West Greenland Aurora Borealis

Day 1 Ilulissat, Greenland

Arrive at Ilulissat from Reykjavik by chartered plane. Ilulissat (5000 inhabitants) is an important West Greenland town, with museums, institutes, bookstores, etc.

Day 2 Jakobshavn Glacier

Today find yourselves just south of the large Jakobshavn Glacier with its enormous ice-bergs. Climb the hill at Avangnardlit for fantastic views across the Jakobshavn Isfjord, which is a World Heritage site.

Day 3 Disko Bay

The island groups of Hunde Ejland and Kronprinsens Ejland in the mouth of the Disko Bay, are surrounded by rich waters which attract both seabirds and whales. Call at the small settlement on Hunde Eijland where old dwellings of Greenland’s Thule culture (dating from the 11th century) and graves from 18th century Dutch whalers can be seen.

Day 4 Sydbay (Ukivik)

Arrive at Sydbay (Ukivik), where the 18th Century whalers traded with the Eskimo’s at the occasion of the yearly Assivik, when people from a large area come together, on a beautiful sandy beach. Land also at nearby Isortoq with remains of houses of the Thule culture. In this area Reindeer are often seen.

Day 5 Evigheds fjord

Kangaamiut at the mouth of Evigheds fjord is a friendly Greenlandic village where people still indulge in handcraft.

Day 6 Nuuk (Godthåb)

Nuuk (Godthåb), the capital of Greenland has a population of about 14,000. An excursion should include a visit to the museum which has a remarkable collection of Inuit mummies, dating from the 15th Century, which were found near Uummannaq, further to the north. The Cultural Center of Nuuk, which each year has an exhibition of the work of a Greenlandic artist, is also worth visiting. The waters to the west of the town are a good place to see Humpback Whales and Blue Whales.

In the evening land at the southern tip of Akilia, where the oldest exposed rocks of our planet (3.8 million years) can be found.

Day 7 Fiskenaes

Call at Fiskenaes (formerly called Brielse Haven) and Lichtenfels a Hernhuters mission post from the 18th century.

Day 8 At Sea

Sail past Flade Isblink and keep a lookout for Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.

Day 9 Ikat Fjord

In Ivittuut walk along the remains of a Cryolite mine and around a small cemetery connected with it. Later sail into Ikat Fjord famous for the curious underwater structures formed by mineral precipitation. In this area see Musk Oxen, which were introduced into the area in the last century.

Day 10 Uunartoq & Lichtenau

Uunartoq is the goal for the day, where you can take a bath in a hot spring surrounded by ice bergs. Later sail along a great series of stranded ice-bergs to Lichtenau a lovely but nearly deserted Greenlandic village, where the Hernhuters (Moravian brothers) had a mission in the 18th Century.

Day 11 Qaleralik Sermia

In the morning sail to the beautiful glacier fronts of Qaleralik Sermia, where zodiac excursions will make landings near the glacier. Deeper into Bredefjord at Qoornooq land in an area with beautiful remains of houses from the Thule culture.

Day 12 Eriksfjord

In Eriksfjord visit the Viking sites of Gardar (a walk of 3 km from the landing site) and Brattahlíð, where Erik Red lived about a thousand years ago. In the evening arrive at the airport of Narsarsuaq.

Day 13 Return home

From Narsarsuaq fly by regular plane to Reykjavik or Copenhagen.