Wild Greenland Escape (Lindblad Expeditions)

7 Days

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Map

Overview

Venture to the fjord-laced coast of western Greenland, where Inuit communities perched at the edge of the Greenland ice cap carry on their timeless way of life. Explore archaeological sites and modern-day villages, and glide into breathtaking fjords by Zodiac or kayak as we explore this rugged coastline. Cruise amid the massive icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord and meet local people who live off the land and sea in the tradition of their ancestors.

Trip Highlights

Explore the dramatic coastline of West Greenland by water and on foot, kayaking stunning fjords and hiking across the tundra on the lookout for wildlife
Delve into Greenlandic culture and history at the outstanding Sisimiut Museum, and meet with residents of Uummannaq Island to learn about everyday life
Hike the Sermermiut Valley to a promontory overlooking the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord and take in extraordinary views of the iceberg-choked bay
Visit the archaeological site at Qilakitsoq, where remarkably well-preserved 500-year-old mummies were found in 1972

Day 1 :

Boston, Massachusetts

Arrive in Boston, MA. Check into your hotel in the late afternoon. In the evening, join fellow travelers for a group dinner at the hotel.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 :

Boston / Providence, Rhode Island / Kangerlussuaq, Greenland / Embark Ship

In the morning, transfer from Boston to Providence, Rhode Island for a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq on Greenland’s western coast. Settle into your cabin and enjoy a scenic sailing through the dramatic gorge of the Kangerlussuaq Fjord, 120 miles in length, with its hanging glaciers and striking basalt ribbons.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 :

Greenland’s West Coast and Sisimiut

Cruise the length of Kangerlussuaq Fjord en route to Sisimiut. Dozens of deep fjords carve into Greenland’s west coast, many with glaciers fed by the ice cap that covers 80 percent of the country. At Sisimiut, a former whaling port, enjoy your choice of guided walks through the sights and sounds of the village, including Dog Town or Sallinnguit, a small island with centuries of history from Inuit culture through colonization and current day industry. In your free time, enjoy a local food tasting, visit the open-air museum, or explore the local artisan workshops.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 :

Ilulissat and Disko Bay

Sail into Qeqertarsuup Tunua, also known as Disko Bay, and be welcomed by floating icebergs calved off the world's most active glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. Enjoy an extraordinary cruise aboard local boats among towering icebergs of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ilulissat Icefjord. Visit the town of Ilulissat and hike into the Sermermiut Valley, once an Inuit settlement and now the home to a peaceful boardwalk overlooking the Icefjord. As we make our way north through Disko Bay, if ice conditions permit, we follow the inside passage of Disko Island and trace the shores of the Nuussuaq Peninsula as we keep watch for a glimpse of the Greenlandic Ice Sheet.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 :

Uummannaq and Qilakitsoq

The village of Uummannaq sits on a tiny, yet dramatic island in the Uummannaq Fjord, dominated by a massive peak rising at its center. Visit the town’s excellent community museum to see traditional clothing and tools, along with scenes of everyday life on these islands, and enjoy a stroll through the streets of this northern outpost. In the afternoon, cross the fjord to the site of Qilakitsoq, an important archaeological site for Greenlanders, where eight mummies, dating back to 1475, were discovered in 1972. These eight individuals, all extraordinarily well-preserved women and children, were Thule people, the ancestors of the modern Inuit. Their discovery was featured on the cover of the February 1985 issue of National Geographic magazine. Adventurous hikers may make their own respectful journey up to the final resting place of these ancestors.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 :

Exploring Greenland's Fjords

We sail south to explore Greenland’s fjords and look for Arctic foxes, whales, and a plethora of bird life. Paddle a kayak along the steep sides of the fjord, or ride a Zodiac to see the glacially carved landscape up close, as we cross back over the Arctic Circle.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 :

Kangerlussuaq / Disembark Ship / Providence, Rhode Island / Boston, Massachusetts

Disembark in Kangerlussuaq and take a charter flight back to Providence, Rhode Island, for your flights home. A transfer will be provided from Providence back to Boston Logan Airport.