GREENLAND OF GREAT EXPLORERS
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15 DAYS
From Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen, you will head to Jan Mayen Island onboard your luxury ship. Located on the threshold of the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans, this isolated and uninhabited volcanic island was a whale hunting centre and is home to large bird colonies. Visit the west coast of Greenland, known for its its alpine landscapes, deep fjords, and its sea ice carried along the Transpolar Drift. Sail along the Blosseville Coast, named after the French captain who saw it for the first time in 1833. Here, the ice sheet meets the sea. During the last part of your cruise, you will sail up the west coast of Greenland where you will be able to admire the sublime fjords of Prins Christian Sund and the blue-tinged icebergs of Narsaq, before heading for Kangerlussuaq, where this unforgettable cruise will end.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Paris to Longyearbyen | Fly from Paris for your embarkation in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen |
| Day 2 | Stellingfjellet, Isbukta | Glaciers, Zodiac cruising, Guillemot colonies |
| Day 3 | At Sea | Activities on board |
| Day 4 | Jan Mayen Island | Volcanic island, whales, bird life |
| Day 5 | At Sea | Activities on board |
| Day 6 | Watkins Fjord | Jagged coastline |
| Day 7 | Tugtilik | Storo Island |
| Day 8 | Sermilik | Tasiilaq |
| Day 9 | Qingminguartalik | Fridtjof Nanse, Thule civilisation remains, Nansen Harbour |
| Day 10 | Skjoldungen Island | Bearded seals, orcas, bird life, |
| Day 11 | Prins Christian Sund | Rocky cliffs, waterfalls, bearded seals |
| Day 12 | Augpilatok | Look for wildlife |
| Day 13 | Igaliku | Narsaq Fjord, mountains, icebergs, multicoloured houses |
| Day 14 | Evighedsfjorden | The fjord of eternity, bird life, glaciers |
| Day 15 | Kangerlussuaq to Paris | Disembark in Kangerlussuaq and fly to Paris |
Ship Offering This Itinerary
L’Austral
L’Austral (200 guests) was launched in May, 2011 and is a sister ship to Le Boreal and Le Soleal. She features 132 staterooms offering elegant design as well innovative state-of-the-art marine technology. The vessel boasts a convenient layout, aided by three passenger elevators. She offers a single seating dining room, al fresco dining, an outdoor heated pool, and a modern lecture facility and theatre, as well as an ample and comfortable gathering area and library.
Day 1 Paris to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Overview:
Travel from Paris to Longyearbyen, the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago. Located on Svalbard’s main island it is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.
Day 2 Stellingfjellet and Isbukta, Spitsbergen
Nestling on the south-east point of the island of Spitsbergen, this small bay shelters an immense glacier, the Vasil’evbreen, whose front is more than 20 kilometres long. This is an opportunity for an unforgettable Zodiac outing. If the conditions allow it, you will be able to land directly at the foot of this majestic, so as to discover the moraine and walk on the first section of the glacier. Depending on the ice conditions, you will also perhaps be lucky enough to approch Stellingfjellet, home to one of the largest guillemot colonies on the archipelago.
Day 3 At Sea
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the weather you may wish to take a swim or spend some time in the Jacuzzi. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species.
Day 4 Jan Mayen Island
The island of Jan Mayen, belonging to Norway, lies hidden off Greenland’s coastlines, lost between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. This small piece of land is inhabited by only a handful of Norwegian meteorologists. Tongues of ice descend from its volcanic summit, which culminates at 2,227 metres and is covered with a thick glacial coat. These tongues join the sea, between ranges of black volcanic rocks at times tinged with red. If the sky is clement, you will have the chance to glimpse the summit, decked out in magnificent light. The visit of a small fin whale will perhaps enable you to complete this memorable picture.
Day 5 At Sea
Enjoy the facilities on board, and relax in the many comfortable open spaces throughout the ship.
Day 6 Watkins Fjord
Witness spectacular landscapes and rugged coastline as you cruise along Watkins Fjord. Towering mountains line the fjord as you cruise along the gentle water.
Day 7 Tugtilik and Storo Island
Cruise along through ice berg filled fjords admiring the high mountains and potentially spot seals basking in on a piece of the ice flow. This untouched pristine landscape will feel like you are in another world.
Day 8 Sermilik and Tasiilaq
Visit picturesque colourful towns with unbelievable backdrops. Snow capped mountains and crystal clear blue lakes are complimented with the smiles of the locals.
Day 9 Qingminguartalik and Nansen Harbour
Visit a small protected bay on the eastern coast of Greenland, around 200 km south of Tasiilaq, for a day with history and ice. During this port of call, you will have the opportunity to visit the remains of old peat houses from the Thule civilisation. Then, after sailing through the ice, you will reach the starting point of the very first crossing of the Greenland ice cap, led in 1888 by Fridtjof Nansen, the great Norwegian polar explorer. A magical place where you can climb the gentle slopes of the ice cap’s first foothills to better appreciate its huge size.
Travelling to Nansen Harbour you will see where the ice cap plunges directly into the bay. Arriving in these parts, you will immediately understand why Fridtjof Nansen chose this place for his ice cap crossing in August 1888. It is relatively easy to access the cap from here and you will certainly be able to follow in some of this great Norwegian explorer’s footsteps. A unique experience, one that will definitely delight the most adventurous among you.
Day 10 Skjoldungen
Discover Skjoldungen Island on the south-east coast of Greenland. This uninhabited land boasts magnificent landscapes that are sure to dazzle you. The island is surrounded by a stunning fjord, a distinctive feature of which is its double entrance: it forms a bend before joining the sea on the other side. Mountains, glacial valleys, rocky outcrops, tundra and willow forests make up the beautiful scenery which you will be able to admire more closely when you land here. At this port of call, surrounded by wild and pristine nature, it is quite common to see bearded seals, orcas, but also birds such as the common redpoll, the northern wheatear, or the common raven.
Day 11 Prins Christian Sund and Augpilatok
Your ship glides silently towards the Greenland coast, in a setting punctuated by pointed peaks and majestic glaciers… You are on the verge of crossing the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow channel that stretches out and zigzags over some one hundred kilometres between Greenland’s south-east and south-west. Fall under the spell of the primitive beauty of these unique landscapes, including rocky cliffs and waterfalls that are fed by the ice sheet and plunge into the icy waters. Here, bearded seals love to lie on the floating ice to soak up the sunshine. If you are lucky, you may get to witness an aurora borealis, a stunning light show put on by the polar night.
Day 12 Igaliku and Narsaq Fjord
From your ship, discover the town of Narsaq. You will be dazzled by the beauty of the surrounding icebergs − large masses of ice in different shapes and shifting colours. Dominated by lush mountains, this small town is typical of Greenland and is located in the heart of a wonderful natural landscape. The multicoloured house facades and the glaciers with their myriad shades of blue offer a magical setting, conducive to wonderment.
Day 13 At Sea
Enjoy on board facilities and attend informative lectures on history, wildlife and local communities.
Day 14 Evighedsfjorden
Your ship glides slowly along the water towards the west coast of Greenland, to enter Evighedsfjorden, just a few kilometres south of Kangerlussuaq. Evighedsfjorden means “the fjord of Eternity”, and for good reason: just when you think you’ve reached the end of this stretch of sea measuring over 100 kilometres in length, it seems to go on forever, as though to bring even more pleasure to those sailing in it. The spectacular scenery ranges from glaciers to tundra with an abundant flora, and jagged cliffs where numerous bird species have taken up residence. Take the time to observe the white-tailed eagles and the colonies of seagulls and black-legged kittiwakes flying overhead in the area.
Day 15 Kangerlussuaq to Paris
From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few kilometres from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons and eagles live. Here you will disembark and board the flight to Paris.