GREENLAND EXPEDITION: LAND OF NORTHERN LIGHTS
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8 DAYS
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kangerlussuaq, Greenland | Explore the capital's waterfront, culture and architecture before embarking |
| Day 2 | Evigheds Glacier | Haven for wildlife, white-tailed eagles and black-legged kittiwakes, calving glaciers |
| Day 3 | Qeqertarsuaq | Colourful houses against dramatic red basalt mountains, black sand beaches |
| Day 4 | Uummannaq | Explore the charming island community beneath its heart-shaped mountain |
| Day 5 | Eqip Sermia Glacier and Disko Bay | One of Greenland's largest and most active calving glaciers, Inuit culture, whales, and icebergs |
| Day 6 | Ilulissat Icefjord | Thousands of calving gargantuan icebergs, sled-dogs |
| Day 7 | Sisimiut | Dorset, Thule and Inuit culture, dog-sledding, humpback whales and Arctic foxes |
| Day 8 | Kangerlussuaq | Disembark the ship and continue on your onwards journey |
SHIPS OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Swan Hellenic Vega
The SH Vega is a 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offering you an intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage. She made her maiden voyage in July 2022, and carries a maximum of 152 guest in 76 cabins. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible. For the comfort of guests, suites have a separate living room and bedroom. All staterooms are equipped with spacious wardrobes and bathrooms.
Day 1 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Once a WWII airbase at the head of Kangerlussuaq Fjord, Kangerlussuaq’s history is told at the airport’s museum, showcasing Inuit artefacts. This ice-filled glacial area and tundra is a haven for wildlife, including reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hare, gyrfalcons and around 10,000 muskoxen. Embark the ship here.
Day 2 Evigheds Glacier
The Evigheds Glacier, a majestic outflow from the Greenland Ice Sheet, carves through the dramatic Kangerlussuatsiaq Fjord, also known as Eternity Fjord. This 75-km-long waterway is a haven for wildlife, with white-tailed eagles and black-legged kittiwakes soaring above. Calving icebergs showcase Greenland’s raw beauty, but sadly like many glaciers, it is slowly retreating due to global warming’s impact on this fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Day 3 Qeqertarsuaq
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest town on Disko Island, Greenland’s largest island, where colourful houses pop against dramatic red basalt mountains. Overlooked by striking Lyngemark Glacier, the area is shaped by its volcanic origin, unique terrain featuring dramatic basalt columns, rolling hills black sand beaches. Thanks to its relatively fertile landscape, it supports unique plant species, such as wild angelica, rarely found elsewhere in Greenland.
Day 4 Uummannaq
The word Uummannaq means ‘heart-shaped’ in Greenlandic and refers to the twin-peaked granite mountain shaped like a heart, which covers nearly the whole northern half of the island. Folklore has it that a piece of your heart remains on the island forever, calling you back. Sheltered by glaciated mountains, this charming fjord region is referred to as the sunniest spot in Greenland and has been a refuge for Inuit migrations for over 4,500 years.
Day 5 Eqip Sermia Glacier and Disko Bay
Eqi Glacier, or Eqip Sermia in Greenlandic, is one of Greenland’s largest and most active calving glaciers, spanning nearly 4 km wide and towering over 200 m. Visitors can almost always witness calving, where pieces of ice break off the glacier’s face, creating deafening bangs and giant splashes that send waves across the bay. The contrast between thunderous calving and the ensuing silence provides a glimpse of Greenland’s dynamic icy landscape.
Known for its Inuit culture, whales, and icebergs, Disko Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Western Greenland. The bay is also home to the Ilulissat Icefjord, one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. First visited by Europeans in 1596 in search of a Northwest Passage to Asia, the region has been inhabited by Inuit communities for centuries. The village of Qeqertarsuaq embodies thriving Inuit traditions, preserving a rich and evolving cultural legacy.
Day 6 Ilulissat Icefjord
Sailing through the iceberg capital of the world to Disko Bay, the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the cruise highlights. Given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a popular tourist destination, and thanks to the productive Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, thousands of gargantuan icebergs calve from the Greenland ice cap into the sea. The city of Ilulissat is home to many sled-dogs.
Day 7 Sisimiut
The second largest town in Greenland, just above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut remains remarkably ice free in winter and is known as an adventure sports hub all year round. Inhabited for more than 4,500 years by the Dorset, Thule and eventually the Inuit people, dog sledding remains a vital form of transportation. The area is home to humpback whales and Arctic foxes in their summer coat.
Day 8 Kangerlussuaq
Return to Kangerlussuaq and disembark. Farewell your fellow travellers and continue your onwards journey.