Arctic Adventures

Fly from London to Keflavik and transfer to the Icelandic capital for an overnight stay at the 4-star Center Hotels Laugavegur, at the heart of Reykjavik.
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Transfer to the airport for the flight to Kangerlussuaq. Its ‘Gateway to Greenland’ epithet may seem odd for the country’s only ‘inland’ town but, tucked at the eastern end of the 160km inlet, it does have a small harbour, Greenland’s largest international airport (a former US airbase), and a road leading straight to the stunning Ice Cap. Optional excursion to the mighty Reindeer Glacier by 4x4 buses including barbeque (£85, pre-bookable only). Transfer to the port for a short Zodiac crossing to board the MV Ocean Albatros; and join your fellow travellers for the safety drill, dinner, and a glass of champagne, as the ship sails through the long fjord toward the open sea.
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Morning arrival in Sisimiut. A settlement (of sorts) since 2,500BC, it is best known for the 18th-century buildings of its colonial past, including the iconic Blue Church; but today it is a progressive blend of contemporary Danish and traditional Inuit culture. With colourful houses sprinkled on headlands around the water’s edge, and a cultural centre, museum, and Artists Workshop in the town, Sisimiut’s remote and rugged setting serves as an adventure hub. Explore at your leisure until our evening departure for Disko Bay’s Qeqertarsuaq (‘Great Island’).
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Nestled at the foot of 1,000m mountains, and hemming a naturally sheltered shore, the aptly named Godhavn (Good Harbour) was founded in 1773 and is the only town on the circular island. With its whaling days a distant memory, the typically Greenlandic town retains the hallmark edifices of its history, most notably the unique octagonal church, nicknamed “God’s Inkpot”. After time to explore the town, your vessel will reposition slightly to the east, launching the Zodiacs to visit the Kuannit (Angelica) coast, where the herb grows abundantly on south-facing slopes, mountain springs irrigate lush greenery, waterfalls splash over basalt rocks, and sapphire blue icebergs sprinkle the bay. Sail north tonight, bound for Uummannaq.
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On a small island, in an iceberg-cluttered sea, almost 600km north of the Arctic Circle, Uummannaq is a characterful fishing port. Its houses cling to the precarious slopes of a mountain, which soars 1,170m high to dwarf the town at its base. Its name translates as ‘heart-shaped’, describing the outline of the peak; its fame comes in the form of a turf house, said to belong to Santa Claus, and a post box used exclusively for letters to the legendary saint; and there is a stone church, a fish market, and handicraft stalls in the grassy town square. Be sure to watch from the ship’s outer decks as you sail away from Uummannaq, where dazzling icebergs and the massive mountain create a staggeringly beautiful land-and-sea scape.
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Returning to glorious Disko Bay, we reach Eqip Sermia, which translates as ‘the glacier at the end of the fjord’. Its river of ice flows down from the Greenland Ice Sheet for great chunks to crash from the glacier front into the ocean. If conditions allow, the Zodiac fleet will take you to watch at sea level and hear the roar of the frequent calvings (from a safe distance!). This evening, sail south to Ilulissat, undisputedly known as The Iceberg Capital of the World.
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From the foot of the largest glacier in Earth’s northern hemisphere, Ilulissat Icefjord is choked with immense icebergs for the full stretch of its flow to its mouth on the sea, where Ilulissat is Greenland’s most visited spot and the principal town on Disko Bay. Centred on a buzzing harbour, its brightly painted buildings are tiered on the backdrop hillside, where there are shops for local art and crafts; the home of 19th-century explorer Knud Rasmussen is now a museum; and the striking Church of Zion is styled like a giant gingerbread. With well-marked hiking trails around the fjord, we also offer two optional excursions here, each pre-bookable: an up-close view of the skyscraper icebergs from the deck of a local boat (£110); or a flightseeing view of the Icefjord on a fixed-wing aircraft (£395).
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Our visit today is to a little coastal island, where the Davis strait meets the mouth of Eriksfjord; and the hunting, farming and fishing village of Itilleq nestles between the fjord and the mountain foothills. Set at the heart of the Aassivisuit-Nipisat UNESCO site, which celebrates Innuit history and heritage, the hamlet has an earthy umber-painted church, a sprinkling of houses in cheerful hues, fewer than 100 residents, one statue of a bearded fisherman, and no freshwater source. Its Inuit way of life is apparent with Arctic charr fish hung out to dry and sled dogs as hardy as their owners, but, with smart phones, speedy wi-fi, and satellite tv, tradition is intermingled with modernity.
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Having cruised through the night up the 100mile fjord, the Ocean Albatros returns to its mooring at Kangerlussuaq. After breakfast aboard, disembark the vessel, take the Zodiac shuttle to shore. Time to explore Kangerlussuaq or optional Kangerlussuaq sightseeing (£52, pre-bookable). Transfer to the airport to fly back to Icelandic Keflavik, for a final overnight stay in Reykjavik at the Center Hotels Laugavegur.
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Transfer to Keflavik airport for your return flight to London.
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