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Home , Disko Bay, Hvalsey, Tunulliarfik Fjord

.nordicvisitor.com DISKO BAY & SOUTHERN FJORDS - TO ICELAND ITINERARY

DAY 1 DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN COPENHAGEN On arrival at Kastrup Airport, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel in Copenhagen. If you arrive early, we recommend getting the Copenhagen Card, which gives you access to most museums along with free transit on the local buses and trains. Copenhagen is home to such marvels as the Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace, the old harbour of Nyhavn and Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks and among the city’s most famous attractions. Spend the night in Copenhagen. Attractions: Copenhagen

DAY 2 DAY 2: JOURNEY TO Early in the morning you will be transferred from your hotel to Kastrup Airport for a chartered 4-hour flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland’s main gateway. Before embarking on the cruise in the afternoon, you will travel with fellow travellers in off-road vehicles to the massive Greenland Ice Cap, just 40 km from town. This 3 to 4- hour excursion covers a wide variety of natural scenery, including a grand view to the glacier wall. You will have about an hour to enjoy some coffee or tea and walk in the area next to the Ice Cap before returning to Kangerlussuaq, where you will have lunch. Later you will be taken by bus to the harbour to board the mighty MS Fram. Getting to the ship will be an adventure as you will ride on PolarCirkel boats, assisted by the Expedition Team. Spend the next 11 nights on board the cruise ship. Please note: as this is an expedition-style cruise, the planned landings depend on weather and ice conditions. We reserve the right to change the scheduled program and itinerary. Safety is always the first priority on our trips. We also recommend having rainproof jackets, trousers and mosquito repellent in your hand luggage to wear during the boat transfer to MS Fram.

DAY 3 DAY 3: NORTHWEST GREENLAND In the early afternoon we reach the small settlement . Around 130 people live here, and they are mainly engaged in hunting and fishing. Visit one of the families that live here, buy some arts and crafts of the area or have fun playing soccer with the locals.

1/5 DAY 4 DAY 4: Today the highlight is Ilulissat, about 250 km north of the Circle on Greenland’s west coast. This town (pop. 4,500) is well known for the nearby , a sight to behold with its maze of icebergs calved from the Sermeq glacier. It is so remarkable that it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004. The weather and sea conditions today will determine whether MS Fram can use the PolarCirkel boats. Before arrival the Expedition Team will prepare you with information. On land you will enjoy a guided hike to the abandoned settlement of , situated 1.5 kilometres south of the town. In Ilulissat you can also visit the museum to browse the extensive collection from Knud Rasmussen’s expeditions and the history of the area. Attractions: Ilulissat

DAY 5 DAY 5: Next on the voyage is Sisimiut (pop. 5,200), the second largest town in Greenland and a major fishing port. On board you will get an introduction presentation to prepare you for discovering the town on your own with the help of a city map. One the highlights here is the Sisimiut Museum, which is focused on the town’s culture and history. The museum is housed in beautiful old buildings originating from the colonial period, situated close to the harbour. Also located close to the pier is a local handicraft workshop, where you can watch the artists make jewellery and arts from bone, leather and metal. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, you could also choose from one of various active excursions available in Sisimiut. Attractions: Sisimiut

DAY 6 DAY 6: Today’s destination is Nuuk (pop. 16,000), Greenland’s friendly capital city that also happens to be the world´s smallest capital. Founded by the Danish-Norwegian missionary in 1728, Nuuk is also the oldest town on the island. Now it is renowned as a place where old and new traditions meet, from picturesque old buildings at the colonial harbour to cutting edge structures like the Katuaq is a cultural centre. Another point of interest here is the Greenland National Museum, where you can see the mummies from Qilakilsoq that date back thousands of years. Attractions: Nuuk

2/5 DAY 7 DAY 7: The next stop is Ivittuut, a small former mining community of approximately 200 seasonal residents. In the summertime some of the old houses are used for tourism. Located here is an old cryolite mine that was used by Allied Forces during World War II and closed down in 1987.

DAY 8 DAY 8: AND QOASSIARSUK Early in the day you can experience Narsaq (1,600), located at the beautiful shores of the , an area of South Greenland that has been inhabited for thousands of years. The glaciers north of town ensure that there are icebergs around and the fjord is rich in seals, salmon, trout and minke . In the afternoon the ships land in , a community with only about 56 people known best for the settlement of Eric the Red, the Viking banished from Iceland who called this land Greenland when he arrived in the year 982. Attractions: Narsaq

DAY 9 DAY 9: HVALSEY AND Start the morning with a visit to Hvalsey, where you can find some of the best preserved ruins from the Norse period dating back over 500 years ago. From there the journey continues to Qaqortoq, the centre of the largest municipality in South Greenland. Attractions: Hvalsey, Qaqortoq

3/5 DAY 10 DAY 10: PRINS CHRISTIAN SUND Today’s part of the voyage takes you to Greenland’s southern shores, containing some of the most culturally and scenically diverse regions of the island. If conditions allow, the ship will try to enter the narrow, often ice- choked Prins Christian Sund channel that crosses the southernmost point of Greenland – an opportunity to enjoy some truly breath-taking scenery. If the channel is blocked the ship will instead sail around Nunap Isua (Kap Farvel).

DAY 11 DAY 11: DENMARK STRAIT Sail the route of the Vikings! Crossing the Denmark Strait today towards Iceland, the cruise follows the path of the Norse settlers who left the shores of Iceland and more than 900 years ago. Attractions: Denmark Strait

DAY 12 DAY 12: SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA Today the cruise makes land in Iceland, in the town of Grundarfjörður on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula of West Iceland. This area of the country is full of diverse nature, with different kinds of lava and rock formations, jagged mountains, abundant birdlife, dramatic basalt cliffs and the pristine slopes of the Snæfellsjökull glacier. The peninsula also shelters a number a small fishing hamlets and natural harbours. Attractions: Grundarfjörður

4/5 DAY 13 DAY 13: REYKJAVIK & BLUE LAGOON RELAXATION Arrive in Reykjavik in the morning and spend the afternoon on a relaxing trip to the Blue Lagoon, where you can soak in warm, radiant white-blue waters surrounded by unearthly lava formations. Enjoy a complementary silica mud mask on your cheeks in the lagoon or let your cares slip away as you unwind in the saunas and steam baths. Renowned for the healing properties of its mineral-rich waters, this geothermal spa also offers optional skin treatments or in-water massages. Spend the night in Reykjavik. Note: We recommend booking optional treatments at the Blue Lagoon well in advance. Attractions: Blue Lagoon, Reykjavík

DAY 14 DAY 14: DEPARTURE FROM ICELAND Transfer to Keflavik Airport via shuttle bus. If your flight is in the afternoon, you have time to visit some of Reykjavik’s boutiques and museums, or you may opt to take a short tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula (optional; not included).

Whatever your needs, we are here to help. If you have any questions about our packages or services, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Nordic Visitor Tel: +354 578 20 80 [email protected] nordicvisitor.com

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