Grand Greenland The Icy Giants of Disko Bay

Enjoy exploring at your leisure

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Nuuk, Greenland (B)

Your expedition ship awaits you in the harbour. After being welcomed aboard and collecting your complimentary expedition jacket, it's time to settle into your cabin and enjoy your first dinner aboard.

Sailing towards the Arctic Circle you’ll have time to get acquainted with the AECO rules and recommendations regarding operations and landings in the fragile Arctic environment. Make sure you attend these mandatory presentations if you want to join planned landings as we head north.

You will also have time to settle on board, enjoy the state-of-the-art ship facilities and join the first lectures on Greenland related topics, including the Citizen Science projects run on board the ship.

At some point during the sailing, the ship will cross the Arctic Circle, entering the lands of the Midnight Sun at the height of summer.

Today the ship will reach Disko Bay – a haven for whales and other wildlife. The waters here are scattered with icebergs in many shapes and sizes, and they all come from one place – the Ilulissat Icefjord. This spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site regularly tops the list of things to see and do in Greenland, and today you'll find out why. Enjoy the scenery as you walk along the wooden gangway to the breathtaking ice fjord.

Marvel at giant icebergs floating placidly in the deep blue waters as they take on different hues of white, grey and blue. All photographers, regardless of skill, will return to the ship with the most enviable images. Back in pretty Ilulissat, visit the Icefjord Centre to learn more about the ice in this fascinating area and take a hike to Sermermiut to drink in the incredible views.

Beyond the Nuussuaq peninsula, distances start to mean everything, because it’s here that Greenland’s ‘Far North’ begins. At this latitude life proceeds at a slower pace. 

The beauty of the land and the relative productivity of the environment here have attracted people since the first settlers came down the coast more than 4,000 years ago. Intriguing archaeological sites are mute witness of the ability of Arctic people to thrive in such a harsh environment. It is from this area that the famed Qilakitsoq mummies were discovered.

Grandeur in the key word here. Disko Bay is one of those places that people dream about. And with good reason – the deep blue waters here are scattered with icebergs in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are truly immense, weighing up to seven million tonnes, and the ice fjord pumps out more water in the form of glacial ice in a day than New York City uses in a year.

Traditional communities, massive glaciers, and seemingly endless stretches of wilderness await us during our exploration of the region. Over the next days, HX aim to show you the wonders of the bay, including Vaigat Sound, Disko Island, and the eastern fjords.

Get ready for nature landings in the HX expedition boats, cruising in between floes and icebergs, whale spotting from deck and more talks by the Expedition Team. On landings, keep your eyes open and maybe you’ll catch sight of a reindeer herd, a fast-moving Arctic fox, or a powerfully built gyrfalcon.

The central west coast of Greenland is a land of contrasts, home to some of the longest fjords in the country and a sprinkling of settlements, including the second-largest town on the island. However, the vastness of the land makes this stretch of the coast a sparsely-populated region, where huge distances are the norm, and the sense of remoteness and isolation is just a part of daily life.

On the journey south you’ll visit communities where traditions are still alive, including Sisimiut, which lies 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The modern town has grown up alongside very ancient remains that date back to more than 4,000 years. If you want to learn more about the ancient Saqqaq culture, make sure to visit the interesting local museum. If you're looking for a special souvenir, pick up a scarf, hat or mittens made of qiviut, the inner wool of a musk ox, said to be 10 times warmer than sheep wool.

After breakfast, disembark the ship in Nuuk, Greenland. You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Upon arrival, transfer to a 4★ hotel for your overnight stay in Reykjavik.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to London

(regional and premium class flights may be available on request) (B)