Ocean Atlantic)
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NORTHERN LIGHT ADVENTURE (OCEAN ATLANTIC) With the arrival of September, Arctic weather patterns over Greenland quite often settle with clear skies and distant views. Beautiful dusts of snow on mountain tops, frosty grass in the mornings – and the supernatural wonders of Aurora Borealis on the night skies! On this Ocean Atlantic voyage, you will enjoy all of that – plus Greenland, seen from both sides! From Kangerlussuaq in West Greenland we turn sharply to port side and south for Nuuk, Capital of Greenland. Onwards to the former mining town of Ivittuut and then through Prins Christian Sund to East Greenland. Skjoldungen Island is a place to marvel at majestic mountain scape – and possibly a tundra walk – before we enter the town of Tasiilaq. We are traversing Greenland’s back side or ITINERARY “Tunu”, as the Greenlanders call it. DAY 1 ARRIVE BY FLIGHT TO KANGERLUSSUAQ - EMBARKATION In the afternoon we board from Keflavik, Iceland, bound for Blosseville Coast rises 2000 meter from the sea with few or no Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. Upon arrival in Kangerlussuaq, we landing spots, so we haste to get past and into the grandest will be transported to the small port located west of the airport, fjord of them all, Scoresby Sund. Here, we will visit the Inuit where our ship Ocean Atlantic, will be anchored. Zodiacs will settlement of Ittiqqortoormiit before venturing into the fjord for transfer us the short distance to the ship, where you will be the island of Milne. Sheltered from the open sea, chances are checked in to your outside cabin. After the safety drill, you will good to see some of the abundant wildlife: Narwhals, polar enjoy a dinner as Ocean Atlantic ‘sets sail’ through the bears and muskoxen. And the elusive Northern Lights! 160-kilometer Kangerlussuaq fjord. DAY 2 AT SEA; LECTURES ON GREENLAND CULTURE Listen to a lecture from our experienced expedition staff, see a film about Arctic nature – or go out on deck to catch glimpses of migrating birds and hopefully some whales. DAY 3 NUUK, CAPITAL OF GREENLAND 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com During the night, we have cruised north to reach Nuuk in the DAY 5 THROUGH PRINCE CHRISTIAN SOUND TO EAST GREENLAND morning. As we enter the fjord Nuup Kangerlua we have fair Kap Farvel (Ummannarsuaq), or Cape Farewell, is renowned not chances of encountering the area's seasonal visitors: only as Greenland's southernmost point, but also for its Humpback whales! The world's smallest capital is in Greenland infamous, although mostly seasonal, gale-force winds. We considered by many a mighty metropolis - a total of 17,000 deliberately opt for a far more comfortable but at the same time people live here today, almost a third of the country’s more spectacular route, cruising via the inside passage through population. The area has been inhabited back to 2200 BC by the Prince Christian Sound (Ikerasassuaq). This 60 km long pre-Inuit hunters. From year 1000 to 1350 AD, the Icelandic waterway, from the settlement Aapilattoq in the heart of the Vikings and farmers settled in South Greenland and in the Nuuk fjordlands of South West Greenland to the Atlantic in the east. Fjord, while at the same time Inuit hunters of the Thule culture moved south from North Greenland. The Nordic settlers DAY 6 SKJOLDUNGEN, ZODIAC LANDING AND NATURE HIKE The island of Skjoldungen is without doubt one of most disappeared around 1350 AD, but the Inuit stayed, being far beautiful areas in East Greenland. Situated at 63° N, the island better equipped to hunt and survive in the tough Arctic nature. is surrounded by narrow, steep fjords and glaciers, and with Modern history of Greenland began in 1721, when the Norse plenty of the cool, crisp and clean air of the ever present and missionary Hans Egede founded a permanent colony and nearby ice sheet. Still, we will find and experience a lush trading station near Nuuk. In fact, Egede’s main purpose to landscape and a milder climate than most would expect. return to Greenland was to convert the Catholic northerners to Acclaimed Norwegian explorer Fridjof Nansen came here in late Lutherans, but soon after his arrival he realized the Norse had summer 1888 in search of a suitable ascension point for the disappeared, a mystery yet unresolved. In 1979, the Landsting first Greenland Icecap crossing. Skjoldungen is also the name of (Parliament) was established in Nuuk, and the town was finally an abandoned settlement, located on the southwest side of the recognized as the country's capital. In the afternoon, we will island. Up to 100 people lived here until 1965, and some leave the capital and continue our southbound journey. houses remain. We continue our journey to Dronning Marie Dal DAY 4 IVITTUUT; FORMER CRYOLITE MINE AND POSSIBLE MUSCOX SIGTHING in the area's northwestern corner to get a closer view of its We reach South Greenland and expect the reach Arsuk Fjord interesting flora. with the small settlement of the same name. But the important call here is the former cryolite mine at Ivituut, the only place in DAY 7 TASIILAQ, INUIT TOWN IN EAST GREENLAND This morning, we will approach the Island of Ammassalik and the world where this very special mineral was mined until enter King Oskar's harbor with the Polhem Mountain (1003 depleted 30 years ago. Used in aluminum melting, the mineral m/3300 feet) to starboard. In front of us, we will see East became strategically important, and forced the Americans to set Greenland's largest town, or Tasiilaq (2,000 inhabitants), which up bases in South Greenland to protect the supply during WW is the name used today, formerly it was known as Ammassalik 2. (like the island). Although massive ice floes surround Tasiilaq 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com making shipping traffic impossible most of the year, it has which enables ice strengthened vessels such as the Ocean well-functioning educational institutions and health services. Atlantic to venture along the coast, on lookout for stunning Ammassalik was established as a colony in 1894, 10 years wildlife, abandoned Inuit settlements and otherworldly after the famed Gustav Holm's Umiaq expedition (open skin landscapes. After passing Blosseville Coast, we navigate the boat). The place where the town is located originally had no pointed Cape Brewster and arrive at the world's largest fjord, permanent settlement, but it turned out to be a perfect place to Scoresbysund. live because of its natural harbor and easy access to open waters. We visit the beautiful local museum with the old turf DAY 10 INUIT TOWN OF ITTOQQORTOORMIIT, KONG OSCARS FJORD hut, which undoubtedly is the place with the very best We cross the huge entrance of Scoresbysund during the night opportunities to buy some of Greenland's best crafts. From and arrive at the Inuit community Ittoqqortoormiit Tasiilaq, we spend the rest of the day exploring the dramatic (Scoresbysund) in the morning. About 500 people live here, fjords and landscapes of the Ammassalik district. most of whom base a large portion of their households on hunting. Seal, muskoxen and polar bear skins hang to dry DAY 8 EAST GREENLAND’S KANGERLUSSUAQ FJORD outside many of the houses, and the sled dogs are waiting for The coastline from the Ammassalik area to Scoresbysund Fjord sea ice to be safe for the first hunts of the fall. The town is is among the most dramatic in the world. 2-3000 meter extremely isolated, and the inhabitants only receive ship mountains rise directly from the sea in Denmark Strait, which is supplies twice a year. We have established good contacts with often filled with pack ice from the Arctic Ocean. The coast was the local residents during our earlier visits and can go ashore to inaccessible to both Inuit and European whalers, and it was not experience this unique little community. Tomorrow we cruise until 1899 that a small group of Danes led by Captain Amdrup further into the fjord and hope to do a landing before returning managed to cover the 500 dangerous miles in a rowing boat. to the Denmark Strait and the open sea. Ocean Atlantic will pass the coast towards Scoresbysund in approximately 2½ days. Local wind and ice conditions DAY 11 SCORESBY SUND FJORD; LARGEST IN THE WORLD determine route and possible landings. We hope to visit the The amazing visual menu of the day is nothing less than the abandoned settlement at the Kangerlussuaq fjord and go longest fjord in the world, Scoresby Sund. We will explore this ashore at the dramatic Nansen Fjord. fjord and hope to be able to offer kayaking and landings weather and ice conditions permitting. Please note that all the DAY 9 AT SEA ALONG BLOSSEVILLE COAST outings and landings rely on weather, sea and ice conditions Possibly the most dramatic coast outside of Antarctica, the being favorable both for the ship to access the areas, as for the Blosseville is guarded by Greenland’s highest mountains and zodiacs and kayaks to maneuver under adequate conditions, steepest fjords – and a belt of pack ice which before global ensuring the safety of all our passengers and staff. For this warming would keep out any adventurous sailor for years. The reason, during moments of harsh weather and throughout the recent decade has had warmer summers and much less ice entire trip, Ocean Atlantic has excellent public areas, such as 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com wellness/sauna, restaurant, bar and a library for our passengers to spend their spare time.