Disko Bay - M/V Ocean Albatros

Situated at the head of a 160km long fjord of the same name, Kangerlussuaq is Greenland's only inland town, and was established as Søndrestrom Air Base in 1941. Upon arrival in Kangerlussuaq, you will be transported to the small port located west of the airport, where the Ocean Albatros awaits. Zodiacs will transfer you the short distance to the ship, where you will be checked in to your stateroom. After the mandatory safety drill, enjoy dinner and a glass of champagne as we set sail through the 160-kilometre Kangerlussuaq fjord.

After breakfast, we will arrive in the colourful city of Sisimiut. With around 5,400 inhabitants, it is Greenland's second largest city, and one of the most interesting to explore. Paleo-Inuit people have lived around Sisimiut on and off since 2,500 BC, arriving in waves of migration from Arctic Canada. Remnants of turf huts and tent camps from this time can be found thorughout the vast back country which surrounds Sisimiut, including on Tele Island, a short pleasant walk from the harbour. In 1756, Count Johan Ludvig Holstein established a colony here and called it Holsteinsborg. The oldest part of Sisimiut features town houses from this era, and the oldest dates back to 1756. One of the most culturally significant buildings is the Blue Church, built in 1775, now a landmark in the city's historical museum district and arguably, the best preserved in Greenland and the perfect place to discover the Greenland of old. The busy city centre of Sisimiut offers a glimpse of what daily life is like in 21st-century Greenland, where seal hunts and smartphones collide. Take a refreshing stroll around Spedjesø and take in an exhibition at the city's cultural centre Taseralik, explore the region's fascinating heritage at the city museum, or visit the Artists Workshop, where savvy shoppers can purchase traditional artworks direct from the artist. As evening falls, we will leave Sisimiut and set a course for the iceberg studded waters of Disko Bay, as we set a course for Qeqertarsuaq.

Nestled below Disko Island's 1,000-metre mountains, we pull into port in a beautifully sheltered natural harbour. The place was aptly named Godhavn, or Good Harbour, in Danish while its Greenlandic name Qeqertarsuaq simply means - the Big Island. For most of Greenland's modern history, Godhavn was the political and economic capital of North Greenland. Its importance was due to the vast economic activity generated by whaling in Disko Bay, the preeminent Arctic industry since the 16th Century. As the whaling industry collapsed in the early 1900s, Godhavn lost its political status as all government functions moved south to Nuuk, and the town was forced to reinvent itself, changing its name to Qeqertarsuaq in 1979 . Today, hunting and fishing are the main industries in Qeqertarsuaq, while tourism is becoming increasingly important. Ferries arrive in the town daily in summer from around Disko Bay, while in winter, access is only by helicopter from nearby Ilulissat.

Qeqertarsuaq's sweeping red-and-black basalt mountains are radically different to the rolling granite hills which characterize much of Greenland, and provide a much richer soil. Despite being situated well above the Arctic Circle, this rich volcanic soil and the area's mild microclimate, make it much more green and lush compared to the rest of the country. Locals from all over Disko Bay come to the island in summer to hunt and collect angelica, herbs and mushrooms, and the stunning rock formations and black sand beaches attract visitors from all over the world. The town itself is typically Greenlandic, with quaint multicoloured homes, a splendid museum, and the unique octagonal church nicknamed 'God's Inkpot' -built in the Norwegian stave style. With excellent hiking opportunities, friendly locals, and a fascinating place in regional history, Qeqertarsuaq has a lot to offer. In the afternoon, we hope to launch our Zodiacs to explore the coast of Kuannit. This stretch of coastline is one of Greenland's best kept secrets; with lush greenery dripping with water from mountain springs, spectacular basalt rock formations riddled with caves and waterfalls, and plenty of sapphire-blue icebergs, this section of coast is one of the most spectacular in the Arctic. From Kuannit, we will set a northerly course, towards Uummannaq.

The small city of Uummannaq sits perched precariously at the foot of a massive mountain. Like the rest of the area, here the mountain reaches vertically out of the icy depths, punching 1170m into the clear blue sky. Uummannaq mountain, translated from Greenlandic as heart shaped, is a true Greenlandic icon and is a mecca for climbers who visit from all over the world. The city itself occupies a small area of flatter ground at the foot of the mountain, founded by Danish colonists in 1763 - some of the original buildings from this era can still be visited in the harbour-front area. More recently, Uummannaq has become famous in Scandinavia as the home of Santa Claus - the small turf house belonging to the festive hero himself can be reached via a pleasant (if challenging) 2-3h hike out of town.

Uummannaq itself is a lively little town. Expect to see enterprising locals selling handicrafts in the grassy town square, while others sell their catch in the local fish market - always a fascinating sight. Watch fishermen bait their long lines as they head out in search of halibut, or load up with provisions for hunting trips deep into the vast fjordlands outside town. As we sail out from Uummannaq, ensure that you are on the outer decks - the deep clear blue iceberg-studded waters of the fjord and the dramatic vertical mountains around the city offer some of the best views in Greenland. With a calm microclimate and round-the-clock summer sunshine, it's no surprise that this staggeringly beautiful area has been nicknamed the Greenlandic Riviera.

From Uummannaq, we return to the heart of Disko Bay, setting sail towards Eqip Sermia. Eqip Sermia is a relatively small glacier compared to many in Greenland, although it is still a truly vast river of ice, flowing directly from the Greenland Ice Sheet. It is also one of the most active, and ice tumbles off the vast glacier-front almost constantly. Watching the vast cataracts of ice fall into the ocean is a sight which has to be seen to be believed, and the comfortable viewing decks of the ship offer the best possible platform to do so. If conditions allow, we will launch our fleet of Zodiacs to approach this vast river of ice, and hopefully experience the roar of the glacier's frequent calvings at sea level - from a safe distance of course! From Eqip Sermia, we will reposition slightly southwards during the evening towards Ilulissat, the largest city in Disko Bay and the Iceberg Capital of the World.

Translated from Kalaallisut simply as - icebergs, Ilulissat is rightly known the world over as the Iceberg Capital of the World. Surely no other city on Earth occupies such a spectacular natural setting. Situated within a short walk of the harbour lies Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland's most famous site. Choked with city-sized icebergs so closely packed, one could almost walk across to the other side, Ilulissat Icefjord stretches 70 km from its outlet in Disko Bay near the city of Ilulissat back to the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. This is the single largest glacier on Earth outside Antarctica, producing 10% of all the ice in the Northern Hemisphere. These mind-blowing statistics, together with the indescribably beautiful scenery, have secured the Ilulissat Icefjord designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While archaeological finds detail the long Inuit habitation of the area, the modern town has steadily flourished in the 280 years since its establishment; legendary Arctic explorer, Knud Rasmussen was born in Ilulissat, and his childhood home now houses the city museum. Today, Ilulissat is Greenland's third largest town, with more than 4,500 inhabitants, and is undoubtedly Greenland's tourism capital, with more hotel rooms than even Nuuk. The city offers excellent amenities to visitors, with fresh locally caught seafood served in the city's cafes and restaurants, and excellent shopping - look out especially for the Artist's Workshop above the harbour, where you can buy handmade artworks direct from the artist. The city typically experiences dry sunny weather throughout the summer, and there are a variety of well-marked hiking routes around the Icefjord, with options to suit all abilities. During the visit you will have the opportunity to join a boat trip with a local captain to the Icefjord as an optional excursion. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hrs and is considered the best way to experience the magic of Ilulissat Icefjord up close.

The settlement of Itilleq, which translates roughly as the Crossing Place from the Sea, nestles at the foothills of the mountains and and fjords which line central Greenland's backcountry. Situated just north of the Arctic Circle, Itilleq is one of the many tiny villages dotting the coast of Greenland. The settlement is situated in the heart of the Aassivisuit-Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was inscribed due to its ancient Inuit hunting heritage, documenting the entire habitation history of Greenland. While the turf houses and hide tents have been replaced by colourful modern houses, the lifestyle here has changes little since the Inuit first arrived in Greenland. The local highways are the water and the ice, and the sea and tundra continue to nourish the locals, as they has for thousands of years. Arctic char, reindeer and muskoxen are typical catches, and are all plentiful in the area.

Despite this ancient heritage, locals in Itilleq are still firmly in the modern world, with smartphones, speedy wifi and satellite TV. However, the people of Itilleq remain justly proud of their ancient heritage, and continue to move their culture forward in a modern fast paced world. Locals are pleased to show off their piucturesque town, and visitors are greeted with typical warm Greenlandic hospitality. After departing Itilleq, we will head slightly south and enter the 160km-long Kangerlussuaq Fjord.

During the night, we will sail up the 160-kilometer/100 mile Kangerlussuaq Fjord. After breakfast aboard the ship, we will bid a fond farewell to the ship's crew, Expedition Team and fellow travellers before shuttling ashore by Zodiac. Due to Kangerlussuaq's military history and present-day role as an important air travel hub, Kangerlussuaq remains fairly isolated from Greenland's rich cultural traditions, in comparison to other regions. While you still find cultural experiences when visiting Kangerlussuaq, the most impressive attraction is the surrounding nature, which is just beckoning to be explored. The town itself was largely constructed by the American military in the 1950s. Your Arctic adventure and time in Greenland concludes as we make oiur way to Kangerlussuaq airport for onward travel.