Greenland Cruise from Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavík — 16 Days

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s unlikely gateway: a small settlement set 190 kilometres inland at the head of a long fjord. Once a U.S. air base, it offers access to the ice sheet and guided excursions onto its immense white surface. Beyond town, tundra supports musk oxen and reindeer; nearby Russell Glacier reveals Greenland’s moving ice. Weather and distance shape every outing, so plan for conditions.

Sisimiut, Greenland

Set just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is Greenland’s second-largest town and a working fishing port. Brightly painted homes rise above the harbor. Boats and fishing vessels keep the waterfront firmly connected to daily life. At Sisimiut Museum, historic buildings and collections reveal Inuit heritage and the town’s colonial past. From town, trails open onto Arctic landscapes of mountains, lakes and broad tundra.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s unlikely gateway: a small settlement set 190 kilometres inland at the head of a long fjord. Once a U.S. air base, it offers access to the ice sheet and guided excursions onto its immense white surface. Beyond town, tundra supports musk oxen and reindeer; nearby Russell Glacier reveals Greenland’s moving ice. Weather and distance shape every outing, so plan for conditions.

Nuuk, Greenland

Nuuk is Greenland’s capital, where Arctic scale meets the pace of a working town. Set beside the vast Nuuk Fjord, it pairs brightly painted houses with modern architecture and a lively harbor. Visit the Greenland National Museum to see the 500-year-old Qilakitsoq mummies and objects tracing Inuit life. Then look toward Sermitsiaq, the landmark mountain rising beyond the water. Nuuk rewards travelers seeking Greenlandic culture alongside its dramatic landscapes.

Ivittuut (Ask Travel Agent)

Qassiarsuk, Greenland

Qassiarsuk lies on the grassy shores of southern Greenland, where sheep farms share the landscape with Norse history. Across the Tunulliarfik Fjord from Narsarsuaq, it occupies the site of Brattahlíð, linked to Erik the Red. Explore reconstructed Norse buildings and medieval ruins within the UNESCO-listed Kujataa cultural landscape. Here, Greenland’s Norse and Inuit histories meet a working farming community, reached by boat from Narsarsuaq.

Qaqortoq, Greenland

Qaqortoq is southern Greenland’s largest town, set around a sheltered harbor beneath steep, bare hills. Colorful houses climb the slopes, while fishing boats give the waterfront its working rhythm. Follow the town’s Stone and Man carvings, then visit the museum for insight into Greenlandic life and Norse history. Boat trips can take you to nearby Norse ruins or Uunartoq’s natural hot springs.

Hvalsey, Greenland

At Hvalsey, Greenland’s Norse past comes into focus among stone walls, open fields and a broad fjord. Here stands the country’s best-preserved Norse church, part of a farming settlement founded during the medieval period. The last known written record of Greenland’s Norse community describes a wedding here in 1408. Walk the quiet site and imagine a life shaped by weather, livestock and the sea.

Nanortalik, Greenland

Nanortalik, Greenland’s southernmost town, sits on an island where fjords, sea cliffs and steep mountains define the horizon. Its name means “place of polar bears,” and bears still roam the surrounding region. From the harbor, boat journeys reach dramatic Tasermiut Fjord, famed for its granite walls and remote wilderness. Visit the local museum for a glimpse of Greenlandic life, then watch for icebergs and seabirds along the coast.

Kangaatsiaq (Ask Travel Agent)

Prince Christian Sound Greenland (Scenic Area)

Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Tasiilaq, Greenland

Tasiilaq is East Greenland’s largest town, set on Ammassalik Island beneath steep, snow-streaked mountains. Its harbor faces the Denmark Strait, with Sermilik Fjord nearby and icebergs drifting through its waters. Colorful homes and the local museum offer glimpses of Inuit life and history. Come ashore for Arctic scale, clear light and a community shaped by sea, weather and distance.

Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

At Sea (At Sea)

Grundarfjordur, Iceland

Grundarfjörður sits on the north shore of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, a fishing village beneath steep mountains. Its signature sight is Kirkjufell, a 463-metre peak shaped like an arrowhead. Walk or drive to Kirkjufellsfoss, where cascades frame the mountain. Further west, Snæfellsjökull glacier crowns a volcano and the national park around it. Weather changes quickly here, so bring warm, waterproof layers. Come for scale, silence and light.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavík is a capital with one foot in the wild. The Atlantic frames the city, volcanic mountains rise on the horizon, and geothermal water warms its pools. Start at Hallgrímskirkja, whose tower commands broad views, then walk down to the harbor and Harpa concert hall. Cafés, design shops, and museums make the compact center easy to explore on foot. Beyond town, geysers and waterfalls make a striking day trip; return for a soak in a neighborhood pool.