Culture and icebergs - Nuuk and Ilulissat, 8 days
(1141)

This special journey offers you a unique combination of travelling by both domestic flight and coastal vessel along the west coast of Greenland as well as experiencing the most popular locations and towns in Greenland. And you have a tour guide with you during the journey. We have selected the best experiences; the Ice Cap in Kangerlussuaq, the capital city of Nuuk and not least Ilulissat in the Disco Bay area at the UNESCO site – the world-famous ice fjord.

We have composed the journey in a way that allows you to explore Greenland by yourself, but the tour guide will be with you all the way, providing information, stories, guided tours and practical help.

Travelling in May, you will experience spring in Greenland with temperatures that may not inspire you to wear short-sleeved T-shirts but will feel pleasantly fresh, due to the dry air. The midnight sun rules north of the polar circle from mid-May, causing long, sunny nights. A wonderful and unforgettable holiday full of great impressions – and natural attractions aplenty.

I love sailing with Sarfaq Ittuk. As it moves slowly and carefully along the coast, you really get to notice the magnitude of Greenland. Then, when we approach the next town or village, I get out on deck to watch the ticket office being set up on the harbour and people getting on and off. That way, you feel like a fellow traveller instead of a tourist watching from the sidelines…

Time stops for a while. There is time to unwind and real time with the people travelling with you.

Feeling like a fellow traveller instead of a tourist is just what a trip with the coasting vessel can do for you.

Ellen Schmidt, Product Manager - Happy Traveller

2 nights at M/S Sarfaq Ittuk in cabin

The ship was built in 1992 and was modernized and extended in winter 1999/2000. She now has a length of 73 meters and a width of 11 meters. With an engine of 2000 HP the ship has a max speed of 13 knots. The crew is 22 people. The ship has a café, lounge with panoramic windows, playroom and hospital clinic in case of injuries and acute illness on board.

The ship's capacity is 274 passengers. Accommodation facilities are 104 cabins, 85 4-bed coupés and 60 berths. The cabins are about 9,9 m2, tastefully decorated and have private bath/toilet. Compartments are about 4,2 m2 and the shower/toilets are in the corridor.

Safety on board
Sarfaq Ittuk (the coastal ship) is designed for sailing in polar waters and holds the highest safety standards.

The coastal ship Sarfaq Ittuk

Travel dates (1141)   2018: (Availability updated 8of May 2018) Red = Fully booked, Yellow = 3 or less double room *) 10 May (Scandinavian / German) *) 17 May (Scandinavian / English) 24 May (Scandinavian / German) 7 June (Scandinavian / English) 14 June (Scandinavian / English) 21 June (Scandinavian / German) 28 June (Scandinavian / English) *) 5 July (Scandinavian / German) *) 12 July (Scandinavian / English) (Only single rooms left) 19 July (Scandinavian / German) 2 August (Scandinavian / English) 9 August  (Scandinavian / German) 30 August (Scandinavian / German) 6 September (English) 13 September (Scandinavian / German) Northern Light Special 27 September (Scandinavian / German) 4 October (Scandinavian / English) 11 October *) Guaranteed departure.    Price per person: (Euro)   May 10 - 24 A share in double room: 3245  € A share in a Superior Plus double room: 3330 € Single room: 3515 € Superior Plus Single room: 3665 € June 7 - August 9 A share in double room: 3530 € Single room: 4170 € August 30 - September 13 A share in double room: 3460  € A share in a Superior Plus double room: 3595 € Single room: 4020 € Superior Plus Single room: 4240 € Northern Light Special September 27 - October 11 A share in double room: 2880  € A share in a Superior Plus double room: 2945 € Single room: 3190 € Superior Plus Single room: 3350 € Excursion package: 335 € (Child 2-11 180 €) * Excursion to the inland ice cap in Kangerlussuaq * Boat tour to the Ilulissat ice fjord * Whale safari in the Disko Bay Excursion package - Northern Light Special: 450 € (Child 2-11 250 €) * Excursion to the inland ice cap in Kangerlussuaq * Northern Light Tour in Kangerlussaq * Boat tour to the Ilulissat ice fjord * Inuit Legends in Ilulissat * Boat tour to the settlement Ilimanaq including lunch Minimum participants: 8 (15 on Aug 30) (some departures are guarantied)    The price includes   • Flight Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq – Nuuk and Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq - Copenhagen. Food will be served during the flight over the Atlantic. • 1 night at Polar Lodge in Kangerlussuaq. Shared shower/WC. • 4 nights at Hotel in Ilulissat. • 2 nights in a double cabin with private shower/WC. • Breakfast all days, 5 dinners (1 in Kangerlussuaq, 2 i Ilulissat, 2 on the coastal ship). No beverages. • Excursions included: Guided city walk in Nuuk, Sisimiut and Ilulissat. Guided hike to the old settlement Sermermiut at the ice fjord in Ilulissat. Admissions to museums. • Transfers • All taxes and fees • Tour guide  The price do not include   • Travel- or cancellation insurance

To book the tour or to contact us for any queries, just send us an email at info@gronlandsresor.se
or give us a call at +46-8-55626970

Program
Preliminary flight schedule (can be changed by the airline)
Leaving Copenhagen at 11:00
Returning to Copenhagen at 21:30

Day 1: Köpenhamn - Kangerlussuaq and the ice cap
We fly from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland. The first sight of Greenland is truly special and already at that time, you get into a totally different mood. 8 days of excitement await you. In Kangerlussuaq, we check in at the Polar Lodge.

The Polar Lodge is situated a few hundred metres from the airport with the beautiful rocky scenery right in its backyard. After being welcomed by the tour guide, you get the chance to visit the impressive Ice Cap. *)

The Greenland Ice Cap is the second largest ice sheet in the world and covers 80 per cent of Greenland – proportional to 40 times the area of Denmark – and has, at all times, attracted expeditions and researchers. And with good reason. It is a truly unique experience to look at the enormous field of ice and feel the forces of nature. Along the way, we pass the spectacular Russell glacier – another breath-taking sight with its vertical ice wall of up to 60 metres.

In the evening, dinner is served at the Rowing club beautifully situated on the shore of Lake Ferguson approximately 5 kilometres outside Kangerlussuaq.

*) Included in the excursion package

Day 2: Kangerlussuaq - Nuuk - city tour
The Greenland National Museum with its famous mummies and the colonial harbour
After breakfast, we fly from Kangerlussuaq to Nuuk and before boarding the coasting vessel Sarfaq Ittuk, there is time for a city tour.

The landmark of the city, the Sermitsiaq mountain, gives you an almost Mayestic welcome and the fantastic fjord system reflects the wild nature, which provides the most incredible setting for the small civilised metropolis. Nuuk's more than 15,000 inhabitants benefit from more than 100 kilometres of asphalt roads. Although the city is busy, nature is not far away and most citizens use nature actively all year round.

During the city tour, you will be introduced to the largest attractions, including the Greenland National Museum, the beautiful arts centre Katauaq – whose façade is shaped like the northern light – and the equally beautiful old district with the statue of Hans Egede looking across the old colonial harbour, the fjord and the mountain range in the distance.

Use the rest of the afternoon to explore the city on your own. Are you looking for local arts and crafts, a wide selection can be found in the souvenir shops of the city, selling everything from small, delicate earrings to sealskin furs.

At the end of the day, we go on board Sarfaq Ittuk and ahead lies two days aboard, heading towards Ilulissat. The coasting vessel sails up and down along the west coast and is also used by Greenlanders themselves. As the vessel lands in the coastal towns, there is a wonderful atmosphere of activity and joyful reunions.

During the voyage, the trip and the passing scenery can be taken in from the indoor panoramic lounge located at the back of the vessel or from the many outdoor areas in which you can enjoy the clean air from a deck chair.

Sailing in Greenland can be a chilly affair, but it is incredibly beautiful! Remember warm clothes – as well as your camera and binoculars. The speed is nice and slow, fully allowing you to relax and enjoy the changing scenery.

Day 3: Sisimiut - city tour
We will come in at around 19.00 to Sisimiut – the second largest city in Greenland with slightly more than 5,000 inhabitants. The atmosphere in the welcoming city is warm and intense, oozing of authentic Greenland. The colour palette of the houses provides a stunning contrast to the undulating rocky area that also on the outskirts of the city supplies rocks for the many sled dogs of the city.

The guided tour offers you a great impression of Sisimiut. We pass the board with today's catches of fish and game, the town hall, the highest vantage point and the homely old district with its original colonial buildings.

A wonderful break on the sailing trip. We re-embark the coasting vessel and continue northwards.

If we are lucky we might spot a whale or two during the coastal trip.

Day 4: Ilulissat - City tour
As we approach Ilulissat, there is every reason to enjoy the sight of the icebergs. Some are just large-scale lumps of ice while others are towering above you. What a welcome and introduction to the magnificent Disco Bay.

We check in at the hotel in Ilulissat located at the Ice Fjord, which in 2004 was listed as UNESCO world heritage.

At the following briefing, you can get to know more about the city and the many excursions in this interesting area.

Lead by the guide, we take a city tour, allowing you to get more familiar with Ilulissat. You will be given an introduction to the history and culture of the city and will pass the museum, the old colonial houses, the beautiful and simple Zion's Church and the lively harbour.
In the evening, a nice welcome dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 5: Ilulissat - boat to the ice fjord
Enjoy Ilulissat on your own. There is a reason that this beautiful city is one of the most visited places in Greenland: The impressive Ice Fjord. The icebergs can be experienced by sea, by land and from the air.

Consider joining a hike to Sermermiut, an old settlement right at the mouth of the Ice Fjord where giant icebergs have stranded on an old moraine.

You can also attend a lecture about life as a sled dog – highly relevant in the city where thousands of dogs bask in the mountain rocks while waiting for the arrival of winter. Perhaps a happy, awkward puppy will greet you and follow you around a bit.

Allow yourself to wander about on your own, drink a caffé latte at a cosy café and find a quiet place where you can enjoy the view.

In the evening, you can take a lovely cruise between the icebergs that – regardless of the weather – are guaranteed to take your breath away. The midnight sun is low on the horizon and it can be difficult to tell night from day. Reflections from the soft, warm light gives the icebergs and mountain tops an orange tinge, and the water becomes almost purple.

The ultimate experience in Ilulissat is the Ice Fjord. It produced no less than 20 million tons of ice - per day! The ice calves during the deafening thunder and huge icebergs are born. An easy hike goes to the 4000 year old settlement Sermermiut, located at the mouth of the Ice fjord.

Day 6: Ilulissat - on your own
You can spend the day on your own, or you can go on a whale safari – if you have purchased the excursion package:

Whale safari amongst icebergs – with lunch (included in the excursion package)
Most people are surprised how great an experience it is to get up close to such a large animal as the whale. In the waters of Greenland, 15 species of whale are often seen. Three of these stay in Greenland during the winter; the beluga, the narwhal and the Greenland whale. The blue whale and the killer whale are only rarely seen.

During summer, we normally get to see the humpback whale, mink whale and fin whale. The whales swim around the entire Disco Bay throughout the summer, sometimes near the city, other times in the Ice Fjord or up north by the Crown Prince Islands. We have radio contact with the fishermen and sealers of the city, who are our sources to information about whales in the bay. This way, we almost always spot them. The humpback whale with its characteristic tail is the one we see most often. Lunch will be served during the safari.

Day 7: Ilulissat - on your own
Spend the last day in Ilulissat as you wish. Have you never been in a helicopter before – maybe now is the time. The helicopter takes you across the Ice Fjord and its giant icebergs at low altitude. The view of the 7-kilometre wide glacier edge and the roaring silence provide an experience of grand proportions. You can also do a similar tour with small, 5 passenger air planes. Please pre-book if you plan any of these activities!

You can also follow in the footsteps of Knud Rasmussen at the local museum and end your stay in Greenland with a shopping trip through the high street where stores, souvenir shops, cafés and the board obligingly let themselves be photographed.

In the evening, we meet in the restaurant at the hotel where we will enjoy a wonderful dinner along with a final sight of the midnight sun glowing above the Ice Fjord.

Day 8: Return to Copenhagen
Our flight takes us, via Kangerlussuaq, back to Copenhagen where we land in the evening.

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