Uummannaq

West Greenland: Massive Icebergs and Inuit Communities, Northbound

Greenland

Immerse yourself along the dramatic coast of West Greenland, exploring deep into fjords and stunning islands. This trip features the best sites of West Greenland and delivers an in-depth experience in just 12 days. You’ll have opportunities to visit towns such as Sisimiut and Uummannaq, both rich with culture. Find yourself coasting by massive glaciers while enjoying all the comforts Ultramarine has to offer. At the peak of summer months, you’ll enjoy the long sunny days, clear vistas, and longer opportunities to see wildlife

Highlights

  • Reach deeper into Uummaanaaq and Eternity Fjords than any other ship.
  • Experience the beauty of these landscapes from the air thanks to Ultramarine’s twin-engine H145 helicopters.
  • Experience Greenlandic culture by exploring with local partners.
  • Visit three of Greenland’s most picturesque, iconic regions in a single voyage.
  • Join unique and immersive optional activities, such as our exclusive heli-landing and mountain biking adventures

Ready for a little adventure beyond your ship? This voyage offers a variety of recreational activities to enhance your polar experience.

ZODIAC CRUISING

Zodiacs are the workhorses of polar expeditions, taking you to places the ships can’t access, allowing you to reach remote shorelines, explore shallow inlets and search for unique wildlife. Expedition staff make stepping in and out of them safe and comfortable, and your Zodiac drivers will provide active interpretation, making the landscape come even more alive.

HIKING

Led by experienced staff, exploring on foot is one of the best ways to appreciate the polar landscapes. Our guides are able to accommodate a range of skill levels.

PRESENTATIONS

Enjoy daily chats with and presentations by our world-class onboard polar experts—expedition guides, specialists, photography guides and other special guests who will introduce you to the fascinating history, biology, ornithology, glaciology and geology of the region, and much, much more.

POLAR PLUNGE

This rite of passage, scheduled only once per expedition, gives you the chance to jump safely into the bracing Arctic waters under the watchful eye of our staff—and just about every single camera on board.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Documenting your voyage so you can take the memories home is a rewarding experience. Our photography guides will help you hone your skills to capture the beauty of the polar regions.

COMMUNITY VISITS

Thanks to longstanding partnerships in the Arctic, our expedition team will plan community visits—dependent, of course, on weather and ice conditions. These community opportunities—always coordinated in advance with the collaboration of local partners—enable guests to learn more about the culture, traditions, food and lifestyles of Arctic people. Many feature visits to Indigenous communities, often the Inuit of either Nunavut or Greenland. Music, dance, food and storytelling are some of the experiences guests can expect.

On Sale

Discounted sale prices as shown. Additional 5% discount available if paid in full at time of booking. Contact us for details!

Stewart's Take

This one-of-a-kind voyage will immerse you in the stark, majestic landscape of world’s second-largest ice mass.

Overview

Immerse yourself along the dramatic coast of West Greenland, exploring deep into fjords and stunning islands. This trip features the best sites of West Greenland and delivers an in-depth experience in just 12 days. You’ll have opportunities to visit towns such as Sisimiut and Uummannaq, both rich with culture. Find yourself coasting by massive glaciers while enjoying all the comforts Ultramarine has to offer. At the peak of summer months, you’ll enjoy the long sunny days, clear vistas, and longer opportunities to see wildlife

Itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland Arrive in the Icelandic capital and make your way to the group hotel near Keflavik Airport. You will have the rest of the day to explore this fascinating city, known for its Norse history,and stunning architecture. If you plan to visit the city of Reykjavik, allow for a one-hour transfer between Keflavik and Reykjavík. DAY 2 - Fly to Nuuk, Greenland and Embark After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Nuuk, Greenland. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to a central downtown location to enjoy time on your own to explore this quaint port town—which is the capital of Greenland—before making your way to the pier for a lateafternoon embarkation. DAY 3 - Eternity Fjord: Towering cliffs and glaciers Eternity Fjord lives up to its name—its beauty feels endless. You will be surrounded by precipitous mountains rising straight out of the sea and glaciers spilling down deepcut valleys. Within the fjord, you may explore by Zodiac or foot—or both—with the potential to cruise the coastlines and floating glacial ice. You can anticipate a range of hiking or on-shore walks—always accompanied by our seasoned team, whose expertise bring the world’s largest island into focus. Transiting the fjord by ship will provide excellent opportunities for you to soak in the scenery from the outer decks of the vessel. DAY 4 - Sisimiut: First stop above the Arctic Circle Congratulations, you’ve crossed 66°33° north latitude. On our firstoff ship excursion in the Arctic, we’ll visit Sisimiut, a community rich in Greenlandic history and culture. As we approach via the inner harbor, you’ll spot locals coming and going from the marina, bringing halibut, shrimp and other seafood freshly harvested from Baffin Bay. Upon reaching shore, we’ll walk winding roads past colorful homes and Arctic cotton grass blooming under the summer sun. While the waterfront may be lively with boat traffic, life uphill moves at a relaxed pace. You may hear children laughing, sled dogs barking, and locals exchanging greetings—sounds that often bring smiles to both visitors and residents. Greenlandic dogs, often seen in kennels throughout town, reflect the deep bond between owners and their canine teams. As in any Arctic community, always ask before petting or approaching these working dogs. During our visit, we aim to team up with our local mountain-biking partners in Sisimiut, exploring trails that lead outside the town limits. Our expedition team and local partners will lead guided walks and provide insight into daily life in Greenland—and you will be able to share your own story with locals, who will be eager to learn about your part of the world. One scenic walk leads to the Taseralik Cultural House, beside Nalunnguarfiup Tasia, a small tranquil lake at the base of a 780-meter (2,560 mile) Nasaasaaq mountain. You’ll walk the same paths locals use every day, experiencing not just the look of Sisimiut, but its rhythm, sounds and genuine sense of place. DAY 5 - Eqip Sermia: Epic Tidewater Glacier Today you’ll visit Eqip Sermia, also known as Eqi Glacier. This wide-faced tidewater glacier is renowned for its frequent calving, sending chunks of ice crashing into the sea. You’ll likely see icebergs drifting in the bay, accompanied by smaller chunks called brash ice. On quiet days, listen for the soft crackle of those floating shards, and, if you’re lucky, the thunderous roar of calving ice from the glacier’s face. While the glacier is the main attraction, the surrounding landscape is perfect for shore excursions. You can wander the tundra, photographing the summer vegetation and stunning Arctic scenery, or hike farther (and a little uphill) for an elevated view of the glacier and bay. The terrain, a mix of rock and vegetation, allows for various hiking options. We’ll take care not to disturb the delicate plant life that flourishes during Greenland’s brief summer. Following an invigorating morning ashore—perhaps hiking across ancient tundra—you’ll return to the ship, where warmth, a freshly prepared lunch, and a chance to reset await. But the wild Arctic experience isn’t over for the day. From the outer decks, you can watch as icebergs drift by like sculpted monuments, seabirds trace circles overhead, and the vast silence of the Arctic settles around you Humpback whales are known to frequent the area on their annual return to the Arctic, lured by rich feeding opportunities, so you may spot them through your binoculars as they swim among the drifting icebergs. This is what we call the quiet middle—where comfort meets wilderness—as the ship carries you steadily toward your next experience. DAY 6 - Uummannaq: Mountains, ice, and Greenlandic smiles We arrive in Uummannaq Fjord in the morning and cruise toward the community of Uummannaq. In Greenlandic, Uummannaq translates to “heart-shaped,” inspired by the dramatic mountain that rises above the town. Visiting this remote community is a rare privilege. We reach town by Zodiac and may be greeted by locals— and the ever-smiling chief of police. It’s said that smiles here are as common as drifting icebergs. Winding roads take you past colorful homes before reaching a meadow of turf houses beside a stone church. You can visit the local museum and artisan market for a glimpse of life in northern Greenland. Another nearby museum honors artist Rockwell Kent, who was inspired by the landscapes of Uummannaq Fjord and Disko Bay. You may choose to join a guided walk or explore on your own. Several homes may open for kaffemik—a social gathering with warm drinks, light snacks, and a chance for locals and visitors to connect. Rest assured, the people of Uummannaq will be curious about your part of the world. Shy smiles and translated conversations are natural parts of these authentic cultural exchanges—and often become some of the most memorable moments of visiting this remote Greenlandic community. A parting gift from one local fisherman: “Keep life simple—simple is beautiful.” DAY 7 - Disko Bay & Illulisat: Explore a UNESCO World Heritage site Ilulissat, located in Disko Bay, is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Icefjord, which serves as the thoroughfare for countless icebergs calved from the world’s fastest-moving glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. A small boardwalk leads to an elevated overlook, where you can view bergs of all sizes spread out before you. From this vantage point, it feels as though you’re standing where the town ends and the wilderness begins—where the sweeping view of ice evokes a humbling sense of scale. You will also notice the Arctic cotton grass and summer wildflowers thriving in the long daylight hours. The inner harbor often holds evidence of the icefjord’s reach, with drifting icebergs mingling among fishing boats and skiffs. The town itself is well worth exploring, and has become one of Greenland’s top destinations. Recent years have brought growth— colorful homes now sit beside new restaurants, boutique hotels and small businesses. History buffs will be excited to know Ilulissat is the birthplace of Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen, who traveled by dog sled from Greenland to Alaska (and briefly Siberia) during the Fifth Thule Expedition (1921–1924). Fluent in Kalaallisut, he learned from and documented the Circumpolar Inuit he met—considered one of the Arctic’s greatest expeditions. The dramatic landscapes around Ilulissat inspired Rasmussen’s life of exploration. As we approach town, watch out for whales, which occasionally frequent the icebergladen waters. DAY 8 - Itilleq Fjord: Glaciers, snowfields, picturesque valleys, and jagged peaks We will spend the afternoon in Itilleq Fjord, a place that feels both beautifully raw and peaceful at the same time. Elevation rises in all directions, and from the right vantage point, the mountain ranges seem to continue in layers, endlessly into the horizon. A visitor to Itilleq Fjord once said, “I’m not quite sure where Earth stops and heaven begins, but it seems to be somewhere right out there.” Conditions permitting, your Expedition Team will help you explore the shorelines by Zodiac, on foot—or perhaps both. Rivers wind between jagged peaks, descending picturesque mountain valleys and providing several hiking options. In summer, the shorelines and valleys come alive with grasses, wildflowers, succulents, lichens, and even mushrooms. Small glaciers and snowfields linger year-round at higher elevations, completing this striking mountainous coastal landscape. You may spot the occasional small boat in the fjord—likely belonging to a local f isherman from the nearby town of Itilleq. Moments like these often leave our guests reflecting on this life—one shaped by the tides, weather, and the rhythms of land and sea. DAY 9 - Itilleq Town: A Greenlandic Welcome The small settlement of Itilleq has always been a favorite among guests and Expedition Team members, thanks to the warm welcome we’ve received over the years. The 100 residents live among brightly painted homes—greens, pinks, purples, baby blues, mustard yellows, and chocolate browns—and many people earn their living at sea, as evidenced by the small seafood processing building near the pier. Despite its size, the village is full of life, from respected elders to playful children. You may be invited to a kaffemik, where people socialize over coffee and cake, or follow a short dirt road to a viewpoint overlooking the f jord and surrounding mountains. Watch your step—lichens, succulents, and mushrooms thrive underfoot. A longstanding tradition features a friendly football (soccer) match with locals, including guests, staff, crew and residents. It’s a fun, memorable experience—whether you’re on the field or cheering from the sidelines. DAY 10 - Disembark at Kangerlussuaq and fly to Reykjavik Today, we disembark in Kangerlussuaq, formerly known as Søndre Strømfjord, and transfer you to your charter flight to Reykjavik, where you’ll spend the night in your included hotel, both of which are included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package. DAY 11 - Depart Reykjavik Today, after breakfast, make your way independently to the airport for your f light home, or continue your personal travel plans as prearranged

Sea Kayaking

polar kayaking

Selected departures may include an option for Sea Kayaking – contact us for availability! Sea kayaking on a polar expedition brings you face-to-face with the polar wilderness from a unique, water-level vantage. Glide silently among icebergs and beside glaciers, drift past curious birds or seals, and explore remote fjords and coastline not accessible by ships. Kayaking becomes a deeply immersive, sensory experience—crisp air, icy water, wildlife calls and the hush of untouched nature. Guided by expert polar staff, you paddle safely in small groups, often with Zodiac support close by. Whether you choose a single paddle outing or a full kayak program, this adventure gives you an intimate connection with polar landscapes few ever experience. >>Read More Details on this information page!

Day Paddle

polar kayaking

Selected departures may include an option for Day Paddle excursions – contact us for availability! Come face-to-face with the polar wilderness from a unique, water-level vantage. Glide silently among icebergs and beside glaciers, drift past curious birds or seals, and explore remote fjords and coastline not accessible by ships. Guided by expert polar staff, you paddle safely in small groups, often with Zodiac support close by. This adventure gives you an intimate connection with polar landscapes few ever experience. >>Read More Details on this information page!

Vessel

Ocean Explorer

Ocean Explorer, is state-of-the-art, elegant and purpose-built for polar exploration. This 138-passenger vessel has been designed with the latest in expedition ship technology, including the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, a marine engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing experience thanks to its inverted bow. Located at the bow is also the two-story, light-filled library, which introduces a welcome airiness to the expedition ship. Spacious cabins feature a modern, bespoke Scandinavian design and almost all have verandas. Guests can relax and find comfort in the spacious gym, sauna with large windows, and two outdoor Jacuzzis. Ocean Explorer features ample outdoor viewing areas and multi-height outer decks, which are ideal for long-view photography and wildlife viewing. The vessel is equipped with a fleet of 15 Zodiacs that enable guests to get off the ship quickly and safely for off-ship adventures. In addition to the well-appointed and spacious public areas, Ocean Explorer has an industry-leading mix of sustainability systems, including fuel-efficient Rolls Royce engines..

For full information about this vessel click here:

Booking Information

Essential Information

Rates and Share Bookings

Prices shown are per person on a shared basis. If you are travelling alone and wish to share, you will be matched with someone of the same gender at share rate. If desired, Single occupancy is available at 1.7 times the twin share rate for standard cabins (or twice the share rate for premium cabins or suites).

Deposit

Reservations require a deposit of 25% at the time you receive a booking confirmation from Expeditions Online. A payment link will be sent to you and this may be paid by major credit card. Bookings made within 90 days of departure require 100% payment.

Final Payment

Balances are due 90 days prior to departure and may be paid by bank transfer.

Cancellation

All requests for cancellation must be received in writing to Expeditions Online. Cancellations received 120 days or more prior to departure, are refundable less an administrative fee of US$500/€450/AUD650/GBP400/SEK5500 per person. 

If cancellation is received between 119 days and 90 days, the deposit is forfeited.

If cancellation occurs between 89 days and 60 days prior to departure, the cancellation fee is 75% of the expedition cost. 

If cancellation occurs between 59 days and departure, the cancellation fee is 100% of the expedition cost.

If full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply, and any unpaid balance is due immediately. To protect your investment, we highly recommend that you obtain adequate trip cancellation insurance.

Flexible Cancellation Fees!

  All cancellation Fees are eligible to be applied to a future voyage booked within 1 year of cancellation date. 

No surcharges - ever.

For peace of mind, the shipping company will not apply fuel or any other surcharges—for any reason—to a booking once it’s confirmed. The price you book, is the price you pay.

Booking Terms

Please read carefully the Terms and Conditions for Expeditions Online (link at the bottom of this page). This voyage is operated by Quark Expeditions and you additionally travel under their terms and conditions as the operator as well as of the Shipping Company/transport carrier. Details will be forwarded to you at the time of booking

Included

  • A parka to keep
  • Leadership throughout your voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
  • All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage
  • Complimentary select beer, wines and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
  • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
  • Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi service on one device permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Premium packages are available for more data-intensive applications.)
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Greenland voyages cruise passenger tax

Excluded

  • Charter Flight and Hotel Package*
  • International airfare
  • Arrival transfers in Reykjavik
  • Passport and visa expenses
  • Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above
  • Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
  • Excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights
  • Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned
  • Laundry, bar, spa and other personal charges unless specified
  • Phone charges may vary by location
  • Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew
  • Additional overnight accommodation
  • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
*CHARTER FLIGHT AND HOTEL PACKAGE US$1495
  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Reykjavik, near Keflavik airpot (breakfast included)
  • Charter flight from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
  • Group transfer from the ship to the Nuuk airport on disembarkation day
  • Charter flight from Nuuk to Reykjavik
  • One night’s post-expedition airport hotel accommodation near Reykjavik, near Keflavik airport (breakfast included)
Booking Request
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