Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse (17 days)

Arrive in Reykjavik and transfer independently to your included hotel for the night. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to explore the fascinating capital of Iceland.

After breakfast on Day 2, you’ll have time to explore on your own before your afternoon transfer to the modern, purpose-built ship Ocean Explorer. We set sail for “Iceland’s best-kept secret”—the Westfjords. This rugged peninsula, on the remote northwestern tip of Iceland, is dominated by mountains, volcanic rock and fjords. Mountains slope down to the sea in a dramatic fashion, providing plenty of opportunities for incredible landscape photography. We’ll spend the day exploring by Zodiac and ship, as well as guided shore landings where possible. The views are diverse: dramatic cliffs, gushing waterfalls, colorful beaches, rolling green hills, high moorlands dotted with rocky outcrops and tiny lakes. You’ll likely spot Icelandic ponies and shaggy sheep grazing the hillsides. A few outposts of civilization include small fishing communities at the fjord edges and along the shores of the Denmark Strait. One of the highlights in the Westfjords is a chance to visit Vigur, a private island where guests can delve into Icelandic culture and heritage as far back as the 11th century. Vigur is widely regarded as a capsule of Icelandic heritage. One of the island’s co-owners is polar explorer Felicity Aston, the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica. You’ll learn about the Icelandic tradition of eiderdown harvesting, and the wide array of Arctic birdlife and seals that are found in Vigur. It’s estimated that Vigur Island is home to over 7,000 breeding ducks, 100,000 puffins, Europe’s largest colony of Black Guillemots, and huge flocks of Arctic terns. You’ll also have opportunities to ramble about the island, taste local food and visit the island café. Today’s adventure options include Zodiac cruising, sea kayaking, paddle excursion program, and, potentially, a guided shore hike. Right across the bay is Mongufoss, one of Iceland’s most remote and beautiful waterfalls, which we’ll visit by ship. We may also visit Flatey, a small 1.5 km-long island in Breiðafjörður Bay.

As we sail north across the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland, your Expedition Team prepares you for the exciting adventures ahead – both on and off the ship. Our team of polar experts present on a wide range of topics, including Arctic history, wildlife, geology and climatology. The team also searches for seabirds soaring about the ship – and they’ll most certainly alert you whenever there’s a whale sighting.

Navigating within the boundaries of the Northeast Greenland National Park, the planet’s largest national park, we sail into Kangerluk Kong Oscar, also known as King Oscar Fjord, on the northern border of Scoresby Land peninsula. This major fjord system, poplar for its famously bright sandstone, stretches 70mi (110km) long and 6mi-15mi (10km-25km) wide. You will also experience the wonders of nature in Segelsällskapet Fjord, where a spectacular display of “geological art” awaits: alternating layers of limestone and dolomite stretching before you in a stunningly beautiful canvas created over tens of thousands of years.

Our purpose-built vessel will cruise deep into Scoresby Sund, allowing guests to marvel at the overwhelming beauty of the world’s largest fjord system and its vast icebergs. This area offers plenty of opportunities to explore during Zodiac cruises and onshore visits, and, if conditions allow, time to visit Ittoqqortoormiit, the most remote community in East Greenland. There will be a palpable sense of excitement in the air as anticipation builds for our much-awaited eclipse viewing. Behind the scenes, your Expedition Leader and the Ship Captain will work closely together, monitoring sea and ice conditions and meteorological forecasts—particularly cloud cover—to strategically position Ocean Explorer in the best location possible to maximize your views of the solar eclipse.

Ocean Explorer will sail further into Scoresby Sund, where the team will identify the most optimal viewing point along the path of totality. With the total eclipse of the sun lasting 2 minutes and 17.2 seconds, this region of the Arctic provides the longest duration of totality along the entire eclipse path. The eclipse will start at 2:34 pm, and totality will begin at 3:34 pm and end at 3:36 pm. The eclipse viewing experience, a duration of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 3 seconds, will conclude at 4:35 pm. Throughout this exciting day, you will have opportunities to learn from our guest eclipse expert, Michael Zeiler. This 2026 eclipse is part of Saros series 126, which is a cycle of solar eclipses that repeats approximately every 18 years. It’s worth noting that total solar eclipses in Polar Regions are relatively rare due to the smaller land area and the fact that the sun only illuminates each pole for part of the year. The Quark Expeditions team and our special eclipse expert will continue to research the geography of this region as we prepare for the event. Right up until the day of the eclipse itself, our team will study the mountainous terrain, the angles of the sun in the sky, localized ice conditions and weather patterns to determine the best possible viewing experience. Your Expedition Leader will outline the day’s agenda in the days and hours leading up to the eclipse.

You’ll have plenty of opportunities during your at-sea days to enjoy the amenities of Ocean Explorer. Guests can relax in Tundra Spa, the gym, the sauna with large windows, and two outdoor Jacuzzis, or deepen your polar knowledge in the light-filled Discovery Library. Almost all suites have verandas, ideal for watching the passing Arctic landscape. Spending time outside on on deck as we transit south along the east coast offers an opportunity to spot icebergs and, as always, we keep our eyes peeled for whales. Remember to check the lineup of polar presentations featuring our learned Expedition Team and guest eclipse expert.