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GO2GREENLAND |
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Trekking and Sailing among the Settlements and Icebergs of the Disko Bay
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9 days with endless skies in impressive Greenland. On this journey to northern Greenland we experience trekking along Ilulissat icefiord glacier — of all the glaciers in the northern hemisphere the Kangia produces the largest amount of ice, midnight sun, baying huskies and boat trips in the Disko Bay. On 4 magnificent boat trips we practically come all the way "round the Disko Bay" where we have a good chance of spotting whales. The boat transfer sailings are: Ilulisat - Qasigiannguit, Qasigiannguit - Aasiaat, Aasiaat - Qeqertarsuaq, Qeqertarsuaq - Ilulissat.
- 2 stays in Ilulissat, the birth place of Knud Rasmussen. The Greenlandic name for this place is "The place with Icebergs"
- Trekking trips on the Disko Island with an opportunity of experiencing the island with its dramatic geological past
- Icebergs the size of cathedrals experienced first hand from hotel as well as boat
- Good chances of spotting humpback whales or fin whales just outside the hotel in Ilulissat and Qasigiannguit as well as on the boat trips
- Impressive trekking trips to some of Greenland’s most beautiful arctic landscapes - designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 2004
- Midnight sun and long, light evenings accompanied by huskies barking around feeding time
- Meals based on fresh Greenlandic products
- Short walks around Ilulissat, Qasigiannguit and the Disko Island
- Boat trip to the famous bird colonies of "Grønne Ejland" - Green Island
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Appetizer — see zoom edition on maps.google.dk
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Day 1. Copenhagen - Ilulissat
We take the flight from Copenhagen to Ilulissat via Kangerlussuaq. Upon arrival at Ilulissat we check in at Hotel Arctic, which is beautifully situated right next to the shore of the Disko Bay. The afternoon is free to take a stroll and absorb the atmosphere of the town, situated 300 km north of the Polar Circle. Besides the famous Kangia Icefiord, the town is also known for the Ilulissat museum, the former college of education and later on the birthplace of the famous Arctic explorer, Knud Rasmussen and the Art Museum housing painting from Emmanuel A. Petersen. In the evening we have dinner at Hotel Arctic.
-/-/D
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Day 2. Sermermiut - Archaeological settlement and the first view of the Icefiord
We will start the day at the quarry in the south-east end of town. From here we will take the path which will lead us through a stunning ravine with high rockwalls, and the snow bunting might show itself to us. Once arriving at the top we will see a small white stripe of the ice cap in the horizon. The hike continues downwards to a small lake from where we will get the first view of the Icefiord and the huge icebergs floating around in it. Passing by a small stream we fill up our water bottles and find a nice place to have a picnic. The remaining part of the hike will take place along the icefiord and we will get to experience the ice with all our senses. The creaking, crunching and rumbling sounds from the icebergs overwhelm our ears, and we can even smell the ice. As far as the eye can se there is ice and more ice. Along the icefiord we continue to Holm’s Hill, the place where the Greenlanders from Ilulissat meet every 13th of January to greet the sun after spending the winter in complete darkness. Towards the end of the day we will start exploring the largest of the old Greenlandic settlements, Sermermiut, which has been the home to both the paleo-eskimo and neo-eskimo societies. During the Thule-culture period around 250 people lived and died in this remarkable rugged area. Sporadic immigrations to the area count both the early Saqqaq-culture but also the subsequent Thule-culture settled in the area that surrounds Ilulissat.
B/-/-
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Day 3. Boat trip across the Disko Bay to Qasigiannguit
Today we will go by boat across the Disko Bay. It is easy to just lean back and enjoy the fresh air from the sea while the icebergs calmly drift by. The icebergs here are gigantic, as they strand here on the submerged moraine at the mouth of the icefiord they rise masterfully directly in the sea often with an altitude of around 100 metres. We sail among these cathedrals and might spot a couple of whales if we are lucky. We eat our packed lunch on the boat and subsequently arrive to Qasigiannguit, Greenland’s second oldest town, founded by the Danish merchant Jacob Severin in 1734. Qasigiannguit is a small pearl right next to Qarqassuak - "The big rock". In the afternoon you might want to do a walk around the town or visit the local museum, definitely worth seeing. The museum has a very well conserved collection of items dating back to the Saqqaq culture, a culture that immigrated to Greenland 4,500 years ago. An entire settlement, Qeqertasussuk, was excavated in the south eastern part of the Disko Bay, south of Qasigiannguit.
In Qasigiannguit there are some good opportunities for spotting whales. From the hotel, where we will be staying, you might get a glimpse of humpback whales and minke whales.
The following days offersopportunities for shorter hikes eg. passing by the coast line in order to see these fantastic animals as they scamper about in the sea. Or a hike to Paradisbugten "Paradise Bay" and Bryghusbugten "Brewery Bay" and the area where Qasigiannguit was originally founded.
Today we can also visit the local fish factory. The factory dates back to 1999 and is the biggest and most modern of its kind in the Disko Bay. We will get an insight into the processessing of halibut, which is one of Greenland's biggest exportation commodities.
B/L/-
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Day 4. Boat trip to Grønne Ejland - "Green Island" and visiting a colony of the Arctic tern
We sail from Qasigiannguit to "Basis Island" - Kitsigsunguit - the biggest of the islands, also called Grønne Ejland "Green Island". On this island we have been granted permission to harbour in the old harbour, the place where the whalers and fishermen used to harbour in the old times. In this place we will encounter things left behind from former settlers such as turff cottages as well as a cemetery in the centre of the island. We will do a small walk on the island and follow a path leading to a colony of the Arctic tern - which we hopefully will experience at close range. In clear weather we see the giant icebergs deriving from the icefiord. To the west we can spot the Disko Island with the characteristic snow and ice covering the range of the high mountains and to the east we are able to see green mountains around Qasigiannguit. After a couple of hours we have lunch in the old harbour while we observe and hear the twitter from the Arctic tern. After lunch we continue by boat to the conservation area on the island of Niaqomaq. This island is the domicile to many different bird species. We might encounter the tern, the guillemot and the black guillemot hiding in the cliffs. After observing the many different species of birds from the boat we continue our boat trip and head back to Qasigiannguit. Throughout the entire day we might even spot whales and seals from the boat.
B/L/-
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Day 5. Boat trip to Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island with stop-over in Aasiaat
in the morning it is time to leave Qasigiannguit. By boat we head south-west to Aasiaat where we arrive a few hours later. We have 4 hours in Aasiaat before sailing on to Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island. Aasiaat was formerly named Egedesminde, after the founder, Niels Egede, who founded the town in 1759. Amongst other culturel sights, the town houses a museum/meeting house, which displays 24 paintings by the famous Danish artist Per Kirkeby, who painted these paintings during a stay in Aasiaat in the 1960's.
Aasiaat is situatede on an island in the "island Kingdom" - the land of the thousand islands, and offers planty of opportunities for shorter hikes along the coastline nearby the town.
Late in the afternoon we course for the famous Disko Island. We sail north past the "Hunde Ejland" and "Kronprinsens Ejland" islands, as the basalt mountains on the Disko Island emerge. The waters near the Disko Island is a popular spot for spotting humpback whales. After arraival to the beautiful natural harbour, we check-in at our hote, situated just a few minutes' walk from the harbour.
B/-/-
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Day 6. The Disko Island - Kuannit and the valley of "Blæsedalen"
In the morning we set off with a hike to Kuannit, which is also the Greenlandic word for Angelica, ever popular plant among the locals. They use it both as a spice and as a vegetable. This place has some amazing basalt formations, and you will find yourself encountering some of the Disko Island's many hot springs — more than 2000 are to be found on the island. Minerals in the hot springs give the plants some dramatic green colours and can be seen from a long distance. Depending on the weather situation we have lunch outside in these remarkable surroundings. We might continue our hike up into the valley of "Blæsedalen" and hike along the turbulent river "Røde Elv" running down through the valley towards the Disko Bay.
B/L/-
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Day 7. Qeqertarsuaq and across the Disko Bay to Ilulissat
Later on in the afternoon we sail back to Ilulissat, the mainland. But before that we still have some time to explore the Disko Island. You might want to do a walk to "Udkiggen" a lookout point for spotting whales. This is the southernmost point of the island and this place has been used for ages for spotting whales and seals. A visit to Quqertarsuaq Museum and/or Arctic Station is definetely also worth a visit. Late in the afternoon we leave by boat for Ilulissat and as we get closer to Ilulissat Icefiord the icebergs cluster up. In clear weather trotline fishermen in their yawls are visible.
B/-/-
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Day 8. Ilulissat - hike to the satelite mountain
This day is at your own disposal. There are plenty of different opportunities to explore Ilulissat today. Maybe you want to pay a visit to the Zion church or the art museum - both worth a visit! Or perhaps you want to take a stroll to the harbour and expereince the local fishermen return in their small boats after longline fishing in the icefiord or sealing in the Disko Bay. The catch of the day can be found at the local fish market "Brættet" centrally placed in the city. At "Brættet" it is often possible to try out a piece of "Mattak" - whale blubber. For those who are interested, the tour leader will arrange a small hike to the surrounding satelite mountain. In evening time we will enjoy a nice meal in one of Ilulissat's restaurants and maybe later on in the evening you feel like treating yourself to a midnight boat trip to the Kangia Icefiord with a view to complete fascination and astonishment when passing by the icebergs floating around in the Disko Bay. B/-/-
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Day 9. Ilulissat — Denmark
We leave for the airport and fly via Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen in Denmark. If the weather is good, we will have a splendid view — from one side you can see the ice fiord, from the other side it is the Disko Bay that lies beneath. If time allows it, it is possible to take a walk in the area around Kangerlussuaq. Even close to the populated area you can see musk oxes, which makes it interesting to take a hike or even better a cycling trip in the direction of the ice cap in order to get close to these magnificent animals (activities in Kangerlussuaq will be on your own). We change flights in Kangerlussuaq and continue the flight to Copenhagen with enough time to let all the great experiences settle in our minds.
B/-/-
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Meals:
Meals included are indicated by B (breakfast), L (lunch), and D (dinner). Meals not included are marked with -On the Air Greenland flights between Denmark and Greenland free meals and drinks are served.
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Accommodation:
All nights will be spent in hotels, all with double rooms.
Single rooms are available upon request for an extra fee listed in the "Not Included" section below.
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International departure:
This trip is sold internationally, which makes it possible for non-Danes to book the tour. In that case the tour will be conducted in both Danish and English by a Danish tourleader.
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Ilulissat - "The place of icebergs":
The third-largest town in Greenland also known as Jakobshavn in Danish. Only the capital of Nuuk and Sisimuit outsize Ilulissat. Ilulissat is home to an extensive fishing industry and houses one of the largest fishing enterprises, the Royal Greenland enterprise. The factory mainly processes halibut and shrimps. The city was founded by Jacob Severin, a Danish merchant, and the approximate 5,000 inhabitants are almost outnumbered by the 4,000 sledge dogs. The municipality of Ilulissat also counts 4 smaller settlements of Oqaatsut/Rodebay, Ilimanaq/Claushavn, Saqqaq and Qeqertaq respectively. Further, Ilulissat is situated next to the UNESCO world heritage sight, the Kangia/Ilulissat icefiord. More than 60 km long and a truly spectacular sight, Kangia is the birthplace of massive icebergs. It takes approx. one year for an iceberg to move from the glacier to the mouth of the fiord where most of the icebergs ground on the submerged moraine at approx. a depth of 300 meters. They do not move further until the high tide and the melting process allow them to move further north towards Upernavik in the northern part of the Disko Bay. At here the ocean streams turn towards south west and the icebergs continue their journey towards the Labrador strait in Canada. An "ice-safari" in this area is a remarkable experience.
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Qasigiannguit:
The town is beautifully situated by the Disko Bay, encircled by mountains. The name of the town directly translated is "the small gaily coulored seals", in Danish: Christianshåb, named after King Christian the 6th. Qasigiannguit is a modern town with everything you need but it still has a lot of atmosphere and everything is to be found at a walking distance. The surrounding area is very well suited for easy hiking trips.
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Disko Island:
Because of its recent history Disko Island is very different from the mainland. The island mostly consists of high and steep basalt mountains that were created by volcanic activity 25-65 million years ago. Qeqertarsuaq means "the great island" and is the Greenlandic name for both the island (Disko) and the town. The Danish name “Disko" is given to the island due to its configuration. Allthough the island is located approx. 100 km from the mainland it is still possible to get a glimpse of the island from all the towns and settlements in the Disko Bay. The town of Qeqertarsuaq is beautifully located right next the to bay and the steep basalt mountains rise masterfully behind the town.
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The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
The humpback whale is a Baleen whale with a length from 12—16 metres and weighs approximately 30-40 tons. The humpback whale has a boorishness to it with a black back and a white belly. It has unusually long fins. It often shows it tail during submersion and often slaps the water. It is primarily seen in Greenland - towards the northern part of the Disko Bay - in the months of April-November. Since this species is protected, it often shows great confidence and can be seen close by the boat. The humpback whale produces a complex whale song with very long and uninterrupted sequences. Despite of the relatively large size, the humpback whale is relatively agile. It easily swims with a speed of up to 25 km per hour and is able to jump out of the water like only dolphins do. The humpback whale possesses a number of skilled hunting methods, where "the bubble-net method" is probably the most known of them all. Basically, the humpback whale surrounds a shoal of fish with air bubbles deduced from the blowhole, after which it swims into the shoal with its gigantic mouth open - ready to let the baleen strain off the fish from the water.
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Grading:
This trip is estimated a grade 2. Your luggage will be transferred to each destination by boat, thus you only need to carry a small backpack with the things you need during the day.
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Duration:
9 days - 3 trekking days, grade 2
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Climate:
In the Ilulissat area the day temperature in July to August is approximately 10°C - 15°C. The nights can be colder, but during the day the sun and the dry air give the impression of warmer temperatures than is actually the case. Night temperatures sometimes come below 0°C. Rain and showers may occur but at this time of year the weather is usually very clear - often with good visibility.
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Electricity:
It is possible to charge batteries etc. in Ilulissat, Qasigiannguit and on the Disko Island
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Maps:
Trekking map North Greenland, Ilulissat. 1:100.000
Trekking map North Greenland, Qasigiannguit. 1:100.000
- both maps can be bought locally.
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Mobile phones:
It is possible to use mobile phones in certain areas of the trip. In general we urge you not to use mobile phones when with the group in order to not interrupt the treks and excursions with conversations over the phone.
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The trip includes:
Flight: Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq - and return, incl. taxes
Flight: Kangerlussuaq — Ilulissat - and return, incl. taxes
Boat transfer: Ilulissat — Qasigiannguit
Boat transfer: Qasigiannguit - Quqertarsuaq via Aasiaat
Boat transfer: Quqertarsuaq - Ilulissat
Boat trip to Grønne Ejland "Green Island"
Transfer in Ilulissat between airport, harbour and hotel
Danish/English-speaking tourleader
Baggage transfer between the accomodations
All accommodation
Meals according to the itinerary, incl one welcome dinner at Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat
Contribution to the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund
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Not included:
Personal travelling expenses for souvenirs, maps, drinks and beverages etc.
Allow approx. DKK 190 per person per meal for not included meals (sandwiches and the like are cheaper)
Entrance fees to museums etc.
Travel- and cancellation insurances, if desired
Single room supplement DKK 3.000
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Please note:
The program is subject to alteration. A trip like this is very dependent on weather conditions; such as changes concerning wind, precipitation and ice. As a consequence of this some delays or cancellations of some parts of the program may occur, especially those that concern flight or boat transportation. No compensation will be offered within the first 24 hours of delay or change of program due to circumstances that can not be influenced by Topas. Your tourleader will aim to lessen the inconveniences and fill out the time with an alternative program.
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PICTURES |
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VIDEOS
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Settlements and Icebergs of the Diskobay
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Greenland Inspiration-video
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