Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: COPENHAGEN – KANGERLUSSUAQ – EMBARKATION
Arrive on your own at Copenhagen, Denmark Airport, or Reykjavik, Iceland to board the charter flight for Kangerlussuaq.
Upon arrival in Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, you will be transported to the small port located west of the airport, short transfer by Zodiacs to embark on the ice-class expedition ship – Ocean Atlantic. After the safety drill, you will enjoy dinner as Ocean Atlantic ‘sets sail’ through the 160-kilometer Kangerlussuaq fjord.
Overnight onboard the Ocean Atlantic [D]
Day 2: SISIMIUT, GREENLAND'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY
After breakfast, Arrive in the colorful town of Sisimiut – a lively town of 5,000 residents reveals fine Colonial-era homes and the historic Blue Church built-in 1775. City tour highlights include the historic colonial quarter, as well as the museum and the beautiful church. You also visit to the busy city center for a glimpse of what daily life is like in 21st century Greenland.
In the afternoon, your voyage will continue northward. As evening falls, you will pass the Sisimiut Isortuat Fjord, the Nordre Strømfjord settlements of Attu and Ikerasaarsuk, and the small town of Kangaatsiaq. During the course of the bright night, you will pass Aasiaat and proceed into the southern waters of Disko Bay– home to a variety of whale species including minke, humpback, and bowhead. Next, the ship’s heading will be set for Disko Island, known for its distinctive 1,000-meter/3,280 feet layered crags. At this point, you will be north of the Arctic Circle! Here, the nights are bright and early risers can enjoy the sight of the icebergs on Disko Bay as they squeeze out of the Ilulissat Icefjord and dance into the frigid ocean waters.
Overnight onboard the Ocean Atlantic [B, L, D]
Day 3: QEQERTARSUAQ ON DISKO ISLAND & THE MAGNIFICENT EQUIP SERMIA GLACIER
Your next sojourn lies on the southern tip of the Disko Island, where Ocean Atlantic will anchor in a protected natural harbor, which is named Godhavn (‘Good Harbour’) in Danish, while its Greenlandic name, Qeqertarsuaq, means ‘The Big Island’. During your visit, you will wander through town, paying a visit to the characteristic octagonal church, nicknamed “God’s Inkpot”, as well as to a local community center that will be hosting a traditional Greenlandic “kaffemik”, which can be best described as a friendly gathering with coffee, cake, and traditional dances and music. As the day draws to a closing, Ocean Atlantic will set a north-easterly course bound for a magnificent natural highlight – the enormous Eqip Sermia Glacier.
Situated approximately 50 nautical miles north of Ilulissat, the Eqip Sermia Glacier – the most active glaciers on Earth, renowned for its jaw-dropping beauty. You will sail as close as possible to the ice’s edge – but at a safe distance to avoid plunging blocks of ice and violent waves that often result from the calving glacier.
Overnight onboard the Ocean Atlantic [B, L, D]
Day 4: ILULISSAT – CAPITAL OF THE ICEBERGS
Ilulissat is possibly the most well-located town in Greenland. The name simply means ‘icebergs’ in Greenlandic, and the town is rightly nickname – the Iceberg Capital.
In Disko Bay, which is located just off the coast of Ilulissat, gigantic icebergs linger in the freezing waters. These icebergs come from the Icefjord, which is located a half hour’s hike south of Ilulissat. These impressive frozen structures are born some 70km/43,5 miles deeper into the fjord by the enormous Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. This 10km/6 miles-wide glacier is the most productive glacier outside of Antarctica; Whereas most glaciers only calve at a rate of approximately a meter/three feet a day, the Ilulissat glacier calves at a rate of 25m/82 feet per day. The icebergs produced by the glacier represent more than 10% of all icebergs in Greenland, corresponding to 20 million tonnes/22 million us tons of ice per day!. These facts, together with the fjord’s unforgettable scenery, have secured the Icefjord a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
This glacier is also one of the few through which the Greenland ice cap, formed during the Quaternary Ice Age, reaches the sea – and some of the ice that surrounds us today is estimated to be 250,000 years old! Be sure to keep your eyes sharp: The skies and waters of the fjord are also home to a variety of sea birds including eider, auk, and guillemot. 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.
Embark on a thrilling boat expedition (2.5 hours) into the Ilulissat Icefjord, filled with icebergs from the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, offering a great opportunity to take a closer look at the amazing ice-sculpted scenery. In the evening, we will cruise southward from “the Iceberg Capital”, leaving lovely Disko Bay behind us as we part.
Overnight onboard the Ocean Atlantic [B, L, D]
Day 5: 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. Going ashore, you’ll gain an intimate firsthand look into the life of its 100 or so residents. Though smartphones and web-browsing are a part of everyday life here, customs and traditions remain strong 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. During the night, we will have completed our passage through the 160-kilometer/100 mile Kangerlussuaq Fjord.
Overnight onboard the Ocean Atlantic [B, L, D]
Day 6: KANGERLUSSUAQ – DISEMBARKATION & FLIGHT TO COPENHAGEN
After breakfast, disembark in Kangerlussuaq and the Zodiac boats will shuttle us to shore. You will have some free time in Kangerlussuaq before transfer to the airport for your return flight to Iceland or Denmark.
You may also take an optional 4-hour excursion to the beautiful Reindeer Glacier. [B]