Greenland photography expeditions
Head out on a Greenland photo tour – and photograph the world with no filter, on a scale that goes way beyond the ordinary.
Greenland is a playground for nature photographers of all styles. Landscape photographers fill memory card after memory card capturing the monolithic icebergs and unending fjords of Scoresbysund, and the untouched, life-affirming beauty of Northeast Greenland National Park. There are surprises around every corner for wildlife photographers, too.
With a superstar photographer guide by your side, take your photos up a gear. Nature is limitless here – and bigger than you’ve seen it before. On an Expedition Micro Cruise Greenland photo tour, there’s no crowd of people obscuring your shot or waiting around for a single photo opportunity. This land is a canvas on which to tell your own story.
"Nothing can surpass seeing my first massive iceberg in Greenland – higher than a 10-storey building and seeming to extend for miles."
— Randy Hanna, photographer
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
When’s the best time to visit Greenland for a photo tour?
East Greenland, the region we explore, is best photographed in September and October, when the fjords of Scoresbysund and the wilderness of the national park are most accessible and at peak beauty, and the northern lights start to dance overhead at night.
Why take a photo tour with us?
No queues. Just camera clicks.
Explore with an acclaimed polar photographer as an additional guide
Amateur or pro, you’ll learn a lot from our professional polar photographer, from framing a shot to capturing wildlife on the move and making the most of the lighting and weather conditions. After a day out photographing in the field, join them for evening workshops and lectures.
Intimate group size for a transformative experience
Disconnect from modern life on a small-group expedition. Connect with yourself, your small team, and the world around you.
Micro expedition ship reaches places bigger vessels can’t
Experience things that simply aren’t possible on so-called “small ship” expeditions.
Expedition leaders and guides with decades of polar experience and hundreds of expeditions between them
Our expedition leaders and guides are polar superstars. Tap into their knowledge and passion, with one guide to every six guests.
No crowds, no queueing
No crowd of guests around a single photo opportunity. From ship to Zodiac in minutes. You didn’t come this far from civilisation to queue.
No fixed itinerary. Go where the journey takes you.
We prefer to embrace spontaneity and make the most of every opportunity nature presents to us.
Highlights of a Greenland photography expedition
Icebergs
From skyscraper-sized giants to artfully shaped wonders that seem sculptor-crafted, Greenland’s icebergs belong in an art gallery (it would have to be a pretty big one, admittedly). Capturing them in their multifarious glory is a highlight of all Greenland photo expeditions.
Northern lights
We set sail to East Greenland when the northern lights are most likely to make an appearance overhead. Get ready for the knock on the cabin door at night. You don’t want to miss the performance of a lifetime.
Tundra
Otherworldly in its beautiful barrenness, Greenland’s Arctic tundra is a mouthwatering challenge for landscape photographers to capture, a treeless expanse of mountains and flat plains, stretching to the horizon.
Arctic giants
Musk ox
A distinctive giant of the Arctic (only polar bears are bigger round these parts), musk oxen gain their name from the overpowering scent emitted by male during their seasonal rut.
Polar bear
Known as the King of the Arctic for a reason, polar bears are a regular (though never guaranteed) sight during our Greenland photo tours. Of course, in Greenland, they have plenty of land to explore, and they are fantastic swimmers, capable of swimming constantly for days at a time.
Wildlife encounters
Narwhal
The “Unicorn of the Sea” is an iconic sight in Greenland’s ice-cold waters. They can certainly be elusive, but capturing a shot of the male’s distinctive spiral tusk is a special thrill. It’s quite easy to guess the age of a narwhal – they change colour as they age.
Seal
Seals are among the most entertaining subjects during a Greenland photo tour. Species here include ringed seals, harp seals, and bearded seals.
Seabirds
Keep your lens trained on the skies. The list of seabirds in Greenland is wondrously long, with puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, and more a joy to photograph in their coastal breeding grounds.
Photography expedition guides
Our photography expedition guides set us apart. Their skill and passion for their craft inspire us and each one of our guests, trip after trip.
Each photography tour guide has their own style, but they are united in their love for the lands we explore.
Places we explore on Greenland photo tours
Scoresbysund
With scenery on a scale that seems to redefine earthly possibilities, Scoresbysund, the largest fjord system on the planet, is the epicentre of all our Greenland photo tours. The steep-sided fjords, their waters punctuated by captivating icebergs great and small, are a privilege to photograph.
Ittoqqortoormiit
One of the most remote settlements in Greenland (and the world!), Ittoqqortoormiit offers stunning photographic opportunities, with its colourful houses set against the stark Arctic landscape. Capture intimate, powerful portraits of this resilient community and their unique way of life.
Explorer's Handbook
Everything you need to know to help you plan your Greenland photography 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
Northern Lights Photography Guide
Northern Lights Photography Guide
Photographing in the Arctic on an Expedition Micro Cruise
Photographing in the Arctic on an Expedition Micro Cruise
Greenland photography expedition FAQs
Where do your Greenland photo tours depart from?
All our Greenland photo 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.
Can I join your photo tour as a solo traveller?
Yes, you can. Every year we welcome solo travellers on board, where you will find a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
We offer accommodation options for single cabins or sharing a cabin with travellers of the same gender.
Is a Greenland photo tour for me?
Our Greenland photo tours are suitable for the vast majority of people and we aim to make them as accessible as possible. Photography-wise, everyone is welcome, from absolute beginners to pros looking for unique photo opportunities in the Arctic.
We ask that our guests have a good level of mobility, as it is a requirement that you can safely step down from the vessel into the landing craft and then exit the landing craft onto land. Due to the remote areas we visit and the distance from medical assistance, we advise that you have a reasonable level of fitness and are in good health.
During shore landings, we have two guides, which enables us to split the group if we have some keen hikers and some other guests who want to keep things leisurely.
Can I join your photo tour as a non-photographer?
Yes, we welcome guests that share an interest not only in photography but in learning more about nature and observing wildlife in its natural habitat.
Our Greenland photo tours are designed for guests that are looking to spend time out in the field taking photos. We welcome all levels of photographer. Whether you’re an experienced professional or completely new to photography, this is a great opportunity to spend time in nature capturing images.
In addition to our photography guide, we also have a highly experienced expedition leader and guide on board, giving you plenty of opportunity to learn about Greenland.
What wildlife will I see on my Greenland photo tour?
Greenland is an untamed wilderness, and on every Greenland photo tour we encounter different wildlife.
Some of our favourite sightings across tours have included narwhals, polar bears, rock ptarmigans, and musk oxen. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but we always do our best to ensure as many wildlife encounters as possible.
Will it be cold on my photo tour to Greenland?
Yes, in East Greenland during September and October, the primary months for our Greenland photo expeditions, the temperature typically ranges between 4°C to 7°C during the day before dropping to freezing or below at night.
How do you ensure your Greenland photo tours don’t have a negative effect on the environment?
That’s a great question and one we want to answer honestly.
The vessels we work with don’t burn heavy fuels, which are particularly detrimental to the environment, and run on standard marine diesel.
As part of our commitment to the environment, we climate compensate all of our emissions by planting trees with our sustainability partner in Greenland. The cost of this is covered within the fares our guests pay and we don’t charge an additional fee for this.
Secret Atlas don’t sell flights, but we are aware our guests have to fly to our destinations to board our cruises. As a part of our climate commitment, we will match the offset costs for any guests who would like to offset their flights with us. This is offered at the time of booking.
During our cruises, we follow very strict guidelines as set out by AECO (Association Of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) to ensure minimal impact on the wildlife and places we visit. This includes following strict rules about not disturbing wildlife in its natural habitat.
We employ highly experienced expedition leaders to run our expeditions in accordance with the rules and safety code laid out by AECO. The principal rules are:
Leave no lasting signs of your visit
Do not pick flowers
Do not take anything with you
Do not disturb animals and birds
Leave cultural remains alone. Cultural remains are protected by law and a zone of 100 metres around the remains is also considered a protected zone. Watch where you are walking and standing. Walk around and not in between objects
Take the polar bear danger seriously
Respect local culture and local people
Be safe
Our expedition leaders are highly trained in safety and following these rules and brief guests at the beginning of each departure. They ensure the safety of the guests throughout the cruise and that the AECO rules are followed.
As a member of AECO we take great efforts to ensure our expeditions don’t have any negative impact on the wildlife or environment. You can find out more here.
