectacular icebergs

Included

01 h 00 m

Near Ilulissat, the famous Icefjord calves the most impressive icebergs of the northern hemisphere
The Sermeq Kujalleq is the biggest glacier and biggest ice stream outside Antarctica. As soon as you look onto the bay, these big icebergs are omnipresent.

Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq's history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen.

Hike to Russell Glacier

Optional

04 h 30 m

Kick your off-roading adventure into high gear as you travel the longest road in Greenland to reach the astounding Russell Glacier
Drive along the enormous Greenlandic Ice Sheet that stretches 2,500 km from North to South and 1,000 km from East to West
There will be plenty of stops for photos along the way where you might encounter some of the diverse wildlife of Greenland

Kayaking with Expedition Team

Optional

04 h 30 m

Greenland in Depth

Greenland in Depth

Trip Highlights