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Green and purple aurora borealis filling the night sky off East Greenland, seen from the deck of SH Vega on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

Aurora Expeditions · Douglas Mawson · 11 days

Iceland and East Greenland, Under the Northern Lights

Reykjavík to Reykjavík in September, with a hotel night in Reykjavík included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$19,812 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Brightly painted houses of Ittoqqortoormiit crowding the edge of the fjord, Scoresby Sund, East Greenland, on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

11 days, roundtrip from Reykjavík

Scoresby Sund as the nights return

September is the month East Greenland turns: the tundra goes red and gold, the icebergs of Scoresby Sund drift in open water, and the nights are dark enough again for the aurora. This voyage is timed for it. From Reykjavík, Douglas Mawson sails into the Westfjords for the walk to Dynjandi, then crosses the Denmark Strait for six days in the largest fjord system in the world: Rødefjord and its painted mountains, the icebergs off Sydkap, the tundra of Liverpool Land and the town of Ittoqqortoormiit. Muskoxen, Arctic hare and seals share the fjords, and clear nights are watched from deck. Aurora’s expedition team sets each day around the ice and the weather, with kayaking on offer for those who book it. A July photography edition of the route, Through the Lens, sails with Aurora’s photographers aboard Sylvia Earle.

Scoresby Sund is where we send guests who want the biggest fjord landscapes in the Arctic without the long crossing, and Iceland makes an easy beginning and end. We shape the rest around you, the cabin, flights from Australia, nights in Reykjavík either side, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • 2 countries
  • 6 days in Greenland
  • 11 days

Signature sites

Six places between Iceland and Greenland

One day in Iceland’s Westfjords, six in the fjords of East Greenland. All reached by Zodiac or on foot with the expedition team, weather and ice permitting.

Thin waterfalls streaking down a dark rock face at Borgvik, Kong Oscar Fjord, East Greenland, seen on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

Dynjandi and the Westfjords

A Zodiac landing and the walk up past a staircase of cascades to the tiered falls of Dynjandi, the jewel of Iceland’s most remote region.

Day by day

Eleven days, in outline

The expedition team decides each day in the morning, around the ice and the weather. The outline below is the shape of the voyage; the full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

Arrive and settle into the included hotel.

Aboard Douglas Mawson

Aurora Expeditions is Australian owned and sails the Arctic with Douglas Mawson, launched in 2025, and Sylvia Earle: purpose-built expedition ships of around 130 guests, with the X-Bow hull for a steadier crossing, a fleet of Zodiacs and an expedition team that leads every landing. Dining is one open seating, with wine and beer at dinner, and ten solo cabins on every sailing carry no single supplement.

Douglas Mawson
Bearded seal hauled out on an ice floe during a glacier Zodiac cruise in East Greenland, photographed on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

Zodiacs at the bird cliffs

Musk ox grazing among purple wildflowers on the tundra of the Menander Islands, East Greenland, photographed on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

Kayaking, for those who book it

Aerial view of brash ice filling the bay in front of Ittoqqortoormiit, Scoresby Sund, East Greenland, on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

The bow deck in the ice

Black and white photograph of Arctic hares on a dark scree slope beneath basalt cliffs in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland, on a Swan Hellenic Greenland cruise

Tundra walks with the team

Expedition guide giving an expert-led presentation to passengers in the lounge aboard a Swan Hellenic cruise

Lectures between landings

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

One hotel night in Reykjavík with breakfast, nine nights on board, all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices, beer and house wine with dinner, the Captain’s farewell dinner, all Zodiac outings and shore excursions, lectures and guiding by the expedition team, a 3-in-1 polar jacket to keep and the use of boots on board, port fees, permits and landing fees, Wi-Fi where available

Flights from Australia to Reykjavík and home, meals beyond those listed, kayaking and other optional activities, drinks outside dinner, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, the onboard crew gratuity added to your account

This route has no charter flights; Reykjavík is served by scheduled airlines. Aurora includes the first hotel night. We arrange your flights from Australia and any extra nights, so the whole journey is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

East Greenland can also be reached with Svalbard on Jewels of the Arctic, and West Greenland with Swan Hellenic in September. Each voyage shows its from price in Australian dollars; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

All expeditions
14 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$28,414

Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard and East Greenland

Oslo to Reykjavík, or the reverse, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$28,414 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

7 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$16,975

Greenland, Land of Northern Lights

Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq. Sailings in September 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$16,975 per person, charter flights from Reykjavík included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

16 Nights
Ponant
From A$53,550

In the Ice of the Arctic: Svalbard and Greenland

Reykjavík to Longyearbyen in June, or Longyearbyen to Reykjavík. Sailings in 2027, with 2028 to follow. Paris charter flight included. From A$53,550 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$10,041

South Greenland: Alpine Exploration by Helicopter

Reykjavík to Reykjavík, with the flight from Nuuk at the end included. One sailing in August 2027, one in August 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$10,041 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

15 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$19,281

West Greenland and the Far North: Ilulissat to Qaanaaq

Reykjavík to Reykjavík via Nuuk, flights across the Denmark Strait included. One sailing in September 2027, one in September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$19,281 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

11 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,500

Viking Routes: Canada, Greenland and Iceland

Halifax to Reykjavík in May, Greenland to Canada in September. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,500 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Arc of green aurora borealis across a starry night sky off East Greenland, seen from the deck of SH Vega on a Swan Hellenic Greenland expedition cruise

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Eleven days, Reykjavík to Reykjavík. Fares are Aurora Expeditions’ published Australian fares per person, twin share, with the current early-booking offers applied. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

The 2027 sailing, timed for autumn colour in the fjords and the first dark nights of the aurora season.

The photography edition of the route, with Aurora’s photographers hosting workshops and field guidance. Ask us for the programme and the fare.

The 2028 sailing, a week later in the season and at the lowest fare on this route.

Tell us the month and the cabin you have in mind and we hold your place on our list, then come back to you with dates and Australian fares the day they open.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right cabin and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.