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Greenland Disko Bay Voyage

from £6913 excluding flights

  • 7 nights
  • Aug
Home Destinations Polar Arctic Greenland Disko Bay Voyage

Highlights

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Join guided tours of Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq and Ilulissat

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Look out for wildlife including whales, seals and arctic fox

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View the UNESCO-protected Ilulissat Icefjord from land or air

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Meet the locals for "kaffemik" in Qeqertarsuaq

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Marvel at the icebergs of Disko Bay

Why this trip...

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Immersive exploration

Immerse yourself in your surroundings on a true exploration of remote and spectacular areas

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Like-minded travellers

Share your travel experiences with fellow travellers

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Small Ships

Access remote places whilst enjoying a safe and friendly atmosphere onboard

Overview

Sail along the remote and dramatic Arctic coastline of West Greenland, where the magnificent scenery of high mountains, narrow fjords, giant glaciers and small settlements are just some of the highlights of this unforgettable experience.

Along the way you’ll visit the famous Disko Bay and the towns of Uummannaq and Ilulissat, also known as the iceberg capital of the world. Explore small towns and tiny settlements with colourful houses, learn about Inuit culture and meet the locals over coffee and cake, a tradition called ‘Kaffemik’. Keep a look out for whales and other marine life as you take advantage of long daylight hours for early morning and late evening wildlife spotting.

Itinerary

Take a morning flight from Copenhagen or Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland. On arrival transfer to the port and then by zodiac to board the ship. After a safety drill, enjoy your dinner as you set sail through the 160-kilometre Kangerlussuaq fjord.

Morning arrival in the colourful and modern town of Sisimiut at the foot of Nasaasaaq Mountain. Sisimiut is the second largest town in Greenland with 5,400 inhabitants. The city tour highlights include the historic colonial quarter, as well as museum and church visits. In the afternoon continue northbound passing the Sisimiut Isortuat Fjord, the Nordre Strømfjord settlements of Attu and Ikerasaarsuk and the small town of Kangaatsiaq. During the night, pass Aasiaat and proceed into the southern waters of Disko Bay.

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Today there will be time to explore Disko Island, famous for its distinctive 1,000-meter layered crags. Wander around the town of Qeqertarsuaq and join some of the locals for a traditional ‘Kaffemik’ to sample homemade cakes with coffee and tea, accompanied by local music and dance.

At almost 600km north of the Arctic Circle, the town of Uummannaq is situated on a small island in one of Greenland’s most beautiful and sunny regions. Take the time to explore the towns steep streets and historic buildings. Enjoy an extraordinary vista comprising the island’s 1,000-meter tall rock faces and the snow-covered peaks on the Nuussuaq peninsula to the south.

Cruise to the breathtakingly beautiful Eqip Sermia Glacier to observe icebergs calving off this enormous icecap. Back on board the ship, enjoy lunch on the sun deck with this magnificent wonder in the background. In the afternoon, head for Ilulissat for an evening walk to the Sermermiut plain.

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Arrival in the town of Ilulissat where gigantic icebergs flow down the UNESCO-protected Icefjord to the bay and linger in these Arctic waters. It is easy to explore the Icefjord, located just a half hour hike south of Ilulissat. There is also an opportunity to take an optional 2.5 hour boat trip (additional cost) to the Icefjord and get up close to the amazing ice-sculpted scenery. Alternatively take a flight on a fixed wing plane (additional cost) over the glacier and the Icefjord for an aerial view.

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Nestled at the foothills of mountains and fjords, just north of the Arctic Circle, the name of the remote settlement of Itilleq translates as “the crossing place from the sea”. Residents still make their living from traditional Inuit practices of hunting, trapping and fishing. Preserving their traditions and Inuit heritage is very important for this community. Explore this fascinating place before boarding the ship for the cruise back to Kangerlussuaq, enjoying panoramic views of high mountains and deep valleys along the way.  

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Disembark the ship this morning and transfer by Zodiac back to the port. From here you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Copenhagen or Reykjavik.

All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only – embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!

Optional Excursions

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In addition to the included shore excursions, Zodiac cruises and guided hikes, you may wish to enhance your expedition with one or more of the following optional activities. Places are limited so pre-booking is highly recommended:

Icefjord Boat Trip
This exploration by small boat takes you deep into the Ilulissat Icefjord for a closer look at the amazing natural ice sculptures.
Duration approx. 2.5 hours; price from £91 per person

Icefjord Flightseeing
Take to the skies in a fixed-wing sightseeing flight over Disko Bay and Ilulissat. Circle over the fast-moving glacier and calving icebergs of Kangia Icefjord and keep watch for whales breaching in the bay.
Duration approx. 40 mins; price from £322 per person

Reindeer Glacier, Kangerlussuaq
Travel by 4WD to the spectacular Reindeer Glacier, named for the prevalence of wildlife in the area. A 1500m walk over rugged terrain will bring you close to this vast wall of ice, which stands 60 metres high in places.
Duration approx. 4 hours (1 hour at the glacier); price from £91 per person

Russell Glacier, Kangerlussuaq
Travel by 4WD to Russell Glacier, which lies within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Aasivissuit – Nipisat. Here you can hike along the glacier’s edge and listen to the roar and creak of melting and morphing ice structures as the glacier slowly moves across the mountain landscape towards Kangerlussuaq Fjord.
Duration approx. 4 hours (1 hour at the glacier); price from £91 per person

Prices and Departures

Price from £6913 excluding flights

Airfares are quoted separately to the holiday price. When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

★ Voyage prices shown are standard for twin cabins but you can be assured that any relevant offers will be applied with your quote.

What's Included

  • Return charter flights between Reykjavik or Copenhagen and Kangerlussuaq
  • Shipboard accommodation
  • All breakfasts, lunches & dinners on board
  • Tea & coffee available around the clock
  • Selected beers and wines included with dinner only
  • All Zodiac transfers, cruising & shore landings
  • Presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers
  • Town walks & museum visits in Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq, Uummannaq and Ilulissat
  • Church visits in Qeqertarsuaq and Ilulissat
  • ‘Kaffemik’  visit in Qeqertarsuaq
  • Loan of rubber boots during voyage
  • Voyage log (digital)
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

2024 and 2025 Prices and departures

Prices are per person, based on a twin cabin. The indicative prices shown in the table below are the standard voyage fare and do not reflect any applicable special offers or discounts. Single, triple and quad cabins are also available. Please get in touch for a tailored quote based on the best available price for your preferred voyage and cabin type.

Departure Duration Vessel Activities Prices from (pp)
16 Aug 2024 8 days Ocean Albatros £7,658
09 Aug 2025 8 days Ocean Albatros £7,663
16 Aug 2025 8 days Ocean Albatros £7,496
23 Aug 2025 8 days Ocean Albatros £6,913

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