Greenland cruises
Scoresbysund
70°50’N, 25°00’W
On a Greenland cruise, everything is monumental.
Why you should join a Greenland cruise
The world’s largest island is undeniably epic. This land of myth and legend inspires and rewires the mind of the explorer who comes here, on a quest to experience something new. On a Greenland cruise, see the world on a scale you haven’t experienced before.
Icebergs like cathedrals, majestically shaped as though carved by some higher power, drift alongside your ship. Head out on a Zodiac cruise to explore the labyrinthine fjords of Scoresbysund, the untrammelled beauty of the national park, under the midnight sun or the northern lights.
In a land so vast, be small. Be smaller than small. You don’t want a crowd to spoil this. A huge cruise ship ruining the bliss, the peace. Experience it as it’s meant to be experienced, with no barrier to majesty, no obstruction to awe, on a classic Greenland expedition with Secret Atlas.
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Wildlife
The distinctive and dignified musk ox is commonly sighted during Expedition Micro Cruises to Greenland, presiding over its territory with an otherworldly elegance. Polar bears roam these lands, but sightings are not guaranteed – after all, they have plenty of habitat to explore on the world’s biggest island!
Narwhals are another iconic Greenland sight, though the “unicorn of the sea” can be elusive. Far easier to spot are the large seal population and a great breadth of Arctic birds, including puffins, guillemots, and kittiwakes.
Places of interest
Scoresbysund
Adventure into the largest fjord system in the world, a mesmerising labyrinth of towering icebergs and mazy tributaries, including Røde Fjord and Hare Fjord.
Northeast Greenland National Park
In scale and serenity, the unspoiled Arctic beauty of the world’s largest national park is unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Volquart Boons Coast
Embark on an awe-inspiring adventure along Greenland's Volquart Boons Coast, a landscape adorned with breathtaking glaciers stretching out as far as the eye can see.
Ittoqqortoormiit
Home to just 400 residents, this remote town is cut off from the outside world for much of the year due to sea ice. It’s a characterful place marked by a unique culture and proud tradition, and a privilege to explore on an Expedition Micro Cruise to Greenland.
Culture and history
The history of Greenland stands apart from any other place on the planet. An island bigger than any other on Earth, 80% permanently covered by ice, with more boats than cars and no roads linking its primary urban areas, the trajectory of human life on Greenland could never be a simple story.
Today’s Greenlandic population are descendants of the Thule people, who arrived here in the 9th century CE, though waves of Inuit migration from Canada began between four and five thousand years ago. Norse settlers led by Erik the Red founded the first European settlements here in 982 CE, as described in the Icelandic Sagas.
The Norsemen disappeared from Greenland in the 16th century, outlasted by the ingenuitive, resilient Inuit communities, known today for their adaptation to the challenging climate and unique inventions, such as the qajaq (sea kayak).
Our favourite expeditions to Greenland
Expedition Micro Cruises
Northeast Greenland National Park Micro Cruise
76°50'N, 29°99'W
The ultimate Greenland experience – a unique two-week adventure into Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s largest national park, and Scoresbysund, the longest fjord system on Earth.
- 12 guests
- 12 days
Scoresbysund Autumn Micro Cruise
70°50’N, 25°00’W
An autumn micro cruise to Scoresbysund, East Greenland. For landscape lovers and aurora chasers – the ultimate expedition of Earth and sky.
- 12 guests
- — days
Photography expeditions
Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour
70°50’N, 25°00’W
Capture the heavens bursting with light above the monumental icebergs and high-drama landscape of Scoresbysund.
- 12 guests
- 8 days
Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour with Virgil Reglioni
70°50’N, 25°00’W
With 0% light pollution and insane iceberg sculptures, paired with the world’s finest aurora borealis photographer, you’re in for a treat.
- 12 guests
- 8 days
Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour with Dean Tatooles
70°50’N, 25°00’W
Head out into wild and remote East Greenland with acclaimed photographer Dean Tatooles, capturing the aurora borealis blossoming above the fjords of Scoresbysund.
- 12 guests
- — days
Scoresbysund Northern Lights Photo Tour with Randy Hanna
70°50’N, 25°00’W
Photograph the northern lights illuminating the skies above Scoresbysund with nature photography legend Randy Hanna.
- 12 guests
- 8 days
The Expedition Micro Cruise concept
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When to take your Greenland cruise
Greenland’s seasons differ wildly, in terms of the conditions you can expect and what you can hope to see.
During the short spring (April–May), the sun begins to rise again, melting the snow and ice into fairytale waterfalls and picturesque icicles; in the summer (June–August), Greenland’s wildlife comes up to feed on fresh vegetation, watched over by the constant midnight sun.
The sun finally sinks in the autumn (September–November), casting pastel sunrises and sunsets, with the northern lights visible in the sky at night; finally, the long, dark winter (December–March) arrives.
Private charters
Looking to explore the world with friends, family, or colleagues?
Plan a private charter with us.
Explorer's Handbook
Everything you need to know to help you plan your Greenland expedition, from destination guides to weather insights and what to pack…
Greenland Travel Guide
Greenland Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit Greenland
Best Time to Visit Greenland
Northern Lights in Greenland
Northern Lights in Greenland
Scoresbysund Travel Guide
Scoresbysund Travel Guide
What to Pack for the Arctic
What to Pack for the Arctic
Greenland cruise FAQs
When is the best time to take a cruise to Greenland?
We explore the east coast of Greenland, in particular the Scoresbysund fjord system and the Northeast Greenland National Park. The east coast is blocked by ice earlier in the cruising season, so our cruises to Greenland operate from August to October when sea ice is at its lowest level.
Sail under the midnight sun during August, the best time for wildlife in the national park. September and October are the best months for witnessing the mesmerising northern lights over Scoresbysund.
Where do your Greenland expeditions depart from?
Whether you're planning a cruise to Greenland from the US, Europe, Asia, or elsewhere, all our Greenland expeditions start with a charter flight from Keflavik International Airport, Iceland, to Nerlerit Inaat Airport (Constable Point Airport) in East Greenland, where you will board your Secret Atlas micro expedition vessel.
What is an Expedition Micro Cruise?
It’s how we see the world.
Genuinely small group sizes at both poles, for the most intimate and transformative experience
Expedition leaders and guides with decades of polar experience and hundreds of expeditions between them
No queueing for Zodiac cruises and shore landings
Itineraries that evolve to maximise opportunities presented by ice, wildlife, and weather.
Comfortable accommodations, where the real luxury is the freedom and time to explore
We call our pioneering way of exploring the Expedition Micro Cruise. It forms the basis of all our adventures, including our photography expeditions and private charters.
Why is an Expedition Micro Cruise the best way to explore Greenland?
Unlike larger vessels with higher passenger capacities, our voyages are personal and unique in their approach. Travelling with a small group of guests means more time exploring, more flexibility, and less time waiting to board Zodiacs and go ashore.
Our small expedition vessels will get you closer to nature and more immersed in the landscape than larger ships, offering you a more transformative experience with no crowds or queuing.
How does an Expedition Micro Cruise in Greenland compare to other Greenland cruises?
Non-expedition cruises on regular cruise ships don’t offer shore landings and often only visit a couple of Greenlandic towns, which means they miss out on lots of the adventure. The average cruise ship doing non-expedition cruises takes 2000 passengers.
A number of companies offer Greenland expedition cruises with landings on larger vessels. The average number of passengers these ships take is over 200. In our opinion, that is too many people to be landing at sensitive places in the Arctic at one time.
Many companies advertise Greenland small ship cruises, but their definition of a ‘small ship’ varies and can range from 250 guests down to 12. On a Greenland cruise, the difference between travelling with 250 guests and 36 or 12 guests is huge.
Our Expedition Micro Cruises to Greenland are the best Greenland cruises because they are the way they should be: intimate and low-impact.
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