HIGHLIGHTS
- Stand
in awe of Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Witness
the remarkable geology on Disko Island, featuring some of the oldest
geological features on Earth
- In
genuine expedition style, we forge as far north as possible along
Greenland's west coast, where few travellers venture, and where the
night sky may surprise you with a dazzling display you'll never forget
- Discover
life in Nuuk, the world's northernmost capital
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Aug 15, 2025 | Aug 29, 2025 | 20,881 |
21,695 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Aug 15, 2025 | Aug 29, 2025 | 20,881 |
21,695 |
ITINERARY
Aurora
Expeditions operates in remote and challenging environments, and in the
spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and
adventurous attitude when joining our voyages. This itinerary is a
guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other
conditions beyond our control.
On
this voyage, we visit remote Inuit hamlets and settlements, where the
local Inuit people still practice traditional hunting methods including
whaling that some people may find confronting. If you find yourself
feeling upset and disturbed by what you see, please alert a member of
the expedition team immediately, who will do their best to address your
concerns and take action to mitigate the problem, wherever possible.
Day
1 Toronto
Having
made your way to Toronto, check in at our group hotel located near the
airport for an overnight stay. At our welcome briefing this evening,
enjoy a drink and meet fellow expeditioners. Please visit the Aurora
Expeditions hospitality desk to collect your luggage cabin tags and to
speak with our ground operations team, who may have information to
share with you about pre-embarkation procedures and also the charter
flight to Nuuk tomorrow. You will receive Aurora Expeditions cabin tags
for your luggage. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship
cabin number.
Accommodation:
Westin Toronto Airport Hotel (or similar)
Day
2 Embarkation, Nuuk
Please
ensure that your luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled
with your name and cabin number. Any valuables or personal items should
be kept on you throughout the day. Your luggage will be delivered to
your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. After
breakfast at the hotel, board our charter flight to Nuuk, where the
Sylvia Earle awaits. After boarding, there is time to settle into your
cabin before our important safety briefings. This evening, meet your
expedition team and crew.
Day
3 Sisimiut
Greenland’s
second largest town, Sisimiut is located approximately 54 kilometres
(33.5 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, meaning that during summer,
you can experience the midnight sun here. The town is famous for the
old blue church with the gate made of whale bone. In the cosy museum
next door to the church, you will find an excellent reconstruction of
an Inuit turf house as well as exhibits of local history and early life
in Greenland.
Sisimiut
offers hiking trails with various degrees of difficulty. The easier
trails take you through the town itself, its outskirts and into the
mountains, where you will find spectacular vantage points. Some 4,500
years ago, the Saqqaq culture arrived from Canada and settled in the
area. They lived here for approximately 2,000 years, after which they
mysteriously disappeared from the area. The Dorset culture arrived
around 500 CE and stayed until the 1200s until they were replaced by
the Thule culture, and today, most of the population
of Sisimiut are descendants of the Thule culture.
Day
4 Qeqertarsuaq (Disko Island)
This
compelling island seems to have more in common with Iceland than
Greenland. While most of the interior is mountainous and glaciated, its
beautiful shorelines boast black sandy beaches, unusual basalt columns,
hot springs and dramatic lava formations. We plan to appreciate the
colourful flowers on the Kuannit Hike, where you can walk stunning
landscapes, see ancient basalt columns and perhaps spot whales in Disko
Bay.
Days
5–7 Expedition cruising
Note: In genuine
expeditionary style, our itinerary for the following days is heavily
dependent on weather conditions and unpredictable sea ice. The
following places are some that we hope to visit.
Uummannaq
Set
on an island of the same name, Uummannaq is located 600 km (373 mi)
above the Arctic Circle and is famous for its heart-shaped mountain.
It’s also well-known for the Qilakitsoq mummies,
Greenland’s oldest, that were discovered in nearby. The
centre of town is compact and easy for you to explore independently,
and there are several marked hiking trails, many of which lead to
mountain lakes, for those who want to stretch their legs. Kayakers can
enjoy paddling among the icebergs and keeping watch for whales that
frequent the area.
Upernavik
Set
amid a labyrinth of small islands, Upernavik is home to traditional
settlements and enormous icebergs that Greenland is famous for.
Kayakers can paddle in the serene bay among the glittering icebergs
while other expeditioners can discover the town on walks or hike in the
surrounding area. Upernavik is the world’s northernmost
open-air museum. A walk through the old part of town, which encompasses
the original colonial buildings, tells the cultural history of the
area, including the colonial and Viking periods. Keep a look out for a
traditional old kayak and umiaq boat, which highlights the main mode of
transport used by locals to navigate the archipelago during summer. The
shy and elusive narwhal is also known to visit the area, and at nearby
Apparsuit, bird enthusiasts will be thrilled
to
find one of the world’s largest bird cliffs.
Day
8 At Sea
Find
a spot in one of our many observation lounges and enjoy the spectacular
surrounding landscapes. Our talented and knowledgeable expedition
members will present informative and entertaining talks about the
region that you’re travelling through.
Day
9 Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island
In
Qeqertarsuaq, we enjoy a Zodiac excursion in Disko Bay that’s
often filled with icebergs and is a hotspot for marine life including
humpback, fin, minke and bowhead whales. Enjoy a walk through the
settlement, perhaps try some local tea made from fresh local herbs,
learn about the history of Qeqertarsuaq at the museum before walking
along the black sand beach towards the colourful colonial buildings.
Days
10-11 Ataa Sund, Ilulissat
Known
as the ‘birthplace of icebergs’, this region
produces some of the most dazzling icebergs found anywhere on earth. We
explore ice-filled Ataa Sund and hope to experience a few of the active
glaciers from a safe distance. In Ilulissat, we visit the UNESCO World
Heritage-listed Icefjord and stand in awe at its immensity. Sermeq
Kujalleq, also known as Jakobshavn Glacier, is the most productive
glacier – not only in Greenland but the entire Northern
Hemisphere. It produces 20 million tonnes of ice each day, all floating
into the Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay..
Ilulissat
optional helicopter flight (90 mins): this excursion is the only way
you can get close to the gigantic glacier. The 10-seater helicopter
departs from Ilulissat Airport sweeping over hills, lakes and ice
fjords. On the return flight to Ilulissat, fly above the edge of the
glacier with breathtaking views of the massive icebergs drifting in the
fjord. The views of some of the largest icebergs that become stranded
on a moraine underneath the water, just outside the town, offers a
wonderful finale to this excursion. Please note that this excursion
requires a minimum of 8 passengers to operate.
Day
12 Aasivissuit- Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage site
We
hope to visit a Greenlandic settlement located near the
Aasivissuit-Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place where the local
inhabitants live a traditional fishing and hunting lifestyle that dates
back 4,000 years. The settlement also features the remarkable Qaammat
Pavilion, built on the ridge at the top overlooking the Ikeertoq fjord.
This stunning architecturally designed and award-winning crystal
structure was created by Swedish architect, Konstantin Ikonomidis, in
cooperation with the local community and the UNESCO team. It is a
tribute to nature, the land and cultural traditions of the indigenous
Inuit people.
Day
13 Eternity Fjord
Evighedsfjorden,
or Eternity Fjord, is one of the more spectacular fjord complexes in
west Greenland due to its forested landscape. Hike through a forested
valley, witness hills become towering snow-capped mountains as
countless glaciers pour down from sheer cliff walls. Occasionally, the
thunderous sound of a calving glacier breaks the silence in a place
where you are unlikely to see another soul.
Day
14 Disembark in Nuuk, Fly to Toronto
In
Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, farewell the crew and expedition team,
and transfer to the airport for our charter flight to Toronto for an
overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Westin Toronto Airport Hotel (or similar)
Day
15 Depart Toronto
After
breakfast, check out of your room and continue your journey with a
transfer to the airport.
Sylvia Earle (Luxury Expedition, 126-guests)
Due to sail in October 2021 our new ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 - this vessel pays tribute to Sylvia's long standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife. Sylvia Earle will be actively involved in the development of her namesake.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All
transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One
night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Toronto
on Day 1.
- One
night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Toronto
on Day 14.
- Return
charter flight between Toronto and Nuuk.
- On-board
accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service.
- All
meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.
- Beer,
house wine and soft drinks with dinner.
- Captain’s
Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house
beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
- All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
- Educational
lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.
- Complimentary
access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial
consultation).
- One
3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket.
- Complimentary
use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure information.
- Port
surcharges, permits and landing fees.
Note: A $15 USD per person per day gratuity for the crew
is automatically added to your onboard account. It is at your
discretion if you would like to remove the tip (or adjust the amount)
when you settle your bill. It is not necessary to tip the expedition
team members. This gratuity amount is included for suites as part of
their ‘Suite Benefits’
EXPEDITION EXCLUSIONS
- International
or domestic flights – unless specified in itinerary.
- Transfers
– unless specified in itinerary.
- Airport
arrival or departure taxes.
- Passport,
visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
- Travel
insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
- Hotels
and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Optional
excursions and optional activity surcharges.
- All
items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic
beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), gratuities,
laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, wi-fi, email or
phone charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Sea
Kayaking: USD 830
- Photography:
FREE
