Greenland Adventure: Explore by Sea, Land and Air

Your Arctic expedition begins in Reykjavik, Iceland. Meet us at the airport to take our private charter flight from the Icelandic capital to Narsarsuaq, Greenland, where you’ll embark on your ship. A scenic village deep in the Tunulliarfik Fjord, Narsarsuaq is the gateway to South Greenland, surrounded by several Norse sites and hiking trails. Get ready for a great adventure ahead!

Nicknamed “Arctic Patagonia,” South Greenland is a region as rich in
spectacular scenery as it is in history. Here, it’s easy to see why Erik
the Red gave Greenland its name: Everywhere you look rewards with vistas of
icy blue waters set against a breathtaking backdrop of dramatic dramatic
peaks, winding coastline, crystal-clear waterfalls, and lush, verdant valleys
and pastures bursting with blooms. Boasting the greatest variety of
landscapes in the country, coupled with the most serene, sheltered waterways
surrounded by soaring, snow-capped mountains, Greenland’s southern tip is
an adventure seeker’s paradise, whether you’re a newbie kayaker or
hardcore hiker.Cruising in sublime comfort aboard the newest ship in our
fleet, Ultramarine, we’ll base ourselves in and around the majestic
fjords that dominate the southern and southeastern coasts, sailing deeper and
exploring farther than ever before. Designed to give Polar adventurers
unprecedented access to the hardest-to-reach places on the planet—and
equipped with kayaks, mountain bikes and two onboard twin-engine helicopters
for unparalleled access to areas only Quark Expeditions can bring you—this
one-of-a-kind ship, in its inaugural year, will take you beyond the familiar
in polar exploration for an ultra-immersive, ultra-adventurous Greenland
experience.A first in Polar adventure travel, this expedition has been
developed sustainably in collaboration with municipal, regional and
national partners to offer you the most extensive array of adventure
activities (many of which are included), allowing you to curate an active
adventure in Greenland that best suits you! Imagine checking off immersive
bucket-list activities like paddle excursions, shore landings and Zodiac
cruising in such spectacular surroundings. And thanks to our onboard
helicopters, you’ll also discover the ultimate Polar expedition experience.
As stunning as Polar landscapes are from your ship, they’re even more
striking from the air. Conditions permitting, you may have opportunities for
a heli-landing on the Greenland ice sheet and heli-hiking (flying to places
we could not otherwise access for hikes suitable for all skill levels),
exciting included options that are unique to Ultramarine and give you an
awe-inspiring Polar experience like no other.Since each expedition presents
new opportunities and different weather and ice conditions, no two Polar
voyages are alike. This voyage in particular has no fixed itinerary, which
will allow your Expedition Team and our local partners to craft a voyage that
provides you with the best experiences that South Greenland can offer by
closely monitoring the local weather and ice conditions. Each day, your
Expedition Team will plan excursions deep in the southern fjord systems. With
the expertise of local partners, we will be able to showcase lesser-visited
areas and take advantage of all that this Polar paradise has to offer. Your
ship will continually be on the move as your Expedition Team searches for the
most ideal places to venture ashore, dip our kayaks and Zodiacs in the water,
or deploy our helicopters for more in-depth exploration. Every day will be a
new adventure, exploring a new fjord. Throughout your journey, you’ll head
out in small, intimate groups with similar interests, multiple times a day,
to some of the most remote, isolated areas of South Greenland. Here,
you’ll  truly unplug, recharge and experience the transformative power of
travel, at your own pace. One day, you may hop in a helicopter to hike around
the scenic alpine areas while quietly around the corner your shipmates are
enjoying a peaceful paddle in a sheltered inlet. The next, you may be
cruising along a glacier face deep in an icy fjord while others enjoy a
challenging alpine hike. And the next, you may fly up to the epic Greenland
ice sheet, discovering a new appreciation of the natural environment (it’s
the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere, and the second largest in
the world, after Antarctica), while your shipmates leisurely stroll amid the
beckoning green hills and valleys (as always, there are hiking options for
all levels).If you’re feeling extra-adventurous, our onboard helicopters
will have you taking your activities up a notch, way up! They’ll drop off
your small group at the start of the most scenic mountain biking trails in
the world or at isolated glacial lakes high in the mountains, then pick you
up wherever your explorations take you, so you’re always discovering new
scenery while enjoying the tranquility of your surroundings—whether
you’re exploring by kayak, or on two wheels. Be sure to book your Adventure
Options (extra cost) in advance, as they fill up fast.You may even opt to
camp overnight in the picturesque Tasermiut Fjord for a truly immersive
experience, hiking the tundra, chatting with your local hosts, even joining
the camp chef to forage for dinner ingredients and, if you’re lucky,
viewing the dazzling colors of the Polar twilight in the evening (extra
cost).However you decide to explore—by sea, land or air—Ultramarine gives
you unrivaled access to the unbelievably breathtaking beauty that is South
Greenland.

Before you depart on your charter flight back to Reykjavik in the early
evening, we hope to spend the day visiting the sites surrounding Narsarsuaq.
Possible destinations include the villages of Igaliku, where you can wander
the ruins of the Gardar cathedral, the largest church in Greenland in the
Middle Ages. We may also stop at Brattahlíð to explore the remains of Erik
the Red’s estate. Upon landing back at Reykjavik’s international airport,
you will be transferred to a hotel in nearby Keflavik.

Today, you can make your way home at your leisure or continue your
independent explorations of Iceland.