Nuuk, Greenland's capital, is a surprisingly cosmopolitan hub where over a third of the country's people live. Its heart includes the Colonial Harbour, Nuuk Cathedral, and the Greenland National Museum, home to the Qilakitsoq mummies. Above are downtown apartments, shops, parliament, city hall, cafes, and Katuaq Cultural Centre. Despite its modern side, Nuuk remains distinctly Greenlandic, with local markets, the country's only traffic lights and university, and proud, welcoming residents.

Sisimiut, Greenland's second city, is North America's largest Arctic city and a hub between the country's south and north. Home to a young, fast-growing population, it has been inhabited for 4,500+ years and grew into a trade center in the Danish Colonial Era. Sisimiut Museum preserves old buildings and artifacts. Known for skilled artisans, seafood processing, shipping, and KNI's base, it also offers hiking, fishing, sled dogs, snowmobiles, and the Polar Circle Marathon route to Kangerlussuaq.

Ilulissat Icefjord, the "birthplace of icebergs," produces nearly 20 million tons of ice a day. "Ilulissat" means "icebergs" in Kalaallisut. The town is cold but often calm, has about 4,500 residents, and is Greenland's third-largest after Nuuk and Sisimiut. Locals say sled dogs may be nearly as numerous as people. It also has a local history museum in the former home of polar explorer Knud Rasmussen.

Sailing from Nuuk, Eqip Sermia Glacier offers a raw Arctic spectacle of towering ice, blue-white cliffs and drifting bergs in a stark, unforgettable landscape. Here, the silence is broken only by the crack and thunder of shifting ice, making this a truly memorable Greenlandic highlight.

During the morning Silver Cloud will ply the Disko Bay en route to our destination along Disko Island's east coast. Our exploration of the Disko Bay area will head to an area north of the village of Qeqertarsuaq, which is named after Disko Island's local name -meaning "large island". With more than 3,300 sq. miles Disko Island is Greenland's second-largest island.

Evighedsfjord (Eternity Fjord) is a 75-km fjord northeast of Kangaamiut in southwest Greenland. It branches and bends repeatedly, seeming to go on forever; Qingua Kujatdleq Glacier lies at its southeastern end. At the northwestern end, a U-shaped valley has seven glaciers from the mountains. The glaciers peaked around 1870 and have since advanced and retreated. Peaks exceed 2,000 m, the fjord is up to 700 m deep, snowline is 1,100 m, and the area is one of Greenland's best heli-skiing spots.

Paamiut, in southwestern Greenland, is an off-the-beaten-track destination well worth visiting. Its brightly colored harbor houses contrast with the Arctic landscape. Founded around 1500 BC, it became a major trading hub in the 18th century through seal fur, whale products, and soapstone carving. Today, it draws visitors for its unspoiled scenery, whales, sea eagles, hiking, kayaking, and a small museum showcasing local culture.

18 km northeast of Qaqortoq, Hvalsey is part of Qaqortukulooq in the UNESCO site Kujataa. On Hvalseyfjord, it is best known for the ruins of a 13th-century Anglo-Norwegian church in the Norse Eastern Settlement, built over an older graveyard, and for the farmstead Thjodhild's Stead with houses, pens, storage, and warehouse ruins. The Norse farming there helped shape later Inuit farming; UNESCO status came in 2017. The last recorded Norse event in Greenland was a wedding at the church in 1408.

Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It rises steeply above the fjords, with panoramic views of mountains, the blue sea, Lake Tasersuag, icebergs, and the backcountry. Human presence dates back 4,300 years; Norse and Inuit settlers lived there in the 10th and 12th centuries, and the modern town was founded in 1774. Today it is a seaport and trading hub for fish and shrimp processing, tanning, fur production, and ship repair.

Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is a walkable, welcoming city of color, creativity, cafés, bars and a growing food scene. Two-thirds of Icelanders live here, and it's the best base for outdoor adventure. See Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, the harbor, geothermal pools, geysers, waterfalls, and the northern lights.