Helicopter flightseeing over a Greenland fjord from the Quark Expeditions ship Ultramarine

Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 15 days

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.

Call 1300 187 630

Colourful wooden houses in the village of Aappilattoq, South Greenland, visited on a Quark Expeditions cruise

15 days, roundtrip from Reykjavík

Greenland from the sea, the land and the air

South Greenland is the alpine Arctic: granite walls a kilometre high over Tasermiut Fjord, glacial lakes in the high valleys, and the ice sheet itself a short flight from the coast. Ultramarine is the only ship in the region with two helicopters, and this voyage is built around them. After two days across the Denmark Strait, the ship works the wild east coast, then Prince Christian Sound and the fjords Quark calls Arctic Patagonia, with heli-landings on ridges and plateaux no trail reaches. The Westlands follow: Qassiarsuk and the Norse farms of Erik the Red, the Greenland Ice Sheet by helicopter, and the small communities of the fjords. Alpine kayaking, heli-hiking and a night in a camp on Tasermiut are offered as adventure options. The voyage ends in Nuuk with the flight to Reykjavík.

South Greenland by helicopter is the voyage we suggest to guests who walk, paddle and want the alpine Arctic rather than the ice edge. We shape the rest around you, the cabin, the adventure options worth booking early, flights from Australia and nights in Reykjavík, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

6 ports
2 helicopters
15 days

Signature sites

Six places, several of them from the air

Helicopter flights are part of the expedition programme and depend on the weather on the day. All landings are led by the expedition team.

Zodiac dwarfed by a towering iceberg in Greenland on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

The east coast

Two days on the sparsely visited south-east, with icebergs drifting down the East Greenland Current.

The east coast

Two days on the sparsely visited south-east, with icebergs drifting down the East Greenland Current.

Day by day

Fifteen days, in outline

The weather sets the flying and the ice sets the fjords. The outline below is the shape of the journey; the full programme, with the adventure options, comes with the proposal we write for you.

Arrive, then embark Ultramarine in Reykjavík.

Aboard Ultramarine

Ultramarine is Quark Expeditions’ flagship: 199 guests, two twin-engine helicopters for flightseeing and heli-landings where the itinerary allows, twenty quick-launch Zodiacs and a ready room for every guest. Quark has sailed the polar regions since 1991 and runs its ships as expedition platforms first: the expedition team leads every outing, kayaking and the polar plunge are on offer, and the dining is one open seating with wine and beer at dinner.

Ultramarine

Zodiacs, twenty of them

The Panorama Lounge aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine

The bow deck in the ice

Balena Restaurant aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine ship

Kayaking, for those who book it

The Tundra Spa aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine ship

Landings with the expedition team

A Balcony Suite Double Bed Cabin aboard Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine

Lectures between outings

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Twelve nights aboard Ultramarine, the flight from Nuuk to Reykjavík at the end of the voyage, included helicopter flightseeing and landings as programmed, all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board, beer and wine at dinner, coffee and tea around the clock, all Zodiac outings, shore landings and guided walks led by the expedition team, lectures and presentations, a Quark expedition parka to keep and the use of boots on board, group transfers listed in the programme, port fees and a photographic journal of the voyage

Flights from Australia and home, meals beyond those listed, kayaking, the polar plunge and other adventure options booked in advance, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, gratuities to the ship’s crew, hotel nights in Reykjavík, optional heli-hiking, alpine kayaking and the camp on Tasermiut

Quark includes the flight from Nuuk back to Reykjavík. We arrange your flights from Australia to Reykjavík and the hotel nights either side, so the whole journey is one booking.

Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

West Greenland can be sailed in September with Swan Hellenic, and the Viking routes to Canada aboard SH Vega. Each voyage shows its from price in the currency its operator publishes, Australian or US dollars; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

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.

13 Nights

Quark Expeditions

From US$12,921

Greenland to Newfoundland: Ice, Inuit and the Vikings

Fly Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq, sail to St John’s. Four sailings from September 2027 to September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$12,921 per person in US dollars, 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.

10 Nights

Aurora Expeditions

From A$19,812

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.

12 Nights

Ponant

From A$29,280

Encounter with the Last Guardians of the North Pole

Nuuk to Nuuk, 4 to 16 April 2027, with 2028 to follow. From A$29,280 per person, Paris charter flights 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.

Two Zodiacs cruising along a towering glacier front in Svalbard on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Fifteen days aboard Ultramarine, Reykjavík to Reykjavík. The 2029 season is yet to be announced. 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, in the weeks when the fjords are at their greenest and the first northern lights return to the south. Flight from Nuuk included.

Quark lists a second sailing in August 2028; we come back to you with the dates and the Australian fare.

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.