Greenland Disko Bay Discovered

Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq (Greenland). Included flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, one of the main settlements on Greenland, with a population of around 500. Here you can take a stroll around the town on your own until embarkation time at 3pm.

We will transfer to the harbour and board the ship by Zodiacs that ferry us to the ship anchored about one kilometre out into the fjord. Check into your stateroom and after a safety briefing, enjoy a glass of champagne and dinner as we set sail.

Kangerlussuaq - Sisimiut. This morning we dock at Sisimiut, Greenland's 'second city'. Enjoy taking in the highlights of the settlement including the historical colonial quarter, 18th century Blue Church and the oldest house in town, which dates back to 1756, when Count Johan Ludvig Holstein established a colony here.

Later, take the chance to explore the Spedjesø, offering many activities such as an exhibition in the cultural center Taseralik, learning about heritage in the city museum or browsing traditional crafts from the Artists workshop.

After our exploration, we set sail, heading north towards Disko Bay. Cruising on magical fjords, we pass small villages and towns on the coast. Keep your eyes peeled from the observation deck in search of whales and dolphins. As we are now in the Arctic Circle, the nights will be bright, and you can spot gigantic icebergs from the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord floating by in the midnight sun.

Sisimiut - Qeqertarsuaq - Uummannaq. Today we dock at the southern tip of Disko Island, in the natural harbour of Qeqertarsuaq. The town has a rich history, and was once an economic hub for the now-banned whaling industry. During our visit, we wander through town, taking in the octagonal church, multicoloured homes and fascinating local museum.

In the afternoon, our vessel is re-positioned to the east to explore Kuannits' coastline. There are plenty of magnificent sights along the way, such as lush greenery, flowing mountain springs, peculiar basalt rock formations, and a vast array of spectacular icebergs.

After our time exploring Kunnait, we depart north towards Uummannaq.

Uummannaq. Wake up this morning 600km north of the Arctic Circle in Uummannaq, one of Greenland's most picturesque and sunny regions. Uummannaq means ‘place where the heart is’ and an impressive 1175m high heart-shaped mountain towers over this town which is located on a small island. There's time to explore the town before heading back to the ship for lunch. From the town there is an extraordinary vista comprising the island’s 1,000-meter tall rock faces, the snow-covered peaks on Nuussuaq peninsula to the south, and out across the fjord. In the fjord, icebergs of all shapes and sizes majestically float by on a course set by wind and current.

Uummannaq - Eqip Sermia glacier - Ilulissat. This morning the ship reaches the spectacular Eqip Sermia glacier, which is renowned for its jaw-dropping beauty. Admire this incredible natural wonder as we enjoy lunch on the sun deck. We will sail as close as possible to the ice’s edge – but at a safe distance to avoid any falling blocks of ice and crashing waves which can result from the calving glacier.

This afternoon we travel on to Ilulissat where we dock for the evening.

Ilulissat is Greenland’s third largest town and its name literally translates to 'icebergs' in Greenlandic. In Disko Bay, which is located just off the coast of Ilulissat, gigantic icebergs rise from the freezing waters which have earned Ilulissat, the name of 'the Iceberg Capital'. These icebergs come from the Icefjord, which is located a half hour’s hike south of Ilulissat.

Today there's an optional boat trip to the Icefjord (optional and subject to an additional charge). The journey takes about two and a half hours in total, a great opportunity to take a closer look at the amazing ice-sculpted scenery. There is also an opportunity to arrange an optional flightseeing excursion over the Icefjord in a fixed wing aircraft.

Later in the day we leave Ilulissat behind and head out of Disko Bay to begin our return journey south.

Ilulissat - Itilleq. Our port of call today is the tiny remote settlement of Itilleq. Itilleq, meaning "the Crossing Place from the Sea," is a small village north of the Arctic Circle, nestled among Greenland's mountains and fjords. It lies within the Aassivisuit-Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its rich Inuit hunting heritage and Greenland's habitation history.

Colourful houses have replaced traditional turf homes and hide tents, life in this Greenlandic village remains much the same as when the Inuit first arrived. The locals rely on the water and ice as their highways, with the sea and tundra providing sustenance for thousands of years. Arctic char, reindeer, and muskoxen are abundant and typical catches in the area.

We depart Itilleq and head south and enter the 160km-long Kangerlussuaq Fjord.

Itilleq - Kangerlussuaq - Copenhagen. During the night we will have completed our passage through the 160km Kangerlussuaq Fjord. After breakfast aboard the ship, we will bid farewell to the ship's staff and the Zodiac boats will shuttle us to shore. There's an included group transfer to the airport and charter flight to Copenhagen (Denmark).