2 Arctic travelers walk a gravel road among green & red tundra beside gray rocky mountains on a South Greenland cruise.
Arctic tundra of south Greenland with autumnal colors, golden hills & a small patch of red flora.
Medium-sized bird with white chest & brown mottled back & head stands beside gray rocks on autumnal tundra in south Greenland.
Medium-sized bird with white chest & brown mottled back & head stands beside gray rocks on autumnal tundra in south Greenland.
Bright red flora with tiny leaves rises up from the tundra, seen on a South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis cruise.
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Polar Regions Arctic Cruise

South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis

On this journey along Southeast Greenland, explore historic sites that reveal ancient Thule, Norse and Moravian culture, while also walking in the footsteps of famed polar explorers like Fridtjof Nansen. Glaciers, icebergs and fjords make for a dazzling environment where you may see polar bears, and the crossing to Iceland provides a great opportunity to observe migrating whales and seabirds.

Fly from Copenhagen, Denmark to embark the ship in Narsarsuaq, Greenland. Then cruise south Spitsbergen aboard 108-guest Plancius, an ice-strengthened vessel designed for polar expedition with modern renovations. AdventureSmith Explorations’ crew of award-winning Arctic small ship cruise experts have personal experience sailing in the High Arctic. Contact us to discover more about this Arctic cruise and other options to suit your travel interests and timeline.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic cruisesGreenland small ship cruisesnorthern lights cruises and Arctic trips.



Itinerary

South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis Itinerary

The South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis, Incl. flight from Copenhagen to Narsarsuaq itinerary begins with a flight from Copenhagen, Denmark to embark the ship in Narsarsuaq, Greenland. Cruise south Greenland before crossing the Denmark Strait to disembark in Keflavik, Iceland.

Route map of South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis cruise from Narsarsuaq, Greenland to Keflavik, Iceland.
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Day 1
Fly Copenhagen, Denmark to Narsarsuaq, Greenland & Embark

Arrive by plane at Narsarsuaq and board the ship, preparing to start your Greenland adventure. In the evening visit Bratthalid, where Erik the Red lived about a thousand years ago.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

dinner

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Day 2
Uunartoq Hot Spring

Today you reach Lichtenau, a lovely though nearly deserted Greenlandic village, where the Herrnhuters had a mission in the 18th century and where some of their large German-style buildings still remain. Then try to get to Uunartoq, where you can bathe in a large hot spring surrounded by icebergs. Across at Vagar, find the remains of a Norse homestead.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 3
Prins Christian Sund Mountains

Your eastward passing of Prins Christian Sund is surrounded by mountains of over 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) and is one of the highlights of the voyage. Try to make a landing at the small village of Augpilaqtoq, where you can still meet some hunters of the area. As an alternative, you may make a landing at Svaerdfiskens Havn.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 4
Fjords & Glacier Fronts

Sailing northward in the East Greenland Current, aim for Igutsait Fjord or Napassorsuaq Fjord. Both feature glacier fronts and small icebergs, where an isolated population of polar bears was once found hunting seals.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 5
Abandoned Settlements

Today land at Tingmiarmit, seeing an abandoned Greenlandic settlement and remains of Thule houses at the north side of the island. Deep into the Tingmiarmiut Fjord, you are again in the area where polar bears hunt seals among the drifting glacier ice.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 6
Valley of Mariedal

Next visit Skjoldungen, one of the most spectacular fjords of southeast Greenland. The aim is to land at Qornoq, where you’ll see houses from the Thule culture, then visit Mariedal and a beautiful valley where Greenlanders used to collect berries in autumn.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 7
In the Steps of Nansen

Sail to today’s landing at Umivik, where the explorer Fridtjof Nansen ascended the Greenland ice sheet. Here you may even be able to walk a short distance in his steps.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Days 8 - 9
At Sea: Denmark Strait's Wildlife & Auroras

As you sail in Denmark Strait on your way to Iceland, the going can be rough. But be sure to spend some time on deck looking for migrating whales, seabirds and the magical lightshow of the aurora borealis.

Accommodations

Plancius

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 10
Disembark Keflavik, Iceland

Return from your adventure with memories that will last a lifetime, arriving at the Icelandic port town of Keflavik.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Scheduled flight from Copenhagen, Denmark to Narsarsuaq, Greenland; voyage aboard the indicated vessel in the itinerary; all meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; all shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac; program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; free use of rubber boots and snow shoes; transfers and baggage handling between the ship and the airport Narsarsuaq for those passengers on the charter flight to Copenhagen; all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; AECO fees and governmental taxes; comprehensive pre-departure material; basic WiFi up to 1.5GB per 24 hours (additional data available for purchase on board).

Exclusions

Any airfare, aside from charter flight from Copenhagen, Denmark to Narsarsuaq, Greenland; pre- and post-cruise land arrangements; transfers to/from the vessel outside Spitsbergen; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage and cancellation insurance; personal insurance (mandatory); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 90 days – 100% of deposit
89 to 60 days – 50% of total trip cost
59 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis voyage begins in Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) and ends in Keflavik, Iceland (KEF). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. 

Plan flights to arrive to Copenhagen by 10:15am on Day 1 of the itinerary. Embarkation time is between 4:00 and 5:00pm on day of departure, with a 6:00pm departure. A transfer in Narsarsuaq is provided. Travelers arriving on independently arranged flights should make their own way to the port on day of embarkation. Disembarkation is after breakfast on Day 10 of the itinerary. Plan flights to depart Keflavik anytime after Day 10. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

A group charter flight between Copenhagen, Denmark and Narsarsuaq, Greenland is included on this trip’s itinerary. There is a luggage limit which will be detailed in your final documents. There is no option to leave or pay for additional luggage. On Day 10 of the itinerary, the ship is scheduled to arrive at the pier between 7:00 and 8:00am local time. Disembarkation follows breakfast, with a transfer to the airport for onward flights.

Activities

Various optional activities may be available on your South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis voyage. Guided shore excursions, walks, wildlife spotting and Zodiac cruises are included in the fare and will be offered to all passengers during each voyage. Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting. The landings will take 3 to 6 hours per day over untracked area. According to circumstances (the weather, the ice-situation or the passengers’ wishes) the program can sometimes be adjusted. Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at 1.7x the per-person Twin or Superior listed rates. Single travelers wishing to book on a “sharing basis” may do so at no additional cost in Twin, Triple or Quadruple categories upon availability.

Families & Children

Upon request (some voyages may be excluded), children under 16 years old with parents may receive a 40% discount in the following cabins: Grand Suite, Superior, Triple (1 child sharing with 2 parents/adults) and Quadruple (1 child sharing with 3 parents/adults, or 2 children sharing with 2 parents/adults). Parents are entirely responsible for their children at all times, on land and on board; there is no onboard day care or nursery facility.

Travel Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $100,000 per person. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice, weather conditionswildlife encountered and the captain’s discretion. Flexibility is the key to the success of any Arctic expedition.

Rates & Dates

Cruise Rates & Dates

Sep 02 - Sep 11, 2025
Plancius • 10 days
From $5150USD
Per Person
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Accommodation

Learn About the Small Ship on Your Itinerary

Expedition Ship
Plancius

The Plancius is a 108-passenger small ship designed and built exclusively for polar cruises. A wide variety of cabins, ample space on five decks and a wide range of activities offered make the Plancius a great option for active expedition cruises.

Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

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