Gems of West Greenland

Arrive in the Icelandic capital and make your way to your included hotel. You will have the rest of the day to explore this fascinating and incredibly walkable city on your own.

This morning you’ll catch your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, where you’ll board your vessel and begin your expedition. Get ready for a great adventure ahead! Expect a welcome and safety briefing upon arrival.

As you sail north along the west coast to your first area of exploration, your Expedition Team will prepare you for the adventures that lie ahead. Once activity and excursion briefings are completed, your education team will schedule presentations on the wildlife and fascinating history of Greenland, its geology, ecology, and climate, and the incredible sights you will soon explore.

Uummannaq Fjord is the second-largest fjord system in Greenland surpassed only by Scoresbysund in east Greenland. On these itinerary days, you will have the opportunity to become one of the few people ever to explore this area in depth and travel beyond the predictable tourist destinations. The fjord is full of cultural and natural wonders. Potential excursions include visits to the town of Uummanaq, venturing into Qilakitsoq (the site where the famous Greenland Mummies were discovered) and excursions focused around Store Glacier and its immense discharge zone. You’ll embrace the expeditionary spirit as you pioneer new destinations within the labyrinth of valleys and channels in the depths of the fjord.
 

Disko Bay Is a wide, southeastern inlet of Baffin Bay and is the largest open bay in western Greenland. Try to get out on deck as you navigate into this iconic bay where whales are often spotted. Disko Bay is full of exciting destinations for us to explore. You will almost certainly visit the community of Illulissat, which is situated at the head of the outlet fjord for Sermeq Kujalleq (Jakobshavn Glacier), known for discharging 35 billion tons of ice each year. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the fjord is immensely beautiful and will encourage you to explore it via one of the many marked hiking trails.

Another area you will consider for this itinerary is the wild beauty of Equip Sermia or Torsukatak Fjords, located in the northeast corner of Disko Bay. Both of these remote areas offer fantastic vistas of large active glacial faces and provide plenty of opportunities for hiking, paddling, and Zodiac cruising. This is also an area where, if conditions allow, you will consider utilizing our twin-engine helicopters to get you in the air to appreciate the immensity of this region.

Qeqqata (meaning center) municipality is Greenland’s second smallest administrative region. Situated in the middle of the country’s western coast, Qeqqata is home to almost 20% of Greenland’s populace, most of whom reside in Sisimiut and Manitsoq.

During these two days, your expedition team will work with local partners to curate a balance of community and wilderness-focused activities. You are likely to visit Sisimiut, where you can wander through the open-air museum, participate in local tastings or join a hiking group to venture beyond the town limits along one of many incredible hiking trails on Sisimiut’s doorstep. This is where you will also offer the (paid) mountain biking activity.

Further south, the areas surrounding Manitsoq are equally stunning. One of your favorite destinations in the area is the picturesque alpine lake of Innussuit Tasersuat, where you can hike and share a picnic with friends from Manitsoq. The fjord systems behind Manitsoq are deep and seldom visited. The team will seek to take you beyond the ordinary and into these fjords for magical one-of-a-kind experiences, one of which is Eternity Fjord, which is home to the tallest mountains in all of West Greenland.

Today, you disembark in Kangerlussuaq and transfer to your charter flight to Reykjavik, where you’ll spend the night in your included hotel.

Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights or spend more time exploring this fascinating Icelandic city.