Day 1- Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq: Embarkation
Day 2- Sisimiut
Day 3- Qeqetarsuaq, Disko Island
Day 4- Upernavik
Day 5- Kullorsuaq, Melville Bay
Day 6-8- Dundas Mountain and Qaanaaq
Day 9-10- Cape York, Melville Bay
Day 11- Uummannaq
Day 12- Saqqaq and Eqip Sermia
Day 13- Ilulissat
Day 14- Itilleq
Day 15- Kangerlussuaq: Disembarkation and flight to Copenhagen
Day 16- Arrival in Copenhagen

Join adventurers from around the world at the Copenhagen airport and board our group flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. The Polar Adventure Ship Akademik Shokalskiy, equipped with a fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks, lies at anchor in the harbor ready for embarkation. The compact vessel is your floating base camp for seven nights under the midnight sun.

As Akademik Shokalskiy sails south down Sondrestromfjord, linger on deck with a camera or binoculars and scan the sky for seabirds. The surrounding mountainous landscape and its lush valleys offer spectacular vistas. Musk ox might be visible as they graze on the colorful tundra.

Sisimiut harbor, ice free all-year round, may present the first opportunity for kayakers to put their paddles in the water. While they enjoy the pristine water, other adventurers may explore 5,000 years of human habitation on the world’s largest island. You may visit the archeological remains of the Saqqaq or may take photos of the Old Town of Sisimiut, with colonial buildings that date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

A range of activity levels are offered on every shore landing, so if you prefer a spirited hike to a leisurely stroll that can be accommodated.

Disko Island has a volcanic past. Tall basalt walls enclose magnificent valleys full of colorful flowers. Our naturalist experts guide you ashore and introduce you to the unique flora and fauna of the region. There are excellent hiking opportunities, including the invigorating route to the magnificent “Valley of the Winds” Blaesadelen. Here visitors are rewarded with a scenic wonderland of basalt peaks, plunging waterfalls, and mountain heath.

Some of the coastal hiking routes offer fantastic views of the sea, where massive icebergs float on their way south. Whales feed in the area so keep an eye out for a chance to see them.

Just outside the village of Qeqetarsuaq, the University of Copenhagen maintains the Arctic Research Station. Researchers have been investigating Arctic ecosystems there since 1906. When the Expedition Team botanist delivers a presentation about Greenland flora, much of what he or she says was uncovered by the researchers of Qeqetarsuaq.

As we sail through the Upernavik area, keep an eye out for the whales known to pass through these waters. The little storm bird, the fulmar petrel, will be our loyal companion switching between lee and windward to gain speed as it follows the ship.

During our landing, we will visit the Colonial Period open-air museum where you can learn about traditional methods of whaling. Hikers can cross tundra carpeted with wildflowers as they explore the region. Birders will enjoy a zodiac cruise to Apparsuit, site of the largest seabird colony in Western Greenland, where tens of thousands of thick-billed guillemots nest.

Kayakers have excellent paddling opportunities, while those who stay ashore may meet a community elder or take photographs of Qaarsorsuaq. The mountain is 1100 meters (3600 feet) high, and easily recognizable.

At the entrance to Melville Bay be sure to be on deck as we pass “The Devil’s Thumb”, a distinctive rock pillar that raises 540 meters (590 yards) up from the flat surroundings near the village of Kullorsuaq. Our route across the 400 kilometer-long bay offers constant opportunities to see calving glaciers in the distance. As we sail north across the expansive bay, spend time on deck and you will be rewarded with spectacular views of imposing icebergs of a myriad shapes.

We will be in polar bear territory here. The Expedition Team will keep a constant watch and announce any sightings via the ship’s public address system. We will also have good chances of spotting seabirds and seals at close range.

We pass Meteor Island and Avannaarsuaq/Thule’s largest village, Savissivik. In Greenlandic, Savissivik means ”the place for sharpening your knife”. This refers to the iron meteorite that many thousands of years ago struck the area. Generations of Inuit have laboriously chipped off small pieces of this rock and used it for arrowheads and knives.

Knud Rasmussen changed the economy of the people living in range of Dundas Mountain when he established a trading post here. Greenlanders could then sell their seal and polar bear skins for cash rather than just bartering them for trade goods.

At Qaanaaq, the world’s northernmost municipality, we explore contemporary Greenlandic culture. You can enjoy hikes, cultural demonstrations and moments of contemplation at the northern edge of the inhabited world.

Depending on ice and weather conditions, we may visit Siorapaluk, the world’s northernmost settlement. In this traditional hunting community we learn how locals rely on the land for their sustenance, hunting seals, walruses, and polar bears. We will hopefully have a chance to see some of the many Arctic foxes and Arctic hares in the area before boarding the ship to begin our southward journey.

As we set sail for our southward journey across Melville Bay, we pass Cape York and Savisivik. While at sea, the Expedition Team delivers illustrated presentations about the history of Greenland, from the arrival of the first people to the instigation of Home Rule. No history of Greenland is complete without mention of Erik the Red and the Vikings.

Travelers will learn the language of ice, as well as the significance of whaling to the culture and the economy. On deck, the secrets of bird identification will be revealed.

Uumannaq is a picturesque island village that sits at the foot of a heart-shaped mountain, which is the meaning of the Greenlandic word “uumannaq”. The island lies at the centre of an area where immense icebergs float towards the Davis Strait. Hundreds of sledge dogs live in the village and during our visit you may see local hunters slice their just-catched harp seals.

If botany is your interest, you may find this area interesting, as Labrador Tea and Arnica grow in the area. It is also a fantastic place for kayaking among the bergy bits and grounded icebergs. The area appears to have been an ancient burial ground. The famous Greenland mummies were discovered in this area; you can walk up the hill and find the cave where they were found in 1972.

Between the hiking, kayaking, conviviality in the bar, and the fabulous meals served during this expedition, the Expedition Team delivers illustrated presentations about ice, wildlife and geology.

The community of Saqqaq gave its name to an ancient people, whose archaeological remains were found nearby. The shore landing includes a view of one of the world’s most northerly greenhouses, and a hike to the water’s edge to watch the townspeople gather water for drinking. Ice floes are the only source of water in the community.

Shokalskiy will sail along the edge of Eqip Sermia glacier for 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). Eqip Sermia is one the fastest moving glaciers in the world, traveling approximately 30 meters per day.

You should be on deck to watch for the birth of icebergs, calved from the massive ice front. Zodiacs will be deployed for ocean-level cruising and the opportunity to take remarkable photographs.

UNESCO has designated this area a World Heritage Site, because the Jakobshavn Glacier calves more icebergs than any other in the Northern Hemisphere. As Akademik Shokalskiy steams up the fjord, the Captain will navigate expertly around young icebergs. Exploring the community of Ilulisat, travelers are introduced to 20th century explorer Knud Rasmussen, a national hero and a local son.

There are more sledge dogs living in Ilulissat than humans. Most local families keep a variety the different sledges near their houses, and you may find it interesting to examine the difference. The smallest sledges can be used for transporting just one person, while the largest are used for the hunter and his prey.

The southward journey is broken by a landing at the village of Itilleq situated on an island that has no natural source of water. A local villager welcomes us and provides an insider’s glimpse into the daily lives of Itilleq’s 130 inhabitants.

The southwestern coast of the island is mountainous and surrounded by skerries. Some of the small rocky islands and islets are barren, while others have green slopes covered with millions of flowers. The national flower of Greenland, the Dwarf Fireweed, known locally as “Niviarsiaq” can be found here.

Greenland is home to more than 500 plants, including five orchids. As we sail through Sondrestromfjord you may easily be able to see Evergreen, Roseroot, several species of Louseworth and other Arctic plants like Saxifrage and Arctic Poppies.

Disembarking in the early morning, we spend the day exploring the area before transferring to the airport for our group flight back to Copenhagen.

Arrival in Copenhagen

• Group transfers to embark the ship and upon disembarkation
• Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage.
• All shore landings per the daily program.
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program.
• Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.
• Photographic Album on DVD, documenting the voyage.
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings.
• A Expedition parka – yours to keep.
• Coffee, tea , cocoa available around the clock.
• Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin.
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
• All luggage handling aboard ship.
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of $100,000 per person.

• Any airfare.
• Optional kayaking.
• Passport and visa expenses.
• Government arrival and departure taxes.
• Any meals ashore.
• Baggage, cancellation and medical travel insurance.
• Excess baggage charges.
• Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges.
• Telecommunications charges.
• The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for Hospitality Team members, ship’s crew and Expedition Team members.