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

Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer · 16 days

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.

Call 1300 187 630

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

16 days, from Reykjavík

The whole west coast, as far north as a ship can go in September

West Greenland is where the icebergs are born. Ocean Explorer takes the coast in one long northward sweep: Sisimiut and its sled dogs, Disko Bay and the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO site that calves more ice than any glacier outside Antarctica, then Uummannaq’s heart-shaped mountain and Eqip Sermia, one of the most active glacier fronts in the north. Beyond Upernavik the ship enters Melville Bay and the far north, to Qaanaaq and Kap Alexander, settlements most Arctic voyages never reach, where the hunting culture of the Inughuit continues and the first autumn darkness brings the northern lights. The voyage begins and ends with flights between Reykjavík and Nuuk, so every day on board is a Greenland day.

The far north of Greenland is for guests who have the time and want the settlements most ships never reach, and we say so before anyone books. If that is you, we shape the rest around you, the cabin, flights from Australia and nights in Reykjavík, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

9 ports
1 UNESCO site
16 days

Signature sites

Eight places on the long west coast

Settlements and glacier fronts from Nuuk to the far north, each reached by Zodiac or on foot with the expedition team, weather and ice permitting.

Colourful wooden houses in the village of Aappilattoq, South Greenland, visited on a Quark Expeditions cruise

Nuuk

Greenland’s capital, the embarkation point after the flight from Reykjavík.

Nuuk

Greenland’s capital, the embarkation point after the flight from Reykjavík.

Day by day

Sixteen days, in outline

The ice sets the far north and the weather sets the flights. 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 flight to Nuuk 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

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

Fourteen nights aboard Ocean Explorer, a hotel night in Reykjavík before the voyage and the flights between Reykjavík and Nuuk in both directions, 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 both charter flights across the Denmark Strait. We arrange your flights from Australia to Reykjavík and home, so the whole journey is one booking.

Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Greenland can also be sailed with Swan Hellenic in the northern lights season, or explored from the air on Quark’s helicopter voyage in the south. 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.

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.

13 Nights

Quark Expeditions

From US$12,921

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.

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.

12 Nights

Ponant

From A$29,280

Encounter with the Last Guardians of the North Pole

Nuuk to Nuuk, 4 to 16 April 2027, with 2028 to follow. From A$29,280 per person, Paris charter flights included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights

Aurora Expeditions

From A$28,414

Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard and East Greenland

Oslo to Reykjavík, or the reverse, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$28,414 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.

Two passengers sea kayaking beside snow-covered mountains on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Sixteen days aboard Ocean Explorer, Reykjavík to Reykjavík via Nuuk. 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 2027 sailing, in the first weeks of autumn darkness when the northern lights return to the west coast. Flights Reykjavík–Nuuk included.

Quark lists a second sailing in September 2028; we come back to you with the dates and the Australian fare.

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.