Disko Bay to Upernavik Cruise
View Trip Notes
Travelling from Ilulissat to Upernavik through Disko Bay makes perfect sailing with whales to watch for, amazing scenery and birdlife. This trip leaves Ilulissat and takes 10 days to explore the West Coast of Greenland, landing at Upernavik.
S/V ‘Rembrandt Van Rijn’ was built as a herring lugger early last century. The vessel was rebuilt as a three-mast passenger sailing schooner in The Netherlands in 1994 and sailed in Spitsbergen (1994 – 1996) and in Galápagos (1998 - 2001). The vessel underwent a complete rebuilding and refurbishment program in 2011. The communication and navigation equipment has been completely revamped according to the latest SOLAS regulations.
The Rembrandt van Rijn measures 56 meters in length (168 ft.), 7 meters in width and has a draft of 2, 5 meters. The maximum engine speed is 9 knots. She has an experienced crew of 10 on board including two tour guides. The ship can accommodate a maximum of 34 passengers in 17 twin cabins (1 Twin Shared cabin with porthole (shared shower and toilet), 6 Twin Private Inside cabins (with shower and toilet, no porthole), 10 Twin Private cabins (with shower and toilet and porthole). A spacious restaurant on board the vessel allows all passengers to have their meals at the same time. The vessel furthermore consists of a separate bar including a reading table. The ship is well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offers good open deck viewing areas, even when under sail. The two inflatable rubber crafts (zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas.
Deckplan
Click here to view deck plan for the Rembrandt Van Rijn
Arrive into Ilulissat on charted flight from Iceland
Sail along Jakobshavn Glacier
Land at Kugangup ivnarta
Approach High Arctic waters at Uummannaq
Experience Karajak Nunatak
Make a landing at Ukalik
Visit the settlement Uvkusigssat
Circumnavigate Upernivik Island
Reach Svartenhuk Halvø and visit Puffin Colonies
Watch for Whales near Upernavik
Departure day from Upernavik
Countries visited
Places visited
Transportation
aboard S/V ‘Rembrandt Van Rijn’
Included In Price
* Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.* All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
* All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
* Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
* Transfers and baggage handling between airport and ship in Greenland harbours on the chartered group flights.
* All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
* AECO fees and governmental taxes.
* Comprehensive pre-departure material.
Meals Included
This tour includes 29 meals; 10 breakfasts 9 lunches 10 dinners
Not Included In Price
Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post land arrangements; transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is mandatory); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).Note:It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 90 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US Dollar 25 per passenger per night, to be paid by the contracting party of Oceanwide Expeditions.
| Start | End | Twin - shared bath | Twin private inside | Twin Private Porthole | |
| 18 Jun 2013 | 28 Jun 2013 | AU$ 3920 | AU$ 4270 | AU$ 4620 | |
| Aasiaat to Upernavik | |||||
| 28 Jun 2013 | 8 Jul 2013 | AU$ 3920 | AU$ 4270 | AU$ 4620 | |
| Upernavik to Aasiaat | |||||
| 12 Sep 2013 | 20 Sep 2013 | AU$ 2170 | AU$ 3640 | AU$ 2730 | |
| Upernavik to Disko Bay - this itinerary is for 9 days. | |||||
Day 1: Arrive into Ilulissat on charted flight from Iceland
We arrive in Ilulissat from Reykjavik by chartered plane. Ilulissat (5000 inhabitants) is an important West Greenland town, with museums, institutes, bookstores, etc.
Accommodation
aboard Rembrandt van RijnMeals Included
1 x DinnersDay 2: Sail along Jakobshavn Glacier
Today we sail along the large Jakobshavn Glacier with its enormous ice-bergs. South of it we climb the hill at Avangnardlit from where we have a fantastic view across the Jakobshavn Isfjord, which is a World Heritage site.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 3: Land at Kugangup ivnarta
At the north side of Disko Island we land at Kugangup ivnarta, a seabird cliff at the east side of a valley with a row of Pingo's (periglacial phenomena), where we will take a walk into the valley.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 4: Approach High Arctic waters at Uummannaq
At Uummannaq, we approach High Arctic waters. Seal hunting is still an important source of income for the local people and they also have many dogs which haul their sledges in winter. We will also visit the nearby Qilakitsoq site, on the north coast of the Nuussuaq Peninsula, where some years ago a family of mummified Thule culture people from the 15th century was found.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 5: Experience Karajak Nunatak
In Karajak Isfjord we see the Karajak Nunatak, where Drygalski did his geographic 2000 research and wintered at the end of the 19th Century surrounded by enormous glaciers and ice-bergs.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 6: Make a landing at Ukalik
Through a maze of fjords and straits with huge ice-bergs and among high mountain sides we work our way north looking for opportunities to make a landing at Ukalik or Iliarssuit where remains of Thule culture dwellings can be found.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 7: Visit the settlement Uvkusigssat
In the settlement Uvkusigssat, the German explorer Wegener had his base from where he ventured to the Greenlandic ice-cap. Later that day we will land at the head of the fjord, where he began his ascent of the ice-cap. The glacier Scheideck which 80 years ago ended at the coast has retreated about 10 km inland. In the same area we will see Marmorilik with the Black Angel Mine for zinc and lead high in the mountains.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 8: Circumnavigate Upernivik Island
Today we circumnavigate Upernivik ø and sail through narrow fjords surrounded by mountains of over 2000m and glaciers at all sides. We land in Illorsuit on Ubekendt Ejland, where the American Rockwell Kent made his famous painting of Greenlandic life, a century ago.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 9: Reach Svartenhuk Halvø and visit Puffin Colonies
We reach Svartenhuk Halvø, where we land at Svartenhavn. We will walk on an extensive tundra, dotted with lakes, where we will encounter ducks and geese and Muskoxen. Later we land at Lille Fladø, where a big colony of Arctic Terns and small colonies of Puffins, Black Guillemots and Little Auks survive.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 10: Watch for Whales near Upernavik
At Agparssuit at the south side of Qaersorssuaq we visit two small colonies of Brünnich Guillemots and on Hvalø a Puffin colony. In these waters we often have seen whales. From there we sail to Upernavik the main town in Northwest Greenland, where we will have an opportunity to experience Greenlandic culture.
Meals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 12: Departure day from Upernavik
Breakfast on board in Upernavik and then prepare for the return flight to Reykjavik by chartered plane.