- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Ancient archaeological sites, massive fjords, Zodiac excursions and tundra hikes await you in Greenland. Sisimiut, our first planned stop, has the feel of a small fishing village with a great harbor for walking around and taking photos. Here, watch a demonstration of traditional kayaking before venturing further north to Ilulissat.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ilulissat (Greenlandic for "icebergs") is home to the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the fastest and most active glaciers in the world. In addition to some spectacular Zodiac cruising, there is also a refreshing longer hike along a boardwalk to a beautiful lookout in Ilulissat.
Heading further north into the Upernavik Archipelago, you may spot whales and seals. The most northern discovery of any Viking artifacts in the world are at Upernavik, while nearby Kullorsuaq is a small settlement that sustains itself on fishing, whaling and sealing.
Your northernmost stops in Greenland are Qaanaaq and Thule, where glaciers and archaeological sites are found. The fabled name Thule occurs in ancient Greek and Roman mythology as the name of a country or an island far north at the end of the world. The word Thule has allegedly also been used as a name of some foggy, inaccessible islands off the coast of Scotland. The Danish explorer, Knud Rasmussen, chose 100 years ago Thule as the name of his trade station by the settlements northwest of Cape York. Today, the name still clings to Greenland’s northwesterly corner, even though the main town is actually called Qaanaaq and the municipality is called Avernarsuaq, "The Great North." In Qaanaaq, visit the local museum - a great way to gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes to live this far north.
As your ship returns south, call in at some other communities and fjords that you missed on the race north.
