Greenland Ships
The combination of Greenlandic life being largely focused on the coast, a ravishingly beautiful coastline and a limited infrastructure on land makes ship-based travel the perfect …
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Five reasons to book a Greenland adventure
- Truly magnificent mountainscapes and some of the planet's most spectacular fjords
- Chase the dazzling display of the Northern Lights
- Experience the immense Ilulissat Icefjord, or Scoresbysund's labyrinthine fjord system
- Learn about Greenland's rich culture – both past and present
- Land-based trips are possible, but the sheer size of the country means that travelling by boat allows you to take in much more
Swoop says
Greenland is just so pure and clean. Ice, thousands of years old, predates our impact on the world and somehow the air feels just as pure. Combined with scenery designed for giants, any time spent in Greenland is life changing.
Karl ONeill Arctic Sales Specialist
Our most popular Greenland voyages
Greenland is vast, and whether you choose to explore the wild east, populous west, or historic south coast, you can expect daily off-ship excursions showcasing the best of each distinct region.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
Sailing in August or September, explore the massive fjords of East Greenland and their legendary icebergs, spot musk oxen and visit ancient and modern Inuit settlements. Late summer provides a great chance of spotting the Northern Lights. A choice of…
- 10 Days
- $6,000
Join a 12-guest micro cruise to explore Scoresbysund in autumn. Witness the Northern Lights illuminating the fjords and discover a wild, pristine landscape on hikes across the autumnal tundra. Spot iconic Arctic wildlife like musk oxen and Arctic hares, and…
- 9 Days
- $18,995
Combining the majestic landscapes of remote East Greenland and a slice of western Iceland with all the trappings of travelling aboard a state-of-the-art luxury expedition ship, this trip overdelivers on every front. Enjoy the sensory overload of Arctic landscapes during…
- 16 Days
- $25,000
Embark on this epic fly and cruise 11- or 13-day expedition into the wildest, least visited corner of Greenland, which combines the labyrinthine Scoresbysund fjord system with the vast Northeast Greenland National Park. By day, navigate spectacular fjords and pass…
- 11 or 13 Days
- $21,995
Combining all of the jewels in West Greenland’s crown in a single trip, we know firsthand that this epic voyage is a real cracker. Explore the iconic sites of Ilulissat, Eqip Sermia and Uummannaq, alongside the remoteness of Eternity and…
- 11 Days
- $13,136
There are few wilder, more remote places on the planet than East Greenland. Travelling by a small, very comfortable custom-built expedition ship, this voyage aims to showcase the best of Greenland’s eye-popping scenery, vast ice and exotic wildlife. Walk the…
- 12 Days
- $19,769
Exploring East Greenland’s wild, dramatic coastline on board a small, custom-built polar ship, this is expedition cruising at its very best. Hike the autumnal tundra in search of musk oxen during the day, with a strong chance to see the…
- 11 Days
- $13,995
This might be a short trip but it packs a huge amount in. Sail among the ice of Disko Bay and spot humpbacks hunting herring; trek to the look out over Jakobshavn Glacier; explore the settlements of Sisimiut and Itilleq…
- 8 Days
- $5,266
Stay in a specially designed seasonal safari-style camp as your base and explore this little visited land by kayak, zodiac, motor boat, helicopter or on foot. The long summer days help maximise exploration, while the rustic luxury of the camp…
- 10 Days
- $15,795
East Greenland in May is still frozen and inaccessible, unless you’re travelling aboard this extraordinary icebreaker which is the only ship capable of pushing through the pack ice to explore this wild, pristine land in springtime. This is true polar…
- 11 Days
- $25,178
Focused on East Greenland’s Ammassalik region, specifically the incredible ice-choked Sermilik Fjord, this trip offers the best of this entire coastline in microcosm. Travelling slowly in a rarely visited area, maximising time off ship to hike and explore the tundra,…
- 10 Days
- $9,690
The Disko Bay to Uummannaq coastline arguably encapsulates the best of West Greenland. Travelling slowly, maximising time off ship as much as possible, and benefitting from a maximum of only 12 guests, this trip gets under the skin of this…
- 10 Days
- $12,290
What our customers think of Greenland voyages
Choosing your voyage to Greenland
When to visit Greenland
Greenland is huge and bound in ice for much of the year. The ships that do explore this beautiful remote land travel in July, August and September each year. For the largest choice of voyages, book as early as you can.
Later in August and September is your best chance of seeing the Northern Lights, but no matter when you travel, ice is a big factor. So, you'll need to be flexible and consider the strength of the ship you choose.
You can expect temperatures in Greenland to remain well above freezing, even early in the season.
Iceberg reflections in Scoresbysund
Greenland ships
Cruising through Scoresby Sund
Your ship is your floating hotel and basecamp, so it's crucial to choose the right one. Smaller ships plying Greenland's waters host around 50 passengers, and the largest around 200.
Levels of comfort and cabin types vary – we can help you to find a ship that best meets all of your preferences.
A ship's ice-strengthened capabilities and stability are important criteria if considering either an itinerary with a sea crossing, or where there's a chance of experiencing heavy ice, such as in East Greenland or the Northwest Passage.
Which region of Greenland to visit
West Greenland
West Greenland has a spectacular coastline dotted with pretty, colourfully-painted villages. Many voyages start and end in the settlement of Kangerlussauq, which sits at the head of a stunning fjord and close to the ice cap. It boasts a long airport runway and is the most populated region of Greenland. It's also a great place from which to start or end a Northwest Passage voyage.
The west coast is also home to the capital Nuuk, where you can discover the UNESCO world heritage site of Ilulissat Icefjord, with its huge icebergs and picturesque settlements.
These waters are rich in nutrients that nourish the countless whales and seals which call this home in the summer months.
Admire West Greenland's colourful houses
East Greenland
This is Greenland's wild side. Sparsely populated and lacking significant infrastructure, exploring the East of Greenland by any means other than boat is a challenge. You'll discover pristine landscape, sumptuous fjords and ice, all on a truly epic scale.
For the 3,500 residents of East Greenland, life has not changed significantly since the arrival of the Thule people. There is always a friendly welcome and a chance to learn about their customs while you explore this land of ice and mountains.
Expeditions in East Greenland usually focus on Soresbysund fjord and are often combined with travel to Iceland and Svalbard; making for a truly spectacular Arctic experience.
Electric blue icebergs in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland
South Greenland
Perhaps the most verdant region of Greenland, South Greenland is commonly referred to as the 'Garden of Greenland'. Eric the Red is said to have first landed here, naming the country as he did.
Southern Greenland is steeped in history, with beautiful fjords and colourful valleys offering amazing trekking experiences for the active explorer. There are even hot springs to relax in at the end of a long trek.
The culture is also distinct. Small farming communities are joined by dirt tracks and hiking trails.
Expeditions in South Greenland often start in Iceland and continue on to West Greenland.
Narsarsuaq, South Greenland
Swoop says
For anyone who has been to Patagonia, or is looking to be a pioneer into a wild and vast territory, Greenland has to be the next trip they do. There can be very few destinations in the world that offer so much variety.
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Arctic
Highlights of Greenland
Marine wildlife
While there is plenty of wildlife in Greenland, it tends to avoid settlements and can be a bit harder to spot than in other parts of the Arctic.
On land you will be lucky to see a polar bear; although they are there and have been known to walk into some of the remote communities. Musk Oxen are much more common.
You are much more likely to see a whole host of marine wildlife such as humpbacks, beluga and Greenland whale as well as narwhal and seals. There is also a rich tapestry of birdlife, both on the sea and the land, with species such as sabines gull, loons and the white tailed eagle.
Humpback whale diving
The Northern Lights
Whether you see the Northern Lights depends on the timing of your cruise. In the high summer (June to August) you won't see them due to the constant 24 hours of daylight.
The best chances for experiencing the extraordinary Aurora Borealis are on a September voyage when the early-autumn nights are rapidly drawing in and provide the ideal conditions.
From our personal experience Greenland is a particularly good place for seeing the Northern Lights, especially if you're after a really stunning light show.
The spectacular North Lights
Greenlandic Inuit
Around 1000 AD, the ancestors of today's Inuit migrated to Greenland, mastering the Arctic through whaling, kayaks, and dog sleds. As a marine people reliant on the sea, most live in coastal towns like the capital, Nuuk.
Though Danish colonisation and post-WWII modernisation introduced permanent homes and Western schools, Inuit culture remains deeply rooted in traditional values. Resourcefulness, storytelling, and subsistence hunting endure alongside modern life.
Today, local guides share this unique heritage through dog sledding, hiking, and legend-telling, offering visitors an authentic look at a resilient culture that beautifully blends ancient traditions with contemporary Arctic living.
A resident of Gjoa Haven
Stunning landscapes
Navigating Greenland’s remote coastlines reveals an unforgettable landscape of raw Arctic majesty. Ships glide through massive, labyrinthine fjords lined with towering granite peaks.
Along the way, giant glaciers carve their path to the sea, regularly releasing colossal icebergs that drift in brilliant shades of white and electric blue.
Stepping ashore, guided hikes across the vast tundra offer a completely different view. Trekking on permafrost and a carpet of mosses, past colourful Arctic wildflowers, you might spot roaming muskoxen or Arctic foxes.
The flora of East Greenland in summer
Midnight Sun
Discover the wonder of Greenland under the midnight sun, a summer experience where continuous daylight lasts 24 hours a day.
While this endless sun may briefly distort your perception of time, it soon feels thrilling, granting you extra hours to venture outdoors.
Thanks to perpetual light, you have much more time to marvel at incredible landscapes and spot local wildlife at this time when animals are busiest during the warmer months.
View of the pack ice
History
Greenland’s history unfolds along its dramatic fjords, right where your cruise ship sails. Over 4,500 years ago, early Paleo-Inuit cultures migrated across the ice from North America, adapting to the harsh arctic climate.
By 985 AD, Norse Viking Erik the Red established settlements in the south – naming the island 'Greenland' to attract settlers – before mysterious climate changes caused their collapse in the 15th century.
In 1721, Danish missionary Hans Egede arrived, marking the start of Danish recolonisation and establishing trading posts that evolved into today's colourful coastal towns like Nuuk and Qaqortoq.
Ice-covered landscapes
Plan your trip to Greenland
Greenland Landing Sites
With planned daily excursions accompanied by your team of polar experts, expect active exploration on foot and by zodiac - from slaloming between icebergs, learning about the rich …
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Getting to Greenland
For such a large country surrounded by close neighbours, it isn’t a straightforward place to get to, but this is very much part of Greenland’s charm. Whether travelling by air …
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When to Visit Greenland
Greenland wears very different cloaks depending on when you choose to visit: spring, summer or autumn. Each has its own enchanting characteristics making it tough to decide which …
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Swoop says
Voyages to Greenland operate between June and early-September. This is when the opening up of the ice allows passage along the coastline. However, East Greenland cruises, and those which visit Canada's Northwest Passage, are only in late August and September.
Greenland & Svalbard cruises
While Greenland has more than enough appeal on its own, combining East Greenland and its near neighbour, Svalbard, makes for a spectacular longer cruise of great contrast and variety.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
This extraordinarily varied two-centre combination Arctic voyage not only consistently overdelivers, but it's also sensibly priced for all you will experience. Travelling onboard an elegant, sturdy older ship, any shortcomings it may have in the luxury amenities department are more…
- 15 Days
- $6,142
Beginning deep inside the High Arctic and finishing in subarctic Iceland, we like this voyage for its diversity, sense of journey and extended time exploring East Greenland. Zodiac cruising among towering icebergs, glimpsing the Northern Lights and tracking musk oxen…
- 20 Days
- $10,000
Experience the best of two contrasting Arctic regions as they get ready for summer. Beginning in Reykjavík, this audacious voyage by expeditionary icebreaker ship arches north across the Arctic circle following the dramatic, ice-choked coastline of east Greenland, before steering…
- 17 Days
- $38,704
Beginning in Svalbard before sailing west across the Greenland Sea and exploring Greenland’s long eastern coastline to finish in Iceland, this is an audacious Arctic journey of startling diversity and contrast. Spectacular landscapes, towering glaciers and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters all…
- 15 Days
- $22,995
Introductions to the High Arctic don’t come much better. Traverse wildlife-rich Svalbard via East Greenland’s towering icebergs and autumnal tundra, then continue on to Iceland. Aurora sightings are possible at any point.…
- 15 Days
- $14,181
This comprehensive Arctic triumvirate encompassing Svalbard, East Greenland and Iceland offers the best of the Arctic: some of the best wildlife viewing with spectacular scenery, unspoiled fjords, gigantic icebergs and Inuit communities. You may also be lucky enough to see…
- 14 Days
- $11,495
Embark on this epic, sweeping Arctic odyssey spanning Svalbard's rich wildlife, remote Jan Mayen, Greenland's rugged east coast, and Iceland's stunning western fjords. Explore isolated settlements, hike the tundra, kayak among glowing icebergs, and search for polar bears, walrus, fox,…
- 16 Days
- $33,000
Greenland & Canadian Arctic cruises
Divided by a short sail across the Davis Strait, combining the spectacular coast and picturesque villages of West Greenland with the wildlife and history of the Canadian Arctic works brilliantly.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
Combining little-visited southeast Baffin Island with the towering icebergs and charming communities of West Greenland, this is an unusual and fascinating exploration of two very different Arctic regions divided by Baffin Bay. Sailing on an all-inclusive luxury polar ship, with…
- 17 Days
- $21,250
Circumnavigate legendary Baffin Bay as part of this extraordinary Arctic adventure which cherry picks the region’s highlights. From West Greenland’s spectacular glaciers and pretty Inuit villages to the remoteness and rich wildlife of Baffin Island, this is a journey of…
- 17 Days
- $18,127
True adventurers wanted! Spend 11 whole days exploring the remote, virtually unvisited borderlands where Greenland and the Canadian Arctic meet. No other expedition ship travels this far north. Flying from Ottawa to Resolute, you’ll sail historic waterways, explore glacier-carved islands…
- 13 Days
- $11,995
For an extraordinary Arctic introduction, join this unique full circumnavigation of Baffin Bay’s icy waters aboard a comfortable, state-of-the-art expedition ship. Travelling clockwise, you will navigate deep fjords, witness towering icebergs and explore remote sites. Venturing further north than almost…
- 21 Days
- $16,627
Spending time exploring Canada’s historic Northwest Passage and West Greenland, we like this voyage’s balance and variety as much as exploring little visited spots such as Thule, one of the northernmost towns in the world, and Smith Sound. Big ice,…
- 17 Days
- $20,521
This comprehensive westbound voyage stands out for its compelling combination of West Greenland, the east coast of Baffin Island and the historic Northwest Passage. Jaw-dropping scenery, towering icebergs, thrilling wildlife encounters, Inuit community visits and fascinating history pervade this epic…
- 17 Days
- $20,521
We love this voyage for its breathtaking variety – landscape, wildlife, habitat and culture – as you journey south from the icy home of the Inuit, through the boreal forest belt, to finish in Newfoundland, with its Viking and Celtic…
- 14 Days
- $12,921
Ilulissat glacier at sunset
A hiker overlooks a glacial front
The fluke of a diving humpback whale
Northern lights over the Greenland Ice Cap in Spring
Admiring pancake ice from the bow
Sisimiut blanketed in winter snow
Muskox in the lowlands during summer
Ice sculptures in Scoresbysund
The beautiful low light of an early season sunrise
Majestic glacial ice in Disko Bay
Ready to Book Your Arctic Adventure?
1. Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
