West Greenland - Disko Bay Whale Safari

Your Itinerary

Wednesday 6th June
Your Icelandair flight leaves London Heathrow (Terminal 1) at 1300 hours, arriving in Keflavik International Airport at 1500 hours. From here you take the Flybus (at your own expense) which will drop you off at Hotel Cabin in the business centre of the city, a short walk from the shopping area. Dinner tonight is at your own expense.

Thursday 7th June
The charter flight to Greenland leaves from Reykjavik Domestic Terminal in the City Centre - again there is a Flybus which will pick you up at the hotel. The flight leaves at 1115 hours and gets into Ilulissat at 1430 hours. You arrive in Ilulissat, with 5,000 inhabitants is located at Disko Bay with its amazing icebergs and views to the distant snowfields and glaciers. It's Greenland's most important tourist destination and has associated facilities with museums and shops, including an excellent bookstore. You join the ship in the late afternoon for an evening sailing.

Friday 8th June
Today we sail along the large Jakobshavn Glacier which produces 10% of Greenland's icebergs! Although it has retreated significantly over recent years, it's still an amazing and awe-inspiring spectacle. South of it we land at Avangnardlit and climb a hill from which we have a fantastic view across the World Heritage Site of Jakobshavn Isfjord.

Saturday 9th June
The island groups of Hunde Ejland and Kronprinsens Ejland, in the mouth of Disko Bay, are surrounded by rich waters which attract both seabirds and whales and we'll have good opportunities to watch foraging Greeland whales in the mouth of Disko Bay. On the cultural side we'll call at the small settlement on Hunde Eijland where old dwellings of Greenlands's Thule culture dating from the 11th Century can be seen, along with graves from 18th Century Dutch whalers. Later we will make Zodiac excursions in the beautiful narrows of the Kronprinsens Ejland archipelago.

Sunday 10th June
Another day of opportunities to see Greenland whales as we sail to Disko Island. Here we'll land at Engelskmandens Havn and Fortunebay near the island's only city, Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn). Unusually for Greenland, hot springs are found here - not something normally associated with permafrost areas.

Monday 11th June
Today we sail to Flakkerhuk on the east side of Disko Island, making our way through waters dominated by huge icebergs. We intend to land at several points along the coast, like Narujuk and Modderbugt to observe a population of birds typical to the High Arctic, with species such as Longtailed Skua, Turnstone and Grey Phalarope. The birds breed on a beautiful tundra landscape backed by basalt cliffs. For strong walkers there's an opportunity to walk to Skansen (about 3-4 hours), where the ship will pick them up.

Tuesday 12th June
At Naajat, on the north side of Oqaatsut, we sail with zodiacs along a Kittiwake colony with more than 10,000 breeding pairs. Later on, near Anitdlagia, we'll be able to watch the Kittiwakes from land. At Langebugt we'll land again to walk to a beautiful lake, Eqaluernerit Taserssuat, which is located at nearly 650 feet above sea level.

Wednesday 13th June
Sailing through Ata Sund we reach the Eqip Sermia a great glacier front, where the French explorer De Quervain built his station and ascended to the ice-cap. In the evening we sail to Ilulissat.

Thursday 14th June
We disembark after breakfast and fly back to Reykjavik by chartered plane, arriving at 1845 hours. The FlyBus will transport you to Hotel Cabin.

Friday 15th June
You'll have a free morning in Reykjavik before taking the Flybus to Keflavik to connect with our flight back to London departing at 1610 hours* and getting in to London Heathrow Terminal 1 at 2010 hours. If you would like to extend your stay in Iceland we would be happy to advise and book.

Alternative Greenland Tours

• West Greenland - Whale Safari
• West Greenland - Disko Bay to Umanak
• North-East Greenland
• North Greenland - Ultima Thule
• North-East Greenland - Scoresby Sund
• West Greenland - Aurora Borealis
• About our Greenland expedition cruises