Total solar eclipse 2026: Iceland to Greenland polar cruise

7 August 2026 – 13 days from £14,595 

Embark on an extraordinary adventure in August 2026 to witness a breathtaking total solar eclipse. Sail aboard a boutique polar expedition vessel through the majestic Scoresby Sund in Greenland, the world's longest fjord system.

You will be accompanied throughout by guest speakers, including astronomer and eclipse expert Jamie Carter, who will guide you through the event with talks and workshops on solar photography, astronomy, future eclipses and the all-important pre-eclipse briefing. While Greenland never becomes completely dark during August, Jamie can still introduce you to the sky’s celestial wonders.

The cruise is led by a highly knowledgeable and supportive expedition team, who will give a full programme of talks, shore visits and Zodiac boat safaris covering topics including glaciology, botany, marine biology, wildlife and the history of polar exploration, deepening your connection to this remote and rugged coastline. 

Scoresby Sund, an awe-inspiring natural marvel, holds the distinction of being the largest fjord system in the world. Nestled in the eastern reaches of Greenland, this expansive network of waterways is not only vast, but also teeming with an extraordinary array of flora and fauna, a rarity in such an extreme environment. Visitors to this remote region can witness a fascinating variety of species, including barnacle geese, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, Atlantic puffins and walruses. To the north of Scoresby Sund lies Ittoqqortoormiit, a small community that offers a rare glimpse into life in the Arctic, where residents have adapted to the harsh conditions and continue to maintain their traditional ways of living.

This unique cruise will be hosted aboard a new, state-of-the-art polar expedition vessel, the Sylvia Earle, one of a handful of passenger ships to feature the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW, reducing fuel consumption and allowing a sleeker cruising experience. 

Plus, before embarking, you will explore Iceland's Golden Circle, experiencing the elemental power of the island at Þingvellir National Park and the Geyser geothermal area.

You will travel with like-minded people who love to connect with the natural world and experience the wonder of eclipses and astronomy. The tour will provide a fun and relaxing environment for curious-minded couples, friends and solo travellers. The talks will be suitable for those new to solar astronomy and experienced eclipse chasers as well as those who just want to experience the Arctic and an eclipse in a unique, immersive cruise.

In partnership with AE Expeditions and Polar Routes.

LIFE ON BOARD YOUR ARCTIC EXPEDITION CRUISE

Your expedition is a carefully curated mix of daytime activity offboard, designed to immerse you in your polar surroundings, and talks while on board. During the day, the itinerary remains flexible, as the captain and expedition leader will look at prevailing conditions and sightings, to give you the best opportunity to enjoy scenery and for wildlife encounters.

The expedition team will help you experience a range of activities centred around daytime exploration via Zodiac boat safaris (investigating coves, glaciers and wildlife), guided hikes (exploring pristine beaches and stunning wilderness) and photography (helping you improve your skills with a camera). They will aim to deliver two shore excursions every day while in the fjords.

In the evening and during periods when the ship is sailing, Jamie Carter, guest speakers and the expedition crew will give informative lectures and practical workshops in the dedicated lecture lounge and also outside on deck.

You will have the opportunity to participate in the unique citizen science programme run by AE Expeditions. It is designed to be a hands-on, immersive and transformative experience that will allow you to play a part in protecting the beauty of our planet. Various sampling and data collection projects will be conducted on your voyage and a citizen science coordinator will be on hand to introduce and assist you. 

Your expedition can be as active or as leisurely as you want, and no activity or talk is mandatory.

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN REYKJAVIK

After arriving at Keflavik airport, you will be transferred to a central hotel in the capital Reykjavik to check in for your first night. Here you will be welcomed by the New Scientist and AE Expeditions teams, who will run through the embarkation procedures and give an introductory lecture on the science of Iceland. The rest of the day is yours to explore Reykjavik.

DAY 2: EXPLORE ICELAND’S GOLDEN CIRCLE THEN BOARD THE SYLVIA EARLE

Before boarding, you will explore Iceland’s Golden Circle. We will start in Þingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland's first parliament, founded in AD 930, and a geological wonder where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart. Next, head to Iceland's Geyser geothermal area, where you'll see the Strokkur geyser shoot water 30 metres into the air. Then, witness the immense beauty and sheer power of the huge Gullfoss Waterfall. You will finish your tour by learning first-hand how green, sustainable energy is produced at one of the largest single-site geothermal power plants on the planet, at the Geothermal Energy Exhibition and Ljósafossvirkjun Power Station.

While exploring Iceland, your luggage will be transferred to the ship and your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. In the late afternoon, you will transfer to the Sylvia Earle to settle into your cabin, attend the safety briefings and enjoy the thrill of departure as the crew "throw the lines" and set sail across the Denmark Strait for Greenland.

In the evening, you will get to know your fellow guests, the team from New Scientist and the expedition team at an informal captain’s welcome dinner. This is an expedition, so formal dress codes do not apply here. 

DAY 3: AT SEA AND TALKS COMMENCE

While crossing the Denmark Strait, we begin our programme of informative and entertaining onboard lectures from New Scientist and the expedition team. The main lecture space is extremely comfortable with good audio facilities, so each briefing and talk will be clear.

Our astronomy and eclipse expert, Jamie Carter, will begin his series of talks with an introduction to stargazing around the world.

DAYS 4 ONWARDS: EXPLORE ITTOQQORTOORMIIT AND SCORESBY SUND 

You will spend the next nine days exploring the Arctic wilderness at its best. Scoresby Sund, which lies within the Arctic circle on the eastern side of Greenland, is the longest fjord system on the planet, stretching 350 kilometres inland. It is admired for its natural beauty, towering cliffs, icebergs and glaciers. Nature is in charge, so each day’s activity will be planned the night before and subject to changing conditions and opportunities for observations. 

A highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the region, with approximately 500 inhabitants. Here you can explore the village or sit in the beautiful Lutheran church. The community boasts an excellent museum, a gift shop and an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and there is an opportunity to chat with Inuit people.

While sailing, the expedition crew are on constant watch, seeking out opportunities for you to observe the local wildlife, including musk oxen, seals, Arctic foxes and whales.

Each day will include a mixture of activities, including Zodiac boat safaris, walks and informal photography tuition. You will visit deep fjords, mountain ranges and a polar desert rich in fossils. You can even participate in a polar plunge. While by no means mandatory, such cold-water body immersion is proven to release a cocktail of invigorating natural chemicals. 

Once nature and the expedition leader have decided the day's itinerary, the onboard talks from New Scientist and the expedition crew will be scheduled in.

This expedition operates in remote and challenging environments, and in the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and adventurous attitude when joining this voyage. Plans will change daily, but the expedition team are there to ensure you have the most immersive experience possible.

DAY 6: TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE DAY

In the morning, you will attend the solar eclipse briefing from Jamie Carter. This will be a detailed presentation to ensure you are well prepared for the event that afternoon. It will cover the basics of eclipses, how to make the most of the event and how to record it on devices from smartphones to complex photography equipment. An eclipse is an amazing experience, but it will be even better having been briefed on the visual nuances to look out for, both in the sky and around you.

The rest of the day will be spent positioning the ship for optimum viewing - finding a spot that provides a stunning backdrop for experiencing the eclipse, while having the best weather conditions. As the deepest inlets of Scoresby Sund are on the central line of the eclipse and are also a high-pressure zone, conditions should be favourable, with less chance of clouds than at sea. Depending on which fjord we moor in, the eclipse will begin (first contact) between 15:32 and 15:36, with the total solar eclipse starting an hour later at an elevation of just over 24 degrees.

After partial contact ends around 17:33 and with a celebratory glass of champagne in hand, you will share stories and compare pictures of this celestial event in the post-eclipse briefing.

DAYS 7 TO 11: FURTHER EXPLORATION OF SCORESBY SUND THEN ON TO KONG OSCAR AND KAISER FRANZ JOSEF FJORDS

In the coming days, a host of choices are available, and depending on ice and weather conditions, the east coast of Greenland is yours to explore.

The experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to tailor your itinerary on a day-to-day basis. This allows them to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and encounters with wildlife. There will generally be up to two attempted landings or Zodiac excursions per day, including cruising along spectacular ice cliffs or following whales feeding near the surface.

East Greenland contains some of the Arctic's most impressive scenery. There are deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp, ice-clad peaks up to 2000 metres high. Gigantic icebergs calved from glaciers drift throughout the fjord system, creating breathtaking scenery. The landscape is filled with multicoloured tundra home to musk oxen and Arctic hares. Throughout the area are ancient Thule archaeological sites, historical trappers' huts and modern Inuit hunters' cabins.

North of Scoresby Sund, we hope to visit Kong Oscar and Kaiser Franz Josef fjords, two of the most significant fjord systems in Greenland, each one encompassing several smaller fjords and sounds. Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil that protect the lower slopes from the strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You may spot everything from musk oxen and Arctic foxes to mountain hares and even reindeer. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds, including common eiders, glaucous gulls, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars and Arctic terns, gracefully gliding or plunging into icy bays for food.

There are great hiking options in the area, where fumaroles, flowering tundra plants and the scattered bones of whales and musk oxen from centuries of hunting by the Inuit can be found. These are areas where heated groundwater boils to the surface, creating bubbling pools and mineral formations as the water reacts with the atmosphere. The area also boasts some of the most striking sedimentary sandstone, shale and siltstone formations imaginable. 

DAY 12: AT SEA ACROSS THE DENMARK STRAIT

You will sail back to Iceland via the Denmark Strait. Keep a lookout for whale blows and the many seabirds that trail the ship in the ever-present Arctic winds. Enjoy the time to reflect on your recent adventures, share and exchange photos, and breathe in the fresh ocean air. As you near Iceland, you re-enter an inhabited world as you encounter fishing vessels working the coastal waters.

DAY 13: DISEMBARK AT REYJAVIK, FLY HOME OR EXPLORE ICELAND FURTHER

After breakfast, bid farewell to New Scientist, the expedition team, crew and newfound friends as you disembark in Reykjavik, where the voyage ends. A transfer is included, returning to Keflavik airport.

If you wish to stay in Reykjavik for a few extra nights, we can arrange that for you. Alternatively, we are arranging tours around Iceland, exploring its fascinating geology and volcanology, which we will share details about nearer the time.