fbpx

Peregrine Travel Centre

Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet – Greenland & Iceland Luxury Expeditions

Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet – Greenland & Iceland Luxury Expeditions

From AUD $16,540

Book Now Request a callback
Email Us Print

Description

Set sail on an unforgettable odyssey, where the Nordic ice whispers the legends of the Vikings. From the shores of Iceland to the untamed lands of Greenland, fall under the spell of silent fjords, jagged mountains and blue-tinged icebergs. Each port of call will reveal striking and wild natural beauty: villages nestled against rock, tundra scattered with Viking ruins, and a horizon dotted with cetaceans and seabirds… Sailing along Prins Christian Sound, where waterfalls and cliffs are illuminated by crystal-clear light, and in Disko Bay, home to the largest icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere, will leave you awestruck. This is a timeless adventure to the far reaches of the world.
Some departures may have slightly modified itineraries. Please confirm the itinerary with an Expedition Specialist.

Trip Name
Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet - Greenland & Iceland Luxury Expeditions
Days
14
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 264 (200 in Antarctica) Built: 2011 This superb mega-yacht with 132 cabins is the result of the expertise of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard and French sophistication, as interpreted by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. L'Austral has a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being. A sleek silhouette softened by elegantly smooth contours and large, arched windows opening up to the sea and the light: so many features come together to give L’Austral her distinctive shape. Precious materials, discreet elegance and a perfect balance between chic and casual, combine to make you feel as if you are on your own private yacht. A design blending tradition and innovation, where a nautical mood has been subtly recreated. Precious materials in smoothing neutral tones are brought to life with splashes of cheerful reds. So many personal touches create the spirit of a “private yacht”. Cuisine Loyal to the great French tradition, the haute cuisine on board is worthy of the finest restaurants, where discreet, attentive service is the hallmark. Our two restaurants welcome you for breakfasts, lunch and dinner. The Gastronomic Restaurant, with a capacity of 268 persons, is situated on Le Liberté Deck and serves you French and international cuisine accompagnied by fine wine. On the Grill Restaurant, you will have the opportuniny to eat outside and enjoy buffet lunch and themed dinner. Life On Board Whether you want to join other guests in the theatre or games area (Wii™ consoles, etc), or relax on your own in a quiet corner of the library, L'Austral has been designed to meet the needs of every guest. Everything has been done to preserve the independence of each guest to suit their personal tastes: lounges for lectures and shows, a spa in partnership with Sothys™, but also more intimate spaces such as the library and internet corner. Comfortable cabins, nearly all with private balcony, are available for families either as triples or as communicating cabins. There is also a games area with Wii™ consoles, children’s menus, and a baby-sitting service. Just as if you were on a private yacht, your time is your own to do as you please. Fitted with the latest equipment (Kinesis Wall, running machine) and in partnership with the famous Sothys™ brand, the Beauty Centre on L'Austral welcomes you for some unforgettable moments of relaxation and pampering (beauty treatments, hairdresser).

Itinerary



Day 1 - Days 1 - 2 Reykjavík
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.
Day 2 - Day 3 At Sea
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 3 - Day 4 Tasiilaq & Sermilik Fjord
In Tasiilaq, on Ammassalik Island, follow in the wake of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s famous ship, the Pourquoi Pas ?, which set off with its crew in 1935 to discover this small island of primitive and wild beauty that remained unexplored until the end of the 19th century. Along with Ittoqqortoormiit, a village with 500 inhabitants located at the entrance of the Scoresby Sound, the village of Tasiilaq and its surroundings, 800 kilometres (500 miles) further north, are the only inhabited areas on the east coast of Greenland. The name of this island is a reference to the capelin, a small flamboyant silver-coloured fish whose presence in the thousands announces to inhabitants the return of spring. A surprising discovery in a spectacular setting.You will be captivated by the spectacular scenery of the Sermilik Fjord, the largest in the south-east of Greenland. To the north, above the glacial valleys, the Schweitzerland Alps and their peaks that rise to an altitude of more than 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) stretch out in the distance, while in the south, where it opens onto the Irminger Sea, heavy erosion has carved the landscape. Three main glaciers calve a multitude of dazzling icebergs that drift serenely along the indigo waters of this majestic fjord. It owes its name to the Inuit word Sermilik, which generally refers to a fjord into which a glacier flows. It was mapped in 1884 by the Danish explorer Gustav Holm and his crew, while they wintered in the Ammassalik region.
Day 4 - Day 5 Skjoldungen
Discover Skjoldungen Island on the south-east coast of Greenland. This uninhabited land boasts magnificent landscapes that are sure to dazzle you. The island is surrounded by a stunning fjord, a distinctive feature of which is its double entrance: it forms a bend before joining the sea on the other side. Mountains, glacial valleys, rocky outcrops, tundra and willow forests make up the beautiful scenery which you will be able to admire more closely when you land here. At this port of call, surrounded by wild and pristine nature, it is quite common to see bearded seals, orcas, but also birds such as the common redpoll, the northern wheatear, or the common raven.
Day 5 - Day 6 Prins Christian Sund
Your ship glides silently towards the Greenland coast, in a setting punctuated by pointed peaks and majestic glaciers… You are on the verge of crossing the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow channel that stretches out and zigzags over some one hundred kilometres between Greenland’s south-east and south-west. Fall under the spell of the primitive beauty of these unique landscapes, including rocky cliffs and waterfalls that are fed by the ice sheet and plunge into the icy waters. Here, bearded seals love to lie on the floating ice to soak up the sunshine.
Day 6 - Day 7 Hvalso & Igaliku
Around you, a grassy meadow filled with flowers stretches out, dotted with imposing granite rocks. A few semi-wild sheep and horses greet you; they are the only inhabitants of this place surrounded by beautiful mountains. You are in Hvalsø, in the heart of the fertile lands in Greenland’s south. During the 10th century, this site was colonised by the Vikings, who established a large community here. When your ship calls at these lands brimming with history, you will see the ruins of a church whose remains are still very well preserved. It was most likely built in the 14th century. It has lost its timber roof, but its four stone walls continue to stand proudly as a moving relic of a long-gone era.Nestling on the southern tip of Greenland, Igaliku offers a peaceful panorama, dominated by high snow-capped mountains and vibrant valleys of flowers on fine days. Home to the first Viking agricultural settlements, this bucolic village houses the remains of the Garðar religious site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 7 - Day 8 Ikka Fjord
As you sail through the majestic Ikka Fjord in south-west Greenland, you will discover over 10,000 years of underwater geology, for mysterious columns up to 20 metres high, formed several millennia ago, rise up from the seabed. Their material, ikaite, gives the fjord its name. Truly magical! You glide over calm, clear waters amidst breathtaking mountains in the endlessly wild, huge area of Greenland.
Day 8 - Day 9 Nuuk
When Erik Le Rouge, the exiled Norse chief, landed on the coast of Nuuk, he found a fertile and welcoming land dotted with fjords. He settled there with a group of his former countrymen, and the Norse remained the principal inhabitants until, over a period of 500 years, their population declined and gave way to the Inuit. Nuuk is situated at the mouth of one of the largest networks of fjords in the world, where the waters never freeze. The town spreads gently out towards the Davis Strait and enjoys an historic center that is particularly rich in national heritage. The vivid reds, blues, greens and yellows of the houses are a lively contrast to the somber waters of Greenland and serve to lift the spirits of the locals during the Winter months.
Day 9 - Day 10 Sisimiut
During your cruise, we invite you to discover Sisimiut, founded in 1756 and the second largest town in Greenland. This small town is typical of Greenland, boasting bewitching panoramas: here and there, colourful stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town centre, it is home to a number of historic buildings, a small church and a museum which retraces the history of the Inuit people, as well as many craft shops. When your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.
Day 10 - Day 11 Paul-Émile Victor Base Camp, Eqi Glacier
"The most beautiful place in the Arctic" is how Paul-Émile Victor described Greenland, a land of great icebergs and of towering ice formations calved by the giant glaciers of the polar ice cap. The Eqi Glacier is one of the region’s most impressive sights. Here, the silence is broken only by the roaring and cracking of the ice. It is impossible to know if one is shivering from cold or from the sheer thrill of being here... Imagine the vast outline of a glacier, its translucent crystals glowing with an ice-blue fire in the sunlight. Paul-Émile Victor’s shelter cannot be overlooked; it was from here that the French Polar Expeditions’ anthropological and geographic explorations set off in the 1950s.
Day 11 - Day 12 Disko Bay
To the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, scattered with countless icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the region’s many humpback whales. The encounters with wild fauna and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile nature will be pure moments of wonder for you.
Day 12 - Day 13 Nooralak
Located a few kilometres away from the Arctic Circle, the Nooralaq peninsula features raw and untamed beauty. Nature reigns supreme here, with the tundra stretching as far as the eye can see, decked out in various forms of flora and inhabited by Greenland’s emblematic fauna — snow buntings, common ravens, reindeer, musk oxen, and the discreet Arctic fox. The heights of Nooralaq afford sublime panoramas over the Itteleq fjord, whose water reflects the moving skies of the Far North.
Day 13 - Day 14 Nuuk
When Erik Le Rouge, the exiled Norse chief, landed on the coast of Nuuk, he found a fertile and welcoming land dotted with fjords. He settled there with a group of his former countrymen, and the Norse remained the principal inhabitants until, over a period of 500 years, their population declined and gave way to the Inuit. Nuuk is situated at the mouth of one of the largest networks of fjords in the world, where the waters never freeze. The town spreads gently out towards the Davis Strait and enjoys an historic center that is particularly rich in national heritage. The vivid reds, blues, greens and yellows of the houses are a lively contrast to the somber waters of Greenland and serve to lift the spirits of the locals during the Winter months.
Day 14 - Please Note:
We are privileged guests in these remote lands where we are at the mercy of weather, ice, tidal and current conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $17,690Superior Stateroom
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $19,020DeLuxe Stateroom
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $78,380Owner’s Suite
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $20,920Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $21,880Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $23,020Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $31,410Deluxe Suite
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $41,890Prestige Suite - Deck 5
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $43,990Privilege Suite
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $50,290Grand Deluxe Suite
08-08-202521-08-2025AUD $59,250Grand Privilege Suite
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $17,870Superior Stateroom
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $19,220Deluxe Stateroom
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $21,160Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $22,140Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $23,310Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $31,850Deluxe Suite
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $42,540Prestige Suite Deck 5
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $44,680Prestige Suite Deck 6
20-07-202602-08-2026AUD $62,290Owner's Suite
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $17,870Superior Stateroom
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $19,220DeLuxe Stateroom
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $21,160Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $22,140Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $23,310Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $31,850Deluxe Suite
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $42,540Prestige Suite - Deck 5
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $44,680Privilege Suite
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $51,110Grand Deluxe Suite
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $60,240Grand Privilege Suite
14-08-202627-08-2026AUD $79,780Owner’s Suite
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $16,540Superior Stateroom
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $17,750Deluxe Stateroom
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $19,480Prestige Deck 4
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $20,360Prestige Deck 5
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $21,400Prestige Deck 6
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $29,040Deluxe Suite
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $38,580Prestige Deck 5 Suite
30-07-202712-08-2027AUD $40,480Prestige Deck 6 Suite
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $16,670Superior Stateroom
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $17,880Deluxe Stateroom
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $19,610Prestige Deck 4
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $20,490Prestige Deck 5
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $21,530Prestige Deck 6
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $29,170Deluxe Suite
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $38,710Prestige Deck 5 Suite
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $40,610Privilège Suite
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $46,340Grand Deluxe Suite
20-08-202702-09-2027AUD $54,500Grand Privilege Suite

Inclusions

    • Explore Greenland in the footsteps of the first Vikings and explorers, meet the Inuit communities and admire majestic icebergs.
    • Spectacular landscapes (Prince Christian Sound, Disko Bay, etc.), fascinating wildlife (opportunities to glimpse or observe cetaceans, seabirds, Arctic foxes, etc.) and riveting Viking history (the UNESCO-listed Igaliku).
    • Activities: opportunities for dinghy outings and shore visits with your naturalist guides; kayaking; visits to Inuit villages and Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, etc.

Map

Related products

Recent Blog Posts

Browse Trips in

Iceland
More of activity:
Arctic Cruises