Disko Bay - Umanak

Arrive in Aasiaat from Kangerlussuaq by chartered plane. Aasiaat is a settlement which was created in the 17th century to support the whaling at the mouth of Disko Bay. Its mouth is ice free from late spring to early winter.

Sail into Ata Sund to Eqip Sermia.

At the western tip of Nuussuaq Peninsula, land at Bjørnefaelden - assumed to be named after a bear trap from the Viking period.

At Uummannaq, approach High Arctic waters. Seal hunting and fishing is still an important source of income for the local people and they also have many dogs which haul their sledges in winter. Also visit the nearby Qilakitsoq site, on the north coast of the Nuussuaq Peninsula, where some years ago a family of mummified Thule culture people from the 15th century was found.

Land at the head of the Qaumarajuk Fjord, where Wegener began his ascent of the icecap. The glacier Scheideck, which 80 years ago ended at the coast, has retreated about 10 km inland. In the same area, see Marmorilik with the Black Angel Mine for zinc and lead high in the mountains. Later take a zodiac cruise along the glacier front of the Perdlerfiup Sermia.

Circumnavigate Upernivik Ø and sail through the narrow fjords of Inukavsait, surrounded by mountains of over 2000m and glaciers at all sides. At the head of the Kangerlussuaq Fjord land at Nungutagssuak with Thule houses, a beautiful valley near a giant glacier front, and in the valley a hanging glacier.

In the morning take a zodiac cruise to Schades Øer where you can see Arctic tern colonies and sometimes Sabines gulls. In the afternoon sail along the south coast of Svartenhuk Peninsula and look into the valleys of Savik and Akunerit, where you can sometimes see musk ox. The west side of Akunerit has lakes with water birds like Canada goose. Also Arctic skuas breed here.

On Hareøen you may make a landing at Umivinguaq, a lovely little bay with Thule houses. Alternatively land in Qasigissat, in a lush tundra landscape near lakes in valleys surrounded by basalt cliffs. It is a great area for ducks and geese.

In Fortune Bay (in Greenlandic called Kitdlit, meaning whale bay) and Engkelsmanshavn, land near some warm springs, which create lush vegetation. The area offers a good opportunity to see humpback whales when the ship sails south of Godhavn. Head to Hunde Ejlands, a small Greenlandic settlement, to see old dwellings of Greenland’s Thule culture dating from 11th century and graves from 18th century European Whalers.

Arrive in Aasiaat. In the morning fly from Aasiaat to Kangerlussuaq by chartered flight, and onward by scheduled flight to Copenhagen.