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Connect With Your Inner Explorer
Let NSU Rising Seas Institute take you to the forefront of our rapidly transforming oceans—and our global future. Walk on million-year-old glaciers. Learn from scientists and experts. NSU's fact-finding Greenland expeditions offer up-close, personalized experiences of extreme glacial changes. Witness the forces driving sea level rise, discover innovative climate readiness solutions, and gain all-new perspectives on our blue planet.
Greenland Expedition Overview
6 Days, 5 Nights | Summer 2026
NSU’s fact-finding Greenland expeditions feature immersive, all-inclusive explorations of the island’s legendary destinations and glacial landscapes, from Jakobshavn Glacier to Ilulissat Icefjord and beyond. Trips are designed for business and educational leaders, media reporters, scientists, ocean stewards, and anyone passionate about our changing world.
Upcoming 2026 Travel Schedule
Expedition Trip with Local Fieldwork
June 29–July 4 | Ilulissat, Greenland
- Open to the public, students, and faculty
NSU Trustees VIP Trip
July 30–August 4 | Ilulissat, Greenland
- Reserved for NSU trustees
Explorers VIP Trip
August 5–August 10 | Ilulissat, Greenland
- Open to the public. Each trip is limited to eight to ten travelers to ensure a personalized experience.
To receive notifications on the upcoming travel schedule and book a trip, sign up for the latest news and announcements.
Travel Highlights
Set out on an unforgettable journey across Greenland’s immense ice sheets—by boat
and by chartered helicopter—from Jakobshavn to the dazzling Eqi Glacier and the legendary
Ilulissat Icefjord. Witness the raw power of a warming world as rivers of meltwater
carve through the ice, glacial waterfalls thunder into the sea, and massive icebergs
calve before your eyes. Keep watch for whales surfacing amid the ice—nature’s quiet
counterpoint to the drama of a landscape in constant transformation.Tour Ancient Glaciers and Icefjords
Journey through Greenland’s breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage—from
the vibrant, colorful seaside town of Ilulissat to the ancient ruins of Sermermiut,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has stood for over 4,000 years.Experience Iconic Arctic Wonders
Hear directly from front-line scientists, Arctic experts, and native Greenlanders
with daily briefings. Learn about cutting-edge technologies working to enhance climate
resilience. Explore the importance of the Arctic through insights from glaciologists
and military officers.Gain Insights on the Latest Science
Sample Destinations
These are some of the awe-inspiring sites you will see as part of Rising Seas Institute’s Greenland expeditions. See where glacial changes are most vividly observed and engage with the cultural history of the world’s largest island.
Ilulissat Glacier
The Greenland Ice Sheet covers 80% of Greenland and contains hundreds of glaciers. Visit the island’s dominant glacier, where meltwater streams carve tunnels, or moulins. Known by Greenlanders as Sermeq Kujalleq, the Ilulissat Glacier is also recognized by the Danish name, Jakobshavn Glacier.
Eqi and Saqqarliup Sermia Glaciers
Witness possible new iceberg formation and whale sightings at Eqi, the calving glacier, and travel by ATV to walk directly on the Saqqarieq Glacier.
Ilulissat and Ilulissat Icefjord
See up-close views of massive icebergs at Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO site, and experience the colorful seaside village of Ilulissat.
Greenland Cultural Sites
Visits include Nakkaavik and the 4,000-year-old ruins of Sermermiut, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“The magnitude of the size was just overwhelming… the power of nature, just incredible.”
Katherine O’Fallon, executive director of the Marine Research Hub
“The magnitude of the size was just overwhelming… the power of nature, just incredible.”
Katherine O’Fallon, executive director of the Marine Research Hub
Greenland Expeditions in the News
Florida Trend reporter Brittney Miller joined NSU’s 2025 Greenland fact-finding expedition to uncover the story of the island's record ice melting and how NSU is championing the challenges of Florida’s sea level rise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Expedition schedules may vary by year, but generally include a 6-day, 5-night itinerary.
Current expedition capacity is limited to eight to ten participants. Be sure to book your trip as soon as possible before spaces are filled.
Expeditions are designed to offer participants a firsthand experience of the natural forces driving sea level rise from the heart of Greenland’s extreme glacial melt—without a political agenda. Through guided discovery with subject experts like John Englander, participants will learn about and discuss:
• How current climate change differs from the natural climate cycles, such as the
ice ages.
• Why ice sheets and glaciers are melting up to four times faster than just a decade
ago. The Arctic is currently warming at roughly triple the average global rate of
temperature increase.
• Some of the most important proposed efforts to slow global warming.
• Why sea level rise is accelerating and how it will impact the globe, moving coastlines
inland from Greenland to the rest of the world.
NSU’s Greenland expeditions are tailored for various participant groups with differing itineraries and accommodations. Prices vary by package and typically start at $15,000 USD per person.
Each expedition includes unique accommodations and logistics; please see more details in your desired package. However, all trips include local group round-trip airfare (from Keflavík International Airport in Reykjavík, Iceland, to Ilulissat, Greenland) as well as hotels, transfers, expedition excursions, field trips, and meals.
About the NSU Rising Seas Institute
Global shorelines are changing with new weather, flooding, and projected sea level rise. The NSU Rising Seas Institute is charting a way forward.
Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to catalyze innovative solutions across fields—from business and city planning to engineering and coastal resilience—our mission is to advance intelligent adaptation strategies for sea level rise, empowering coastal communities to understand, plan, adapt, and thrive.
John Englander | Principal Expedition Leader
A seasoned oceanographer, thought leader, and bestselling author (Moving to Higher Ground, 2021), John Englander is a leading voice on sea level rise and adaptation solutions.
He is the founding director of the NSU Rising Seas Institute and the principal expedition
leader of the institute’s Greenland expeditions. Englander has been CEO of several ocean-focused businesses and nonprofit organizations, including
The International SeaKeepers Society and The Cousteau Society, where he was personally
hired by the legendary Jacques Cousteau.
With deep experience leading pioneering public expeditions of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, he offers trip participants clear, humorous discussions paired with an informed understanding of how dramatically increasing sea levels will drive economic risks.
Sharon Gray | Senior Expedition Leader
Sharon Gray is a marine scientist and a recognized expert on sea level rise. As the associate director of the NSU Rising Seas Institute and the senior expedition leader for the institute’s Greenland expeditions, Gray has co-led multiple expeditions to Greenland. For more than a decade, she has helped diverse audiences understand climate change and coastal risk through writing, outreach, and developing educational programs for universities, professional associations, and the broader public.
Gray began her career as a research scientist for government agencies, aquariums, and educational institutions, including NOAA, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and UC Santa Cruz. She currently lives aboard a catamaran with her family and is writing a reader-friendly book on sea level rise.