The HANSEATIC inspiration is one of the few ships that can travel not only to Greenland’s spectacular west, but also to virtually untouched east Greenland, where the icy shield opens up at this time of year. The stage is set for unique natural spectacles that, with a little luck, will be crowned by the Northern Lights. You will start by exploring the capital, Nuuk, where the hills are covered in colourful houses. Exhibitions in the national museum show how the Inuit people adapted to the extremes of nature in times gone by. These traditions are continued in modern Greenlandic culture and inform the country’s identity. Your expedition feeling will continue as you head further south. Cast your gaze over the vast tundra in the Arsukfjord, where musk oxen might make an appearance. Landing in the small town of Qaqortoq, you will see the great influence of the Inuit – its museum displays magnificent traditional dress and traditional hunting tools from indigenous peoples. According to the tales, the settlement of Hvalsey was built by the Norse. The ruins of a Viking church, possibly the country’s most significant, bear witness to their presence. Built in around 1300, the granite walls have withstood the weather to this day.

Gaze in wonder at the beautiful shimmering turquoise on a cruise through Prince Christian Sound: enjoy extraordinary views of waterfalls, steep rock faces and glaciers.

The warm colours of the landscape in Skjoldungen Sound are a charming contrast to the icy blue. Lush tundra with delicate flowers, surrounded by mountains up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) high – and you in the midst of it all. Greenland’s seldom-visited east coast will captivate you with its remoteness, enormous mountains and an almost endless fjord world.

The little town of Tasiilaq is also included in your flexible expedition route. A seldom-visited place at the end of the world where you will go ashore with the Zodiacs. With luck, you might spot whales in the surrounding waters.

Continue on a geological journey through the millennia into remote Scoresbysund, where the Ice Age has clearly left its mark. Depending on the weather and ice, the HANSEATIC inspiration will explore the world’s largest fjord system. A world of superlatives awaits you: Greenland’s highest mountains, impressive glacier landscapes and countless icebergs shape the region. Rock faces rise up steeply before you, forming a rugged backdrop to bizarre ice sculptures reflected in the water. Enjoy hikes through the autumnal tundra surrounded by these wonderful views.

The largely glaciated island of Jan Mayen, crowned by the 2,277 m (7,470 ft) Beerenberg, is a remarkable way to end your very personal explorer’s story. If the conditions are good, you will board the Zodiacs again here and go exploring ashore before using the journey to Tromso to relax and reflect on your many experiences.