Tour In The Wake Of Eric The Red - From Iceland To Greenland 2025

Transport

Ocean Albatros is the ideal vessel for small-ship cruising due to her sturdy construction and X-Bow®-Infinity class, which provides high stability in rough weather and allows for the smoothest movements on high waves, and a Solas 2012 classification which facilitates a safe return to port. The vessel is part of a brand new generation of low-energy vessels, with 4 diesel engines and 2 electro engines, all controlled electronically to optimize speed and fuel consumption.

Guide

All our cruises have an English-speaking Expedition Team. Our expedition cruise team consists of expedition leaders and staff, biologists, and professionals who have extensive knowledge of Polar Regions and a passion for exploration. The team speak several languages and are eager to assist you throughout the journey. We aim to include and support the local areas that we visit: you will often find that our onboard staff are from destinations visited on the itinerary.

Others

12-day/11-night cruise on Ocean Albatros in a shared outside double stateroom with a private bathroom in the category chosen Flights between Kangerlussaq - Copenhagen via Keflavik and Group Transfer between Kangerlussaq Airport and the vessel. Value: USD 650/pax English-speaking expedition staff Near-port walks with the expedition team Nature hikes and Zodiac cruises per itinerary Information briefings and lectures by the expedition team Special photo workshop Full board on the ship Dinner drink package Free coffee, tea, and afternoon snacks on the ship Welcome and Farewell cocktails Taxes, tariffs, and landing fees Digital visual journal link after the voyage, including voyage log, gallery, species list, and more

Meals

Full board is included on all cruises – Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon snacks. The program also includes free tea and coffee 24 hours a day as well as a welcome and farewell cocktail. To accommodate different tastes and dietary requirements, dinners always include a meat option, fish option and vegetarian option. Our fully equipped onboard bar offers a wide variety of cocktails, beers, non-alcoholic beverages and water. All meals on board the vessel is chef-prepared. If you have special dietary requirements (food allergies, intolerances, health conditions or religious preferences), please inform us as early as possible - ideally, no later than 2 weeks before departure. In order to ensure efficient service, please re-confirm your requirements with the crew upon boarding the ship.

Flights

This package includes the flight between Kangerlussaq and Copenhagen for the return journey after the voyage. Each customer is then responsible to book their own flight from Copenhagen to their final destination. The flight to Reykjavik, where the expedition starts, is not part of the package. Each customer is required to arrange their own flight to Reykjavik independently. We include the flight from Kangerlussaq due to its remote location, which can pose challenges in securing flights. Copenhagen, being well-connected to most cities, ensures good accessibility for our customer from all around the world.

Accommodation

Ocean Albatros has total of 94 comfortable staterooms and suites, all with unobstructed sea view, most with their own balcony. All stateroom types contain a safety box, television, refrigerator, several 230 W power and USB outlets—additionally, bathrobes, slippers, toiletries (body wash, lotion, shampoo) and a hairdryer are also included. Learn more about different cabin types under STATEROOMS here: https://albatros-expeditions.com/ships/ocean-albatros As a solo traveller, you might consider the Category G cabin, which is a single room. Albatros Expeditions also offers solo travellers the option of occupying a cabin by themselves (in exchange for paying a single supplement, 75%) or, to share a cabin with other, same-gendered solo travellers - either in a Category C (Balcony Stateroom) or a Category F (Triple Porthole Stateroom). In the event that a guest sharing a cabin decides they prefer the privacy of their own cabin while onboard, a single supplement will be applied to cover the extra cost of occupying a cabin alone.

Not included:

Optional

We offer the following optional experience, which can be booked and paid onboard – weather permitting: Kayaking (USD 345/person) - Exercise your body while engaging your mind and heart in an unforgettable outing, safely guided by Kayak masters throughout the journey. Although kayaking opportunities are possible in most locations during each excursion in the Antarctic region, weather, sea and ice conditions will dictate when and where, to ensure your safety and improve your experience. Learn more here: https://albatros-expeditions.com/excursions/kayaking

Insurance

To participate in this voyage a medical evacuation insurance coverage is mandatory for all Passengers. Albatros Expeditions (AE) has a minimum requirement of an Emergency Evacuation insurance of USD 200,000 per Passenger, as well as printed proof of insurance available for our Expedition staff if requested while onboard the Vessel. The medical insurance must be able to cover all existing health issues the Passenger might have. It must also cover medical treatment and medical evacuation in any of the areas travelled. AE is not responsible for any medical or health issues arising during the voyage. In case of an emergency medical situation, AE will seek to find the closest location on the voyage from where medical treatment and evacuation can be performed. The Master, medical staff, and AE’s Expedition Leader, shall decide the course of action related to any emergency medical situation together and the Passenger accepts this condition prior to embarkation.

Others

International flights Extra excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary Single room supplement and cabin upgrades Meals not on board the ship Beverages (other than coffee and tea and dinner-drink package) Tips for the crew (we recommend USD 16 per person per day) Personal expenses Transfer to the ship in Reykjavik Travel, cancellation, and senior insurance Anything not mentioned under ’Inclusions’

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Day 1 Reykjavík, Iceland, Embarkation
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Reykjavík, Iceland, Embarkation

The rock-like columns of Hallgrímskirkja Church loom over the city of Reykjavík, a hip Scandinavian capital which needs little introduction. With new Nordic cuisine, excellent shopping, fantastic excursions and an easy relaxed vibe, Reykjavik is one of Scandinavia’s most welcoming and exciting cities. Situated in the centre of the North Atlantic, Reykjavík is the perfect place to start Arctic adventures!

Our purpose-built expedition vessel awaits in the city’s bustling harbour, awaiting to welcome our guests. After the madatory safety drill, enjoy dinner and a glass of champagne as we follow the thousand-year-old Norse sea route towards Greenland.
Day 2 At Sea, Crossing The Denmark Strait
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

At Sea, Crossing The Denmark Strait

As Norse explorers once did, we will cross the Denmark Strait from Iceland to Greenland. Days at sea are never dull. We will arrange a variety of activities onboard for our guests to enjoy to engage the 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 simply watch the seabirds gliding along with the ship from our hot tubs, as your expedition vessel flies across the Denmark Strait.
Day 3 Tasiilaq, East Greenland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Tasiilaq, East Greenland

Our first port of call in Greenland is 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, 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. Otherwise, hike up the hill towards the hotel to enjoy some of the best views anywhere in the country.
Day 4 Ikateq And Kuummiut, East Greenland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ikateq And Kuummiut, East Greenland

In the morning, we will sail 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 into the airport was hazardous, with frequent fog masking the treacherous mountains. Huge recources 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), but leaving the rest of the equipment in place as an important part of regional history. Over 75 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.

We will spend the afternoon 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.

From Kuummiut, we will continue to navigate through the labyrinth of fjords, heading towards Sermilik.
Day 5 Sermilik, East Greenland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Sermilik, East Greenland

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 mostly originate at the vast Helheim Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in this icy country. The Helheim and other glaciers which empty into the fjord pour directly off the Greenland Ice Sheet, the edges of which can be seen to the east, rising thousands of metres towards the frozen core of this vast island.

The volume of ice will dictate our precise activities in Sermilikfjord, although options include coming ashore to marvel at the spectacular scenery and untouched nature of the area, or exploring on the water and marvelling at the natural ice sculptures of the area on a Zodiac cruise through the icebergs. Whatever we do, prepare to be amazed by the jaw-dropping beauty of this otherwordly place.
Day 6 Skjoldungen, Southeast Greenland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Skjoldungen, Southeast Greenland

Today’s adventure begins as we 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 sunny climate of the area. Various archaeological finds on the island which sits in the middle of the fjord suggests 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. A small weather station was also operated on the island by the Allies during WWII.

Today uninhabited, Skjoldungen sits almost 300km from the nearest village, with Mother Nature 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 on our approach and departure from this magnificent fjord too: you will not be disappointed!
Day 7 Prins Christian Sund And Aappilattoq
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Prins Christian Sund And Aappilattoq

South of Skjoldungen lies Kap Farvel, or Cape Farewell, which is 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, we 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 it’s typically descriptive name of Ikerasassuaq (’the Big Strait’), this 60 km long waterway reaches from the entrance on the southeastern coast of Greenland to the small village of Aappilattoq, connecting the Labrador and Irminger Seas.

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 which rise straight out of the water some reaching over 2,000m in height. 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.

In the afternoon, we will 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 Tasiilaq or even Kuummiut; life here moves at a slower pace, 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.
Day 8 Qassiarsuk And Itilleq Kujalleq
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Qassiarsuk And Itilleq Kujalleq

During the early morning, Ocean Albatros will sail through the majestic mountains of Tunulliarfik Fjord towards the small beach of Itilleq. 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.

Coming ashore in the morning at the sheltered bay of Itilleq, a farm trail beckons us to the village of Igaliku. During the morning, we will trek through the lush green hills to see the remains of the Norse Bishop’s palace at Garðar - once a place of great power and influence in this remote corner of the Norse world.

During the afternoon, we will reposition to the other side of the fjord to the 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 ’Brattahlíð’. Erik himself kept fiercely to the Norse gods, but his wife Thjodhild was a Christian. Legend has it, 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 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 whether deteriorating climate simply 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) can be seen, along with stunningly accurate reconstructions of Eric’s farm, where modern Inuit farmers continue to raise sheep to this day. 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 Brattahlíð and Garðar are today part of the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 9 At Sea, En Route To Nuuk
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

At Sea, En Route To Nuuk

From South Greenland, we will follow the rugged coast of this vast island northwards. All settlements in Greenland (with the exception of 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 up from the Atlantic to the west coast, enriching these wildlife-filled waters. During our day at sea, keep your eyes on the sea! Whales, seals and a huge variety of seabirds are common in these rich waters.
Day 10 Nuuk, Capital Of Greenland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Nuuk, Capital Of Greenland

A mixture of skyscrapers and traditional wooden houses, the quaint and the cosmopolitan, Nuuk is a city of contrasts. The vibrant bustling capital of Greenland, Nuuk feels much larger than it’s 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 2200BCE, and archaeological evidnece indicates waves of migration through the area as ancient hunters followed migrating prey. Around the year 100CE, Norse colonist from Iceland etablished 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 the area was Hans Egede, the controversial Danish missionary who ’rediscovered’ Greenland, founding Nuuk as Godthåb ("Good Hope") in 1728. Danish initiatives to modernise Greenland in the 1950s left a significant mark on Nuuk. While they brought significant improvements to the city’s infrastructure, the many large apartment blocks in the city attest to rapid (and sometimes haphazard) urbanisation. In 1979, the Home Rule Act created the Greenlandic Parliament (Inatsisartut), and proclaimed Nuuk the capital. The city’s population continues to rapidly grow, with new suburbs being constructed beneath Ukkusissat, the mountain which looms to the east of the city.

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 artefacts from the Paleo-Inuit and Norse periods, as well as the spellbinding Qilakistoq mummies. Explore Greenlandic culture at Katuaq, the city’s cultural centre and an architectural marvel; shop for authentic Greenlandic artworks in the city’s many boutique shops, or simply relax at a hip curbside café 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 indeed the world.
Day 11 Kangaamiut And Evighedsfjorden
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Kangaamiut And Evighedsfjorden

On the last full day of our expedition, we will arrive at the small village of Kangaamiut, an incredibly picturesque settlement in Greenland’s central Qeqqata region. Surrounded by cold rich waters and a vast back country brimming with game, life in Kangaamiut moves at a slower pace, and locals still live a largely traditional lifestyle, surviving by hunting and fishing. Hike to the heliport atop the hill for stunning views over the town and the surrounding fjordlands, or meet the friendly local people during a display of traditional clothing, foods, and seal-flensing. The artists of Kangaamiut are well-known throughout Greenland, and some of the locals’ most splendid work can be viewed in the town’s small museum.

In the afternoon, we will sail inland into Evighedsfjorden/Kangerlussuatsiaq, one of the many deep fjords carved between the steep mountains of this region. The Danish name ’Evighedsfjorden’ means ’The Eternity Fjord’, referring to the vast size of the inlet, while the Greenlandic name ’Kangerlussuatsiaq’ translates as ’The Rather Large Fjord’ - something of an understatement! Evighedsfjorden stretches around 100km into the glacier-clad mountains, bisecting the large ice cap which overlies much of the land between Nuuk and Sisimiut - Greenland’s two largest cities. We will aim to explore on a Zodiac cruise in front of the Evigheds Glacier, which flows into the fjord from the Maniitsoq Ice Cap above. Watch for calvings from the glacier, and guillemots and kittiwakes on the nearby bird cliffs.
Day 12 Kangerlussuaq, Disembarkation
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Kangerlussuaq, Disembarkation

During the night, we will sail up the 160-kilometer/100 mile Kangerlussuaq Fjord. After breakfast aboard the ship, we will bid a fond farewell to the ship’s crew, Expedition Team and fellow travelers before shuttling ashore by Zodiac. Due to Kangerlussuaq’s military history and present-day role as an important air travel hub, the town remains fairly isolated from Greenland’s rich cultural traditions, in comparison to other regions. While you still find cultural experiences when visiting Kangerlussuaq, the most impressive attraction is the surrounding nature, which is just beckoning to be explored. The town itself was largely constructed by the American military in the 1950s, and this small airport town has retained something of its Cold War atmosphere. Your Arctic adventure and time in Greenland concludes as we arrive at the sleek modern airport terminal - with memories to last a lifetime.

12 days tour

In The Wake Of Eric The Red - From Iceland To Greenland 2025

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Itinerary of your trip In The Wake Of Eric The Red - From Iceland To Greenland 2025

Reykjavík, Iceland, Embarkation

At Sea, Crossing The Denmark Strait

Tasiilaq, East Greenland

Ikateq And Kuummiut, East Greenland

Sermilik, East Greenland

Skjoldungen, Southeast Greenland

Prins Christian Sund And Aappilattoq

Qassiarsuk And Itilleq Kujalleq

At Sea, En Route To Nuuk

Nuuk, Capital Of Greenland

Kangaamiut And Evighedsfjorden

Kangerlussuaq, Disembarkation

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