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DISKO BAY - West Greenland 2006

( Kangerlussuaq - Ilulissat)

 

8 days / 7 nights, Ilulissat - Disko Island - Engelskmandens Havn - Qeqertaq Island -

Umanaq - Nugssuaq Peninsula - Akugdleq Island - Oqaatsut - Arve Prinsens Island -

 Modderbugt - Arve Prinsens Ejland - Eqip Sermia - Kangilerngata Sermia - Ilulissat

 

Departure:

AMR05 June 19 – June 29 aboard Aleksey Maryshev

The Arctic coastlines offer some of the finest scenery and wildlife experiences in the world. Visitors to the region can witness enormous colonies of seabirds thronging the cliffs and shores, and enjoy the thrilling antics of whales and dolphins at sea and seals and Walrus hauled out on the rocks and ice floes. Greenland and its surrounding waters are home to an impressive array of wildlife: eight species of whale, two million seals, Walruses, Polar Bears, Reindeer, Musk Oxen, Arctic Hares, Arctic Wolves and a spectacular variety of birds. The largest island in the world, 90% of its surface area is covered by ice and it is inhabited by less then 100.000 people, though with a fascinating history and culture. Our voyages focus on East and Northeast Greenland, among the most isolated, sparsely populated and scenically superb parts of the island. Fortunately, from the wildlife enthusiast’s point of view, they are also the most rewarding regions with regular sightings of Musk Oxen, Arctic Hares, Narwhals and a variety of birds, including Gyrfalcon, Snowy Owl, Barnacle and Pink-footed Geese. Access to this highly indented and ruggedly mountainous coast is dependent on ice conditions. For much of the year, the region is locked in by pack ice, which by late summer has broken up sufficiently to allow vessels such as ours the chance to penetrate and explore.

 

Day 1 
After flying in to Kangerlussuaq we embark the ship and sail through the Söndre Strömfjord. The currents in this fjord are up to 9 knots in the narrow parts.


Day 2 
Our first landing is at Sydbay ( Zuidbaai ), where the 18th century whalers traded with the Eskimo’s at the occasion of the yearly Asivik. We land also at nearby Isortoq with remains of houses of the Thule culture. In this area we may see Reindeer. Later we sail by Rifkol, another trade area, with two sites of Thule culture houses


Day 3 

The island groups of Hunde Ejland and Kronprinsens Ejland (formerly called Walvis Ejland ), in the mouth of the Disko bay, are surrounded by rich waters which attract both seabirds and whales. We intend to call at the small settlement on Hunde Eijland where old dwellings of Greenlands,’s Thule culture (dating from the 11th century) and graves from 18th century whalers can be seen. Later we will make Zodiac excursions in the beautiful narrows of the Kronprinsens Ejland archipelago. In the evening we land at Engelskmandens Havn in Fortunebay, where there are hotsprings.


Day 4 

In the morning we land at 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 of the High Arctic, with species such as Long-tailed Skuas, Turnstones and Grey Phalaropes. The birds breed on a beautiful tundra landscape backed by basalt cliffs. Good walkers may walk to Skansen, where the ship will pick them up. In the afternoon we land at the south side of Jakobshavn Isfjord, where we will have a phantastic view across the fastest moving glacier in Greenland. In the early evening we will make a zodiac cruise among the ice-bergs of this glacier.


Day 5 

On the south side of Arve Prinsens Ejland we visit Klokkerhuk, where we see some remains of the 18th century whaling period. At Naajat, on the north side of Oqaatsut, we sail with zodiacs along a Kittiwake colony of more than 10,000 breeding pairs. Near Antdlagia we have a fine opportunity to land and watch the Kittiwakes from land. In the evening, at Sarqaq we visit the remains of the oldest culture which reached West Greenland about 4000 years ago.


Day 6 

At Umanaq, we approach High Arctic waters. Seal hunting is still an important source of income for the local people and they also have many dogs which haul their sledges in winter. We will also visit the nearby Qilakitsoq site, on the north coast of the Nugssuaq Peninsula, where some years ago a family of mummified Thule culture people from the 15th century was found.


Day 7 

We sail to Akugdleq Island with its phantastic geological formations creating a desertlike image. Along the west side of Qaqugdlugssuit with a Fulmar colony we reach the huge glacier Sermeq Sikardleq, where we plan a zodiac excursion along the front.


Day 8 

Today we circumnavigate Upernivik Ö and sail through narrow fjords surrounded by mountains of over 2000 m and glaciers at all sides. We pass Ubekendt Ejland (Onbekend Eiland ) and land at Schades Öer (Schade Eilanden) in the mouth of the Karrats Fjord. The mouth of this fjord is a good area for spotting whales. Later we land at Narssaq on Svartenhuk on a low Arctic tundra with lakes. Muskoxen has been transferred to this area and they are doing very well.

Day 9

Kingigtorsuaq, where 14th century Viking Runes were found, is our northernmost landing site, and we will try to find the place where the Vikings built a cairn with the inscriptions. From there we sail to Upernavik the main town in Northwest Greenland, where we will have an opportunity to experience Greenlandic culture. On Hvalö is a Puffin colony, where will try to go ashore in the evening. In these waters we my again see whales of different species.

 

Day 10

Hollaenderbugt on the northern tip of Nugssuaq Peninsula reminds us again of the Dutch whalers. In the afternoon we land at Björnefaelden, a Norse ruin at the western tip of the Peninsula.

 

Day 11

In the early morning we arrive at Ilulissat, famous for its Ice Fjord which is packed by large icebergs calved from the Jakobshavn Glacier to the east. We disembark in the morning ready and will have time to explore the town before we catch the flight home.

 


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Departure Dates
Disko Bay - Umanak ( Kangerlussuaq - Ilulissat)
Voyage Date Port Date Port Vessel
AMR05 Jun 19 Jun 29 JAV

Aleksey Maryshev

JAV  = Ilulissat/Greenland

Prices in US Dollars
Triple Non Private Twin Non Private Twin Private Superior Suite
n/a 2,600 3,070  3,460 n/a
         

Included

  • Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as per itinerary

  • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship incl. snacks, coffee and tea

  • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac

  • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff

  • Transfers and baggage handling between hotels, airports and ship only for those passengers on the group flights in Spitsbergen and in Greenland

  • All miscellaneous services

  • Taxes and port charges throughout the program

Not Included

  • Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights

  • Pre- and post land arrangements;

  • Transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen and Greenland

  • Passport and Visa expenses

  • Government arrival and departure taxes

  • Meals ashore

  • Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended)

  • Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges

  • The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided)

  •  

  • Fuel Surcharge 

  • $ 25 Service fee

Please note:

All dates & rates are subject to change.

All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 25 participants (motor vessels) & 12 participants for the ?Noorderlicht?.

All rates are quoted per person in US Dollar, based on twin occupancy.

Twin non private and Twin private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the share price US Dollar rates apply for all sales outside the area of the European Union.

5% discount will be granted for bookings for one or more consecutive voyages.

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions, and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

 

News:

Oceanwide Expeditions is the proud winner of the prestigious award:

WORLD'S LEADING POLAR EXPEDITION OPERATOR 2005

 

Fuel surcharge not included:

Due to the continuous increases of fuel prices a fuel surcharge of US $ 14.00 per night per passenger has been added to the Arctic and North Atlantic Expedition Cruises on board the vessels

m/v “Professor Molchanov”, m/v “Professor Multanovskiy”, m/v “Grigoriy Mikheev” and

m/v “Aleksey Maryshev”.

 

Images courtesy of Oceanwide Expeditions

 

Disclaimer

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife.
Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

 

 

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