Welcome to AE Expeditions’ Wild Greenland: An Active Arctic Expedition.
Greenland is not simply the backdrop to this expedition—it is the terrain. Designed for travellers who want to move, climb and explore, this high-energy journey brings you into direct contact with West Greenland’s ice, mountains, tundra and remote coastal communities. We aim to step onto the Greenland Ice Sheet in crampons, hike part of the legendary Arctic Circle Trail, climb towards Lyngmark Glacier and explore Sisimiut by bike if local access allows. Between these headline adventures, Zodiac cruises, kayaking, wildlife encounters and spontaneous landings keep the pace dynamic.
This is true expedition travel, so flexibility is essential. Activities, routes and landings are subject to weather, ice, local conditions, permits and the judgement of the Expedition Team. Not every experience can be guaranteed—but that freedom to adapt is exactly what allows us to pursue the best adventure available each day.
Dedicated Sea Kayaking Program
Travellers who select the sea kayaking program will aim to paddle on every available expedition day. Specialist guides choose routes daily according to weather, ice and local conditions—from sheltered fjords and remote coastlines to iceberg-filled bays. Kayakers may occasionally follow a separate schedule or miss part of a shore activity. All launches remain subject to wind, sea state, visibility and the guides’ safety assessment.
Highlights
• Strap on crampons and step onto the Greenland Ice Sheet for a guided hike across one of the planet’s great frozen landscapes.
• Choose your challenge in Sisimiut: tackle part of the Arctic Circle Trail, climb towards Nasaasaaq or explore by bike.
• Hike beside the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, where immense icebergs calve from one of the Northern Hemisphere’s most productive glaciers.
• Choose your Disko Island challenge: climb towards Lyngmark Glacier for immense views across iceberg-filled Disko Bay, or follow the Kuannit trail through tundra and volcanic landscapes to striking coastal basalt formations.
• Join the dedicated sea kayaking program and aim to paddle every expedition day through fjords, along remote coastlines and among sculpted ice, conditions permitting.
• Meet Greenlanders in remote western communities and experience a living Arctic culture shaped by land, ice and sea.
Aurora Expeditions operates in remote and challenging environments, and in the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and adventurous attitude when joining our voyages. This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond our control.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Reykjavík
On arrival in Reykjavík, you will be met by an AE Expeditions representative and transferred to the group hotel. Visit the AE Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your cabin luggage tags and speak with our ground operations team. They will share any important pre-embarkation information and can assist with local dining suggestions, cash withdrawals or last-minute purchases. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense. Accommodation: Reykjavík airport hotel (to be advised).
Day 2 Fly to Kangerlussuaq and embark
Please ensure your main luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Keep valuables, travel documents, medication and anything needed during the day in your hand luggage. Your main bag will be delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival onboard. After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board our charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Here, Sylvia Earle awaits at the head of a vast fjord. Once onboard, settle into your cabin before joining the mandatory safety briefings. This evening, meet your Expedition Team and crew over a welcome dinner as we prepare for the active days ahead.
Day 3 Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq sits at the end of a 190-kilometre (118-mile) fjord and provides rare road access to Greenland’s vast interior. Today, we aim to offer a choice of active experiences across a landscape shaped by ice, rock and tundra. Final options will depend on permits, weather, surface conditions and local operations. Greenland Ice Sheet Hike – Limited Places Journey towards Point 660, where the road ends at the edge of the ice. After a safety briefing and equipment fitting, step into crampons and follow an experienced guide onto the Greenland Ice Sheet. Move across an extraordinary frozen surface of ridges, channels and ancient blue ice while learning how this immense body of ice continues to shape Greenland and influence the planet. Previous crampon experience is not required, but good fitness, balance and mobility are essential. Point 660 and Russell Glacier Discover two of Kangerlussuaq’s defining ice landscapes. Stand at Point 660 for sweeping views across the ice sheet, then continue towards Russell Glacier, where a towering wall of compressed ice rises above the surrounding moraine. Short walks and viewpoints reveal the glacier’s immense scale and the raw terrain left behind by its movement. Tundra Wildlife Safari Head into the broad glacial valleys surrounding Kangerlussuaq in search of musk oxen, reindeer and Arctic birdlife. Explore by vehicle and on foot, scanning the open tundra with local guides who understand the animals, seasonal conditions and subtle signs of movement across this expansive landscape. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the search is all part of the adventure. Kayakers will aim to launch in Kangerlussuaq Fjord, following a route selected for the day’s conditions and operating separately from the inland excursions.
Day 4 Sisimiut
After sailing north across the Arctic Circle, we arrive in Sisimiut, Greenland’s second-largest city and an outdoor-adventure hub framed by mountains, sea and open tundra. Colourful houses climb the rocky slopes above the harbour, while the old blue church and its whalebone gate offer a glimpse into the city’s distinctive character. People have lived in this region for approximately 4,500 years. The Saqqaq, Dorset and Thule cultures each left traces across the landscape, and modern Sisimiut remains a vibrant centre of Greenlandic life, where traditional knowledge, fishing and hunting coexist with contemporary Arctic culture. Today is about choosing how far you want to go. Strong hikers may tackle a section of the legendary Arctic Circle Trail, which begins beyond Sisimiut and stretches through Greenland’s backcountry towards Kangerlussuaq. Another option includes climbing towards Nasaasaaq, the rugged mountain dominating the city, where steep terrain is rewarded with far-reaching views. If bikes and local permissions can be secured, we also hope to explore Sisimiut on two wheels, linking the harbour, neighbourhoods and surrounding trails. Shorter guided walks will reveal coastal viewpoints, colourful streets and cultural landmarks at a more relaxed pace. Final routes and activities remain subject to conditions, access and group safety. Meanwhile, kayaking-program participants may trace Sisimiut’s rocky coastline, sheltered bays or small islands beneath the city’s dramatic mountain backdrop.
Day 5 Ilulissat
Ilulissat means ‘icebergs’, and the name could not be more fitting. Nearby Sermeq Kujalleq—also known as Jakobshavn Glacier—moves with extraordinary speed, releasing immense volumes of ice into the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay. The result is a constantly changing procession of icebergs, some rising like mountains above the sea. Set out on foot along the Icefjord trail network, crossing open rock and tundra towards viewpoints over the ice-filled fjord. Choose a route suited to your energy and experience, from a shorter walk to a more sustained hike revealing the landscape from different angles. The sound of shifting ice and the scale of the frozen panorama make this one of Greenland’s most powerful experiences. There may also be time to visit the architecturally striking Icefjord Centre and learn more about the glacier, its surrounding environment and thousands of years of human connection to this place.
Days 6–8 Disko Island and Surrounds
Over the next three days, we leave the timetable behind. Ice, weather and opportunity will shape our exploration of Disko Bay and its surrounding fjords. We may Zodiac cruise among sculpted icebergs, scout a remote shore for an unplanned hike or visit a rarely reached community. The kayaking group may seek out a longer paddle in sheltered water, while everyone can keep watch for humpback and minke whales, seals and seabirds as the adventure unfolds. Volcanic Disko Island rises dramatically from the bay, its black-sand beaches, broad valleys and dark mountains contrasting with the granite landscapes found elsewhere in Greenland. We plan to use Qeqertarsuaq as a launch point for some of the voyage’s biggest adventures, while retaining the freedom to adapt to local conditions. The headline challenge is the hike towards Lyngmark Glacier. Beginning near sea level, the route climbs steadily through tundra and mountain terrain, gaining around 800 metres (2,625 feet) towards the ice above Qeqertarsuaq. It is a demanding day requiring strong fitness, sure footing and stamina, but the reward is an immense panorama across Disko Bay, scattered islands and drifting icebergs. Snow, trail and glacier conditions will determine how far the group can safely progress. For a more moderate challenge, the Kuannit trail follows the coast through tundra and volcanic terrain to basalt columns, freshwater springs and open views across the bay, with continued opportunities to watch for whales and seabirds. Beyond these planned highlights, conditions may open the door to additional hikes, Zodiac cruises, kayaking or a community visit. Routes, landings and activities remain subject to weather, ice, permits and the Expedition Team’s assessment—but with three days in the region, we have time to pursue the strongest opportunities across Disko Island and its surrounds. Throughout our time in the region, kayakers will aim to explore Disko Island’s volcanic coastline and sheltered, iceberg-filled bays whenever conditions allow.
Day 9 Disembark in Kangerlussuaq and fly to Reykjavík
Return to Kangerlussuaq, where we farewell the crew and Expedition Team before transferring to the airport for our charter flight to Reykjavík. On arrival, continue your onward journey with the satisfaction of having explored Greenland under your own power—on ice, trail, water and tundra. Note: Our arrival time in Reykjavík depends on the allocated charter-flight slots, which we expect to receive in March 2028. We recommend allowing flexibility when arranging onward travel.
*Please note mini bar items are chargeable in all staterooms except Junior Suite and Captain’s Suite. Some of these rooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms.
Features
Wheelchair Accessible
Private Balcony
Full Size Window
Desk area
Closet Space
Room-controlled Thermostat
Room Safe
42" Flat-Screen TV
Mini Bar
Cabin inclusions
A 3-in-1 polar jacket per person (polar voyages only).
Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
Marine Mammal Spotting
Photography
Polar Plunge
Scenic Cruising
Trips Ashore
Walking
Wildlife Watching
Zodiac Cruising
Inclusions
• All transfers as specified in the itinerary.
• One night’s hotel accommodation in Reykjavík, including breakfast, on Day 1.
• Return charter flights between Reykjavík and Kangerlussuaq on Days 2 and 9.
• Onboard accommodation during the voyage, including daily cabin service.
• All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices during the voyage.
• Premium spirits, cocktails, beer, wine and liqueurs during the voyage.
• Captain’s Farewell Reception, including a four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.
• All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
• Educational lectures and guiding services provided by the Expedition Team.
• Complimentary access to the onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic for an initial consultation.
• One 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket.
• Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
• Comprehensive pre-departure information.
• Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
• Gratuities for local guides and drivers, and at venues and local sites, during included excursions and enrichment activities.
• Wi-Fi*.
*Please note that we travel to remote regions, where connectivity can be unreliable.
Exclusions
• International or domestic flights, unless specified in the itinerary.
• Transfers, unless specified in the itinerary.
• Airport arrival or departure taxes.
• Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
• Travel insurance and emergency evacuation charges.
• Hotel accommodation and meals, unless specified in the itinerary.
• Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.
• Items of a personal nature, including onboard gratuities*, laundry, personal clothing, medical expenses, and email or phone charges.
*A gratuity of USD $20 per person, per day for the crew and Expedition Team will be automatically added to your onboard account. You may remove or adjust this amount when settling your account. For suite guests, this gratuity is included as part of the Suite Benefits.
We love celebrating our loyal expeditioners who return to explore with us. After your first Aurora Expeditions voyage, you’ll automatically achieve Bronze Adventurer status. The more voyages you embark on, the higher you climb—progressing to Silver and eventually Gold!
Voyages with Aurora Expeditions are such a fantastic choice for solo travelers, giving you the chance to experience the world’s most remote and incredible destinations with like-minded travelers and our expert guides, while on board our small, social and welcoming ships.
