On the first day of your expedition, board your flights bound for Kangerlussuaq on the west coast of Greenland.

Situated at the head of a 160km long fjord of the same name, Kangerlussuaq is Greenland's only inland town and was established as Søndrestrom Air Base/Blue West-8 by American troops in 1941. Existing mainly to service the airport, the village of Kangerlussuaq itself retains a strong 'Cold War' feeling, hinting at its extensive American military use before it was signed over to the Greenlandic Government in 1992. Today, Kangerlussuaq is Greenland's largest air hub, with daily flights from Denmark and around the country. Its stable climate and lack of fog make it ideal as an airport. Still, it exhibits some of the most varied temperatures in the country, commonly registering the highest summer and lowest winter temperatures due to its inland location. 

Upon arrival in Kangerlussuaq, transfer to the small port west of the airport, where the Ocean Albatros awaits at anchor. Zodiacs will transfer you to the ship and check in to your stateroom. After the mandatory safety drill, enjoy dinner and a glass of champagne as you sail on a course for an adventure through the 160-kilometer Kangerlussuaq fjord.

After breakfast, Ocean Albatros will arrive in the colorful city of Sisimiut. With around 5,400 inhabitants, it is Greenland's second-largest city and one of the most interesting to explore. Paleo-Inuit people have lived around Sisimiut on and off since 2,500 BC, arriving in waves of migration from Arctic Canada. Remnants of turf huts and tent camps from this time can be found throughout the vast backcountry surrounding Sisimiut, including Tele Island, a short, pleasant walk from the harbor. 

1756 Count Johan Ludvig Holstein established a colony here and called it "Holsteinsborg." The oldest part of Sisimiut features townhouses from this era and the oldest dates back to 1756. One of the most culturally significant buildings is the Blue Church, built in 1775. Now a landmark in the city's historic museum district, it is arguably the best preserved in Greenland and the perfect place to discover the Greenland of old. 

Nowadays, Sisimiut is an important hub of education and industry, and local factories process the bulk of fish caught in the country (Greenland's most significant export). The fish processing plant in the harbor is one of the largest in Greenland and among the most modern in the world. Just beyond the harbor sits the headquarters of KNI, the government-operated company that resupplies the many small settlements throughout Greenland - a vital service in a country with so many remote communities. 

The busy city center of Sisimiut offers a glimpse of daily life in 21st-century Greenland, where seal hunts and smartphones collide. Take a refreshing stroll around Spedjesø and take in an exhibition at the city's cultural center, Taseralik, explore the region's fascinating heritage at the city museum, or visit the Artists Workshop, where savvy shoppers can purchase traditional artworks directly from the artist. As evening falls, leave Sisimiut and set a course for the iceberg-studded waters of Disko Bay (Qeqertarsuup Tunua) as Ocean Albatros sails for Qeqertarsuaq.

Nestled below Disko Island's 1,000-meter mountains, pull into port in a beautifully sheltered natural harbor. The place was aptly named Godhavn ("Good Harbour") in Danish, while its Greenlandic name, "Qeqertarsuaq," means "The Big Island." 

For most of Greenland's modern history, Godhavn was the political and economic capital of North Greenland (while Godthåb, now Nuuk, served this role in Southern Greenland). Its importance was due to the vast economic activity generated by whaling in Disko Bay, the preeminent Arctic industry since the 16th Century. As the whaling industry collapsed in the early 1900s, Godhavn lost its political status as all government functions moved south to Godthåb/Nuuk, and the town was forced to reinvent itself, changing its name to Qeqertarsuaq in 1979. Today, hunting and fishing are the primary industries in Qeqertarsuaq, while tourism is becoming increasingly important. Ferries arrive in the town daily in summer from around Disko Bay, while in winter, access is only by helicopter from nearby Ilulissat. 

Qeqertarsuaq's sweeping red-and-black basalt mountains radically differ from the rolling granite hills that characterize much of Greenland and provide much richer soil. Despite being situated well above the Arctic Circle, this rich volcanic soil and the area's mild microclimate make it much greener and lusher than the rest of the country. Locals from all over Disko Bay come to the island in summer to hunt and collect angelica, herbs, and mushrooms, and the stunning rock formations and black sand beaches attract visitors from all over the world. The town is typically Greenlandic, with quaint multicolored homes, a splendid museum, and the unique octagonal church nicknamed 'God's Inkpot' (built in the Norwegian stave style). With excellent hiking opportunities, friendly locals, and a fascinating place in regional history, Qeqertarsuaq has a lot to offer.

On the afternoon of your day on Disko Island, the ship will reposition slightly to the east and launch the fleet of Zodiacs to explore the coast of Kuannit. Kuannit means 'Angelica' in Greenlandic, referring to the herb that grows abundantly on the rich south-facing slopes of the island. This stretch of coastline is one of Greenland's best-kept secrets; with lush greenery dripping with water from mountain springs, spectacularly weird basalt rock formations riddled with caves and waterfalls, and plenty of sapphire-blue icebergs, this section of coast is one of the most spectacular in the Arctic. 

From Kuannit, set a northerly course towards Uummannaq.

The small city of Uummannaq sits perched precariously at the foot of a massive mountain. Like the rest of the area, the mountain reaches vertically out of the icy depths, punching 1170m into the clear blue sky. Uummannaq mountain (translated from Greenlandic as “heart-shaped”) is a true Greenlandic icon and a mecca for climbers worldwide. The city occupies a small area of flatter ground at the foot of the mountain, founded by Danish colonists in 1763 – some of the original buildings from this era can still be visited in the harbor-front area. More recently, Uummannaq has become famous in Scandinavia as the home of Santa Claus – the small turf house belonging to the festive hero himself can be reached via a pleasant (if challenging) 2-3h hike out of town. 

As for many towns in Greenland, however, the Inuit history of the area reaches back much further. At some point around the year 1600, a group of Inuit women and children died in the area (possibly in a boating accident). They were lovingly laid to rest in a rocky cairn under a cliff on the mainland overlooking Uummannaq at a site called Qilakitsoq, protected from the rain and snow but exposed to the dry Arctic wind, which mummified their bodies. They were rediscovered in 1972 by two brothers from Uummannaq (possibly on the advice of elders in Uummannaq, who had preserved rumors of the site for centuries). The mummies were taken to Denmark for analysis before being returned to Greenland, where they still rest in the National Museum in Nuuk today. The small museum in Uummannaq did not have the facilities to house such a significant find. Still, several artifacts, such as clothing from the archaeological site (as well as a plethora of finds from before, during, and after the Qilakitsoq period), are displayed, along with a cabinet of curiosities from the city’s brief mining boom. 

Uummannaq itself is a lively little town. Expect to see enterprising locals selling handicrafts in the grassy town square while others sell their catch in the local fish market - always a fascinating sight. Watch fishermen bait their long lines as they search for halibut or load up with provisions for hunting trips deep into the vast fjordlands outside town.

Ensure you are on Ocean Albatros’ outer decks during your sail-out from Uummannaq – the deep, clear blue iceberg-studded waters of the fjord and the dramatic vertical mountains around the city offer some of the best views in Greenland. With a calm microclimate and round-the-clock summer sunshine, not for nothing is this staggeringly beautiful area nicknamed the Greenlandic Riviera!

From Uummannaq, return to the heart of Disko Bay, setting sail towards Eqip Sermia. 

Eqip Sermia (a typically descriptive Greenlandic name meaning 'the Glacier at the End of the Fjord') is a relatively small glacier compared to many in Greenland. However, a vast river of ice still flows directly from the Greenland Ice Sheet. It is also one of the most active, and ice constantly tumbles off the vast glacier front. Watching the immense cataracts of ice fall into the ocean is a sight that has to be seen to be believed, and the comfortable viewing decks of Ocean Albatros offer the best possible platform to do so. Perhaps with a specially crafted cocktail in hand! 

If conditions allow, launch the fleet of Zodiacs to approach this vast river of ice and hopefully experience the roar of the glacier's frequent calvings at sea level (from a safe distance, of course)! 

From Eqip Sermia, the ship repositioned slightly southwards during the evening towards Ilulissat, the largest city in Disko Bay and the Iceberg Capital of the World.

This is it. This is why visitors from all over the world come to Greenland. Translated from Kalaallisut simply as ‘icebergs,’ Ilulissat has rightly known the world over as ‘the Iceberg Capital of the World.’ Indeed, no other city on Earth occupies such a spectacular natural setting. 

Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland’s most famous site, is within a short walk of the harbor. Choked with city-sized icebergs so closely packed one could almost walk across to the other side, Ilulissat Icefjord stretches 70 km from its outlet in Disko Bay near the city of Ilulissat back to the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. This is the largest glacier on Earth outside Antarctica, draining 13% of the Greenland Ice Sheet and producing 10% of all the ice in the Northern Hemisphere (enough water to supply the annual needs of the entire United States). These mind-blowing statistics and the indescribably beautiful scenery have secured the Ilulissat Icefjord designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

While archaeological finds detail the long Inuit habitation of the area, the modern town has steadily flourished in the 280 years since its establishment; legendary Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen was born in Ilulissat, and his childhood home now houses the city museum. Today, Ilulissat is Greenland’s third largest town, with more than 4,500 inhabitants, and is undoubtedly Greenland’s tourism capital, with more hotel rooms than even Nuuk. The city offers visitors excellent amenities, fresh locally caught seafood served in the city’s cafes and restaurants, and excellent shopping – look out, especially for the Artist’s Workshop above the harbor, where you can buy handmade artworks directly from the artist. The city typically experiences dry, sunny weather throughout the summer, and there are a variety of well-marked hiking routes around the Icefjord, with options to suit all abilities. 

During the visit, you can take a boat trip with a local captain to the Icefjord (optional excursion – charge applies). The journey takes about two and a half hours and is considered the best way to experience the magic of Ilulissat Icefjord up close. Suppose a hike or a trip by boat does not present enough excitement. In that case, there is also the opportunity to join a flightseeing excursion in fixed-wing aircraft over the Icefjord (optional excursion – charge applies).

Please note the boat and flight excursions to the Icefjord are not included in the general tour price. Refer to Price Information for further details.

The settlement of Itilleq, which translates roughly as "the Crossing Place from the Sea," nestles at the foothills of the mountains and fjords that line central Greenland's backcountry. Situated just north of the Arctic Circle, Itilleq is one of the many tiny villages dotting the coast of Greenland. The settlement is located in the heart of the Aassivisuit-Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed due to its ancient Inuit hunting heritage, documenting the entire habitation history of Greenland.

While colorful modern houses have replaced turf houses and hide tents, the lifestyle here has changed little since the Inuit first arrived in Greenland. The local highways are the water and the ice, and the sea and tundra continue to nourish the locals as they have for thousands of years. Arctic char, reindeer, and muskoxen are typical catches and plentiful in the area. 

Despite this ancient heritage, locals in Itilleq are still firmly in the modern world, with smartphones, speedy Wi-Fi, and satellite TV. However, the people of Itilleq remain proud of their ancient heritage and continue moving their culture forward in a modern, fast-paced world. Locals are pleased to show off their picturesque town, and visitors are greeted with warm Greenlandic hospitality.

After departing Itilleq, head slightly south and enter the 160km-long Kangerlussuaq Fjord.

During the night, sail up the 160-kilometer/100-mile Kangerlussuaq Fjord. After breakfast aboard the ship, bid a fond farewell to the ship's crew, Expedition Team, and fellow travelers before shuttling ashore by Zodiac.

Due to Kangerlussuaq's military history and present-day role as an essential air travel hub, Kangerlussuaq remains relatively isolated from Greenland's rich cultural traditions compared to other regions. While you still find cultural experiences when visiting Kangerlussuaq, the most impressive attraction is the surrounding nature, which is just beckoning to be explored. The American military essentially constructed the town in the 1950s, and this small airport town retained something of its Cold War atmosphere. Your Arctic adventure and time in Greenland conclude as you board the flight from Kangerlussuaq back to the southern world.