Explore the ice-choked Disko Bay area before you head south. You are constantly on the lookout since you are very likely to sail through humpback feeding grounds. You can also see the tiny and colorful houses of Aasiaat. As you continue via an inland passage towards Sisimiut, you sail amongst small islands, fjords, and cliffs. You might pay a short visit to wander the streets or opt for the surrounding wild fjords with abundant cod and various whale species. During hikes, you might see reindeer, musk oxs, and foxes.
As you now leave the ice-filled fjords behind, only random icebergs will pass your way. You pass by Sermersuut Island and might enter the magical Kangerlussuatsiaq fjord (the fjord of eternity), where huge mountains up to 2000 meters rise from the ocean.
You then reach Nuuk. The capital's setting is stunning, and the bay is sometimes visited by minke and pilot whales. You pay a visit to the National Museum, Greenland's largest museum of cultural history. The collections come from all over the country and have been brought from various archaeological and small museum displays over recent years. The visit gives you great insight into the many different cultures of Greenland.
Your journey continues south towards the fjords around Qaqortoq. En route, you hope to stop by the abandoned mining town of Ivittuut, one of the few places in the world that have discovered naturally occurring cryolite. During a hike here, you have a good chance of seeing muskox.
Nearby is the Ikka fjord. The legend says that the Inuit people drove invaders out onto the thin ice, and when the ice gave way, the invaders died in the ice-cold water. Looking closely, you can glimpse their petrified remains on the bottom. The figures on the bottom are made of ikaite, an unusual chalk or limestone formed under enormous pressure. Only about five other findings of ikaite have been observed around the world.
The places you are traveling through on this voyage have many stories to tell. One is the Inuit's great respect for and symbiotic relationship with the environment and animals. During weather changes and declining animal numbers, amulets and fishing or hunting artifacts became objects of incredible beauty and artistry. Of respect and love for the animals, who give themselves to sustain the Inuit life and culture, offerings are made to the Sea Goddess Sedna to release the animals' souls. Still today, Inuit carry a small jug of fresh water when hunting seal. After a seal is killed, it is given fresh water so its spirit will not become thirsty. You can have many opportunities to learn about stories and legends, different eras and people that migrated to Greenland, conflicts, and the ultimate demise of the once-powerful Norse civilization.
You reach Qaqortoq, the largest city in Southern Greenland, beautifully situated on the mountain slopes and surrounded by fjords. You venture into Eriksfjord, named after Erik the Red, a Norse explorer believed to have founded the first settlement in Greenland. During a landing, you visit Brattahlid, the estate he established at the end of the 10th century. You also hope to explore the hot springs of Uunarteq and enjoy a bath in these warm-tempered natural bathtubs, with breathtaking views of mountain peaks and drifting icebergs.
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