West Greenland

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

Start today just south of the large Jakobshavn Glacier with its enormous icebergs. The Jakobshavn Isfjord is a World Heritage Site. Just south of the glacier, you may have the opportunity to climb a hill and enjoy the view across the bay with icebergs.

In the morning, land at Flakkerhuk, on the east side of Disko Island, navigating through waters dominated by huge icebergs. The crew intends to land at several points along the coast, such as Narujuk and Modderbugt, to observe populations of birds typical to the High Arctic, including long-tailed skua, turnstone, and grey phalarope. The birds breed on a beautiful tundra landscape backed by basalt cliffs.

Arrive at Sydbay (Ukivik), where the 18th century whalers traded with the Greenlanders at the annual Assivik - a time when people from a large area come together on a beautiful sandy beach. Make a landing at nearby Isortoq, where remains of houses from the Thule culture can be found. In this area you may also see reindeer.

Kangaamiut, at the mouth of Evighedsfjord (Eternities fjord), is a friendly Greenlandic village where people still indulge in handicraft. Some way into Evighedsfjord,, near the glacier fronts of Sermetsiaq and Taterat Sermiat we are surrounded by mountains of nearly 2000m high. In the mouth of this fjord system we often see humpback whales.

East of Hamborgerland we reach the fantastic landscapes of the Sermilinguaq Fjord. The Maniitsoq area has rugged scenery with mountain tops flanked by glaciers reaching down to the sea.

South of Maniitsoq, between Alanngua and Atamik, land at the base of a large impact crater, caused by a huge meteorite that hit the earth about 3 milliard years ago. It is the oldest impact structure recorded to date on earth.

On the island of Akilia, you may find some of the oldest sedimentary rocks (about 3.9 milliard years old) that has been found at the surface of the earth. The waters somewhat to the west are a good place to see humpback whales and blue whales.

Today, sail into the Nuuk fjord and land at Nuuk at mid-day. Nuuk (Godthåb - Neu Herrenhut), the capital of Greenland, has a rapidly growing population of about 20,000 people. 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.

From Nuuk fly home via Kangerlussuaq or Reykjavik.