Expedition North-West Greenland: Untamed Heart of the Arctic

Kangerlussuaq/Greenland, departure 21.00 hrs 

(Equip Sermia Glacier, Uummannaq, Storoen, Kangersuatsiaq)

Along the west coast of Greenland, every day brings you new Arctic adventures in the realm of the Inuit. When your expedition ship glides through the world of ice, whales and seals can appear at any time to put on a special natural show.

Greenland’s character is shaped by majestic high mountains and breathtaking glaciers. As you cruise off the Eqip Sermia Glacier, you can already see its impressive ridge that is approximately 7 km (4.3 mi.) long. If the weather permits, you can get close to it in the Zodiac or go ashore on the opposite bank – for special perspectives to marvel at the sheer white wall of ice.

Uummannaq welcomes you with colourful houses and an astonishing creativity of nature. The heart-shaped mountain above the town glows in countless shades of red in the sunlight. In the small settlement, a museum recalls the ice expeditions of Alfred Wegener, a German who conducted research in Greenland. A hike with your experts will take you to “Santa’s summer house”, the setting of a Danish TV series.

A Zodiac landing on the so-called desert island of Storoen gives the impression of being from another world. A unique play of colours from ochre to red pervades this geological treasure of Greenland and its landscape reminiscent of Mars. It’s the ideal terrain for a hike in the tundra and an excursion with your experts on how garnet crystals and glacial striations develop.

Life in Greenland is shaped by fishing and hunting – and the same goes for Kangersuatsiaq on a small island in the Upernavik archipelago. Far away from modern urban life, you can immerse yourself in the Nordic traditions found in the colourful houses and natural harbour. It’s a wild, raw beauty ­– typical for west Greenland.

(Qaanaaq, Siorapaluk, Old Thule/North Star Bay, Cape York)

Breathe in the fresh air. Let your gaze wander over the icy landscape. Experience profound moments of silence. On the north-west coast of Greenland, you will leave the urban world far behind you as the Zodiacs take you to the remote settlements.

Early Inuit groups settled in the Qaanaaq region over 4,000 years ago. The present-day town was established in 1953, when the Danish government forcibly relocated the residents of the original settlement here to make way for a US airbase. Your walk will be accompanied by the barking of the huskies, which are just as much a part of life here as the kayaks.

Life in the village of Siorapaluk is almost unbelievably isolated. The country’s most northerly settlement lies on a narrow beach at the foot of some gently rolling mountains. The approximately 80 inhabitants earn their living from hunting and fishing. With luck, your travel diary will include encounters with seals, musk oxen and reindeer.

In 1909, Knud Rasmussen founded a missionary station at North Star Bay and later Old Thule, the world’s most northerly trading post. He used the profits to finance his Thule expeditions to research the Inuit culture. Walk in his footsteps as you visit the old turf houses. Your experts will not only show you history but also the present: they use the example of the US American Pituffik Space Base to shed light on the influence of the world powers in the Arctic.

Cruising off Cape York brings breathtaking views of bizarre ice formations. A rocky crest bears a memorial to the American explorer Robert Edwin Peary, who set out from here on his North Pole expeditions at the end of the 19th century. There is hardly a more beautiful panorama from the deck: large icebergs from the mighty outlet glaciers of west Greenland accumulate here in the “iceberg graveyard” after their 900 km (559 mi.) journey. Also keep an eye out for little auks, black guillemots and glaucous gulls, which nest on the cliffs.

(Qeqertarsuaq, Ilulissat, Disko Bay, Sisimiut)

In the magical Arctic light, the wonders of the west coast of Greenland will be illuminated north of the Arctic Circle. A vast and silent landscape, home to relics of a 4,500-year-old culture – seemingly almost forgotten by the world.

Qeqertarsuaq, founded on Disko Island in 1773, is particularly full of character – enter the small town through the whalebone gateway. Explore Godhavn – the “good harbour”, Qeqertarsuaq’s translation – with your experts or wander through the Arctic tundra to the Windy Valley. The chances of seeing whales are always very good in these waters.

Another eternal scene can be found in Ilulissat when the glacier calves in the world-famous ice fjord. On a hike with your experts, enjoy the glittering, shimmering ice masses, which appear in many different towering formations. An incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Disko Bay will provide even more memorable moments: ice sculptures in all manner of forms drift slowly through the vast area. Enjoy this natural spectacle from your front-row seat on deck – or take a Zodiac ride to the centre of the action. Illuminated by the sunlight, the ice gleams in a fascinating play of colours from white to azure blue.

In Sisimiut, where the remarkable old town seems like a museum village, the oldest settlement traces date back over 4,000 years, deep into the Saqqaq culture. Join your experts to hike over rocks and through tundra – to relics from the whaling era. A hike to Tele Island will also take you back thousands of years to see ancient ruins and graves, crowned by magnificent views of Sisimiut and the coast.

Arrival 06.00 hrs 
Charter flight from Kangerlussuaq to Germany

Itineraries are subject to change.