Wild Greenland: A Dramatic Iceberg Experience

We'll board the ship at the end of the day in Ilulissat, located right beside the spectacular Ilulissat Icefjord. 

Ilulissat is the third-largest city in Greenland and most certainly the ultimate kingdom of ice—its name means icebergs in the Kalaallisut language. Dating back to 1741—when it was first established as a trading post—Ilulissat has expanded considerably. Presently, it is home to a museum recounting the life and achievements of local explorer Knud Rasmussen and the new Icefjord Centre, which aims to educate visitors about the area and the impacts of climate change. Today, we'll go hiking in the tundra to enjoy the exceptional views over the Ilulissat Icefjord, where towering icebergs spread out over 50 km. Every day, the Jakobshavn Glacier calves massive amounts of ice into the Ilulissat Icefjord, creating a unique parade of icebergs which has led to the site being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While its activity has temporarily decreased over the past few years, this glacier—which was likely to have produced the Titanic iceberg—remains one of the most dynamic in the world, making access to Ilulissat often impossible. Partake in excursions on board the ship or in inflatable boats to observe the icebergs.

We'll stop off in the former settlement of Ataa before continuing our route towards the Eqi Glacier, often referred to as the ‘calving glacier’ due to its intense activity. 

We'll visit Qeqertaq, a small town located on an island close to the Nuussuaq Peninsula, which is populated by a little over 100 inhabitants. This will be the starting point of our hike to best observe the nearby Torsukattak Fjord and its icebergs. The Nuussuaq Peninsula brims with towering mountains overlooking the area, where roaming reindeer are a likely sight. We'll sail between the icebergs in the evening, keeping our eyes peeled for whales. 

We'll go out to sea today to observe seals and whales before navigating around Disko Island. Once there, we'll enjoy walking among the blossoming flowers of the tundra, which thrive majestically under the midnight sun. Our next stop is Qeqertarsuaq, a larger town of over 800 inhabitants, where traces of paleo-Eskimo settlements from 6,000 years ago were found. In the 18th century, the first whalers took advantage of the suitable anchorage in the area and, in 1773, quite fittingly named it Godhavn—‘good harbour’ in Danish. From then on, the city kept growing and remained the most populated in the country up until 1940 when the capital—Nuuk—surpassed it. During our stopover, we will walk to a beautiful waterfall, where stunning views over a once extremely active glacier await. 

We'll pursue our search for whales as we navigate between the massive icebergs of Kangia Glacier. Weather and ice permitting, we'll take in this one last mesmerising spectacle of ice before setting foot on solid ground again for a visit to Aasiaat, located at the southern end of Disko Bay and south of the Ilulissat Icefjord. With over 3,000 inhabitants, this large fishing hub—sometimes referred to as the "Town of the Whales"—sits in the heart of the Aasiaat Archipelago, comprising two other smaller settlements. 

Disembarkation around 0900 in Ilulissat.

This itinerary is subject to change depending on the ice, weather, and wildlife. This cruise is meant to provide you with every opportunity to observe the local wildlife, and our stops and route could be adapted to better fulfill our goal. Please note that only the captain of the ship and the expedition leader have the authority to change the itinerary.