Southeast Greenland offers many historic sites relating to ancient Thule, Norse, and Moravian culture while also allowing us to walk in the footsteps of famed polar explorers like Fridtjof Nansen. Glaciers, icebergs, and fjords make for a dazzling environment where we may see polar bears, and the crossing to Iceland will give us a great opportunity to observe migrating whales and seabirds.
Arctic & Alaska
South Greenland Explorer – Aurora Borealis
10 Days aboard Plancius. From AUD $9,516pp.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details
Overview
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Erik the Red’s Base
- Day 2: Uunartoq hot spring
- Day 3: Prins Christian Sund mountains
- Day 4: Fjords and glacier fronts
- Day 5: Abandoned settlements
- Day 6: The valley of Mariedal
- Day 7: In the steps of Nansen
- Day 8 and 9: Denmark Strait’s wildlife and auroras
- Day 10: Farewell Greenland, hello Iceland
This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Erik the Red’s Base
Your Greenland adventure begins in Narsarsuaq, where you will board the ship to embark on your voyage. In the evening we visit Bratthalid, where Erik the Red lived about a thousand years ago.
Dinner included.
Day 2: Uunartoq hot spring
Today we 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. We will then try to get to Uunartoq, where we can bathe in a large hot spring surrounded by icebergs. Across at Vagar, we find the remains of a Norse homestead.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Prins Christian Sund mountains
Our eastward passing of Prins Christian Sund is surrounded by mountains of over 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) and is one of the highlights of the voyage. We will try to make a landing at the small village of Augpilaqtoq, where we can still meet some hunters of the area. As an alternative, we may make a landing at Svaerdfiskens Havn.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4: Fjords and glacier fronts
Sailing northward in the East Greenland Current, we 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.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 5: Abandoned settlements
Today we 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, we are again in the area where polar bears hunt seals among the drifting glacier ice.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 6: The valley of Mariedal
Next we visit Skjoldungen, one of the most spectacular fjords of southeast Greenland. Our aim is to land at Qornoq, where we’ll see houses from the Thule culture, then visit Mariedal and a beautiful valley where Greenlanders used to collect berries in autumn.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 7: In the steps of Nansen
We 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.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 8 and 9: Denmark Strait’s wildlife and auroras
As we sail in Denmark Strait on our 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.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 10: Farewell Greenland, hello Iceland
We return from our adventure with memories that will last a lifetime, arriving at the Icelandic port town of Keflavik.
This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.
Breakfast included.
Next Departure Date: 08 Sep 2026
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Sep 2026 - 17 Sep 2026 | AUD$9516pp | ||
| Quadruple Porthole Cabin | AUD$9516pp | Contact us | |
| Triple Porthole Cabin | AUD$11694pp | Contact us | |
| Twin Porthole Cabin | AUD$13710pp | Contact us | |
| Twin Window Cabin | AUD$14839pp | Contact us | |
| Twin Deluxe Cabin | AUD$15968pp | Contact us | |
| Superior Cabin | AUD$17903pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Quadruple Porthole Cabin
Two upper and two lower berths, one porthole, private shower and toilet, desk and chair, flatscreen TV, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair-dryer and ample storage space.
Triple Porthole Cabin
One upper and two lower berths, one porthole, private shower and toilet, desk and chair, flatscreen TV, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair-dryer and ample storage space.
Twin Porthole Cabin
Two lower berths, one porthole, private shower and toilet, desk and chair, flatscreen TV, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair-dryer and ample storage space.
Twin Window Cabin
Two lower berths, one window, private shower and toilet, desk and chair, flatscreen TV, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair-dryer and ample storage space.
Twin Deluxe Cabin
Two lower berths, two windows, private shower and toilet, desk and chair, flatscreen TV, telephone and WiFi (supplemented), hair-dryer and ample storage space.
*corner cabins which are slightly more spacious than the normal twin porthole/window cabins
Superior Cabin
One double bed, one sofa bed, two windows, private shower and toilet, desk and chair, flatscreen TV, telephone and Wifi (supplemented), refrigerator, coffee and tea maker, hair-dryer and ample storage space.
Plancius Deckplan
Specifications
- Passengers: 108 in 50 cabins
- Staff & crew: Crew 40 | Guides 8 | Doctor 1
- Length: 89 meters (293 feet)
- Breadth: 14,5 meters (47 feet)
- Draft: 5 meters (16 feet)
- Ice class: 1D (Plancius has a Lloyds class notation 100A1 Passenger ship, Ice Class 1D at a draught of 5 meters)
- Displacement: 3211 tonnes
- Propulsion: 3x Diesel-Electric
- Speed: 10.5 knots average cruising speed
What's included?
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated 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 waterproof neoprene boots.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport Narsarsuaq and the ship for passengers on the scheduled flight from Copenhagen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material sent per email.
What's not included?
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- 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).
Notes
PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Arctic
Viking history, Inuit villages and an abundance of wildlife are just some of the wonders you’ll discover in the Arctic. You’ll be amazed by the natural beauty that surrounds you. Search for Polar Bears while cruising through breathtaking fjords or around the nature lovers dream, Spitsbergen.
Downloadable travel guide
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