On the craggy east coast of Greenland, the stunningly scenic, U-shaped Skjoldungen Fjord is surrounded by lofty snow-capped mountains, dwarf birch, Arctic wildflowers and willow forests with the Thrym Glacier at one end. High rock walls, serpentine rivers and large crevasses of ice pillars known as seracs give way to carved icebergs in the fjord that gleam in a white to blue spectrum. You also have the opportunity to see whales under pure blue skies.

The small, colourful and pretty Nordic homes of Aappilattoq, the only settlement in Prins Christian Sund, stand stark against snow-tipped mountain ridges in this icy wilderness. A beautifully dramatic fjord in the south of Greenland, in Prins Christian Sund we move among fin, blue and minke whales, while you may also see muskox, polar bears and bearded seals. Enjoy these unspoilt, picturesque waterways where magnificent glaciers tower and granite cliffs yield to crystal-clear waterfalls.

Today, explore Ivigtut's deserted buildings, enormous cryolite hole and above-ground cemetery. This settlement played a crucial role in WWII as cryolite was used to produce Aluminium to build fighter planes. Walk around the abandoned houses and learn about the history of the Ivigtut.

Home to more than a third of Greenlanders, the capital of Nuuk can easily deceive you that you’re travelling through such a wild and secluded country. Also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), you’ll see the busy old Colonial Harbour with Nuuk Cathedral prominent, colourful wooden houses, avant-garde architecture and a wonderful array of fjords with clear ice waters and an unspoiled mountain backdrop. Look out for whales and on land arctic foxes, arctic hares and reindeer.

Just north of the Arctic Circle and the northernmost city in Greenland, Sisimiut remains ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Inuit, Dorset and then Thule people, dog sled remains a common form of transport and we have a chance to see abandoned settlements but it also has a cool, modern side. Watch out for humpback whales and walrus between Sisimiut and the Thule district in the north.

Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat, formerly Jakobshavn or Jacobshaven, is home to as many sled-dogs as people.