Ultimate Greenland Expedition

Your flight from Copenhagen lands in Kangerlussuaq in the evening. Find MS Spitsbergen here, ready to start your expedition.

Sisimiut is the southernmost town on the western coast of Greenland. A variety of optional shore excursions are offered here, including hikes, boat trips, and sightseeing, as well as the chance to shop for local handicrafts and enjoy some Greenlandic specialities in a local restaurant. 

Qeqertarsuaq is the only town situated on the old volcanic island of Disko. The area offers amazing Arctic experiences. Join optional excursions such as a tour of the town, kayaking, or an ice-cruising boat tour. If you appreciate archaeology and history, you should definitely pay a visit to the local museum. Alternatively, you can stroll around the town on your own.

The town of Uummannaq is situated in scenic surroundings at the foot of a heart-shaped mountain. Optional excursions include meeting local Greenlanders or taking the ship's expedition landing craft ashore to Qilakitsoq to see where the mummies from the Thule era (approximately 1475 A.D.) were found.

Sail northwest along the Davis Strait from 71° to 76° North, an area of the Greenlandic coastline mapped by explorer Lauge Koch, passing some of the northernmost settlements in Greenland. In these harsh and remote areas, life is a constant battle, and you can learn more about this in one of the informative lectures given by the expedition team.

Qaanaaq (or Thule) was the first part of Greenland to be settled by the Thule people, the ancestors of the modern Inuit, who came from Canada. The district is one of the northernmost inhabited places on Earth and has a population of around 1,000. It is also the last US military base in Greenland. Hunting for seals, whales, and polar bears in the traditional way is the main occupation in the town and the surrounding settlements. Visit the Ultima Thule souvenir shop to buy genuine and original artwork and crafts from the Qaanaaq district.

Situated just over 845 miles from the North Pole, Siorapaluk is the northernmost settlement in the world. The settlement was founded in 1933 and is known for its beautiful surroundings and geology. Siorapaluk means ‘little sands’ and was named after the small sandy beach in front of the village. This is the northernmost landing on this trip, and you should not miss the opportunity to visit the church, museum, or the local shop.

Spend a day cruising along the ice edge and try to reach 80° North.

There is evidence of people living in the area now known as Dundas as far back as 900 years ago. Just north of Mount Dundas there are a number of excavation sites, including Comer’s Midden, where several house ruins and ‘middens’, archaeological dumping grounds containing domestic waste products including shells, animal bones, and other refuse, have been found. In 1910, the Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen founded a trading post here and in 1963, the area was officially designated as Thule, the 17th municipality of Greenland and the northernmost community in the world. However, the town has since been abandoned, and you can wander around the old settlement, taking in the ruins of this trading post, or walk to the other side of the peninsula to see the remains of the old turf huts from the former settlement.

Enjoy a day at sea where you can stay on deck to spot wildlife or attend a lecture given by the expedition team.

For centuries, the locals have migrated to Upernavik during the spring to take advantage of the rich hunting grounds. This small settlement lies at 72° 47' N and 56° 10' W, in Melville Bay, and everything is within walking distance. Many of the locals still go hunting and fishing – if you're walking through town keep an eye out for polar bear and seal skins! The town is also home to the world’s northernmost open-air museum. 

Today, you have a unique opportunity to witness the true power of nature on a visit to the Eqip Sermia Glacier, which calves icebergs into the open ocean. Use the ship’s expedition landing craft to go ashore in this beautiful area. If you're feeling more active, you can take a short hike on your own in the area. Everybody who goes ashore is invited to a barbecue dinner with a terrific view over the glacier.

Ilulissat is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2004. Just outside the town, at the mouth of the fjord, you can often see enormous icebergs that have run aground. They originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere. A variety of optional shore excursions are offered here, such as hikes, historic town walks, and a boat tour to the Icefjord.

Itilleq means ‘the hollow’, and as its name suggests, this small settlement is situated in a hollow, majestically surrounded by high mountains and glaciers. Located just over a mile north of the Arctic Circle, Itilleq is truly an Arctic Circle village. The 130 people who live here are mainly engaged in hunting and fishing occupations. The island has no fresh water, so its inhabitants have to use a facility that makes fresh water from sea water. The town’s church has an interesting history: It was built in Thule (Umanak, North Greenland) in 1930 and was moved to Itilleq in 1963.

As you reach Kangerlussuaq, your expedition with MS Spitsbergen has come to an end. Take the opportunity to join a final excursion to the Greenland ice sheet. This vast icy wasteland stretches 1,500 miles north and reaches heights of up to two miles – just under 10,500 feet –above sea level. The road to the edge of the ice sheet boasts beautiful natural scenery, ranging from Arctic desert and tundra with low-growing shrubs to hilly terrain offering breathtaking views over the landscape. Your plane to Copenhagen leaves late in the evening.

You arrive in the Danish capital early in the morning and hopefully have the time to explore "Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen" before you head home.