Greenland Semi-circumnavigation: The Final Frontier

Day 1 Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is a beautiful city perfect explorations on foot. Arrive early and enjoy the long summer evenings, before returning to your hotel to spend the night.

Day 2 Embarkation Day

Fly across the Arctic Circle on your group charter flight from Helsinki to Murmansk, where you board the polar-class icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov for an End of an Era voyage that makes a call in Svalbard and circumnavigates half of Greenland.

Day 3 At Sea

This is the final time that the polar-class icebreaker Kapitan Khlenbikov will cross the Barents Sea as an expedition vessel. In addition to the traditional presentations that prepare travelers for the shore landings to come, the Expedition Team will recount the vessel's exploits from the past. Special guest Peter Schmidt Mikkelsen will provide an introduction to the SIRIUS dog sled patrol - a special task force of the Royal Danish Navy in Greenland. Peter was a member of the patrol from 1977 to 1979.

Day 4 Ny Alesund, Spitsbergen

The archipelago of Svalbard is Norway's Arctic frontier. An international treaty was needed to cement the country's rule over the region. Crown corporations were established to exploit the natural resources of Svalbard. One such corporation, located in Ny Alesund, was responsible for the death of three miners, and brought down the Norwegian government in the mid 1960s. Over time the corporation has evolved from a mining company to one that manages infrastructure for the researchers that have take over the village. You'll have time to explore, but you will not be able to use wireless devices as they are banned.

Days 5-6 At Sea

As the Captain navigates the Greenland Sea, you will find the ship sailing the edge of the pack ice. The helicopters will provide you with an aerial view of the icebreaker crushing through the pack ice. When you are not flying, scan the ice edge for wildlife, for it is the habitat of walrus and polar bears.

Day 7 Danmarks Havn, Greenland

This small weather station operated by eight hardy souls is located about half way along the coast of Northeast Greenland National Park. You will cruise in Zodiacs through Dove Bugt (Greenlandic for bay) alert for polar bear and walrus.

Day 8 Shannon and Sabine Islands

As Quark Expeditions' flagship Kapitan Khlebnikov has earned an international reputation as an expedition vessel. So it is fitting that you will visit Shannon Island, named for the Royal Navy frigate that sailed valiantly during the Napoleonic and American wars. No less significant is that you will visit a hut built by Arctic explorers from the timbers of the expedition vessel Alabama. The vessel, at anchor off shore, was holed by ice and sunk. The two crew members left in charge of the ship constructed the hut to shelter the exploration party on its return.

Day 9 Daneborg and Eskimonaes

There are four permanent communities in the park. Daneborg Station is the largest with a population of 12 during the summer months. The hamlet is the headquarters of the Sirius Patrol, responsible for maintaining Danish sovereignty and policing Northern and Eastern Greenland. Special guest Peter Schmidt Mikkelsen will provide unique insight into the life of a patrol member. The unit, comprised of drivers and sled dogs, is a division of the Danish Navy. Each team of two men and 11 to 15 dogs carries between 350 (770 lbs) and 500 kilos (1100 lbs) of supplies for depot huts along their patrol routes.

After your visit to Daneborg, the ship will reposition to Eskimonaes, the former patrol headquarters, which was destroyed by German invaders during World War II. You'll visit the former headquarters and the remains of a Thule settlement, the ancestors of the native people of Greenland.

Day 10 Ella Island

Pack your knapsack carefully with binoculars and camera, because today you will climb to the summit of Ella Island for an outstanding view of five fjords and musk oxen grazing. At Blomsterbugra, you'll visit a trapper's hut and ramble to a freshwater lake.

Days 11-13 Scoresbysund

William Scoresby was a whaler, scientist and eventually a man of the cloth. In 1822, he charted the eastern coast of Greenland, lending his name to a massive and magnificent fjord that you will explore over the next few days.

Day 14 Ittoqqoortoormitt

The Greenlandic name for the community located at the mouth of Scoresby Sund means Big House. During your visit to the community, you'll discover that the local economy is based on hunting as sea ice makes commercial fishing difficult.

Day 15 At Sea

You'll leave the land of the midnight sun, crossing the Arctic Circle on a southbound course in the Denmark Strait. Recap sessions will focus on unusual moments that have occurred, while illustrated presentations prepare you for the activities to come.

Day 16 Tasiilaq

Ashore in the island of Ammassalik, you will visit its principal community - Tasiilaq. With about 1,800 inhabitants, it is the largest community in East Greenland. We have a number of activities planned including a hike. The area has an excellent reputation as a hiking destination.

Day 17 Bernstorfs Isfjord

South of Ammassalik are many fjords - deep, steep-walled valleys, along coastlines that have flooded with seawater. Explore one with a name that translates to ice fjord. In Greenland that indicates the excellent possibility that there is a glacier that calves icebergs at the head of the fjord. We will sail the fjord in search of newly minted glaciers. We will also seek a place to go ashore to hike. Hiking is always optional. If you would prefer to sit quietly and contemplate the beauty that surrounds you, please do.

Day 18 Nanortalik

This morning, we anticipate that the ship will round the southern tip of Greenland, one of the first regions to be inhabited by European settlers. The community and the island that you visit today bear the same name - Nanortalik. A hot spring in the area will tempt you to ease your tired legs after a tundra hike and a visit to a former Viking settlement.

Day 19 At Sea

Sailing northward along the coast of Greenland there will be magnificent vistas to photograph and seabirds to watch as they accompany the ship. As you sail up Sondre Stromfjord, you will, once again, cross the Arctic Circle, an appropriate end to the icebreaker's farewell semi-circumnavigation of Greenland.

Day 20 Kangerlussuaq

Guests will disembark and be transferred to the airport for the flight to Ottawa, Canada, to spend the night before boarding an independent flight home.