Greenland Encompassed - 12 Days

Greenland Encompassed - 12 Days

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Greenland Encompassed - 12 Days

12 Days Starting and ending in Reykjavik

Visiting: Copenhagen, Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq, Eqip Sermia, Ilulissat, Nuuk, Tunulliarfik Fjord, Prince Christian Sound, Skjoldungen, Reykjavík

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

2286/GREN

Specialist Group:

Family/Kids

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 198

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

12 or above

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests

Tour operated in:
English
Interests:

Beach Tours, History

Activities:

Shopping, Whale Watching

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Delve into the incredibly scenery, wildlife and Viking history of Greenland on this 12-day expedition cruise which starts with a flight from Copenhagen, Denmark and ends in Reykjavik, Iceland. Take in the world's most northern capital city, Nuuk, marvel at the colossal Eqip Sermia Glacier and visit the ruins of Brattahlid, founded by Erik the Red in the 10th century. Spot whales and seals in the untouched oceans, hike on the uninhabited island of Skjoldungen and cruise up the spectacular Prince Christian Sound.

Highlights

  • Eqip Sermia Glacier - sail as close as possible to this living wall of ice and watch as colossal icebergs crash into the waves below

  • Sisimiut - take a guided tour of Greenland's second city, which was founded in 1756 by Count Johan Ludvig Holstein

  • Ilulissat - explore the lively town at your own pace or opt for a thrilling helicopter ride over the Icefjord

  • Nuuk - visit the capital of Greenland, which is the world's most northern capital and is home to 17,000 people

  • Ivittuut - see the now abandoned cryolite mine which was crucial during the Second World War and was the location of a US army base

  • Eriksfjord - learn about the fascinating Viking history of Erik the Red, who founded the first settlement on Greenland here

  • Skjoldungen - hike on this uninhabited island which is abundant with flora and fauna as well as a now abandoned village

  • Prince Christian Sound - admire the spectacular mountains that rise up on either side of the 60km Sound, offering some of the best views in Greenland

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Fly To Greenland

Location: Copenhagen, Kangerlussuaq

Meals Included: Dinner

Copenhagen or Reykjavik - Kangerlussuaq (Greenland). In the afternoon, we board our chartered flights Copenhagen, Denmark or Reykjavik, Iceland bound for Kangerlussuaq in Greenland (both flight options are available, please contact us for more information).Upon arrival you will be transferred to the port. Arriving at the small port, we embark the Ocean Albatros expedition cruise ship. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and settle into your cabin as we make our way out of port and into the Kangerlussuaq Fjord to begin our Arctic adventure.

Facilities aboard the Ocean Albatros include a spacious restaurant serving international cuisine, two bars, a comfortable lounge area, and a library. Relax in the sauna or work out in the gym. There is also a lecture theatre where you can learn more about this part of the world. All of your meals onboard are included, and you can enjoy free snacks, tea and coffee. From the top deck you can keep your eyes peeled for marine life and watch sea birds swooping and wheeling over the ship.

Day 2 : Exploring Sisimiut

Location: Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kangerlussuaq - Sisimiut. This morning we dock at Sisimiut, Greenland's 'second city'. Enjoy a guided tour to highlights of the settlement including the historical colonial quarter, 18th century Blue Church and the oldest house in town. This dates back to 1756, when Count Johan Ludvig Holstein established a colony here, which he pompously named 'Holsteinsborg'.

After our tour, we set sail, heading north towards Disko Bay. Cruising on magical fjords, we pass small villages and towns on the coast. Keep your eyes peeled from the observation deck in search of whales and dolphins. As we are now in the Arctic Circle, the nights will be bright, and you can spot gigantic icebergs from the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord floating by in the late evening sun.

Day 3 : Disko Island & Eqip Sermia Glacier

Location: Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq, Eqip Sermia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sisimiut - Qeqertarsuaq - Eqip Sermia Glacier. Today we dock at the southern tip of Disko Island, in the natural harbour of Qeqertarsuaq. The town has a rich history, and was once an economic hub for the now-banned whaling industry. During our visit, we wander through town, taking in the octagonal church, multicoloured homes and fascinating local museum.

After a day of exploring Qeqertarsuaq, we set sail once again and head to the impressive Eqip Sermia Glacier, as far north as we will go on our trip. We'll get as close as we can to this giant sheet of ice, wary of icebergs breaking off and crashing into the sea below.

Day 4 : Ilulissat

Location: Eqip Sermia, Ilulissat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Eqip Sermia Glacier - Ilulissat. This morning we dock at Ilulissat, which literally translates to 'icebergs' in Greenlandic. There's an optional excursion to the UNESCO-listed Icefjord, where the enormous Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier calves icebergs at a rate of around 20 million tonnes per day. You may instead choose to take a flightseeing tour over the Icefjord (book locally, subject to availability).

Alternatively, you can explore Ilulissat, which is more than 250 years old. Approximately 4,500 people call the town home and it is a very welcoming and lively place to explore. Later in the day we leave Ilulissat behind and head out of Disko Bay to begin our return journey south.

Day 5 : At Sea

Location: Nuuk

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is spent cruising towards Nuuk. Listen to a fascinating lecture from the expedition team, watch a film about Arctic nature or head up to the observation deck to spot some wildlife yourself. Seabirds wheel over the deck and with a keen eye and a bit of luck, you may be able to see some of the 15 whale species that call Greenland home in the summer - including Humpbacks, Fin whales and Minke whales.

Day 6 : The Greenlandic Capital - Nuuk

Location: Ilulissat, Nuuk

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ilulissat - Nuuk. This morning we enter the Nukk Fjord where we have another good chance to spot the gentle giants of the sea - Humpback whales frequent these waters in the summer.

Docking at Nuuk, we have time to explore the historic capital of Greenland. Inhabited first by hardy hunter-gatherers, then by the Vikings, Norse and the Inuits, Nuuk has a rich history. Today the city is the largest settlement in Greenland by far, with a population of around 17,000. This makes it the most northern capital in the world. It is home to the Landsting (Parliament), the University of Greenland and the only shopping centre in Greenland. After exploring the city, we continue our journey south aboard Ocean Atlantic.

Day 7 : South Greenland & Erik The Red

Location: Nuuk, Tunulliarfik Fjord

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nuuk - Eriksfjord. Around lunch, we sail into Eriksfjord, which in Greenland is called Tunulliarfik. We throw anchor off Erik the Red's Brattahlíd settlement, where the Qassiarssuk village is today. Here we see, among other things, a reconstruction of Tjodhildur's church, which was the first church on the North American continent. There are also other ruins after the Norse people, which disappeared in the 1400s. Here one can really sense the path of history and wonder why the Norse people suddenly disappeared from Greenland.

It was from Brattahlíd that Erik and Tjodhildur's son Leif Eriksson set sail west and discovered Baffin Island, the Labrador coast and Newfoundland, before returning to South Greenland a few years later. Around lunch time we sail out of Eriksfjord close to Qooroq Isfjord.

Day 8 : Prins Christian Sund

Location: Tunulliarfik Fjord, Prince Christian Sound

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Eriksfjord - Prince Christian Sound. Reaching the southern tip of Greenland, we opt for a spectacular route through the Prince Christian Sound. This 60km long waterway is surrounded by steep mountainsides, interrupted only by the tiny village of Aappilattoq, population of around 100. There is also a now un-manned weather station along the route but mostly this area is a pristine wilderness, which makes for an amazing photo opportunity.

Day 9 : Skjoldungen Nature Hike

Location: Prince Christian Sound, Skjoldungen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Prince Christian Sound - Skjoldungen. Today's journey begins with Dronning Marie Dal in the area's northwestern corner to get a closer view of its interesting flora. Heading up the eastern coastline of Greenland, we make a landing on Skjoldungen, home to lush scenery, steep fjords and beautiful glaciers. The climate here is milder than one would expect and the conditions are perfect for a nature hike to take in some of the islands plants and animals. Hooded seals laze on the beaches and birds including the eider can be spotted. We will also see the abandoned village of Skjoldungen before departing Greenland aboard Ocean Albatros, as we begin to make our way back to Reykjavik.

Day 10 : At Sea, The Denmark Strait

Location: Skjoldungen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend your final full day aboard Ocean Albatros as we cross the Denmark Strait. Relax with a book in the library or listen to a lecture about Arctic wildlife or climatology. This evening we enjoy a farewell drink with the captain.

Day 11 : Reykjavik

Location: Skjoldungen, Reykjavík

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Skjoldungen - Reykjavik (Iceland). Today we reach our final destination, Reykjavik. After a final breakfast onboard, our cruise comes to an end as you disembark.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Ocean Atlantic expedition cruise ship

  • 11 nights aboard the Ocean Atlantic expedition cruise ship in a shared outside double cabin with private facilities

  • 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 11 dinners

  • Economy class flight from Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq

  • Services of the ship captain and crew and an English-speaking expedition team

  • Services of English-speaking guides at sites of interest

  • All guided sightseeing and excursions as per itinerary

  • Full board on the ship, afternoon snacks, free tea and coffee daily

  • Special photo workshop and a digital visual journey to remember your trip

  • Lectures from the expedition team onboard

  • Taxes and port fees

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What's Not Included

  • International flights and visa

  • Tipping - an entirely personal gesture

  • Any meals not onboard the ship & any drinks (excluding tea and coffee)

  • Pre and post tour accommodation, plus any airport or port transfers

  • Optional excursions

Age Policy

12 or above

Accommodation

Ocean Albatros



Having made her debut in November 2022 the Ocean Albatros is one of the most popular expedition cruise vessels in the world. With the highest Polar code 6 and Ice class 1A, the Ocean Albatros is ideal for small-ship expedition cruising in the Arctic, with a sturdy construction offering high stability in rough weather. For shore landings the ship has 18 motorized rubber ‘Zodiac’ boats, taking you to exciting areas that the larger vessel can't reach. This state-of-the-art vessel is also part of a new generation of low-energy vessels, ensuring it's environmentally friendly with a 50% lower carbon footprint than traditional expedition ships.



There are 95 comfortable cabins and suites on board, including 12 single cabins. All of the cabins are spacious with an en suite bathroom, sofa and a TV, with either portholes or windows, offering an unobstructed sea view. The higher category of cabins also have their own balcony.



On board you can soak up the scenery and spot wildlife from the viewing deck and observation lounge or head to the Sunpool Deck to enjoy the jacuzzi and pool bar. The spa boasts a unique panorama sauna and there's a gym if you want to work up a sweat. Enjoy tasty international cuisine in the two on board restaurants and relax with a drink in the Nordic bar after an incredible day spotting giant glaciers and icebergs.

Check out our Q&As

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this Operator

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
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The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

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Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

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Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

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16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)  

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Rolly Hay hay (Google Reviewer)  

Gallipoli tour. The guide was...

28-Sep-2023

Gallipoli tour. The guide was awesome. Everything went like clockwork.. My complaint is that you expect 4 people to cramp together on the back seat of the van for 4 hours. That is poverty travel. Not really acceptable for the price paid. So uncomfortable. If was to do this trip again I'd just rent a car. Although the guide was amazing, but that's 3 hours of the trip.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

Giovanni Guidi (Google Reviewer)  

I booked three tours with...

19-Aug-2023

I booked three tours with this agency. While the first two experiences were very nice, with well-thought-out itineraries and knowledgeable guides, the third tour was an absolute nightmare for us. Due to the unavailability of an hotel from the trip notes, the agency opted to replace it with another they claimed was "similar." To our dismay, this alternative was nothing short of a decrepit, filthy establishment that threatened to ruin our entire safari experience in South Africa. But the fiasco didn't end there. This so-called hotel began proposing and organizing activities starkly different from what we were promised in the trip notes, together with an awful services of their guides and vehicles. And when this disaster struck and we desperately needed their support? The agency ghosted us. It took them an entire day to respond, and when they did, they simply shrugged off our concerns, asserting it was too late to fix anything, even though three nights of our trip were still ahead. The level of unprofessionalism was staggering. Forced to salvage our experience, we took matters into our own hands, leaving that awful place to book another hotel and activities for the remainder of our trip—all at my own expense. Based on my experience, I suggest travelers to think twice before considering this agency. Seek out reputable companies known for their commitment to customer service and integrity.

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    On The Go Tours allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform on the go tours, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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