Greenland's West Coast in Luxury

Greenland's West Coast in Luxury 11 Days

Prices From £6,813pp
5 AUG, 2019 | Up to 10 nights

Greenland's West Coast in Luxury 11 Days

Aboard: Le Boreal

Aboard Le Boréal, on this 11 day expedition you will enjoy a combination of adventure and discovery in the company of an experienced team of naturalist guides, anthropologists, ornithologists and marine mammal specialists. From Reykjavik, you will touch the east coast of Greenland at Nansen Harbor, the departure point of the first ever crossing of the ice sheet by the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen. You will be able to disembark and walk along the first foothills of the ice sheet, a gigantic mass of frozen freshwater.

During your cruise and Zodiac® outings, you will have many opportunities to admire an abundant and varied fauna: seals, whales, orcas, not to mention the many species of seabirds. Your ship will then sail down the narrow Prins Christian Sund passage, which connects the south-east of Greenland to the south-west. Jagged mountains, rocky cliffs, waterfalls and floating ice form a wonderful wild landscape in which frolic colonies of bearded seals.

To the country’s west, you will sail amid the blue icebergs of the Narsaq region, and among the largest icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere in Ilulissat, before reaching the steep cliffs where nest the many birds in the fjord of Eternity.

Highlights

  • Discover western & southern Greenland in ultimate luxury
  • Enjoy shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with your naturalist guides
  • Sail along the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow, 100-km long passage that winds its way through cliffs and glaciers
  • Discover Disko Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you’ll see the largest icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere
  • Spectacular scenery with fjords, iridescent glaciers and icebergs, wild tundra, lakes, and mountain ranges
  • Get up close to wildlife including musk oxen, Arctic foxes, humpback whales, orcas, seals

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation on board, including bar/beverage service
  • Flight from Kangerlussuaq to Paris
  • Transfers between airport and ship
  • Zodiac cruises and shore excursions
  • Entertainment and expert lecture programme
  • Loan of rubber boots
  • Expedition parka

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Reykjavik
1Day

Reykjavik

Embark between 4pm and 5pm for departure at 6pm.

This attractive harbour city is located just a few kilometres from the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik Arriving by sea, you'll see fishing boats moored in Hafnarfjörður's baysᅠ and volcanic rocks; ᅠHafnarfjörður is built on an ancient field of lava flow. In the town centre, basalt rocks point you in the direction of the historic houses of Sivertsen and Siggubær : their interiors and period furniture bring old Iceland back to life before your very eyes. Not far from here is a spectacular coastal walk and warm geothermal pools.

At Sea
2Day

At Sea

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the professional photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Nansen Harbor
3Day

Nansen Harbor

Welcome to this small, sheltered bay on the east coast of Greenland some 200 km south of Tasiilaq, for a date with history and the ice. When your ship calls here, you will have the opportunity to visit the vestiges of ancient peat houses from the Thule civilisation. Then, after navigating through the ice, you will reach the departure point of the first ever crossing of the Greenland ice sheet, led in 1888 by Fridtjof Nansen, a great Norwegian polar explorer. This is a magical place where you can climb a gentle slope to reach the ice sheet’s first foothills and get a better idea of just how gigantic it is.

Skjoldungen
4Day

Skjoldungen

Discover Skjoldungen Island on the south-east coast of Greenland. This uninhabited land boasts magnificent landscapes that are sure to dazzle you. The island is surrounded by a stunning fjord, a distinctive feature of which is its double entrance: it forms a bend before joining the sea on the other side. Mountains, glacial valleys, rocky outcrops, tundra and willow forests make up the beautiful scenery which you will be able to admire more closely when you land here. At this port of call, surrounded by wild and pristine nature, it is quite common to see bearded seals, orcas, but also birds such as the common redpoll, the northern wheatear, or the common raven.

Prins Christian Sund
5Day

Prins Christian Sund

Your ship glides silently towards the Greenland coast, in a setting punctuated by pointed peaks and majestic glaciers… You are on the verge of crossing the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow channel that stretches out and zigzags over some one hundred kilometres between Greenland’s south-east and south-west. Fall under the spell of the primitive beauty of these unique landscapes, including rocky cliffs and waterfalls that are fed by the ice sheet and plunge into the icy waters. Here, bearded seals love to lie on the floating ice to soak up the sunshine. If you are lucky, you may get to witness an aurora borealis, a stunning light show put on by the polar night…

Narsaq
6Day

Narsaq

Discover the town of Narsaq. You will be dazzled by the beauty of the surrounding icebergs − large masses of ice in different shapes and shifting colours. Dominated by lush mountains, this small town is typical of Greenland. It is known for its sheep farming, made possible by the rich, grassy plains to the town’s north. This rather rare activity reflects a past and a technique inherited from the Vikings. Admire the stunning interplay of colours between the multicoloured house facades and the glaciers with their myriad shades of blue, and dive into the Scandinavian history of Narsaq by visiting the local museum. A unique experience.

Nuuk
7Day

Nuuk

When Erik the Red, the exiled Norse chief, landed on the coast of Nuuk, he found a fertile and welcoming land dotted with fjords. He settled there with a group of his former countrymen, and the Norse remained the principal inhabitants until, over a period of 500 years, their population declined and gave way to the Inuit. Nuuk is situated at the mouth of one of the largest networks of fjords in the world, where the waters never freeze. The town spreads gently out towards the Davis Strait and enjoys an historic center that is particularly rich in national heritage. The vivid reds, blues, greens and yellows of the houses are a lively contrast to the somber waters of Greenland and serve to lift the spirits of the locals during the Winter months.

Ilulissat
8 - 9Days

Ilulissat

At the heart of Disko Bay - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the Ilulissat Icefjord provides an extraordinary spectacle of almost surreal beauty, with the largest icebergs of the northern hemisphere. The sculptural icebergs continue their timeless journey, shimmering with their eternal light. Vast pieces of ice break off from the bergs and rejoin the inexorable movement of the sea. Close by lies the town of Ilulissat, the region’s principal destination. Encircled by icebergs, it has retained a unique mix of traditional Arctic life, with multicoloured wooden houses, huskies and the leather tanners who still work today using the ancient methods of their ancestors.

Evighedsfjorden
10Day

Evighedsfjorden

Your ship glides slowly along the water towards the west coast of Greenland, to enter Evighedsfjorden, just a few kilometres south of Kangerlussuaq. Evighedsfjorden means “the fjord of Eternity”, and for good reason: just when you think you’ve reached the end of this stretch of sea measuring over 100 kilometres in length, it seems to go on forever, as though to bring even more pleasure to those sailing in it. The spectacular scenery ranges from glaciers to tundra with an abundant flora, and jagged cliffs where numerous bird species have taken up residence. Take the time to observe the white-tailed eagles and the colonies of seagulls and black-legged kittiwakes flying overhead in the area.

Kangerlussuaq
11Day

Kangerlussuaq

Disembark and transfer to airport for flight to Paris.

From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometres from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons and eagles live.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Le Boreal
Luxury vessel

Le Boreal

Le Boreal is a purpose built, luxury expedition vessel which combines a private yacht style ambiance with gastronomic French cuisine and high standards of service. All suites are and staterooms are twin or double and have private balconies and bathrooms along with minibar, satellite TV, DVD, Ipod docks, wifi and direct dial satellite telephone. Public areas and amenities include passenger lifts fore and aft, restaurant, lounge with dance floor and bar, reception desk, shop, leisure area with Wii ans slot machines, clinic, theatre, hairdresser, fitness room, spa with massage, hamman and balneo treatments, grill and buffet restaurant, outdoor pool, panorama lounge and terrace with bar, library and internet room and plenty of deck space. The ship has a 1C ice classification for cruising in polar waters.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Arctic adventure for you.

Amy Lucas Travel Specialist

Having amassed a host of extraordinary adventures in destinations all over the world, Amy’s experience, skills and enthusiasm for helping clients plan their ideal itinerary will help make your holiday unforgettable, action packed and life-changing.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

With a lifetime of unforgettable nature and adventure based travel under his belt, Simon shares his passion, enthusiasm and hands-on experience to help create the perfect itinerary for every client.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

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0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

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callback

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

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Consultation

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