Fabled Lands Of The North: Greenland to Newfoundland

Arrive in Reykjavík. Choose to soak in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon or visit a local hot springs, a geothermal power plant, and an Icelandic horse farm. After lunch, check in to the Grand Hótel Reykjavík. (L,D)

Fly by chartered aircraft to Greenland and embark the National Geographic Explorer at the head of Kangerlussuaq fjord, a 120-mile-long waterway whose name means “large fjord” in Greenlandic. (B,L,D)

Dozens of deep fjords carve into Greenland’s west coast, many with glaciers fed by the ice sheet that covers about 80 percent of the country. Discover this beautiful and rugged coastline in Zodiacs, keeping an eye out for humpback and minke whales. At Sisimiut, a former whaling port, visit the museum and stroll around a picturesque jumble of historic and modern wooden buildings. (B,L,D)

Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, to explore the World Heritage site of Ilulissat Icefjord, a tongue of the Greenland ice cap that extends to the sea. Take an extraordinary cruise among towering icebergs at the mouth of the fjord. Visit the town of Ilulissat and walk to the archaeological site in Sermermiut, an abandoned valley previously inhabited by several distinct Inuit cultures. (B,L,D)

Watch for whales and polar bears, enjoy the ship’s amenities, and attend expert-led talks about the Arctic as we navigate the massive icebergs of Davis Strait on the way to Baffin Island. (B,L,D)

Disembark at the hamlet of Pangnirtung—home to the Inuit for thousands of years—and interact with its thriving community of artists. Visit a craft center to see soapstone carvings, weavings, and prints depicting life in the Arctic. Hike along a riverside trail for sweeping views of Auyuittuq National Park, and discover the remains of a bygone whaling era on uninhabited Kekerten Island. (B,L,D)

Spend today exploring the unspoiled landscapes of the Hall Peninsula, and get acquainted with the Arctic tundra biome. Hike the tundra in search of arctic foxes and walruses hauled out on the shore. (B,L,D)

In keeping with the nature of an expedition, today’s itinerary is flexible to maximize wildlife sightings. Set out in pursuit of polar bears, which often find themselves stranded on the Lower Savage Islands and Resolution Island after the pack ice retreats during the summer. (B,L,D)

Scattered across the entrance to Hudson Strait, the Button Islands attract thousands of seabirds and marine mammals. Encounter wildlife on kayak and Zodiac excursions along the coast. (B,L,D)

Spend four days tracing the beautiful, wild coast of Labrador, exploring on foot and by kayak and Zodiac. Stop at the deserted outpost of Hebron, the peninsula’s northernmost settlement, to walk among the historic buildings of the Moravian Mission Station established here in the 1830s. Watch for peregrine falcons and other birds soaring over the rocky shorelines of the spectacularly narrow Mugford Tickle, and take in the impressive sight of the 4,000-foot-high Kaumajet Mountains. Enjoy a day on Quaker Hat Island, shaped like a broad-brimmed hat, and head into the tiny fishing settlement of Indian Harbour to observe vast colonies of common murres along the sea cliffs. Continue to scenic Battle Harbour to discover the reconstucted 19th-century buildings and legacy of this historic fishing village. (B,L,D)

In the 1960s, the remains of a Viking village established in the 11th century were excavated at L’Anse aux Meadows, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk among the Norse ruins and reconstructed sod huts, and learn the saga of the Vikings in North America—who arrived here nearly 500 years before the explorations of Columbus. (B,L,D)

Cliffs, fjords, and beaches grace northern Newfoundland. Hike, kayak, and explore by Zodiac amid this stunning scenery. Back on board the ship, gain insights from our experts on this unique landscape. (B,L,D)

In the early morning, glide through the natural gateway called The Narrows and arrive in St. John’s, the picturesque capital of Newfoundland and Labrador and home to Cape Spear—the most easterly point of North America. Then transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

All day-by-day breakdowns are a sampling of the places we intend to visit, conditions permitting.