In Disko Bay, experience local dancing in Qeqertarsuaq and the renowned Eqi Glacier. At the Sermermiut Plain admire the World Heritage Site of the Ilulissat Icefjord and the dazzling icebergs in the late evening sun. Further to the south along the western coast of Greenland, visit the capital of Greenland, one of the smallest in the world. Before heading north again along the spectacular east coast of Greenland, marvel at the narrow cliffs of Prince Christian Sound and the charming silence of the undisturbed Skjoldungen Island
DAY 1 - REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND, EMBARKATION AND OUR JOURNEY BEGINS
In the afternoon, we board our vessel in Reykjavík and set our course
westbound for Greenland.
DAY 2 - AT SEA, CROSSING THE DENMARK STRAIT AND CRUISING
ALONG THE DRAMATIC GREENLANDIC EAST COAST
Our lecturers onboard will make inspiring and enriching presentations
about both Iceland’s and Greenland’s past history and about nature,
wildlife and climatology.
DAY 3 - LUSH LANDSCAPES AROUND SKJOLDUNGEN / SAQQISIKUIK
The island of Skjoldungen is without doubt one of most beautiful
areas in East Greenland. Situated at 63° N, the island is surrounded
by narrow, steep fjords and glaciers, and with plenty of the cool,
crisp and clean air of the ever present and nearby ice sheet. Still,
we will find and experience a lush landscape and a milder climate than
most would expect. Acclaimed Norwegian explorer Fridjof Nansen came
here in late summer 1888 in search of a suitable ascension point for
the first inland ice crossing. Skjoldungen is also the name of an
abandoned settlement, located on the southwest side of the island. Up
to 100 people lived here until 1965, and some houses remain. We
continue our journey to Dronning Marie Dal in the area's northwestern
corner to get a closer view of its interesting flora. After
Skjoldungen and Ilertakajik fjord, the Alpine peaks and mountainous
landscape diminish and from here, we will find that over large
stretches, the ice sheet reaches all the way to the shoreline, forming
cohesive ice shelfs, a type of icy landscape that some travelers who
have been to Antarctica will probably recognize. Bernstorff Icefjord:
The most productive glacier on the SE coast, but we keep a good
distance to big icebergs in these ice-infested waters.
DAY 4 - PRINCE CHRISTIAN SOUND
Kap Farvel, or Cape Farewell, is renowned not only as Greenland's
southernmost point, but also for its infamous, although mostly
seasonal, gale-force winds. We deliberately opt for a far more
comfortable but at the same time more spectacular route, cruising via
the inside passage through the Prince Christian Sound. This 60 km long
waterway, from the Atlantic in the east, to the settlement Aapilattoq
in the heart of the fjordlands of South West Greenland. The sound has
steep mountainsides, and many adventurous kayakers have had to turn
around because of a very limited number of landing sites available.
The old weather station of Prince Christian Sound, manned until a two
years ago by sturdy meteorologists, is another classic
point-of-interest along this itinerary.
DAY 5 - SOUTH GREENLAND, ERIC THE RED’S BRATTAHLID AT
QASSIARSUK
Early in the morning we sailed into Eriksfjord, which in Greenland is
called Tunulliarfik. We throw anchor off Erik the Red's Brattahlíð
settlement, where the Qassiarssuk village is today. Here we see, among
other things, a reconstruction of Tjodhildur's church, which was the
first church on the North American continent. There are also other
ruins after the Norse people, which disappeared in the 1400s. Here one
can really sense the path of history and wonder why the Norse people
suddenly disappeared from Greenland. It was from Brattahlíð that Erik
and Tjodhildur's son Leif Eriksson, about 1000, went west and
discovered Baffin Island, the Labrador coast and Newfoundland, before
returning to South Greenland a few years later. Around lunch time we
sail out of Eriksfjord close to Qooroq Isfjord.
DAY 6 - VISITING THE GREENLAND CAPITAL CITY NUUK
During the morning and day, we cruise north to reach Nuuk in the
afternoon. As we enter the Nuuk Fjord we have fair chances of
encountering the area's seasonal visitors: the humpback whales. The
world's smallest capital is in Greenland considered by many a mighty
metropolis - a total of 17,000 people live here today, almost a third
of the country’s population. The area has been inhabited back to 2200
BC by pre-Inuit hunters. From year 1000 to 1350 AD, the Icelandic
Vikings and farmers settled in South Greenland and in the Nuuk Fjord,
while at the same time Inuit hunters of the Thule culture moved south
from North Greenland. The Nordic settlers disappeared around 1350 AD,
but the Inuit stayed, being far better equipped to hunt and survive in
the tough Arctic nature. Modern history of Greenland began in 1721,
when the Norse missionary Hans Egede founded a permanent colony and
trading station near Nuuk. In fact, Egede’s main purpose to return to
Greenland was to convert the Catholic northerners to Lutherans, but
soon after his arrival he realized the Norse had disappeared, a
mystery yet unresolved. In 1979, the Landsting (Parliament) was
established in Nuuk, and the town was finally recognized as the
country's capital. Late in the night, we will leave the capital and
continue our northbound journey.
DAY 7 - AT SEA ALONG THE GREENLANDIC WEST COAST
DAY 8 - QEQERTARSUAQ ON DISKO ISLAND, 'KAFFEMIK' IN A
COMMUNITY CENTRE AND EQIP SERMIA GLACIER.
Under Disko Island’s 1000-metre-high mountains we enter the protected
natural habour that has the Danish name ‘Godhavn’ or Good Harbour and
in Greenlandic ‘Qeqertarsuaq’ which means ‘The Big Island’. Godhavn
was until 1950 the most important town north of Nuuk, solely because
of the large number of whales caught and landed here. This gave the
town great wealth. Now it’s on the way to oblivion with declining job
opportunities and connections to mainland. The local community center
hosts a traditional Greenlandic “kaffemik”, best described as a
friendly gathering with coffee, cake and traditional dances and music.
Musicians from Greenland originally played on a drum (qilaat) made
from an oval wooden frame covered with the bladder of a polar bear.
Unlike other drums, the qilaat would be played by hitting the frame
with a stick, and not the skin itself. This modest instrument was used
for a variety of purposes, including entertainment, exorcism and
witchcraft. During the afternoon the ship heads east towards the giant
glacier Eqip Sermia in the north-easterly corner of Disko Bay. This
glacier is, without overstating, one of the most impressive in
Greenland. Here you can experience a glacier calve up close, which is
not possible in Ilulissat. Great crevasses, deep blue glacial streams,
a landscape so unique and stunning that words are simply not
sufficient. An outstanding opportunity to see, hear and smell this
mighty ice world. In the evening, we will prepare for departure.
DAY 9 - CAPITAL OF THE ICEBERGS, ILULISSAT
Ilulissat is possibly the most well located town in Greenland. The
name simply means ‘icebergs’ in Greenlandic and the town’s nickname is
rightly ‘The Iceberg Capital of the World’. The icebergs come from the
Icefjord, which is located a half hour’s hike south of Ilulissat.
These impressive frozen structures are born some 70km deeper into the
fjord by the enormous Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. This 10km-wide glacier
is the most productive glacier outside of Antarctica. Whereas most
glaciers only calve at a rate of approximately a meter a day, the
Ilulissat glacier calves at a rate of 25 meters per day. The icebergs
produced by the glacier represent more than 10% of all icebergs in
Greenland, corresponding to 20 million tons! These facts, together
with the fjord’s extreme beauty, have secured the Icefjord a place on
UNESCO’s World Heritage List. During the more than 250 years that have
passed since the establishment of Ilulissat, the town has steadily
flourished. Today, Ilulissat is Greenland’s third largest town with
more than 4,500 inhabitants. The town is very vibrant, welcoming and
lively, with a wide range of cultural attractions, according to
Greenlandic standards. The legendary polar explorer, Knud Rasmussen,
and his good friend, Jørgen Brønlund, were both born in Ilulissat. On
this day, you will also have the opportunity to join a boat trip to
the Icefjord. The journey takes about two and a half hours in total,
and presents an opportunity to gain a closer look at the amazing
ice-sculpted scenery. The trip is definitely something out of the
ordinary and a great natural experience that you will remember for
years to come - but be sure to remember warm clothes! If a hike or a
trip by boat does not present enough excitement, there is also an
opportunity to arrange a flightseeing ride over the Icefjord (not
included). Please note the boat and flightseeing excursions to the
Icefjord are not included in the general tour price. Furthermore, the
flightseeing excursion must be booked in advance. Refer to Price
Information for more details. In the evening, we will cruise southward
from “the Iceberg Capital”, leaving lovely Disko Bay in our wake.
DAY 10 - THE SETTLEMENT OF SARFANNGUIT
The settlement of Sarfannguit, which translates into "the place of
the little stream” an appropriate name for a settlement nestled at the
foothills of the mountains and glaciers in the distant backcountry.
The settlement’s slightly more than 100 residents live off hunting,
trapping and fishing, most often in pursuit of arctic char, reindeer
and musk oxen. Although Sarfannguit is quite remote, it lies within a
few hours from Sisimiut, the second-largest town in Greenland. The
accessibility to such a large town provides an indispensable economic
benefit to a small community like Sarfannguit. A stroll through the
settlement offers insight into rural life in today’s Greenland, where
modern conveniences and technological advancements, such as internet
and smart phones have become commonplace, yet locals still place great
value on important customs and preserving their traditions and their
Inuit heritage. We will continue our journey toward the fjord of
Kangerlussuaq, also known as Sondre Stromfjord. Especially the first
part of the fjord gives a great opportunity to enjoy an impressive
passage with panoramic views of high mountains and deep valleys.
DAY 11 - KANGERLUSSUAQ, DISEMBARKATION. REINDEER GLACIER
(OPTIONAL). FLIGHT TO ICELAND.
During the night, we will have completed our passage through the
160-kilometer/100 mile Kangerlussuaq Fjord. After breakfast aboard the
ship, we will bid farewell to the ship's staff and the Zodiac boats will
shuttle us to shore. Due to Kangerlussuaq’s military history and
present-day role as an important air travel hub, Kangerlussuaq remains
fairly isolated from Greenland’s rich cultural traditions in comparison
to other regions. While you still find cultural experiences when
visiting Kangerlussuaq, the most impressive attraction is the
surrounding nature, which is just beckoning to be explored. It is not
difficult to see that Kangerlussuaq’s landscape has largely been shaped
by the last glaciation period, often known simply as the “Ice Age,” some
18,000 years ago. The mountains are rounded and soft, and many meltwater
lakes remain. From the inland ice sheet, best known as the Greenland Ice
Sheet, the meltwater cuts its way through the porous moraine landscape
and flows into Kangerlussuaq Fjord. Kangerlussuaq’s present-day climate
is largely impacted by its well-sheltered location between Greenland’s
Ice Sheet, the fjord and mountains. This contributes to its stable
conditions, minimal cloud presence and roughly 300 clear nights per
year. In Kangerlussuaq we offer an optional excursion to the beautiful
Reindeer Glacier. The duration of the excursion is about four hours.
Please note the excursion is not included in the general tour price.
Refer to Price Information for more details. We do not recommend this
excursion for people who suffer from bad necks or backs, as the gravel
road to the ice sheet is occasionally bumpy and uneven. As our time in
Greenland concludes, we will fly from Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavík
Airport, Iceland, and your Arctic adventure will have concluded.