Heimaey is the largest of the Westman Islands, just off the south west coast of the Icelandic mainland. The jagged landscape is a reminder of the island’s volcanic origins; the most recent eruption, back in 1973, created the volcano now known as Eldfell, which looms over the island.

The uninhabited island of Skjoldungen is situated on Greenland’s rugged east coast, between the Northern and Southern Skjoldungenfjord. Here you’ll find a starkly beautiful landscape of snow-capped mountains, steep valley sides and icebergs in crystalline shades of white and blue.

The tiny village of Aappilattoq enjoys a spectacular setting on Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland, its colourful houses arranged at the foot of a steep mountain. This isolated community is home to around 120 people, who make their living by hunting or fishing.

Qaqortoq is southern Greenland’s largest town, though with just 3,000 inhabitants it’s hardly crowded. A trip to the nearby hot springs at Uunartoq is recommended; relaxing in the 38°C water and watching icebergs drift across the bay is quite something.

Norse settlers were exploring the coasts of North America long before Columbus made his journey across the Atlantic, and Hvalsey is home to some of the most important Norse ruins in Greenland. The 14th-century church here is remarkably well preserved, on the site of a major medieval farmstead.

The famous Norse explorer Erik the Red chose the area around Narsaq to establish his first settlements in Greenland, and you can still see Norse ruins dating back over 1,000 years. You can learn more at the town’s museum, which also includes exhibits on kayaks and traditional clothing.

The village of Itilleq is situated on an island just to the north of the Arctic Circle, home to around 120 people. Cruise visitors usually have the chance to visit a local home, learn about life in this isolated settlement and perhaps even challenge the islanders to a game of football!

Founded by the Norse explorer Erik the Red in the 10th century, the sheep farming settlement of Qassiarsuk is full of history. Legend says that Erik’s wife Thorhildur forced him to build the first church in North America here, and the modern reconstruction of the church enjoys fine views across the iceberg-speckled fjord.

Greenland’s capital and largest town, Nuuk is positively cosmopolitan compared to the rest of this remote and isolated country. The setting amongst mountains and fjords is striking, and attractions include the Greenland National Museum and the picturesque Old Harbour.

Maniitsoq means ‘the rugged place’ in the Greenlandic language, and it’s an apt description. This colourful settlement is situated amongst deep fjords, towering mountains and islands separated by narrow natural canals, and the nearby Eternity Fjord is one of the most beautiful in Greenland.

The name Sisimiut means ‘the people living in a place where there are fox dens’, though these days the town is better known for being Greenland’s northernmost year-round ice-free port. Around 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle, it’s a common stop for ships making the journey north to Disko Bay.

Founded in 1941 as a US Air Force base, Kangerlussuaq is home to Greenland’s main airport and a place that most visitors to the country will pass through at some point. The town also offers easy access to the magnificent Greenland Ice Cap, and the surrounding countryside is a great place to see the Northern Lights.

The name Sisimiut means ‘the people living in a place where there are fox dens’, though these days the town is better known for being Greenland’s northernmost year-round ice-free port. Around 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle, it’s a common stop for ships making the journey north to Disko Bay.

The spectacular Ilulissat ice fjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's the source of the many icebergs that float out across Disko Bay. The town of Ilulissat itself is Greenland’s third largest settlement, and activities on offer here include dog sledding and whale watching.

Eqi Glacier is one of the largest and most active in Greenland, calving several tonnes of ice into Eqi fjord daily. The sight and sound of the huge slabs crashing down into the sea creates a truly dramatic spectacle, and the surrounding iceberg-strewn waters are also home to humpback whales.

Uummannaq is one of the most northerly towns in Greenland, situated on an island at the foot of a jagged mountain. Learn more about Inuit culture at the small museum, or explore the spectacular natural surroundings in 24-hour daylight; for three months every summer, the sun never sets.

Upernavik is the northernmost town in Greenland with over 1,000 inhabitants, situated on a bay scattered with islands and icebergs. The Upernavik Museum, the oldest in Greenland, contains an impressive collection of local art, and the region has an interesting Norse heritage, thought to be the northern limit of Viking exploration.

The small Inuit settlement of Pond Inlet sits at the entrance to the fabled Northwest Passage, on the north coast of Baffin Island. A dramatic landscape of fjords, glaciers and icebergs provides a habitat for wildlife including whales, seabirds, seals and narwhals, the otherworldly ‘unicorns of the sea’.

Devon Island is the world’s largest uninhabited island, a barren and frozen place that is used by NASA scientists to carry out research on the practicalities of missions to Mars. The chilly waters off the coast support species including bearded seals, harbour seals and humpback whales, and if you’re lucky you may even spot polar bears.