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Passengers on the boardwalk beside the Ilulissat Icefjord in West Greenland on a Quark Expeditions cruise

Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer · 14 days

Greenland to Newfoundland: Ice, Inuit and the Vikings

Fly Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq, sail to St John’s. Four sailings from September 2027 to September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$12,921 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Zodiac dwarfed by a towering iceberg in Greenland on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

14 days, Kangerlussuaq to St John’s

Three Arctic coasts in one southward voyage

This is the route the Norse took a thousand years ago, sailed in the other direction. From Kangerlussuaq, Ocean Explorer heads north to Sisimiut and Ilulissat, where the icefjord sends its bergs out into Disko Bay, then crosses the Davis Strait to Baffin Island: Pangnirtung and the Inuit art of the Cumberland Sound, and Monumental Island, a haul-out for walrus and a hunting ground for polar bears. The Labrador coast follows, with the Torngat Mountains National Park, the deepest fjords in eastern Canada, and the community of Nain. The voyage ends at L’Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Norse site in North America, and the harbour of St John’s. Humpback and minke whales are often seen on the Labrador shelf in September.

Greenland to Newfoundland is the voyage we suggest to guests who want culture and history with their ice: Inuit art, the Torngats and the Viking landfall. We shape the rest around you, the cabin, flights from Australia into Reykjavík and home from St John’s, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • 8 ports
  • 3 countries
  • 14 days

Signature sites

Eight places from the icefjord to the Viking landfall

Greenland, Nunavut, Labrador and Newfoundland, each reached by Zodiac or on foot with the expedition team, weather and ice permitting.

Passenger photographing a glacier-carved fjord in South Greenland during a Quark Expeditions shore landing

Sisimiut and Ilulissat

The sled-dog town and the UNESCO icefjord, on the first two days.

Day by day

Fourteen days, in outline

The ice sets the Baffin shore and the weather sets Labrador. The outline below is the shape of the journey; the full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

A night in Reykjavík, then the charter flight to Kangerlussuaq and embarkation on Ocean Explorer.

Aboard Ocean Explorer

Ocean Explorer carries 138 guests, with the X-Bow hull for a steadier crossing, high observation decks for long-view photography and a fleet of Zodiacs. Quark Expeditions has sailed the polar regions since 1991 and runs its ships as expedition platforms first: the expedition team leads every outing, kayaking is on offer for those who book it, and the dining is one open seating with wine and beer at dinner.

Ocean Explorer
Quark Expeditions' Ocean Explorer ship, which cruises to Antarctica

Zodiacs, twenty of them

The bow of Ocean Explorer, a Quart Expeditions ship that sails to Antarctica

The bow deck in the ice

The atrium of the Quark Expeditions' Ocean Explorer ship, which cruises to Antarctica

Kayaking, for those who book it

The wraparound deck aboard the Quark Expeditions' World Voyager

Landings with the expedition team

Veranda Stateroom Cabin aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ocean Explorer, which sails to Antarctica.

Lectures between outings

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Twelve nights aboard Ocean Explorer, a hotel night in Reykjavík before the voyage and the charter flight from Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq, all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board, beer and wine at dinner, coffee and tea around the clock, all Zodiac outings, shore landings and guided walks led by the expedition team, lectures and presentations, a Quark expedition parka to keep and the use of boots on board, group transfers listed in the programme, port fees and a photographic journal of the voyage

Flights from Australia and home, meals beyond those listed, kayaking, the polar plunge and other adventure options booked in advance, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, gratuities to the ship’s crew

Quark includes the Reykjavík hotel night and the charter flight to Kangerlussuaq. We arrange your flights from Australia to Reykjavík and home from St John’s, so the whole journey is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

The Canadian Arctic can also be reached on Swan Hellenic’s Viking routes from Iceland, on Aurora’s Northwest Passage, or on Quark’s own transit of the Passage aboard Ultramarine. Each voyage shows its from price in the currency its operator publishes, Australian or US dollars; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

All expeditions
11 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,500

Viking Routes: Canada, Greenland and Iceland

Halifax to Reykjavík in May, Greenland to Canada in September. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,500 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

15 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$30,601

Northwest Passage

Between Toronto or Reykjavík and Calgary, with charter flights to and from the ship included. Two sailings in 2027, two in 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$30,601 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

16 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$22,871

Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin

Reykjavík to Reykjavík via Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq, flights and helicopter flightseeing included. Two sailings in August 2027, with 2028 and 2029 to follow. From US$22,871 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

15 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$19,281

West Greenland and the Far North: Ilulissat to Qaanaaq

Reykjavík to Reykjavík via Nuuk, flights across the Denmark Strait included. One sailing in September 2027, one in September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$19,281 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$10,041

South Greenland: Alpine Exploration by Helicopter

Reykjavík to Reykjavík, with the flight from Nuuk at the end included. One sailing in August 2027, one in August 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$10,041 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

7 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$16,975

Greenland, Land of Northern Lights

Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq. Sailings in September 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$16,975 per person, charter flights from Reykjavík included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Passengers taking a Polar Plunge from a cruise ship in Antarctica

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Fourteen days aboard Ocean Explorer, Kangerlussuaq to St John’s. The 2029 season is yet to be announced. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

The first of four sailings, in the weeks when the Labrador whales are still on the shelf and the first colour comes to the tundra.

Quark lists three more departures between September 2027 and September 2028; we come back to you with the dates and the Australian fares.

Tell us the month and the cabin you have in mind and we hold your place on our list, then come back to you with dates and Australian fares the day they open.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right cabin and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.