M/Y Ocean's Seven

The Largest Island on Earth

Where
Ice
Meets
Sea

Greenland is the largest island on Earth. Its rocky coastline, stretched into a single line, would run roughly 24,430 miles, close to the circumference of the planet at the Equator. Hardy Inuit communities sit on the edge of the massive Greenland ice cap, and pack ice and bergs calved from its glaciers drift through the waterways.

Bedrock some 3.8 billion years old broods beneath the water, and fjords fringe the western coast, as open to explorer yachting as any geography on the planet.

In the short, vivid summer, land and sea come alive. Migrating whales feed in these productive waters, seabirds fill the air, and caribou and muskoxen move across tundra blooming with moss and saxifrage.

The Three Legs

The Voyage,
Region by Region

01Leg One

2 – 3 Aug

2 – 3 August · Days 1 – 2

The Southern Fjords

Qaqortoq → Bredefjorden → Narsaq → Tvillingebræ

The voyage begins at Qaqortoq, the main town of southern Greenland and the gateway to the region, then heads into Bredefjorden, the wide fjord where Erik the Red made his settlement a thousand years ago. Big mountains line the water and icebergs drift down from the active glaciers at the head of the system. A full day allows a valley hike from Narsaq or a cruise to the glacier front at Tvillingebræ, with eagles, seals and whales in the fjords and muskoxen on the higher ground.

02Leg Two

4 – 5 Aug

4 – 5 August · Days 3 – 4

The West Coast Run

Arsukfjord → Kvanefjorden

North into Arsukfjord, a fjord with no permanent settlement and a rarely visited valley at its head, reached by a long tender run and known mainly to local hunters: strong ground for muskox, reindeer and eagles. Out onto the open west coast at Kvanefjorden, a sheltered anchorage with long hikes that climb to views of the inland ice cap to the east and the ocean to the west, and good chances of humpback whales offshore.

03Leg Three

6 – 8 Aug

6 – 8 August · Days 5 – 7

Toward the Capital

Ravns storø · Færingehavn → Nuuk Fjord → Nuuk

Anchor in the shelter of Ravns storø at Færingehavn, an old fishermen's harbour ringed by small islands rich in birdlife and seals. Then into Nuup Kangerlua, the great fjord system behind Nuuk, where mountains rise a thousand metres above the water and icebergs drift beneath them. The voyage ends in Nuuk, Greenland's capital.

Knowledge Across the Voyage

Four Threads
Through Greenland

Thread 01

Ice
& Glaciers

Calved bergs drift through every fjord on the route, down from the active glaciers at the head of Bredefjorden to the glacier front at Tvillingebræ and the icebergs filling Nuup Kangerlua. The Greenland ice cap stands behind it all, visible from the high ground at Kvanefjorden.

Thread 02

Arctic
Wildlife

Humpbacks feed along the west coast through the summer. Muskox and reindeer range the valleys of Arsukfjord; eagles and seals work the southern fjords; and the small islands around Ravns storø hold many bird species and seals.

Thread 03

Fjords
& Hiking

Long valley hikes from Narsaq and the head of Arsukfjord, elevation climbs at Kvanefjorden, and short walks to hilltops at Ravns storø. Where weather and ice allow, kayaks and tenders reach the quiet inner fjords.

Thread 04

Greenlandic
Life

Qaqortoq, the historic town of the south, known for stone sculptures carved into the rock and colourful houses above the harbour. Nuuk, the capital, with the Greenland National Museum, the Nuuk Art Museum, and the Katuaq cultural centre.

Leg 01 · The Southern Fjords

Qaqortoq,
Bredefjorden, Tvillingebræ

2 Aug · Embark · Day 1

Qaqortoq

Embarkation at Qaqortoq, the main town of southern Greenland and the meeting point with the yacht. Time to explore the colourful town and its rock-carved sculptures before an evening cruise into Bredefjorden, where icebergs from the active glaciers begin to appear.

3 Aug · Day 2

Bredefjorden · Tvillingebræ

A full day in Bredefjorden, the wide fjord where Erik the Red settled a thousand years ago. A valley hike from Narsaq or a cruise among the ice-filled fjords, then the glacier front at Tvillingebræ, the twins glacier, with a chance to land near the cliffs. Eagles, seals and whales work the water; muskoxen range the high ground.

Leg 02 · The West Coast Run

Arsukfjord,
Kvanefjorden

4 Aug · Day 3

Arsukfjord · Muskox Valley

Into Arsukfjord, a fjord with no permanent settlement. A long tender run reaches the rarely visited valley at its head, known mainly to local hunters: strong ground for reindeer, muskox and eagles, with hiking and wide views.

5 Aug · Day 4

Kvanefjorden

Out onto Greenland's west coast at Kvanefjorden, a sheltered anchorage with long hikes that gain elevation. From the tops, the inland ice cap stands to the east and the open ocean to the west. Tender and kayak options, and good chances of humpback whales offshore.

Leg 03 · Toward the Capital

Færingehavn,
Nuuk Fjord, Nuuk

6 Aug · Day 5

Ravns storø · Færingehavn

Anchor in the shelter of Ravns storø at Færingehavn, an old harbour used by some of the earliest fishermen to reach Greenland. Explore the archipelago of small islands, home to many bird species and seals, or land and hike the hilltops for views over the ocean.

7 Aug · Day 6

Nuup Kangerlua · Nuuk Fjord

A full day in the great fjord system behind Nuuk, the second largest in the world. Mountains rise a thousand metres above the water and icebergs drift beneath them, experienced from the yacht or by tender. Where conditions allow, a landing and a climb for the views.

8 Aug · Disembark · Day 7

Nuuk

Arrival at Nuuk, Greenland's capital. Time to see the town before disembarkation: the Greenland National Museum, the hunters' market for fresh local produce, or a coffee on the waterfront beneath Sermitsiaq.

The Yacht

M/Y Ocean's Seven is a 41.9-metre (137'6") expedition yacht, built by Kingship in 2012 and refitted in 2024, designed inside and out by Vripack on a steel hull.

She accommodates up to twelve guests in five staterooms, with a crew of nine, and carries a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 10 knots.

Stabilisers run at anchor and underway. On deck: a sundeck bar, a hot tub, sun and shade lounging, and gym equipment, with tender and water-toy storage for expedition days ashore.

Your Expedition Team

Polar Guides,
Greenland-Tested

Expedition Guide

Ben Haggar

Ben Haggar is a Canadian Expedition Leader and Guide with 12 years of experience in the Polar Regions, based in Squamish, British Columbia. Ben holds a Senior Polar Guide certification from the Polar Tourism Guide's Association and has led trips in Greenland, Svalbard, the North West Passage and Antarctica, as well as Nepal, the European Alps and Southern Africa several times.

When Ben isn't guiding, he runs a successful photography business and has shot assignments in over 50 countries on all 7 continents for publications such as National Geographic, Outside Magazine, Men's Journal, and the National Post as well as international campaigns for top outdoor brands Patagonia, Arc'teryx and Rab Equipment.

Memorable highlights include bike-packing the largest ice-free portion of Greenland for National Geographic Traveler, working with the BBC on Frozen Planet II and Mammals documentaries, and filming avalanche rescue dogs for the IMAX feature Super Power Dogs. When Ben isn't guiding or shooting moving and still images, he loves spending time in wild places climbing, surfing, mountain biking and split-boarding.

Seasoned Icebreaker, Sea-trials Captain and Ice Pilot

Matti Westerlund

Matti Westerlund is a seasoned maritime professional whose career began on cargo vessels before advancing into icebreaking, offshore operations, expeditions, and newbuilding projects. Over the past 20 years, he has built deep expertise in ice navigation, ice management, expeditions, and complex operations in demanding environments.

He has served on Finnish icebreakers in the Baltic, worked as an ice pilot in Greenland and Arctic Canada, and contributed to projects across the Arctic and Antarctic. In 2015, he captained the Northwest Passage, adding to a career defined by high-latitude experience and operational leadership.

He holds a Master's Degree in Marine Technology from Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, and his certifications are current, including Unlimited Master, Polar training and CoP, DP Unlimited, STCW, and Offshore safety certifications.

Away from work, he remains an enthusiastic sailor with his own sailboat and regular time on Finnish sail training association vessels. He is equally committed to sustainability and the preservation of the seas for the future generations.

Capturing the Trip

Photography

The light, the wildlife and the ice make West Greenland one of the most rewarding places to photograph. A few things worth knowing before you sail.

In the Field

For the camera and lenses you bring on deck and ashore.

A super-wide lens is ideal for the vast landscapes.
For distant wildlife such as whales and seabirds, a fast, long lens or high zoom helps; image-stabilised lenses are recommended.
Cold saps battery power: carry spares, and keep batteries close to your body to stay warm.
Rain and sea spray are constant, so keep your gear in waterproof bags.

Keep your camera on a strap on deck to avoid dropping it.
Mind the weight of the gear you carry ashore.
A tripod helps ashore but not on a moving vessel; a monopod or beanbag steadies shots aboard.
Onboard internet is limited, so plan to keep photos on your phone or laptop. Recreational drones are not permitted in the Arctic (AECO).

On Your Phone

Tips for shooting on a phone.

Tap to set focus, then nudge exposure down a touch: bright snow and ice fool auto-exposure and leave shots grey and flat.
Turn on the grid and keep the horizon level; on open water a tilted horizon is the giveaway of a rushed shot.
Use burst mode for wildlife and breaching whales: hold the shutter, pick the best frame later.

Carry a microfibre cloth; sea spray on the lens is the most common reason a phone shot comes out soft.
Cold drains phone batteries fast, so keep your phone in an inside pocket and bring a power bank ashore.
In the long Arctic light, shoot toward the low sun and lock exposure on the brightest part of the sky for richer colour.

Qaqortoq → Nuuk

Where
Ice
Meets
Sea