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Greenland West to East Expedition
Join us on this expedition journey and exploration of Greenland from the west to the east to witness the astounding landscapes, wilderness and wildlife as we uncover spectacular and dramatic iceberg and glacier settings, hop on safaris to discover the adapted wildlife, hiking adventures for the adventurer in you to witness Greenland in all its elements.
HIGHLIGHTS
Visit the Greenland Ice Cap
Admire the UNESCO Ilulissat Icefjord
Stay in the Glacier Lodge Eqi with front row views of the glacier
Explore the less-travelled East Greenland
ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE KANGERLUSSUAQ / ICE CAP
Arrive this morning on Air Greenland to Kangerlussuaq. On arrival, be received by your guide as we hop on into our 4x4 vehicles driving through tundra and moraine valleys to Point 660, With a little luck, we might spot some musk oxen, arctic foxes or Greenlandic reindeers on the way. After a 2 hour hike through the spectacular glacial landscape, we will arrive at the camp in the middle of the Ice Cap where we spend an unforgettable night in a tent under the Midnight Sun.
Overnight: Camp Ice Cap
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
DAY 2: ICE CAP / KANGERLUSSUAQ / ILULISSAT
A brand new day begins where we wake up to the silence of the surreal Ice Cap. After breakfast, we venture out onto the ice and explore the amazing glacial landscape. If weather conditions allow, we will hike to the Russell Glacier and get huge impression of the huge crevasses which created the calving glacier. In the afternoon, we pack up our camp and return to Kangerlussuaq to catch a short flight to Ilulissat where upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Arctic for a warm welcome and a welcome dinner.
Overnight: Hotel Arctic, Ilulissat
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 3: ILULISSAT
After breakfast, begin a guided walk in Greenland's largest town to learn about the history and character of the town through the vivid accounts from your local guide. Later in the afternoon, we join an excursion for a whale safari that will take you very close to the whales in their element with over 15 different species of whales in the area, most common being the Humpback Whale. This evening, we enjoy a sensational Midnight Sun boat trip (May to July) to witness spectacular hues of the sun against the icebergs.
Overnight: Hotel Arctic, Ilulissat
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4: ILULISSAT / EQI GLACIER
Early this morning, we travel by boat north to the fascinating Eqi Glacier - one of Greenland's unique natural wonders. After a good lunch in front of the Eqi Glacier, the boat anchors at Glacier Lodge Eqi where you will be staying in cabins facing the glacier. The untamed nature is just outside the door and from the terrace, you can take in the overwhelming silence, broken only by the crashing sound from ice calvings.
Overnight: Glacier Lodge Eqi, Eqi Glacier
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 5: EQI GLACIER / ILULISSAT
This morning, we begin a spectacular hike from the Glacier Lodge Eqi on a glacier view hike (3-4 hours) where we will walk past the lagoon and onto the moraine, from where we can admire the fantastic glacier and spend time capturing the Eqi Glacier in all its essence. Later in the mid-afternoon, we will hop back onto our boat to return to Ilulissat.
Overnight: Hotel Arctic, Ilulissat
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: ILULISSAT
Morning begins today with a hike to Sermermiut which translates to the "glacier dwellers", referring to the fact that the place used to be a settlement. Throughout 4,000 years, different Inuit cultures inhabited the Sermermiut Valley and it is here we will see the Ilulissat Icefjord and iceberg after iceberg as far the eye can see. This afternoon, we hop onto a small plane for a magnificent air safari aerial perspective of the Ilulissat Icefjord and the icebergs to wrap up our adventures in Ilulissat.
Overnight Hotel Arctic, Ilulissat
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: ILULISSAT / NUUK
Enjoy a leisurely morning and later, be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Nuuk - Capital of Greenland. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Hans Egede for check in and then a guided walking tour of the modern city with over 15,000 inhabitants. Worth a visit is the Katuaq Cultural Centre, the old town and colonial port.
Overnight: Hotel Hans Egede, Nuuk
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8: NUUK / KULUSUK / TASIILAQ
This morning, we will embark on a pleasant hike around the beautiful mountain Lille Malene (approximately 8-10km long) where we will be rewarded with the pristine, quiet wilderness with streams and rivers that trickle with fresh, cold water surrounded by mountains overlooking the beautiful Nuuk Fjord. Later in the afternoon, we will be transferred to the airport for a scenic flight across to the eastern part of Greenland to Kulusuk where upon arrival, we hop onto a 45mins helicopter flight to the remote town of Tasiilaq where we arrive at The Red House for check in.
NOTES:
Flights from Nuuk to Kulusuk departs every Wed and Sat.
Overnight: The Red House, Tasiilaq
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 9: TASIILAQ
Today, we enjoy a pleasant walk and visit of Tasiilaq where we check out local arts and crafts before heading down to the harbour. On our way, we visit the town museum to learn about the settlement and development of Tasiilaq over the decades and traditions of Eastern Greenland. At the harbour, we witness scenes of fishermen processing their fresh catch - the dominant industry in this part of Greenland. We continue our walk along the shores of Kiung Oscar's fjord, past the hospital and up to the new church where above the church is a small hill from where you can enjoy a beautiful view over the whole town and surroundings. Later, we continue to the beautiful Flower Valley and as the name suggests, you will be able to spot a range of flowers in the valley - Arctic thyme, Arctic Bluebell, Dandelion and more. Our walk culminates on a small curved path through the valley until we reach a small waterfall at the bottom of the valley where we will be rewarded with stunning scenery and nature before returning to Tasiilaq.
Overnight: The Red House, Tasiilaq
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 10: TASIILAQ
Morning begins today with a boat excursion into the Pack ice. The ice is tough sea ice deriving from countless winters in the Polar Ocean and often 10m or more in thickness and flows from the Polar Ocean outwards between the Svalbard Archipelago and East Greenland. Later in the afternoon, embark on a helicopter excursion to the Johan Petersens Fjord where we fly past the majestic mountains of East Greenland, entering the vast Sermilik Fjord with its stunning icebergs and flows of pack ice. We land near this magnificent glacier to admire the walls of ice, a truly unforgettable wrap to the journey.
Overnight: The Red House, Tasiilaq
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 11: DEPARTURE TASIILAQ / KULUSUK
Our sojourn ends today with a helicopter transfer to Kulusuk Airport for our onward journey home or continue your journey in Greenland or Iceland.
Meals: Breakfast
HOTELS
Camp Ice Cap
Spend an exceptional night on the Greenland Ice Cap to enjoy the pristine wilderness, silence and incredible nature under the midnight sun in warm tents with sleeping bags and be immersed into the surreal surroundings, access to the glacial rivers and meltwater lakes.
Located on the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, the Hotel Arctic is a modern and well-appointed hotel featuring modern and comfortable furnishings, superb views of the icebergs and boasts a gourmet restaurant in the hotel.
Spend the night right next to the Eqi Glacier where all rooms and cabins enjoy beautiful front row views of the glacier and fjord. Rooms are delightfully furnished with modern amenities and equipped with private bathroom, solar heating system.
The Hotel Hans Egede is Nuuk's best hotel, just 6km from the airport with a Skyline Bar offering views over the Nuuk Fjord and Lille Malene Mountains. Rooms are modernly-designed and equipped and the hotel has 2 onsite restaurants.
Offering an in house restaurant and a sauna, The Red House is situated in the beautiful village of Tasiilaq in East Greenland offering views of the Kong Oscar Fjord with the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Rooms are simple but comfortable.
