Northern Discoveries: Hiking the Landscapes of Greenland & Iceland

16 days
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Small Ship Cruise
From the green in Iceland to the ice in Greenland, learn about some of the world’s most interesting natural phenomena and human legacies of the arctic. Sail to intimate ports for hiking excursions that offer a truly unique perspective of seafaring villages, protected forests, breathtaking sounds and much more.
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Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Soak in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon and learn why its mineral-rich properties provide treatment for many skin ailments.
    • Hike in remote and stunning Arctic landscapes in Greenland that offer views of pristine fjords and icebergs.
    • Walk through the old city center and new suburban areas of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city.

What's this trip about?

    From the green in Iceland to the ice in Greenland, learn about some of the world’s most interesting natural phenomena and human legacies of the arctic. Sail to intimate ports for hiking excursions that offer a truly unique perspective of seafaring villages, protected forests, breathtaking sounds and much more.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityReykjavik
End CityReykjavik

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Education / Learning
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • North America
  • Greenland
  • Europe
  • Iceland

Attractions

  • Blue Lagoon
  • Nuuk
  • Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Educational/ learning
  • Hiking
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Sailing

Trip includes

    • 14 nights of accommodations
    • 2 expert-led lectures
    • 15 expert-led field trips
    • 1 flight during the program
    • 2 performances
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • The Road Scholar Travel Protection Plan, 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage
    • Taxes

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Departures

In Flight

Day 2: Arrive Reykjavik, Welcome, The Blue Lagoon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Saga Hotel

Activity note: If you wish to swim in the Blue Lagoon, please remember to pack your bathing suit in your carry-on luggage. Towels will be provided. Slippers, bathrobes and spa trea...

Day 3: The Golden Circle, Reykjavik

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Saga Hotel

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: This morning you will depart on a full day journey from Reykjavik on this popular route which covers over 185 miles from Reykjavik to c...

Day 4: Reykjavik; Embark Ocean Diamond

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Following breakfast, enjoy a lecture —“Iceland: Past and Present"—by a local expert before visiting the National Museum of Iceland. Th...

Day 5: Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Activity note: This morning's hike is approx. 6 miles and approx. 650 ft. in elevation change. Zodiac excursions are dependent on favorable weather conditions.

Breakfast: Aboard th...

Day 6: At sea

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Sail across the Denmark Strait towards Greenland, following a maritime route used by Norse settlers more than 900 years ago. While en route, at...

Day 7: Prince Christian Sound, Greenland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Prince Christian Sound, near the southernmost tip of Greenland, separates the mainland with the Sangmissoq (Christian IV Island) and other isla...

Day 8: Narsarsuaq, Greenland / Tasiusaq Hike

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Activity note: This morning's hike is approx. 8 miles with little change in altitude.

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: In Qassiarsuk hike through stunning Arctic landsca...

Day 9: At sea / Ivittuut Caves

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: This morning, embark boats to Ikkafjord to see unique submarine Ikaite - crystalized calcium carbonate - columns. This mineral is considered ra...

Day 10: Nuuk, Greenland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Activity note: This morning's hike is fairly challenging covering approx. 6 miles over mountain terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: A 10-minute bus ride will take ...

Day 11: At sea and Hike in Sisimiut, Greenland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Activity note: This morning's hike is fairly challenging covering approx. 3-4 miles over mountain terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: The Greenland Sea is home to ...

Day 12: Ilulissat, Greenland, Sermermiut Iceberg, City Walk & Museum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Activity note: This morning's hike is approx. 3 miles of moderate hiking on mountain trails.

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Originally founded by the Danes as a tradin...

Day 13: Uummannaq, Greenland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Morning at leisure to enjoy the ship's amenities and activities.

Lunch: Aboard the ship.

Afternoon: This morning the ship will ca...

Day 14: Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island, Greenland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MV Ocean Diamond

Activity note: This morning's hike is approx. 3 miles of moderate hiking on mountain trails.

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: During a visit to the church of Qeqertarsua...

Day 15: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland / Fly to Reykjavik

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Saga Hotel

Breakfast: Aboard the ship.

Morning: Transfer by coach from the pier to the Lake Ferguson, located on the outskirts of town. From here, an easy hike on a dirt track will take you al...

Day 16: Departures

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Ocean Diamond is scheduled to arrive in Reykjavik at 8:00 AM. Upon disembarkation, enjoy a panoramic coach excursion of Reykjavik. See historic Höfði House - sight of the 1986 meeting between...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,995
Price per day$500
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Dec 2023

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Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, th...

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Nov 2023

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Travel Section Incompetent, Unhelpful, and Won't correct error

I booked a tour to Italy for May 2024. I cancelled in Oct. for a lot of reasons. Before I enrolled, I asked if Road Scholar would book the flights so that on the las...

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Sep 2023

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There is a nonrefundable deposit

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Road Scholar

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
Popular global tours with a unique focus on educational experiences for mostly senior travelers.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Radisson Blu Saga Hotel: 3 nights  Reykjavik, 107 Settle in with exceptional service and stunning views of the urban landscape, sea or glaciers at this sleek hotel just a ten-minute walk from the heart of the city. With a history of hospitality that dates back nearly 50 years, the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel is an iconic Icelandic accommodation. Its modern, stylish spaces and amenities still embrace timeless traditions of high quality and impeccable service.
Guides
Eiríkur Eiríksson Eiríkur Eiríksson is the head librarian at the Marine Research Institute in Reykjavík, Iceland. He was born and raised in the Westmann Islands and earned his bachelor’s in Library Science at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. His areas of expertise are Icelandic history, genealogy and geology.
Ship & cabin information
MV Ocean Diamond
Enjoy The Breathtaking Nature Of Iceland And Greenland Aboard The Ocean Diamond Thanks to two stabilizers that significantly reduce roll and an ice-strengthened hull (ice class 1D), the super yacht OCEAN DIAMOND is the ideal ship for expeditions in the Arctic region. Due to the ship’s compact size, we can take passengers to places off the traditional cruise routes to experience all the highlights of both Iceland and Greenland. With a maximum of 199 passengers, the OCEAN DIAMOND features a range of modern onboard amenities and is staffed with outstanding officers and crew, as well as bilingual expedition leaders and guides. The 107 cabins and suites, all of them elegantly designed, offer modern amenities and exterior views. The ship’s own Zodiacs are available for shore excursions. After a busy day of exploration, passengers can browse books or DVDs in the well-stocked Polar library or enjoy views of the spectacular Arctic scenery from the panorama salon.
Registration: Bahamas Launched/Renovation: 1974/1986/2012 Staff and Crew: 106 Guests: 199 Ice Class: 1D Length: 124 m Breadth: 16 m Draft: 4,9 m Max. Speed: 15 Knots Voltage onboard: w220V
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

15 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches and 12 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Travelstride Take
TBD
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-21882RJ

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