Cruise to Greenland – Episode 866

Hear about a cruise to Greenland as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rebecca Merrell from manopause.com about this rugged and rapidly changing country.

Why should someone do a cruise to Greenland?

Rebecca succinctly says, “Someone should do a cruise to Greenland if they’re looking to go somewhere remote without a lot of people and if they have an interest in the Arctic.”

The cruise itinerary is:

Day 1: Departure from Iceland

Travelers fly from Iceland or Denmark to Greenland. Arriving in Greenland, travelers land at Kingirlasuak, a former U.S. base that now serves as a large airport in Greenland. Embarkation on the “Ocean Albatross,” the cruise ship operated by Albatross Expeditions.

Day 2: Sisimiut

The cruise reaches its first destination, Sisimiut, the second-largest city in Greenland after Nuuk (the capital).
Sisimiut, which means “foxhole,” has a rich history dating back thousands of years, including various indigenous cultures and traditions.

Travelers have the opportunity to explore the town, its colorful buildings, and visit local museums showcasing Greenlandic history and culture.

Day 3: Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island

The cruise continues to Qeqertarsuaq, a former capital of North Greenland located on Disko Island. Travelers have the chance to explore this picturesque town, famous for its abundance of icebergs in Disco Bay. 

Day 4: Uummannaq

The cruise heads further north, reaching Uummannaq, north of the Arctic Circle. Uummannaq Island is known for its heart-shaped mountain and offers unique cultural experiences. Activities include hiking to the Santa Claus house.

Day 5: Eqip Sermia Glacier

The ship sails to the Eqip Sermia Glacier (“The Glacier at the end of the fjord”), a breathtaking location known for its massive ice formations. Travelers witness the natural spectacle of ice calving, where chunks of ice break off and plunge into the sea. The changing hues of blue in the ice, caused by varying oxygen levels, create stunning visual displays.

Day 6: Ilulissat

The cruise arrives at Ilulissat, the third-largest town in Greenland. Ilulissat is known as ‘the Iceberg Capital of the World’. The town is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ilulissat Icefjord, where enormous icebergs calve from the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier at an astonishing rate (100 feet per day or 20 million tons of icebergs).

Travelers have the option to explore the icefjord by small boat and marvel at the towering ice formations.

Day 7: Sarfannguit

The cruise reaches Sarfannguit (“the place with the little stream:), a very small settlement with approximately 40 residents.
Travelers visit the community center, where they can purchase local crafts, such as beadwork, paintings, and other products.
The unique monument, a modern glass igloo, is also worth a visit.

Day 8: Return to Kangerlussuaq

The cruise returns to Kangerlussuaq, the point of embarkation, where travelers disembark. This marks the end of the expedition.

Throughout the cruise, travelers have the opportunity to hear lectures on Arctic topics, hike, museum visits, and interact with local communities. The stunning Arctic landscapes, icebergs, glaciers, and wildlife, including birds and marine mammals, provide a constant backdrop to this unforgettable Greenlandic adventure.

Sponsor

Travel Oregon

If Oregon isn’t on your travel itinerary for this year, it’s time to add it because Oregon is a state that offers so much to do for so many travelers. Learn more at TravelOregon.com.

subscribe: rss feed | Apple podcasts

right click here to download (mp3)

Show Notes

Manopause
Disko Bay Cruise
Ocean Albatros – Albatros Expeditions
Kangerlussuaq
Sisimiut
Qeqertarsuaq
Disko Island
Uummannaq Island
Santa’s address in Greenland
Flora of Greenland
Uummannaq
Chamaenerion latifolium
Uummannaq Museum
Qarajaq Glacier
Ilulissat Icefjord
The beautiful city on the Greenlandic West Coast
Jakobshavn Glacier
Ilulissat Icefjord Centre
Knud Rasmussen’s Museum
Knud Rasmussen
Immiaq Brewery
Minke whale
Sarfannguit
Travel to Greenland – Episode 521

Community

Travel to Nepal – Episode 861

I very much enjoyed this episode on visiting Nepal. Kathmandu is my favorite city in the world. It is simply magical chaos and a wonderful mix of Hinduism and Buddhism You never know what you’ll see around the next corner with cows, monkeys, fruit bats in trees, and street-side barber chairs. Your guest’s itinerary seems like a nice introduction to Nepal mixing city, villages, and a short trek in the Himalayan foothills. The Patan museum and Durbur Square is excellent. Boudhanath stupa and Swayambhunath temple are not to be missed.

I’ve visited Kathmandu and Nepal at least 5 times as launching points for treks in Nepal. And probably about another 5 separate visits to nearby Lhasa and Tibet. This part of the world is fascinating. I usually describe it as a complete but wonderful attack on *all* the senses. Nepal is a wonderful destination for a somewhat seasoned traveler. If it’s your first time outside your home country (US?), you may be shocked but hopefully warm to the chaos. I love visiting Kathmandu and Nepal but not sure I could live there.

Fire and Ice is an excellent authentic pizzeria in Kathmandu (KTM). The owners are from Italy and brought excellent authentic pizza to KTM over 25 years ago.

Randy Rohrer

Please take our listener survey

Amateur Traveler Trips