Greenland Odyssey

HIGHLIGHTS

• At Kangerlussuaq Fjord on Greenland's remote east coast, we visit Skaergaard Intrusion, known to geologists worldwide for their unusual layering, formed some 55 million years ago
• Sail along Prince Christian Sound, surrounded by towering mountains with glaciers that calve directly into the sea
• Enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises to glacier fronts and watch for tail flukes from diving whales.
• Stand in awe in front breathtakingly beautiful Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World-Heritage Site
• At the National Museum in Nuuk, see the fascinating exhibit of the Qilakitsoq mummies dating back 545 years, which were accidentally discovered in 1972

ITINERARY

Day 1 Reykjavik
Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland's cosmopolitan capital, and transfer by Flybus to our group hotel. Upon check-in, reception staff will provide you with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags. Please fill out the luggage tags clearly, showing your name and cabin number to allow us to deliver your luggage to your cabin. Enjoy a welcome drink and meet fellow expeditioners at our voyage briefing this evening.  

Accommodation: Fosshotel Reykjavik (or similar)

Day 2 Embarkation Day
Today we follow the path of one of Reykjavik's most popular seismic attractions – the Golden Circle. Stops along our route include Thingvellir National Park, accredited as the site of Iceland's first parliament. A shaky start to the new nation, it is also the point where the Eurasia and North American tectonic plates meet as an open fissure. Our next stop is Gullfoss waterfall. This impressive water feature tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá River, offering a popular photographic opportunity. Next we explore the geothermal fields and geysir's for which Iceland is famous. The variety of hot springs and bubbling pools are mesmerising as the sheer capacity of water and steam erupting from the ground makes you ponder just how much power is beneath your feet. Late afternoon we return to Reykjavik to board the Greg Mortimer.

After boarding, there's time to settle into your cabin before our important safety briefings before we ‘throw the lines' to begin our Greenland adventure. This evening meet your expedition team and crew at the Captain's Welcome Dinner.

Day 3 At Sea
Crossing the Greenland Sea, we sail through the Polar Basin's nutrient-rich waters, searching for encroaching pack ice, fin whales and seabirds. Our team of experts entertains us with informative talks about sea ice, glaciers, European arctic plants and animals and epic tales of early explorers such as Nansen, Andreé and Scoresby.

Day 4 Kangertitivatsiaq Fjord
Popular among skilled rock climbers, Kangertitivatsiaq Fjord is home to spectacular mountain peaks and essential big walls that attract daring climbers. A new discovery for Aurora Expeditions in 2022, the 26-kilometre (16-mile) fjord is filled with glaciers including the Glacier of France. It's an ideal place for ship cruising, Zodiac excursions and discovery hikes.

Day 5 Tasiilaq, Sermilik Fjord
Overlooking King Oscar's Harbour, Tasiilaq (formerly Ammassalik) is east Greenland's largest town with a population of approximately 2,000 inhabitants. Here, green meadows contrast starkly with countless icebergs that often clog the waterways at nearby Sermilik Fjord, the largest in southeast Greenland, where we Zodiac-cruise and kayak to search for fin and humpback whales and photograph the spectacular scenery. 

Day 6 Skjoldungen Island
Continue south along Greenland's King Frederik VI Coast, always on the lookout for whales, especially the rare sperm whale that is occasionally seen here. Weaving through the narrow channels of Skjoldungen Fjord we land at the end of the fjord for a walk along a glacial river, across a tundra valley covered in northern willow and blooming pink wildflowers. Kayakers can paddle across the front of a tidewater glacier, search for harp seals, ivory gulls and whales.

Back on board, enjoy the stunning surrounds with a drink in hand basked in the soft light of the setting sun. 

Day 7 Prince Christian Sound
Prince Christian Sound connects the Labrador Sea with the Irminger Sea. Approximately 100 km / 60 mi long, and, in parts, as narrow as 500-m (600-ft) wide, the fjord is flanked by jagged mountain peaks, some reaching over 2,200 m (7,200 ft) high, with countless glaciers coming all the way down to the sea. We slow-cruise through the sound to enjoy the spectacular scenery. Icebergs sculpted into fantastic shapes often block the entrance to the sound, a great spectacle for photography.

At Kangersuneq Qinngorleq located at the northern end of the fjord, a glacier front is ideal for exploration by Zodiac or kayak. in the southern section of the sound, we pass a small settlement named Appilatoq, which means red in Greenlandic, after the red mountains rising above the town. Appilatoq is well-known in Greenland for the jagged mountain peaks that surround it—a delight for photographers.

Day 8 Tasermiut Fjord, Klosterdal, Nanortalik
The towering, jagged mountains that surround Tasermiut Fjord is why it's often referred to as the ‘Patagonia of the north'. At Klosterdal (Monastery Valley), we are surrounded by three giant mountains - Napasorsuaq, Ketil and Nalumasortoq. Here we can walk to a Norse ruin, hike along the valley, or explore the bay by kayak.

Continue to Nanortalik, the southernmost town in Greenland, located on an island of the same name. Its name derives from the West Greenlandic word ‘Nanoq' meaning ‘the place where bears pass through,' describing the polar bears that were once seen floating past on sea ice. Deep fjords, woodlands and grasslands, and rugged mountainside cliffs, some over 1,000 m /3,280 ft, attract enthusiastic climbers from around the world.

On arrival, you'll receive a warm welcome from the local community who have opened up their town for you to explore. Nanortalik is a town that's known for their love of singing and you'll be treated to choir performance.

Visit Nanortalik Church, a wooden, Danish Lutheran church built in 1916 and is currently the only church serving the Nanortalik congregation. The church is in the old colonial quarter of the town. Next to the church is a landmark boulder called the ‘Knud Rasmussen Stone,' named after Greenland's most famous citizen, Dr Knud Rasmussen, an explorer and ethnologist.

Day 9 Hvalsey, Qaqortoq
Hvalsey Church is the best-preserved Norse ruin in Greenland. ‘Hvalsey' is old Norse for ‘Whale Island.' Christianity arrived in Greenland around 1,000 AD and gradually churches began to be built. Late medieval documents indicate there were up to 14 parish churches in the Eastern Settlement. Hvalsey itself was built in the early 14th century, but it was not the first church built on this site.

After exploring Hvalsey ruins, continue to Qaqortoq, where our Zodiacs shuttle us ashore. Qaqortoq is the capital of south Greenland. With a history dating back to 1775, the town offers various cultural activities and attractions including an outdoor art project called “Man and Stone,' which features stone carvings scattered throughout the town created by local artists. Qaqortoq is Greenland's southernmost town and is the administrative centre of the south Greenland. Built from yellow stone, and dating back to 1804, the building that now houses the Qaqortoq Museum originally belonged to the town's blacksmith. Qaqortoq's landmark building is the Church of Our Saviour. This large wooden Lutheran church, known as the ‘Red Church', is in the historic part of town, near the harbour.

Day 10 Paamiut
Located on a peninsula with impressive view of the surrounding mountains, the small settlement of Paamiut has existed since the mid-17th century, and the name of the town means 'the people who live at the mouth' referring to the nearby fjord. The town is home to a beautiful and ornate wooden church, which is remarkable when Greenland completely lacks trees that can be used for construction. The local museum is worth a visit, and features exhibits of local handicrafts and photos from the whaling period. The town and surrounding area are best known for the resident population of white-tailed eagles, while minke, fin, humpback and orca are common visitors to this stretch of coast. Arctic char is the most commonly caught fish in these waters and depending on the luck of the day's catch by local fisherman, we may enjoy a meal of freshly caught Arctic char for the evening meal.

Day 11 Nuuk
Greenland's capital, Nuuk, the world's northernmost capital, lies at the mouth of its very own fjord system on the country's mid-west coast. On a sightseeing tour Nuuk, you'll see charming old buildings including Greenland's colourfully painted houses, and the award-winning City Hall. The small but fascinating National Museum features a unique ethnographical collection of artefacts of Inuit life, including the famous 545-year-old Qilakitsoq mummies, accidentally discovered by hikers in 1972.

Day 12 Sisimiut
Approximately 4,500 years ago, the Saqqaq culture arrived from Canada and settled in the area. They lived here for approximately 2,000 years, but mysteriously disappeared. The Dorset culture arrived around 500 AD and remained 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.

Located above the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut enjoys experiences 24 hours of daylight during the summer months. As Greenland's second largest town, Sisimiut is the only place in Greenland that has an open-air public swimming pool, and the town is famous for its old blue church featuring a whale jaw gate. The town's small museum features interesting exhibits explaining local history and life in Greenland.

The local kayak club is the oldest in Greenland and some of the members are among the best in Greenland. You will be treated to a show featuring traditional kayaks.

Day 13 Ilulissat
Known as the ‘birthplace of icebergs', this region boasts some of the most splendidly-shaped icebergs found anywhere on earth. Hike to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Icefjord and stand in awe of its immensity. Sermeq Kujalleq, also known as Jakobshavn Glacier, is the most productive glacier, not only in Greenland, but in the Northern Hemisphere. It produces 20 million tonnes of ice each day, all floating into the Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay. Conditions permitting, enjoy a Zodiac cruise at the mouth of the fjord and kayak through sea ice and icebergs.

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. Land on the mountain at Kangia, in the middle of the preserved area, where you can revel in the incredible surroundings. 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 14 Eqip Sermia
Located 80 kilometres (49.7 miles) north of Ilulissat, Eqi Glacier is accessible only by sea, and is one of Greenland's most active glaciers. Although smaller than Sermeq Kujalleq glacier in Ilulissat, Eqi Glacier is more accessible, and if sea-ice conditions permit, we'll Zodiac cruise within safe distance of the glacier front where we see seals floating on bergy bits in front of the glacier while eagles can sometimes be seen soaring above. Several hikes are possible in the area, where you may encounter grouse, Arctic hare and small Arctic fox.

Day 15 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 16 Disembark in Kangerlussuaq, Fly to Toronto
Today we'll feast on a taste of Greenland at the lakeside Roklubben restaurant where we enjoy a BBQ lunch, before joining our guided tour to Reindeer Glacier having disembarked for the final time at the township of Kangerlussuaq. Greenland's ‘ice sheet' covers 80% of the surface of the country. Reindeer Glacier, which stands as a 60-metre-high ice wall in some places, offers visitors a clear contrast between land and ice. We travel on a tundra coach, looking for reindeer and musk oxen, while we enjoy some stories of the area from our local guide. Once at the glacier we will walk parallel to its edge to discover it many moods and angles.

In the late afternoon we return to Kangerlussuaq airport to board our charter flight to Canada to Toronto for an overnight stay at our airport hotel.

Accommodation: Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Shared coach transfer from airport to hotel on Day 1
• One night's hotel accommodation with breakfast in Reykjavik on Day 1
• Full-day Golden Circle tour on Day 2
• Charter flight: Kangerlussuaq-Toronto on Day 16
• Sightseeing in Kangerlussuaq (time permitting) and transfer to the airport on Day 16
• One night's hotel accommodation with breakfast in Toronto on Day 16
• 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 Welcome and 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 from expedition team
• Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
• Complimentary 3-in-1 polar jacket
• Comprehensive pre-departure information
• Port surcharges, permits and landing fees
• Gratuities for ship crew

Exclusions

• International or domestic flights, unless specified
• Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
• Airport arrival or departure taxes
• Passport, visa, reciprocity fees and vaccination charges
• Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
• Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
• Optional excursions not included in the itinerary
• Optional activity surcharges
• All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges

ADVENTURE OPTIONS

• Sea Kayaking: USD 980 per person
• Rock Climbing: USD 940 per person
• Photography: FREE
• Bird watching: FREE
• Near Shore Cruises: FREE
• Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations: FREE
• Polar plunge: FREE
• Trips ashore: FREE
• Walking: FREE
• Whale and mammal spotting: FREE
• Zodiac cruises: FREE