Greenland has long drawn travellers with its raw scale — glaciers calving into ink-dark fjords, the midnight sun burning low over tundra, villages perched at the edge of a world most people never see. For the 2026/27 season, HX Expeditions is deepening what a journey to the world’s largest island can actually feel like, with a new portfolio of experiences built in close partnership with Greenlandic communities, chefs, guides, and local operators.

The additions span food, wilderness immersion, and water-based exploration, and run across the company’s fleet of expedition ships visiting Greenland.

A Culinary Programme Rooted in Arctic Terroir

The Greenlandic culinary programme first launched in 2025 and returns this season across nine sailings aboard MS Fram, MS Roald Amundsen, MS Spitsbergen, and MS Fridtjof Nansen. It was developed in partnership with Greenlandic chef Inunnguaq Hegelund, founder of Arctic Food by I — a culinary initiative centred on modern interpretations of Greenlandic cuisine using local ingredients.

The programme draws from a tight network of regional producers: Neqi A/S for beef and lamb, Royal Greenland for seafood, and Qajaq Brewery for spirits including beer, gin, and vodka. Rather than treating these as background suppliers, the programme places them at the centre of the dining narrative — connecting what’s on the plate to where it came from and who produced it.

Four guest chefs rotate through selected voyages throughout the June–September season, each contributing their own regional perspective:

  • Inunnguaq Hegelund (various dates, June–September) brings a contemporary approach to Arctic ingredients without losing sight of local tradition.
  • Laasi Biilmann (June–August) has earned recognition for blending heritage techniques with modern culinary expression.
  • Eli Nuka Johansson (August–September) works at the intersection of native ingredients and global influences, with a strong emphasis on seasonal, locally sourced produce.
  • Heidi Andersen (August–September) focuses on showcasing the authentic flavours of Greenlandic food culture through dishes grounded in heritage.

Live demonstrations and storytelling sessions accompany the meals, giving guests a broader understanding of how food connects to daily life and history in Greenland.

Tide to Table: From Fjord to Fine Dining

New for 2026 and exclusive to MS Fridtjof Nansen sailings, the Tide to Table experience traces the full arc of Greenlandic seafood — from the moment it’s caught to the moment it arrives on a plate at sea.

Guests join local fishermen in the fjords around Ilulissat to catch cod using traditional Inuit fishing methods still practised today. From there, the programme moves to the ship’s fine dining restaurant, Lindström, where the freshly caught seafood forms the centrepiece of a multi-course tasting menu. The meal is paired with wines from Austrian producer Weingut Regele.

Between the catch and the dinner, guests may also observe halibut boats at work and attend a kaffemik — a traditional Greenlandic social gathering centred around coffee, cake, and community — hosted in a private home. It’s the kind of encounter that sits well outside what most cruise itineraries can offer.

The menu leans into the versatility of Arctic seafood: halibut tartare with soy-cured egg yolk and horseradish emulsion, shrimp bisque with baked cod and dill oil, and a dessert that incorporates sweet cod skin tuile alongside salted caramel and champagne sauce.

Limited to 12 guests per sailing. Available on MS Fridtjof Nansen sailings departing from 13 June 2026.

Into the Elements: A Multiday South Greenland Wilderness Experience

For those drawn to the physical landscape itself, the new Into the Elements experience offers something closer to a genuine wilderness immersion than a conventional shore excursion. Designed with a local Greenlandic operator and guides, the programme is limited to nine guests plus a team expert.

The itinerary unfolds over two days. It begins with a six-kilometre introductory hike through South Greenland’s varied terrain — a contrast of green meadows and rugged tundra — followed by a science-focused boat journey through the region’s natural systems. Guests then hike to a remote base camp equipped with toilet and shower facilities, where overnight accommodation and storytelling around camp are hosted by a local guide.

The second day involves a 7.5-kilometre ascent across gravel paths to a series of waterfalls, followed by a return hike to the collection point.

South Greenland occupies a particular ecological niche within the Arctic: warmer and greener than most people expect, with Norse ruins, sheep farming, and fjord landscapes that feel distinct from the more iconic icy imagery associated with the north. The Into the Elements programme leans into that sense of contrast and complexity.

Available exclusively on MS Roald Amundsen Arctic Canada and Greenland sailings from 21 September 2026.

Additional Experiences Added for 2026/27

Beyond the headline new offerings, HX Expeditions is broadening its range of Greenland excursions across the fleet:

Ikka Fjord Boat Cruises — The Ikka Fjord, located in southwest Greenland, contains one of the world’s rarest geological phenomena: the Ikka columns, hollow ikaite mineral formations rising from the seabed. New boat cruises give guests access to this extraordinary and seldom-visited site.

Kayaking — Two options are now available: Discovery Kayaking for those newer to the activity, and Sea Kayaking for more experienced paddlers. The sea kayaking programme, which debuted last year, has been further developed for this season, offering extended routes through Greenland’s fjord systems.

Local Inuit-Guided Walks — Cultural walks led by Inuit partners provide on-the-ground insight into Greenlandic traditions, landscapes, and ways of life in a way that’s difficult to replicate through any other format.

Disko Bay Boat Excursions — Qeqertarsuaq and the wider Disko Bay region are among Greenland’s most ecologically rich areas, with concentrations of icebergs, seabirds, and marine mammals. New small-group boat excursions offer a more intimate way to explore the bay with local expert guides.

Greenland’s appeal to travellers has grown steadily as interest in Arctic destinations has increased — driven partly by awareness of climate change and partly by a broader shift toward more purposeful, experiential travel. HX Expeditions has been operating in the region for decades, and its approach of building experiences in direct partnership with local Greenlandic communities reflects a longer-term investment in the destination rather than simply accessing it.

The full 2026/27 Greenland programme is available across the HX Expeditions fleet, with sailings operating from June 2026 through the 2027 season.