• Wave icon Trip Type: Coastal
  • Speech bubble icon Instructors: 2
  • People icon Crew Size: Max 9 (10 for ocean)
  • Cake icon Ages: 18-70 ish
  • Pin icon Region: Norway, Iceland & The Arctic
High

Adventure Rating:
High

Low to some

Experience Required:
Low to some

Adventure Sailing Greenland

Sail Greenland’s wild west coast between Nuuk and Aasiaat, travelling through one of the most remarkable cruising grounds on the planet. We move through vast fjords framed by towering peaks, anchor off small fishing settlements, and watch humpbacks surface among drifting ice. There may be time to explore the deep branches of Eternity Fjord, walk the black-sand beaches of Disko Island and navigate among the huge, slow-moving icebergs of Disko Bay. It is a route of spectacular landscapes, wildlife, and Greenlandic culture.

This voyage will run in 2026 only – this is your last chance to visit the west coast of Greenland

What this voyage is really about

This is hands-on Arctic sailing. From the start you’re involved in helming, standing watch, navigating and sailing the boat as we move through some of the most dramatic waters in the north. Expect cold air, quiet anchorages, remote communities and days shaped by the movement of ice and weather. Life on board is active and collaborative. The skipper and mate will guide you through each aspect of the passage, ensuring you’re fully involved and building real skill and confidence as the voyage unfolds.

Why this route stands out

Greenland’s west coast combines deep fjords, high mountains, drifting ice and some of the most atmospheric anchorages anywhere. The contrast between quiet settlements, open water and vast ice-filled bays gives the route a rhythm that is different every time. For sailors wanting a mixture of exploration, seamanship and high-latitude environments, it is one of the most rewarding stretches of coastline we sail.

Who this trip suits

You don’t need previous Arctic experience, but you do need to want real involvement. This is a sailing expedition shaped by the conditions at the time. If you’re excited by getting fully involved, exploring remote places and learning new skills, you’ll get a great deal from this voyage.

What to do next

Check the Dates and Prices section for availability, joining instructions and travel details. You can reserve your place there, or arrange a chat if you’d like to talk through the route and what to expect. Advice on travel to and from Greenland can be found here.

Sailing Area

Greenland area sailing map
Greenland sailing route map
The Yachts

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Key Information
What’s included
  • All food and accommodation on board

  • All fuel & berthing fees

  • Your own bunk and storage area

  • Use of oilskins

  • Use of lifejacket with PLB

  • All sailing tuition

  • RYA Competent Crew (supplementary fee)

What’s Not included
  • Your connecting travel to & from boat

  • Sailing & travel insurance

  • Meals you choose to eat ashore

  • Alcohol

  • Visas (where required)

  • Discretionary crew tip

Interested in dates & availability?

To see when this trip runs, its start and end locations, price to join the crew and availability, click on the ‘Dates, Prices & Travel’ button up top.

Discretionary tipping of the Rubicon 3 crew

We’ve priced this trip 5-10% lower than we otherwise would to allow you the option, at the end of your adventure, to offer a discretionary tip to the Rubicon 3 skipper and mate if you feel they’ve provided exceptional service. A combined tip of 5-10% is suggested but is entirely at your discretion and based on your satisfaction with their performance. See our FAQs here.

Got Questions? We’re Here to Help!

We get it – joining a major sailing adventure is a big decision, and it’s natural to have lots of questions before you book. Wondering who else will be onboard? What the experience will be like? These and many more questions are completely normal. While our homepage and FAQs provide loads of info, we know sometimes it’s best to talk it through. Don’t hesitate to contact us by phone, email, or live chat (at the bottom of the screen). Better yet, we’d suggest you schedule a call. Most crew who join do and find it really useful. We can discuss your options, answer every question, and make sure you’re booking on the perfect trip for you.

Every voyage along Greenland’s west coast is different, shaped by wind, weather and the movement of sea ice. We work our way through a maze of fjords and islands, balancing steady 25–35 mile sailing days with the occasional longer run when conditions allow. The exact route is always guided by what the weather and ice give us at the time. No two journeys on this coast are ever the same. This route runs twice, once in each direction.

Nuuk and the Vast Nuup Kangerlua Fjord

nuuk greenland

We begin in Nuuk, Greenland’s small and colourful capital, shaped by a long history of Inuit settlement. Once clear of the harbour, we enter Nuup Kangerlua, one of the largest fjord systems in the world. Granite peaks rise steeply from the water and glaciers spill down from the ice sheet. There are countless places to anchor, with the chance to take a first sail, stretch our legs ashore or simply settle into life on board

Atammik – Life on the Edge of the Sea

Kangerlua Fjord

Further south lies Atammik, a small fishing settlement with no road links and an absolute reliance on the sea. Wooden houses sit close to the shoreline and the surrounding waters are full of rock, kelp beds and strong tidal flows. It’s a fascinating introduction to Greeland’s coastal communities.

Kangaamiut and the Southern Fjords

yacht by iceberg

Heading north, we reach Kangaamiut, a striking cluster of wooden houses on islands at the entrance to Kangerlussuatsiaq, or Eternity Fjord. Approaching by yacht is memorable: narrow passages, drifting ice and high cliffs on all sides. Whales feed in the strong currents here, and a short run ashore gives a real sense of how remote-life works in these scattered island communities.

Eternity Fjord – Glaciers and Towering Peaks

whale greenland
Sailing into Evighedsfjorden brings us to one of the most impressive fjord systems on the west coast. Peaks rise more than 2,000 metres straight from the sea, and glacier tongues descend into the depths of the valley. Calving ice can be heard rumbling through the fjord, and it is common to see reindeer on the slopes and eagles above the cliffs. The scale and stillness give the place its name.

Sarkak

sound greenland 1000
On the northern stretch of this coast sits Sarqaq, a tiny settlement overlooking the open water of Disko Bay. It is a traditional Greenlandic community where fishing and hunting remain central to daily life. Quiet paths lead across the headland, offering wide views over the ice-dotted sea and the long Arctic twilight

Qeqertarsuaq and Disko Bay

greenland
Across Disko Bay, Qeqertarsuaq lies beneath the basalt cliffs of Disko Island. Formed by volcanic activity, the island has dark beaches, fertile valleys and the distinctive outline of the Lyngmark Glacier above the town. Exploring here might include short walks, time in the RIB among the icebergs or taking in the shifting colours of the bay as large bergs drift past.

Aasiaat – The Venice of Greenland

greenland clear water 1000
We finish in Aasiaat, a lively town spread across several small islands at the edge of Disko Bay. Known for its waterways and low houses lining the rocky shore, it offers a gentle contrast to the wilderness around it. There is time to explore the town, visit the museum or simply take in the view across the ice before the voyage concludes.

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