Exploring Svalbard In Depth Cruise
Join us on a circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago and explore the lush tundra's, mountains and pack ice during this in depth expedition cruise.
West Greenland
Join an exciting voyage to explore Greenland's popular Western coast in great depth. This region is often refered to as the birthplace of icebergs and houses some of the most spectacular glaciers that flow down from the Greenland ice sheet.
Greenland Wildlife
Greenland and its surrounding waters are home to an impressive array of wildlife. There are about 50 bird species on the island such as Gyrfalcon, Snowy Owl, Barnacle and Pink-footed Goose. Greenland is also home to quite some terrestrial mammal species like the Arctic Wolf, Arctic Fox, Muskox and the Arctic Hare. In the coastal waters of Greenland there are Fin Whales, Minkes, Humpback whales, and Belugas (white whales). Although once hunted to the brink of extinction, these giants of the ocean are nowadays frequently seen in the Greenlandic waters. With a bit of luck you might also spot Blue Whales, Sperm Whales and even Narwhals along the Greenlandic coasts.North-east Greenland
On some particular journeys we venture further north to explore highlights along the Northern Thule region. Thule is known for its untouched icy landscapes and sparsely populated Inuit communities. Encounter the region's rich culture and experience the magnificent nature. You might visit the settlement Qaanaaq, a small town with coloful houses against a beautifull backdrop of mountain slopes. A bit further north you find Siorapaluk, which is Greenland's most notherly village, where less then 100 people still live from fishing and hunting.This is a unique voyage to discover authentic Greenland's Western and Northern regions with many highlights. However the ice and weather conditions will determine the path of our voyage and we can't guarantee any visits.
Please note, this itinerary is just an example and dependent on sea and ice conditions. The final itinerary will be decided by the ship's captain and expedition leader to maximize opportunities.
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Day 1 - 4
We arrive in Aasiaat from Kangerlussuaq by chartered plane. 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. We depart in the evening of the first day. The following days we might make a landing at Hareøen at the northeast side at Umivinguaq a lovely little bay with Thule houses.
This is followed by a day at sea, sailing north in Davis Strait, always with a view on the Greenland ice cap.
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Day 5
Cape York where, in 1818, the Inuit and White Men first met when Royal Navy ships under John Ross arrived. Today the small settlements on the eastern side of the cape are deserted. Just east of Parker Snow Bugt we cruise below the spectacular, ice capped Crimson Cliffs.
Day 6
At North Star Bugt, we visit the old Thule settlement where we see Umanak and Thule Mountain (The American Base is off limits), later we land at Umivik at the northeast of Saunders Ø, with beautiful geological formations.
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Day 7
We call at Thule (Qaanaaq) the main settlement of the area. In the 1950s the inhabitants of Old Thule were forced to move to Qaanaaq when NATO created an air base at their former village. We will try to sail some way to the east into the Inglefield Bredning. Later we sail to Siorapaluk, the northernmost Greenlandic village. Behind it is a mountain with Little Auks. In Atikerdluq a valley more to the west we see Thule dwellings, graves and again Little Auks.
Day 8
Qeqertarssuaq on Herbert Ø is one of the many deserted settlements in Greenland. At the Missumassoq Glacier (south of Hvalsund) we will have a zodiac glacier cruise, where we can come quite close to the front.
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Day 9
In Kaminski Bugt- Qarsuarssuk we can have a beautiful view on the Putigfik Glacier and again make a zodiac cruise along a glacier front.
Day 10
On Meteor Island we land at Savigsivik, the southernmost Thule settlement. It was on this island that the famous York meteorite provided the Inuit with a source of iron - until Peary removed it and sold it to an American museum. We may try to visit the site at the east side of the island.
Days 11 & 12
We sail by the enormous Greenlandic icecap through Melville Bay south of the perimeter of the Nature reserve. The coast here is dominated by the vast Greenland ice cap which reaches the sea as a series of enormous glacier fronts, the largest outside Antarctica. We land at N.E. Balles Ø, Depot Øer. Cape Seddon and Red Head, areas completely surrounded by glacier ice, are other possibilities. -
Days 13 & 14
In the maze of channels and straits between Melville Bay and Upernavik we will make some landings and zodiac cruises. Qavdlunat (8 miles south of Cape Shackleton) offers a colourful landscape. The settlement Tasisusaq is surrounded by icebergs and is nice for zodiac cruising, as is the Upernavik Isfjord. At Kingigtorsuaq, where 14th Century Viking Ruins were found, we will go ashore and try to walk to the top of the island and imagine how these Norsemen stood on the same island seven centuries ago. From there we sail to Upernavik, the main town in North Greenland.
Day 15
Svartenhavn is a secluded bay in the Svartenhuk Peninsula where we can expect to see Musk Oxen.
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Day 16
At the western tip of Nussuaq Peninsula we land at Bjørnefaelden assumed to be named after a bear trap from the Viking period.
Day 17
Depending on the weather we sail through Vaigat into Disko Bugt with a landing at Flakkerhuk, a tundra with a rich birdlife. Alternatively we sail west by Disko Island and land In Fortune Bay (Greenlandic, Kitdlit = whale bay) and Engkelsmanshavn near some warm (8 degrees C) springs, which create a lush vegetation. We have good opportunities to see Humpback Whales when we sail south of Godhavn.
Day 18
We arrive in Aasiaat. In the morning we fly from Aasiaat to Kangerlussuaq by chartered flight, and onward by scheduled flight to Copenhagen (flights not included in the voyage cost).
Note: If on day 2 the prospects for a clockwise round trip are very adverse, we will carry out the programme in an anti-clockwise direction and sail directly back from Cape York to Disko Island
Dates & Rates
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Ultramarine West Greenland
- Ultramarine
- 11 nights
- Max number of Passengers 199
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 14th Jul - 25th Jul 2024
- Embark: Reykjavik
- Disembark: Reykjavik
- Prices per person from
- 16,700 EUR
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Ultramarine West Greenland
- Ultramarine
- 11 nights
- Max number of Passengers 199
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 23rd Jul - 3rd Aug 2024
- Embark: Reykjavik
- Disembark: Reykjavik
- Prices per person from
- 16,700 EUR
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Ocean Albatros West Greenland
- Ocean Albatros
- 7 nights
- Max number of Passengers 189
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 16th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024
- Embark: Kangerlussuaq
- Disembark: Kangerlussuaq
- Prices per person from
- 6,990 USD
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Ocean Albatros West Greenland
- Ocean Albatros
- 13 nights
- Max number of Passengers 189
- Learn more about this vessel
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Dates
- 23rd Aug - 5th Sep 2024
- Embark: Kangerlussuaq
- Disembark: Kangerlussuaq
- Prices per person from
- 9,990 USD
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Ultramarine West Greenland
- Ultramarine
- 10 nights
- Max number of Passengers 199
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 14th Sep - 24th Sep 2024
- Embark: Reykjavik
- Disembark: Reykjavik
- Prices per person from
- 10,275 EUR
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Ultramarine West Greenland
- Ultramarine
- 10 nights
- Max number of Passengers 199
- Learn more about this vessel
-
Dates
- 22nd Sep - 2nd Oct 2024
- Embark: Reykjavik
- Disembark: Reykjavik
- Prices per person from
- 10,275 EUR
Extensions
Call us today on +31 (0) 858 771 583
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