HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience
the Arctic where explorers of the past searched for a Northwest Passage
and through which the Greenlandic explorer Knud Rasmussen traveled on
his longest sledge journey
- Lookout
for polar bears, narwhals and the bowhead whales feeding off Baffin's
coasts in September
- Navigate
into Lancaster Sound, the start of the Northwest Passage, and then head
back to Greenland
- Visit
the admired Knud Rasmussen's trading station in Thule and navigate
further down the west coast to Upernavik, Uummannaq and Ilulissat
before returning to Kangerlussuaq
- Enjoy
this expedition voyage that encompasses the wide range of Arctic nature
and its fascinating population
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | Category F | Category G | Category E | Category D | Category C | Category B | Category A | Premium Suite |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | (Starting from) Category F | (Mid-range) Category C | (High-end) Premium Suite |
ITINERARY
DAY
1: ICELAND TO KANGERLUSSUAQ FLIGHT - EMBARKATION
In
the afternoon, we board our chartered flight in Keflavik, Iceland,
bound for Kangerlussuaq in Greenland.
Upon
arrival to Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord), we
will be transported to the small port located west of the airport,
where our ship Ocean Atlantic, will be anchored. Zodiacs will transfer
us the short distance to the ship, where you will be checked in to your
cabin. After the mandatory safety drill, you will enjoy a dinner as
Ocean Atlantic ‘sets sail’ through the
160-kilometer Kangerlussuaq fjord.
DAY
2: AT SEA TOWARDS BAFFIN ISLAND, GET TO KNOW THE SHIP, ENJOY LECTURES
ON WILDLIFE AND CULTURE IN THE NUNAVUT TERRITORY
We
now have a day at sea, where the ship is heading across Davis Strait to
Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. During our
crossing, there are good opportunities to relax in the ship's library,
participate in the series of lectures held by Albatros
Expeditions’ lecturers and look for seabirds and whales on
our course to the southwest.
Our
onboard lecturers will make inspiring and enriching presentations about
both John Davis, Canada's and Greenland’s past history and
about the unique polar wildlife, nature and climatology. The west
coast of Greenland is favored by mild waters of the Gulf Stream,
whereas the Baffin Island current along Baffin Island's shores is cold.
The officers on the bridge will keep an eye out for the icebergs,
flowing down "Iceberg Alley" from the big glaciers in Greenland and
Arctic Canada.
DAY
3: SETTLEMENT VISIT IN QIKIQTARJUAQ (“THE BIG
ISLAND”) ON BAFFIN.
Over
night we have approached Cape Dyer, where the United States established
one of their many DEW (Distant Early Warning) stations that surround
the Arctic continental American. Cape Dyer itself is a towering edge
towards the Davis Strait of about 800 meters elevation. The station on
the very top of it has sister buildings in more places around Greenland
and even the Ice Sheet. The cliff and the station could very well be
our first view of Arctic Canada (if you’re awake!).
Like
its Greenlandic named counterpart Qeqertarsuaq, Qikiqtarjuaq means
“the big island”. The town with around 600
inhabitants lies on an island outside of Baffin’s east coast.
The area is known for their many whales, and the Bowhead whale (also
known as the Greenland right whale or Arctic whale) which is only found
in Polar waters is often observed in congregations here.
DAY
4: ISABELLA BAY AND NINGINGANIQ NATIONAL WILDLIFE AREA
We
follow the Baffin Island east coast further north to Isabella Bay,
which is designated a Bowhead whale sanctuary, so if we
haven’t had any sightings yet, the chances are very good with
hundreds of whales being spotted feeding here each summer. The
Ninginganiq marine habitat around Isabella Bay is since 2010 a
protected National Wildlife Area. This is an important habitat for a
lot of marine mammals and seabirds, apart from the Bowhead whales. The
Inuktitut word "Ninginganiq" translates roughly into "the place where
fog sits". We hope to avoid this foreboding name as we journey into the
bay and keep a watchful eye for the excitingly abundant fauna.
Arctic
Canada is called the territory of Nunavut. The North Eastern area that
includes Ellesmere, Devon and Baffin Island is known as the Qikqtaaluk
region. It covers an area of nearly 1 million square kilometers, which
is roughly half of Greenland. The desolate landscapes offers us
beautiful views that can stretch for hundreds of kilometers over the
glacially scarred landmasses.
DAY
5: SAM FORD FJORD, MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS RAISING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE SEA.
The
sheer magnitude of vertical rocks on each side of the Sam Ford Fjord,
make it worth a side step. For many rock climbers these mouthwatering
impressive sheer steep granite walls are a pilgrimage point. However we
are not adventuring in here for climbing, but much more for the natural
beauty of the fjord and the dark waters that are home to narwhals and
seals. The isolated fjord was created by glaciers and some of the
cliffs are up to 1500 meters over sea level. In this amazing wilderness
area, we also hope to spot many migratory birds.
DAY
6: MITTIMATALIK (POND INLET), THE INUIT SETTLEMENT KNOWN AS ONE OF
“THE JEWELS OF THE NORTH”.
Pond
Inlet, which in the local Inuit language is named Mittimatalik is a
town of 1600 inhabitants, of which most are Inuits. We take a stroll
through the town and we will do well to notice the building styles and
culture, as we will compare these to what we see later in Greenland.
The
polar Arctic climate allows for only short summers. Still visitors like
us come here to experience the spectacular views with mountains,
glaciers and icebergs floating along. After our
visit we head back to our ship for lunch and head north through the
Eclipse Sound dividing Baffin Island and Bylot Island.
DAY
7: CRUISING INTO LANCASTER SOUND, START OF NORTHWEST PASSAGE.
Today
we cruise further north into the gateway to the Northwest Passage,
Lancaster Sound. Depending on the ice situation and the weather, we
will make our way into the entrance of the passage. The idea of a short
cut through the North West to the Pacific Ocean was alive for hundreds
of years before it was finally deemed too difficult. A few icebreaking
tanker ships from Canadas northern oil fields are the only commercial
ships navigating the route.
During
the day we will cruise along the eastern coast of Devon, which is the
largest uninhabited island in the world. We will continue north towards
Ellesmere Island, which is the third largest island in Arctic Canada.
All migrations of the Inuit to Greenland have crossed over Ellesmere
Island and Smith Sound. Our course will break east and set straight for
Greenland’s western coast, as we wave our goodbyes to the
Canadian coasts and waters.
Smith
Sound and its northern continuation the Kennedy Channel have strong
currents. These are known to take chunks of ice towards the south, so
its not unlikely we will see this phenomenon as we cruise through these
Arctic waters.
DAY
8: THULE. KNUD RASMUSSEN’S TRADING STATION IN NORTHWEST
GREENLAND.
During
the night we will have traversed Smith Sound and we arrive at
Greenland’s western coast. We are now in inhabited areas once
again.
We
will anchor beside the Uummanaq hill and the Dundas Peninsula. We can
see the American Thule Air Base (Pittufik) in the distance. This is the
location of Knud Rasmussen’s legendary trading station. This
is where the Cape York or Polar Eskimos could trade their skins and not
only receive glass pearls like the early whalers would give them, but
rather actual tools and weapons. Most of the proceeds that Knud
Rasmussen later gained in Denmark, were used to fund further
expeditions accompanied by local Inuits. In this way the expeditions
became famous for being sponsored by the local Inuit communities. The
expeditions were known as 1st to 6th Thule Expedition.
The
trading station is also the meeting point between Knud Rasmussen and
the one-eyed Meqqusaaq and the shaman Qillarsuaq, who had arrived here
from Baffin Island along with 20 other Canadian Iniut. Basically our
voyage has followed the same route.
DAYS
9: KULLORSUAQ, THE DEVIL’S THUMB. SETTLEMENT VISIT.
We
cruise around the Melville Bay and follow the coast heading in a
southern direction. We pass Meteor Island and Savissivik which is the
largest settlement in the Avannarsuaq (or Thule) area. The name
translates into ”The place where you can sharpen your
knife”. The name is related to the iron meteor that struck
this area thousands of years ago which the Inuit’s with great
care “carved” arrow heads and knives from.
The
Melville Bay is an exciting and adventurous place to travel around.
Here we have calving glaciers and rough seasons, that isolated the
Eskimo’s of the northern area from the rest of Western
Greenland until only around 120 years ago. The language of the Northern
Eskimo’s is quite different from southern Greenland. It is not
every summer that the sea ice breaks up, and if it doesn’t,
it will make our voyage different, but at the same time increase our
chances to see seals close-up, along with their natural predator, the
polar bear.
After
a fantastic day of coastal and ice cruising we arrive at the
extraordinary looking 540 meter tall rock tower; the Devils Thumb, or
rather Kullorsuaq in Greenlandic. We visit the local village where
around 400 inhabitants have their home. They are avid hunters and
poachers here, and it’s even common for the locals to hunt
the polar bear. They use the skins to make the coveted polar bear pants
as well as using the meat, passing it around to every house in the
village (the meat is said to be of a very acquired taste).
DAY
10: UPERNAVIK TOWN AND THE WORLD’S NORTHERNMOST OPEN AIR
MUSEUM
The
Upernavik territory covers an area nearly the size of Great Britain. In
the town itself and the 10 smaller villages in the area, 3000
inhabitants roam. Upernavik is home to the world’s
northernmost open air museum with well preserved buildings from the
colonial period. Today, Upernavik is a mix between the hunter culture
of old and the new wave with high-tech fishing. You can equate the old
and new with the dog sleighs that exist alongside the modern
snowmobiles. Even this far north the modern times are catching up.
The
city itself was founded as a Danish colonial station, but the
surrounding areas and small villages history go back more than 4500
years. This was when groups of hunters and gatherers travelled along
the coasts of Alaska, Canada and ultimately Greenland. We anchor
and make a landing, allowing us to visit the little city and the
museum. Leaving
Upernavik behind us we pass Svartenhuks darkly colored hills, we keep a
lookout for the muskoxen and the whales these waters are famous for.
DAY
11: UUMMANNAQ AND A STROLL THROUGH GREENLAND'S MOST BEAUTIFULLY LOCATED
TOWN.
When
you wake up this morning, you will find yourself almost 600km north of
the Arctic Circle, and in one of Greenland’s most beautiful
and sunny regions. The ship has reached Uummannaq, situated on a small
island. The impressive 1,175m heart-shaped mountain has given the town
its name dominates the view (Uummannaq means ‘place where the
heart is’). There will be time to explore the city before
heading back to the ship for lunch.
DAY
12: ILULISSAT, THE CAPITAL OF THE ICEBERGS
Ilulissat
is possibly the most well located town in Greenland. The name simply
means ‘icebergs’ in Greenlandic, and the
town’s nickname is rightly ‘the Iceberg
Capital’.
In Disko
Bay, which is located just off the coast of Ilulissat, gigantic
icebergs are packed in the cold waters. These icebergs come from the
Ice fjord, a half hour’s hike south of Ilulissat. These
impressive frozen structures are born some 70km (43,5 mi) deeper into
the fjord by the enormous Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier. This 10km (6 mi)
wide glacier is the most productive glacier outside of Antarctica;
Whereas most glaciers only calve at a rate of approximately a
meter/three feet a day, the Ilulissat glacier calves at a rate of 25m
(82 ft) per day. The icebergs produced by the glacier represent more
than 10% of all icebergs in Greenland, corresponding to 20 MMT (22
million us tons) of ice per day!
These
facts, together with the fjord’s unforgettable scenery, have
secured the Ice fjord a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage
List.
During
the more than 250 years that have passed since the establishment of
Ilulissat, the town has steadily flourished. Today, Ilulissat is
Greenland’s third largest town, with more than 4,500
inhabitants. The town is very vibrant, welcoming and lively with a wide
range of cultural attractions, according to Greenlandic standards. The
legendary polar explorer, Knud Rasmussen, and his good friend
Jørgen Brønlund, were both born in Ilulissat.
On this
day, you will also have the opportunity to join a boat trip to the Ice
fjord (optional excursion). 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. The trip is
definitely something out of the ordinary and a great natural experience
that you will remember for years to come – but be sure to
have warm clothing on! If a hike
or a trip by boat does not present enough excitement, there is also an
opportunity to arrange a helicopter ride over the Ice fjord (optional
excursion).
Please note
the boat and helicopter excursions to the Ice fjord are not included in
the general tour price. Furthermore, the helicopter excursion must be
booked in advance. Refer to Price Information for more details. In the
evening, we will cruise southward, leaving lovely Disko Bay behind us
as we part.
DAY
13: AT SEA, LECTURES AND BIRD WATCHING
The
last day will be at sea getting glimpses of sea birds migrating
south.??
Our
lecturers onboard will make inspiring and enriching presentations about
Greenland’s?history, nature, wildlife and climatology.? Enjoy
the captain’s farewell drink and a slideshow with all the
memories and highlights from our voyage made by the onboard
Photographer this evening.?
DAY
14: KANGERLUSSUAQ. FLIGHT TO ICELAND.
During
the night, we will have completed our passage through the
160-kilometer/100 mile 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.
Due
to Kangerlussuaq’s military history and present-day role as
an important air travel hub, Kangerlussuaq remains fairly isolated from
Greenland’s rich cultural traditions, in comparison to other
regions. While you still find cultural experiences when visiting
Kangerlussuaq, the most impressive attraction is the surrounding
nature, which is just beckoning to be explored.??
It
is not difficult for one to see that Kangerlussuaq’s
landscape has largely been shaped by the last glaciation period, often
known simply as the “Ice Age,” some 18,000 years
ago. The mountains are rounded and soft, and many meltwater lakes
remain. From the inland ice sheet, best known as the Greenland Ice
Sheet, the meltwater cuts its way through the porous moraine landscape
and flows into Kangerlussuaq Fjord.
Kangerlussuaq’s
present-day climate is largely influenced by its well-sheltered
location between Greenland’s Ice Sheet, the fjord and
mountains. This contributes to its stable conditions, minimal cloud
cover and roughly 300 clear nights per year.
This
close proximity to the Ice Sheet, combined with the continental
climate, is also of great significance to the local conditions. The dry
climate, combined with warm winds that “fall” from
the Ice Sheet, can result in temperatures that jump up to 30°C
(86°F) in the summer, but then fall to an extreme -40°C
(-40°F) in winter, making it the coldest inhabited area in
Greenland.
In
Kangerlussuaq, we offer an optional excursion to the beautiful Reindeer
Glacier. The duration of the excursion is about four hours.
Please
note that the excursion is not included in the general tour price.
Refer to Price Information for more details. We do not recommend the
excursion for people who suffer from bad necks or backs, as the gravel
road to the ice sheet is occasionally bumpy and uneven.
As
our time in Greenland concludes, your arctic adventure is also at an
end. We hope to see you again soon! We fly from Kangerlussuaq
to?Keflavik Airport, Iceland.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
INCLUSIONS
- Charter
flight Reykjavik-Kangerlussuaq-Reykjavik
- Transfer
to/from Kangerlussuaq Port
- 14-day/13-night
cruise with Ocean Atlantic in a shared outside/inside double cabin with
private bathroom/toilet in the category chosen
- English-speaking
expedition team
- Nature
hikes and Zodiac cruises per itinerary
- Near-port
town and settlement walks with expedition team
- Information
briefings and lectures by expedition team
- Full
board on ship
- Free
coffee, tea and afternoon snacks on the ship
- Welcome
and farewell cocktails
- Taxes,
tariffs and AECO fees
- Special
photo workshop
- Welcome
and farewell cocktails
- Digital
visual journal link after voyage, including voyage log, gallery,
species list and more!
EXCLUSIONS
- Hotel
accommodations pre and post cruise
- Travel
insurance
- Cancellation
insurance
- Extra
excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Single
room supplement
- Meals
not on board the ship.
- Beverages
(other than coffee and tea).
- Tips
for the crew (we recommend USD 14 per person per day).
- Personal
expenses.
- Anything
not mentioned under 'Price includes'.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Boat
Trips
- Bus
Excursions
- Glacier
Trip
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- USD 235
- Lectures
- Photography
- Wildlife
Observations
- Zodiac
Cruises