Greenland with course south, 2024

Expedition trip from Ilulissat to Narsarsuaq

Cape Race Grönland Westküste

From Ilulissat in the north, you explore down the coast of West Greenland, all the way to Narsarsuaq, in the south. An expedition along a wild, extremely lonely coast. You start in the middle of the largest iceberg field in the Northern Hemisphere, Disko Bay, with its thousands of majestic giants.

On the coming 1000 kilometres, with numerous trips into deep fjords to spectacular glaciers and small, remote Inuit settlements, you will explore this coast with the small, comfortable “Cape Race” to the most remote areas, where only silence and the majesty of nature prevail. In the south, almost unreal green pastures await you, the small settlement of Qassiarsuk.

The trip will be accompanied by Heike Ollertz, who will offer a photography course during this trip for travelers interested in nature and landscape photography. In addition to technical and compositional introductions and lectures, as well as image reviews, photographic positions from the region will also be presented.

About: Photographer Heike Ollertz

Heike Ollertz, a professor of photography for many years, has published countless travel reports as a freelance photographer for magazines such as mare, GEO, Stern, Lufthansa and many others, as well as several illustrated books over the past 25 years. She is a member of the DGPh, is represented in Hamburg by the Focus agency and, as managing director, heads FREELENS e.V., the largest association for photographers in Germany.

  Heike Ollertz

The planned itinerary

Ice conditions and wind determine the daily schedule of the expedition. The itineraries mentioned here are therefore exemplary.

Day 1: Arrival in Iceland
Your Greenland journey starts with your arrival in Iceland. You will fly from your home airport to Keflavik (the airport of Reykjavik) in Iceland, where you will spend one night.

Day 2: Ilulissat
Today you fly from Keflavik to Ilulissat. Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

Day 3: Embarkation in Ilulissat
In the afternoon, the small, cosy “Cape Race”, with only 12 guests, awaits you in the harbour. After a warm welcome from the crew and the obligatory safety briefing, you will move into your cosy cabins and the ship will set off to explore the bay for the first time.

Day 4 and Day 5: Natural wonder Disko Bay
Depending on the weather, we hike e.g. to Sermermiut, (“Inhabitants of the Glacier”), the old, abandoned settlement, north of Ilulissats, with a fantastic view over the famous ice fjord, or watch the thunderous breaking off of the ice masses from the glacier Eqip Sermia. And we always glide past hundreds of majestic icebergs that sparkle in the sun in all shades of colour.

Day 6 – Day 15: Course South
On the journey south, the swell and weather determine each day anew whether or how deep we sail a fjord, or whether we visit a remote, small Inuit settlement. Fortunately, the nature on this coast is so diverse that there are countless possibilities. We visit the 300-strong village of Kangaamiut, which can only be reached by boat once a week. Behind Kangaamiut, the legendary Eternity Fjord penetrates deep inland between high mountains. We glide past these until we reach the glacier, which we hike up to.
Again and again we can observe humpback whales, seals or sea eagles, or we sight icebergs. Or we try to go as deep as possible through the pack ice into the Nigerdlikasik Fjord to watch (and hear!) the calving of the glacier at its end from a safe distance.

Day 16: In the Eriksfjord
In the far south of Greenland’s west coast, it becomes increasingly green and you will be able to understand why Erik the Red settled Greenland here around 985. Deep in the safe Eriksfjord he founded the settlement of Brattahlio with the first church built on Greenland, the foundation walls of which can still be found today. We take the robust and manoeuvrable Zodiac boats to the old settlement and visit Tjodhilde’s church.

Day 17: Return flight from Narsarsuaq to Iceland
Disembarkation on “Cape Race” in Narsarsuaq and return flight to Iceland. Overnight in Keflavik airport.

Day 18: Return flight to your home town or extension in Iceland
Today you can take the return flight to your home airport. Alternatively, an individual programme extension in Iceland is possible – we will be happy to advise you.

         
Dates 2024
Time on Board: 14 days / 13 nights
(📷 including photo course)
PRICE PER PERSON IN EURO
Triple cabin shower/WC Double cabin
double bed
shower/WC
Double cabin
twin bed
shower/WC
Single cabin
shower/WC
12.08.2024 – 28.08.2024
(MARE 17-24)
booked up booked up booked up booked up

Included in the tour price

  • Nature cruise on board the “Cape Race” (15 days / 14 nights), as described
  • One overnight stay at the airport in Keflavik before the flights to and from Greenland in a good mid-range hotel, breakfast included
  • One overnight stay in Ilulissat (Greenland) before embarkation in a good middle class hotel, breakfast included
  • Full board on board incl. soft drinks
  • Flights from / to Germany, Switzerland or Austria in economy class to Keflavik (Iceland) and return
  • Flight from Keflavik to Ilulissat and return from Narsarsuaq to Keflavik in Economy Class
  • All shore excursions during the cruise
  • German-speaking tour guide on board

Services not included in the cruise price

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and personal expenses
  • Any costs for medical tests (for example COVID-19) or vaccinations required either by a government agency or by the tour operator before, during or after the cruise.

Notes

All scheduled landings are subject to local weather and ice conditions. The itinerary and programme are expressly subject to change. Completion of various questionnaires is mandatory.

Mobility notice

We are obliged to point out that this trip is generally not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. In individual cases, please contact us.

 

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Cape Race Route Greenland
  • German-speaking guided nature cruise
  • Months of travel: August 2024
  • Embarkation: Ilulissat (Greenland)
  • Disembarkation: Narsarsuaq (Greenland)
  • Length of stay on board: 14 days/ 13 nights
  • Max. number of participants: 12 passengers12 Passagiere