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By Destinations Editor
SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
Sculpted iceberg photographed during Erika Commisso’s Greenland expedition
ExplorEarth Greenland guide · In partnership with Glacial Expeditions

Which Greenland expedition is right for you?

The iceberg-filled waters of the west. The vast fjords of the east. Communities, wildlife, and landscapes that change with every stretch of coast. Find the Greenland that speaks to you—and the ship that makes it your kind of journey.

Inquire or book a callExplore East & West
Personal advice for travelers in the United States and Canada · Photography: Erika Commisso · Film from Erika’s Greenland voyage
01 · Find your reason to go

What brings you to Greenland?

The first glimpse of a great iceberg is often what captures the imagination. The experience becomes richer when you step ashore, meet people, explore by water, and begin to understand the place beyond that first photograph.

Ice on an extraordinary scale

Glaciers, sculpted icebergs, and fjords reveal a landscape still being shaped. The view changes with the light, your position, and the movement of the ice.

A living Arctic culture

Greenland is home. Community visits and local perspectives help place the landscape within a human story, with meaningful experiences on both coasts.

Room for discovery

An expedition makes space for the unexpected. Conditions influence the day, and an experienced team helps turn opportunity into exploration.

A more personal perspective

A quiet kayak outing, a walk with your camera, or time watching from deck: the right journey gives you ways to explore that matter to you.

02 · Choose your coast

East or West Greenland?
Let the experience lead.

Both coasts offer ice, wildlife, and Greenlandic culture. What changes is the balance: the places you visit, the time you spend exploring, and the way your itinerary connects them. Even within East Greenland, a voyage to Scoresby Sund feels different from exploring the southeast.

East Greenland scenery
East Greenland

Fjords, ice & the pull of the remote.

On the eastern coast, mountain walls and glacier-fed waterways create a powerful sense of scale. Northeastern voyages may focus on Scoresby Sund and its surrounding fjords. Farther south, the coastline explored in Erika’s diary opens into another world of branching waterways, rocky shores, and ice.

Look closely at: which part of the east the voyage explores, time in the fjords, days crossing open water, and opportunities for walking, photography, and kayaking.
Help me explore East GreenlandSchested Fjord · Erika Commisso
West Greenland scenery
West Greenland

Iceberg country, with people at its heart.

On the western coast, iconic ice scenery sits alongside towns and coastal communities. Disko Bay and Ilulissat are a major draw for many travelers, while places such as Sisimiut and Nuuk offer different perspectives on contemporary Greenland. Selected longer voyages range much farther north.

Look closely at: the balance of community visits and landscape exploration, time around Disko Bay, embarkation arrangements, and how far north your itinerary travels.
Help me explore West GreenlandDisko Bay · Mark Stratton

You don’t have to decide before you ask. Tell Glacial Expeditions what appeals to you. Some journeys concentrate on one region; others connect coasts or include neighboring destinations. The best starting point is your interests, available time, and preferred style of travel.

Explore Greenland

Ports, fjords &
places to step ashore.

Start with Greenland’s communities, then explore its landing areas and fjords. Erika’s diary brings Southeast Greenland to life; Scoresby Sund adds a different perspective farther north, while Disko Bay opens a window onto the west.

Greenland reference map

Select a card or map marker to explore. Each numbered callout links to its own location card. Connecting lines link offset numbered markers to their destination areas. Markers show approximate destination areas, not precise landing beaches. On smaller screens, swipe across the map.

Icebergs in Disko Bay
West Greenland · Icebergs & coastlines

Ilulissat & Disko Bay

For many travelers, this is the Greenland they first imagine: immense icebergs, a coast shaped by glaciers, and a town whose life is closely connected to the sea. Voyages visiting Ilulissat may combine time ashore with exploration of the surrounding waters. Ask how your itinerary approaches the Icefjord and how much time it allows in Disko Bay.

These are possible expedition destinations, not a single itinerary. Landings and water-based outings depend on the voyage, ice, weather, and local arrangements. Scoresby Sund is an additional destination highlight, separate from Erika’s Southeast Greenland voyage.

03 · Choose your season

When would you like
to meet Greenland?

The summer season is not one unchanging experience. Daylight, ice conditions, activity opportunities, and the character of the landscape shift with both the date and your latitude. Match your timing to the Greenland you want to explore.

Greenland early summer landscape
Early summer

Long days. A landscape opening up.

Long daylight hours create generous windows for observation and exploration. Snow and sea ice can still shape access, especially farther north. Choose a departure designed for its region rather than assuming every coastline opens at the same time.

Greenland midsummer landscape
Midsummer

Time outdoors. Room to explore.

Look for the mix of walks, water-based exploration, and local visits that appeals to you. In the right places and conditions, summer reveals wildflowers, active coastal waters, and opportunities to linger outside. Midnight sun depends on latitude and date.

Greenland late summer / early fall landscape
Late summer / early fall

Changing light. Returning darkness.

The return of darker nights creates the possibility of northern lights on some itineraries, alongside changing light and seasonal color. Aurora depends on darkness, skies, and solar activity; it is a possibility to enjoy rather than a guaranteed event.

Seasonal images illustrate the experience; they do not represent a fixed schedule. Aurora photograph: National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions. Other seasonal photography: Erika Commisso.

04 · Wildlife

The encounters you
can’t put on a timetable.

A blow beyond the bow. A pale shape on the ice. Movement across the tundra. Wildlife adds another dimension to Greenland, but the possibilities differ by region—and the most memorable moments often begin with simply watching.

Polar bears in Greenland

Polar bears

Erika’s eastern voyage brought memorable bear encounters. These remain unpredictable sightings, observed at a respectful distance and guided by the expedition team.

Erika Commisso
Whales in Greenland

Whales

Watch the water as well as the shore. Erika recorded pilot whales during her trip; other journeys offer different possibilities according to region and conditions.

Erika Commisso
Musk oxen in Greenland

Musk oxen

In suitable regions, a guided landing can reveal these remarkable Arctic animals. Ask which itineraries offer relevant habitat and time ashore.

Mark Stratton
Arctic foxes in Greenland

Arctic foxes

Often a quieter encounter, an Arctic fox rewards patient observation. Small movements and a closer look at the landscape can be as absorbing as a headline sighting.

Mark Stratton

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Choose for the complete Greenland experience: its landscapes, people, activities, and the opportunity to discover what the day brings.

05 · Choose your ship experience

One destination.
Different ways to travel.

The route determines where your expedition hopes to go. The ship influences how the journey feels between those experiences: the size of the group, the spaces you share, the guiding, and the comfort you return to. Start with what matters to you, then compare available ships with Glacial Expeditions.

A close-knit group

Boutique expeditions

For travelers drawn to an intimate social atmosphere and a smaller group of fellow explorers.

  • Consider how much shared indoor and deck space you want.
  • Compare cabin layouts and facilities carefully.
  • Ask about the guiding, equipment, and pace of outings.
Ask about boutique options
Exploration at the center

Classic expedition ships

For travelers who want a strong expedition program and a wider onboard community.

  • Compare the expertise and size of the expedition team.
  • Ask how Zodiac outings and landings are organized.
  • Look at lectures, photography, and time in the field.
Ask about expedition ships
Adventure & onboard comfort

More comfort between discoveries

For travelers who value the quality of their cabin and onboard spaces alongside active days outside.

  • Compare suites, observation areas, dining, and wellness.
  • Check activities and guiding as closely as amenities.
  • Look at the total inclusions rather than the headline fare.
Explore comfort-led options

Ship size and comfort are separate choices.

A smaller ship is not automatically basic, and more onboard facilities do not tell you how much time you will spend exploring. These are starting preferences. Glacial Expeditions can help compare actual vessels, routes, cabins, and departure options within its available portfolio.

National Geographic Resolution in Greenland
The ship in Erika’s diary

National Geographic Resolution

Erika’s journey provides a specific example of how expedition capability and onboard comfort can come together. She describes observation spaces, photography workshops, different ways to explore ashore, and the shared excitement of returning to the deck when something unexpected appeared.

Her story is a useful starting point for discussing what you would value on your own ship.

Read the onboard storyImage: National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions
06 · Expedition life

What could a day
in Greenland look like?

There is no fixed sightseeing timetable. A day might bring time on deck, a Zodiac outing, a landing, and a conversation that changes how you see the landscape. Activities depend on the ship, region, and conditions; the rhythm is built around making the most of where you are.

Begin with the view on a Greenland expedition
EARLY

Begin with the view

Step outside as the ship enters a fjord. Look for changes in the ice, light, and water.

Explore by Zodiac on a Greenland expedition
ON THE WATER

Explore by Zodiac

Discover the coastline from a different height, with your guide adding context.

Follow your curiosity on a Greenland expedition
ASHORE

Follow your curiosity

A walk, a photograph, or a closer look at the tundra can become the day’s highlight.

Make time for people on a Greenland expedition
CONNECTIONS

Make time for people

On community visits, learn about the place from local perspectives and everyday life.

Keep looking on a Greenland expedition
EVENING

Keep looking

The day may continue after dinner. A changing sky or an unexpected encounter can call you back outside.

Images from the ExplorEarth Greenland guide and Erika’s expedition journal; Zodiac and walking imagery: Mark Stratton. Community visits and activities vary by departure.

07 · The ExplorEarth perspective

Greenland.
With Billy Heaney.

Take time to see the destination before you start comparing departures. Billy’s film brings another ExplorEarth perspective to Greenland, alongside the practical choices in this guide.

As you watch, think about what draws you in: the landscape, the wildlife, the people, or the chance to be outside exploring. Those interests are the beginning of a more useful conversation about your trip.

01

Start with curiosity

Choose the experiences you want to make room for. Your reasons for going should help shape the route.

02

Look beyond one photograph

Think about the whole journey: days in the field, time aboard, and the places and people you hope to encounter.

03

Turn inspiration into a plan

Bring your interests to Glacial Expeditions and compare the ships, seasons, and routes that could fit.

08 · Firsthand from the fjords

Greenland,
through Erika’s eyes.

The person helping you choose your expedition has recently been out there herself.

Glacial Expeditions owner Erika Commisso traveled aboard National Geographic Resolution, sharing her East Greenland diary with ExplorEarth as the voyage unfolded. Its strength is in the detail: how a day changes, how travelers choose different activities, and how a destination can surprise you.

“What we didn’t expect was just how completely Greenland would capture our hearts.”
Erika Commisso · East Greenland expedition log
Watch moments filmed during Erika’s Greenland expedition.

Her journey ranged from quiet kayak outings to community encounters and unexpected wildlife. It offers a personal view of one expedition, and a practical way to begin thinking about your own.

Plan with Glacial ExpeditionsRead Erika’s full diary ↗
At the scale of the ice.
From the diary · Bernstorff Isfjord

At the scale of the ice.

Erika describes a day spent working deeper into the fjord, moving from the ship to Zodiacs and then kayaks as conditions allowed. Watching calving ice and a rolling iceberg from a safe distance brought home how dynamic the landscape really is.

Two travelers. Two ways to explore.
From the diary · Tasiilaq

Two travelers. Two ways to explore.

An unexpected call in Tasiilaq gave Erika time to visit the museum and church and watch a local artisan at work. Chris chose a longer hike. Their different days show why the choice of activities can matter as much as the destination name.

The moments nobody can schedule.
From the diary · Watching from the bow

The moments nobody can schedule.

As the fog lifted, Erika headed back outside and encountered a pod of pilot whales. Such moments give her account its immediacy. They are highlights of that particular voyage, rather than a wildlife checklist another departure can promise.

Diary photographs: Erika Commisso. Her voyage explored East Greenland; the wider campaign also covers West Greenland and other ship options.

09 · Plan the whole journey

From the US or Canada
to your Greenland expedition.

A well-chosen voyage is only part of the trip. Flights, time around embarkation, the activity program, and what is included all influence how the experience works for you. A few practical conversations early on can make the options much clearer.

Connect the journey

Some trips begin in Iceland; others embark in Greenland and may involve connecting or charter flights. Compare arrangements from your home airport, including transfers and overnight stays.

Give yourself enough time

Look beyond cruise nights. Consider travel days, connection margins, and how much of the voyage is spent crossing open water versus exploring the coastline.

Match your activity level

Talk about Zodiac boarding, uneven ground, walking distances, and any mobility requirements. Kayaking and other specialist activities depend on the departure and its participation criteria.

Compare the full value

Ask what is included: flights, hotels, outings, equipment, gratuities, and optional activities. Have prices clearly identified in USD or CAD, with booking and cancellation terms explained.

Erika Commisso, owner of Glacial ExpeditionsExplorEarth preferred partner

Glacial Expeditions

Erika Commisso
Owner & expedition travel specialist

10 · Your specialist partner

A person to talk to.
A journey to make your own.

The choice is easier when you can discuss what matters to you. Glacial Expeditions is the agent partner for this campaign, bringing personal advice to travelers in the United States and Canada.

Erika’s recent expedition adds firsthand East Greenland experience to that conversation. Share what interests you, how you like to travel, and the questions that still need answering. Then explore the available routes and ships with a clear sense of your priorities.

Begin with your interests

Icebergs, culture, photography, wildlife, or active days outside: explain what draws you north.

Compare the choices

Discuss region, ship atmosphere, cabin preferences, available departures, and your overall budget.

Bring the practical questions

Ask about travel arrangements, inclusions, solo options, and the physical demands of activities.

Keep room for discovery

Choose a journey that suits you while understanding the flexibility at the heart of expedition travel.

Before you go

A few questions
worth asking.

You can start a conversation before you know your route, ship, or departure date. These are useful questions to bring with you.

Do I have to choose East or West first?

No. Tell Glacial Expeditions what appeals to you and how much time you have. Comparing suitable itineraries can make the regional differences more meaningful than choosing a coast in isolation.

Can one voyage include more than one region?

Some voyages connect several parts of Greenland or combine Greenland with neighboring destinations. Look at the actual time allocated to each region and the travel days between them before choosing.

Is every activity included?

Inclusions and activity programs differ between operators and departures. Ask which outings are included, which require advance booking or an additional payment, and which have specific fitness or experience requirements.

Can I travel solo?

Ask about dedicated solo cabins, single occupancy pricing, and any relevant offers on the departures you are considering. These arrangements are ship- and date-specific.

Will the published itinerary happen exactly as shown?

Expedition itineraries describe the intended journey. The captain and expedition team respond to weather, sea ice, safety, local arrangements, and opportunities along the way. Flexibility is part of this style of travel.

ExplorEarth × Glacial Expeditions

Find your way
into Greenland.

Send an inquiry or book a call with Erika at Glacial Expeditions. Talk through your ideas for Greenland and get personal help choosing your journey.

Perhaps you already have a coast or ship in mind. Perhaps you simply know that Greenland is calling. Glacial Expeditions can help you take the next step.

Share your preferred dates, interests, group size, and budget in the form. If you would rather talk, choose a time in Erika’s calendar and discuss the options together.

Prefer a conversation? Book a call with Erika to discuss your Greenland expedition.

Book a call with Erika
A kayak-level view of Greenland from Erika’s expedition
Photo: Erika Commisso

Let’s plan your Greenland expedition

Choose how you would like to get in touch with Erika.

Tell Glacial Expeditions a little about the journey you have in mind.

ExplorEarth Greenland Guide · In partnership with Glacial Expeditions · East & West Greenland