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Greenland Sailing Voyage - Disko Bay Whale Safari

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The iceberg encrusted waters that comprise Disko Bay on the Western side of Greenland are home to some of the world’s most incredible whales, a number of which can be observed all year round. Species that most often frequent Disko Bay include the Minke, Humpback, Beluga and Fin. This voyage seeks to provide opportunities to spot these amazing mammals, whilst sailing amidst the breathtaking landscapes of majestic glaciers and towering icebergs in this land of eternal ice. Your guides onboard will include Aqua-Firma Marine Scientist, Charlotte Caffrey, and Biologist and Greenland wildlife expert, Thor Hjarsen.

In the Spring time, Disko Bay is an area favoured by the endangered Bowhead (Greenland Right) whale, so called because of its bow-shaped mouth. Measuring up to 20 metres in length and weighing up to 80 tonnes, bowheads are characterised by their rows of baleen plates – larger than those of any other whale that it uses for feeding on plankton. Lacking a dorsal fin, bowheads are visible as just two bumps from above water. From mid May, bowheads leave Disko Bay and instead head north, from where this voyage joins them on their path to northern Baffin Bay.

In terms of the birdlife likely to be encountered, this sailing voyage will not disappoint. Long-tailed skuas, turnstones and grey phalaropes are most commonly spotted in colonies surrounding beautiful tundra landscapes backed by basalt cliffs. Meanwhile, at Naajat, zodiac cruising will enable the exploration of a kittiwake colony, comprising of more than 10,000 breeding pairs.

This Sailing Voyage begins and ends in Ilulissat, the location of the phenomenal 5 km wide Jakobshavn Glacier and the consequential Wonder of the Disco Bay region. Ilulissat is a quintessential Arctic town, characterised by its multicoloured wooden houses, dog sleighs and tanners. The importance of dogs in Greenland is clearly evident in Ilulissat, where the ratio of dogs to people is approximately 6,000 to 5,000.

With an existence subject to sea currents and drifting up to 25 m per day, the Jakobshavn Glacier is one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world. As the Northern hemisphere’s most prolific tidewater glacier, it produces around 10% of Greenland’s icebergs, which habitually break off and studs Disko Bay like a carpet of glistening jewels.

South of Jakobshavn Glacier, the summit of Avangnardlit will reward intrepid walkers with spectacular views across the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jakobshavn Isfjord.

One of this voyage’s planned landings is that of Disko Island, characterised by its basalt landscape of rock glaciers, carved lava plateaus, U-shaped valleys and fjords. Whilst sailing across to Disko Island is likely to provide opportunities to see bowhead whales, the abundance of hot springs around Fortune Bay offers a welcoming retreat.

A further landing includes delving into a slice of history at the foot of Eqip Sermia, the great glacier front where French explorer De Quervain built his station and ascended the ice cap back in the early 1900s. Greenland’s Thule culture can be explored upon reaching a small settlement on Hunde Eijland, where the remains of 11^th century dwellings and graves of 18^th century whalers can be witnessed.

Aboard a newly refurbished three-masted sailing schooner and with daily outings on the vessels two inflatable zodiacs, remote anchorage spots, narrow fjords and otherwise hard to reach locations become accessible.

The waters of Disko Bay are rich in marine life and we are hopeful that we will experience some good whale encounters on this voyage.

Expedition Cruise - Carbon Climate Neutral - Svalbard - Arctic Voyage - Greenland - Spitsbergen - Climate Change - Rainforest4Climate and Forest Credits Rainforest Concern - Responsible Travel holidays - Rembrandt

Day 1
We arrive in Aasiaat from Reykjavik by chartered plane. Aasiaat is a settlement which was created in the 17th century to support the whaling at the mouth of Disko Bay. The port is ice free from late spring to early winter.

Day 2
The island groups of Hunde Ejland and Kronprinsens Ejland, situated at the mouth of 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 Dutch whalers can be seen. Later we will make Zodiac excursions in the beautiful narrows of the Kronprinsens Ejland archipelago. Throughout the day we will have good opportunities to observe foraging Greenland Whales in the mouth of Disko Bay.

Day 3
We will have great opportunities to encounter Greenland Whales again today when we sail to Disko Island and land at Engelskmandens Havn and Fortunebay, situated near Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn) and home to springs.

Day 4
Today we sail to 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, including Narujuk and Modderbugt to observe a population of birds typical to 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. Those who fancy a bit of a hike may walk to Skansen, and re-join the ship there.

Day 5
At Naajat, on the north side of Oqaatsut, we sail with zodiacs along a Kittiwake colony of more than 10,000 breeding pairs. Near Anitdlagia we will have a good opportunity to go ashore and watch the Kittiwakes from land. At Langebugt we land and make an excursion to the beautiful lake of Eqaluernerit Taserssuat.

Day 6
Sailing through Ata Sund we reach the Eqip Sermia a great glacier front, where the French explorer De Quervain built his station and ascended to the icecap.

Day 7
Today we sail along the large Jakobshavn Glacier with its enormous icebergs. South of here we will climb the hill at Avangnardlit from where we will be rewarded by a fantastic view across the World Heritage Site of Jakobshavn Isfjord. In the afternoon we will call at Illulissat, provided we are not prevented access to the port by heavy ice.

Day 8
We arrive in Aasiaat and disembark after breakfast. At mid-day we will fly from Aasiaat to Reykjavik by chartered plane.