Day to day program Thule & Disko Bay 2010 DEPARTURE: 19.08.10 MS Fram Day and port of call: Day 1: Kangerlussuaq Day 2: Sisimiut Day 3: Qeqertarsuaq Day 4: Uummannaq Day 5: At sea/possible polar circle cruise Day 6: Dundas Day 7: Siorapaluk Day 8: Cruising along the ice edge Day 9: Qaanaaq (Thule) Day 10: At sea Day 11: Upernavik Day 12: Eqip Sermia Day 13: Ilulissat Day 14: Itilleq Day 15: Kangerlussuaq Greenland s arctic wilderness offers us some of the most spectacular and unspoilt scenery anywhere on earth. The largest island on the planet, its frozen coastline has witnessed the birth of some of nature s most breathtaking creations. Here the struggle for survival has engendered mankind with a healthy respect for his environment and we witness the quite unique interaction of man and nature as we sail through a landscape rich in culture, history and spectacular wildlife, into the northern lands of the midnight sun. Day 1, Kangerlussuaq Kangerlussuaq is the main gateway to Greenland and a settlement in the Sisimiut community. Slightly less than 600 people live and work in Kangerlussuaq (the long fjord). The airport was built by the Americans during World War II and was operative as an American base until 1992. Today, Kangerlussuaq is a commercial airport. The Kangerlussuaq dock is about 12 kilometres from the airport, and transport to the docks is by bus. There is no harbour in Kangerlussuaq that can accommodate the MS Fram and therefore embarking the ship requires the use of the ship's shuttle boats (PolarCirkel boats). At Kangerlussuaq Airport our Expedition Team will be at your disposal. It is advisable to bring rainproof jackets, trousers and mosquito repellent in your hand luggage to wear during the transfer to the MS Fram. Day 2, Sisimiut Sisimiut has a population of about 5.200 inhabitants and is the second largest town in Greenland. The main trade is fishing, and the town accommodates a large fleet of trawlers, a shipyard and a fish factory. Sisimiut is the southernmost of the towns on the western coast of Greenland where sleigh dogs can be found. It is set in rolling countryside and the town centre lies at the foot of a March 2008
steep hill. Participation in excursions in Sisimiut requires reasonably good physical condition apart from the boat trip. The settlement visit will focus largely on the old part of the town down by the harbour, and on the local centre of activity, the harbour itself. Our Expedition Team will be at your disposal at different locations of the settlement. The MS Fram normally docks at the quayside in Sisimiut. Day 3, Qeqertarsuaq Qeqertarsuaq is situated on the old volcanic island of Disko, and is the only town on the island. The population is around 1 100, about 60 whom live in the town s only settlement, Kangerluk. Qeqertarsuaq means The Big Island, and the most important industry in the town is fishing and sealing though whaling once used to play an important role. The town is set in wonderful surroundings at the foot of impressive Basalt Mountains. The Arctic Station is situated here, which is a part of the Copenhagen University studying Flora and Fauna in Greenland. There will be PolarCirkel boat transfer from the ship to Qeqertarsuaq and our Expedition Team will be at your disposal at different locations of the walk. A small local café is open for you during the stay. Day 4, Uummannaq The town of Uummannaq is situated in scenic surroundings at the foot of the 1 170 meter tall, heart-shaped mountain. The municipal borough of Uummannaq has a population of about 2 650 of whom 1.400 lives in the town and the rest in the remaining 7 Settlements in the borough. Hunting and fishing are the main trades in the town, and the most important species of fish is the halibut. The halibut-processing factory is the town's major source of employment. You may visit the town with amongst other things, the magnificent church and the old turf house that was lived in until 1989. There will be PolarCirkel boat transfer from the ship to Uummannaq. Day 5, at sea, alternative landing When we sail along the northwest coast in Davis straits against Lauge Koch coast, from 71 to 76 degrees north, we cross the point for the northernmost habitations. In these harsh and remote areas, settlements and nature constantly fight for its existence. A series of lectures will be held onboard related to this area of Greenland during the day. Day 6, Dundas old Thule Greenlanders have lived in the settlement now known as Dundas for the last 900 years, and the Danish explorer Rasmussen founded the trade post in 1910. The Greenlandic settlement of Thule located at the base of mountain Dundas, was moved to the Red Cliff Peninsula, in the spring of 1953. Dundas Village is protected by Denmark and specifically excluded from areas under US Air Force control. In 1963 the area was given official status as Thule, the 17th municipality of Greenland and the northernmost community in the world. Dundas trade post, at the base of mountain Dundas, closed down in 1985, and nowadays nobody lives in this settlement. In Dundas you can go ashore and take a walk in the old settlement. You may here see the remaining from Knud Rasmussens old trading post. It is also interesting to walk to the other side of the peninsula where you find the remains of old turf huts from the former settlement. Day 7, Siorapaluk Situated only 1 362 km from the North Pole, Siorapaluk, is the most northerly natural community in the World. The settlement was founded in 1933 and is known for its beautiful surroundings and geology. Siorapaluk, means little Sands and was named after the small sandy beach in front of the village. This will be the northernmost landing on this trip. The church, museum and shop are open for all to enter. Day 8, Cruising along the ice edge/ at sea We will sail as far north as possible and hope to reach 80 degrees north. This will depend on ice and weather conditions that are impossible to predict. Day 9, Qaanaaq (Thule) The Qaanaaq (or Thule) district was the first part of Greenland to be colonised by Inuits from the west. The district is among the northernmost inhabited places on earth and has a population of around 1000. It is also the last bastion of US military in Greenland. Page 2 of 8
Hunting for seal, whale and polar bear the traditional way is the only occupation in the town and the small settlements. Here we may visit the Ultima Thule souvenir shop with genuine and original artwork and crafts from the Qaanaaq district. Day 10, At sea While we are at sea, a series of lectures will be held on board on topics related to history and wildlife in the area. Day 11, Upernavik Upernavik was founded in 1772, and means place of spring because the hunters moved here after spending the winter further inland. It is situated nearly 800 km north of the Arctic Circle, and more then half of the municipality s 3 000 inhabitants live in ten settlements spread along a coastal stretch of 450 kilometres. Here the primary occupation is fishing for Greenland halibut, but hunting still plays a decisive role for employment in the settlements. Polar bear hunting is also done in this area. Day 12, Eqip Sermia The glacier Eqip Sermia has a front edge about five km long that calve icebergs into the open ocean. Today you have an outstanding possibility to experience a glacier and sense the greatness of the nature. We will use the ship's tender boats to go ashore in this beautiful area near by the glacier. Passengers in relatively good physical condition will be able to hike in the area. All who want to go ashore are welcome to join us for a BBQ dinner with a terrific view over the glacier. Day 13, Ilulissat Icebergs are called Ilulissat in Greenlandic, and it comes as no surprise to anyone who has been here that this is the town s name. This is the third largest town in Greenland with a population of about 5000. Ilulissat is set in marvellous surroundings at Ilulissat Isfjord that in 2004 was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here enormous icebergs run aground at the mouth of the fjord, just outside of town. They originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the northern hemisphere. Ilulissat is the metropolitan centre of the Disko Bay area and this aspect will be the theme of the settlement visit, together with the town's long-standing history. The most important trades in Ilulissat are fishing and tourism. The conditions will decide if MS Fram will dock at the quayside in Ilulissat or shuttle with the PolarCirkel boats. Our Expedition team will be at your disposal at the points of interest. Day 14, Itilleq In the early afternoon we reach the small settlement Itilleq. Itilleq means the hollow and was founded in 1847 on another island, but was later moved one kilometer east to its present location. The village is located about 50km south of Sisimiut in the head of the Itilleq Fjord. Around 130 people live here, who are mainly engaged in hunting and fishing. The island has no freshwater, and for this reason Itilleq makes use of a facility for forming freshwater from seawater. The church here has and interesting history: It was built in Thule (Umanak- North Greenland) in 1930 and was moved to Itilleq in 1963. As its name suggests, the village is situated in a hollow, majestically surrounded by high mountains and glaciers, and it can truthfully be called the Arctic Circle Village as the Arctic Circle is indeed found only 200 metres to the south. Day 15, Kangerlussuaq Kangerlussuaq is situated in the end of the Kangerlussuaq fjord. The settlement/airport lies just north of the Arctic Circle and is one of the best places to observe native wildlife. In the early 1960 s musk oxen were introduced to Kangerlussuaq from North East Greenland, and today they count over 5 000. You will leave the MS Fram in the morning to discover Kangerlussuaq and participate on an included bus tour to the ice cap. Page 3 of 8
Excursion Program Thule 2010 Important information: The durations of the excursions are approximate. Some excursions may have a limited number of passengers. Maximum and minimum. Child discount 25% on all excursions, except the helicopter tour The excursions and the program in general depend on the ice and weather conditions. Some excursions require good footwear because of walking in different terrain. Most excursions require that passengers are dressed properly with wind and weather resistant clothes several layers of clothes! Bring good sunglasses, sun lotion and mosquito repellent The excursions are divided in five different degrees of difficulty: Degree 1 For everyone. Degree 2 For most passengers. Require some walking in easy terrain. Degree 3 Require that passengers are in relatively good physical condition and able to walk in rugged terrain. Not advisable for persons with knee or hip problems. Degree 4 Strenuous, and require good physical condition. Degree 5 Very good physical condition. Kangerlussuaq Town sights - Modern Greenland/Culture. Upon arrival you will be picked up by our transfer buses, and you will get a Panoramic sightseeing of Kangerlussuaq on the way out to the pier. Sisimiut Town sights - Modern Greenland/Culture. An expedition team member will be at your disposal in town. On board you will get an introduction presentation to the city and then you can experience the town later on your own with the help of a city map. Explore the historical centre of Sisimiut with its pretty buildings form the 17 th century. The Sisimiut Museum is a culture-historical local museum and its speciality is the Greenland trade, industry and shipping. The museum is housed in the beautiful old buildings originating from the colonial period, situated close to the harbour. We recommend a visit, the entrance fee is approx 30 DKK Please bring cash. Boat trip to Assaqutaq - Nature. In the 60ties and 70ties small settlements around Greenland were abandoned because people chose to move to the bigger towns to work and enjoy the modern facilities. Assaqutaq is situated just on the other side of the mountain Kællingehætten, one of the characteristic symbols of Sisimiut. The settlement is today used as summer camp for the local public schools. In June it is a busy place when the inhabitants from Sisimiut go fishing for the capelin a small fish important for locals and for dog food. During the leisurely stroll around the settlement we see the old fishing factory, the summer camp and the small church that is still here, beautifully situated on a small hill top. There are usually good chances to spot Humpback whales during this trip. 2,5 h 2 Scan, Eng 70 104.25/NOK795 Historical hike to Teleøen - Nature, history and modern. You will be able to visit some old Inuit ruins, and also to experience the modern Greenland. On Teleøen, formerly known as Tømmermandsøen (the hangover island) you will find culture-historical monuments of the past, which date back to the culture of Saqqaq 2500 years BC and up until today. The guide will tell the participants about how the people have lived and survived in Greenland over 4000 years. 2,5 h 3-4 Scan, Eng 125 36/NOK275 Page 4 of 8
Hike to Palaasip Qaqqa Mountain Enjoy the beautiful green mountains, the pristine air and the crystal clear water. Join a beautiful hike on a lush south-facing slope, where you can enjoy the view of the town and the sea on the whole way. The hike takes you through a surprisingly fertile terrain with a richness of bushes, flowers and mosses. Along the way we will also encounter several small waterfalls, where we can refill our water bottles with the clearest spring water. From the top of the mountain there is an amazing view over the town in the south and the Kangerluarsuk Tulleq Fiord in the north. In the recent years, musk oxen have been spotted in this area. 5-6 hours 4 Scan, Eng 20 68.50/NOK520 Qeqertarsuaq Town sights -Modern, culture, tradition and Inuit. After an introduction on board, explore the settlement by yourself. You can pass through the quarter of the old buildings of trade and administration that date back to the time when Qeqertarsuaq was the capital of Northern Greenland. On the way, you will also have the opportunity to see the very special octagonal church, called 'Our Lord's Little Ink Pot'. The walk may lead you further through town where you will get a vivid impression of the hunters society which is also Qeqertarsuaq of today. The history of the town can be illustrated through a visit to the museum which you are welcome to enter on your own. Entrance fee of approx 25 DKK. Hike in Blæsedalen (The Valley of the Winds) Nature. A hike over Røde elv (the Red River) through Blæsedalen is regarded a highlight in nature experience. On the way, you will pass by the more than 900 m high Skarvefjeld (Mountain of the Cormorant). The hike goes through a characteristic mountain heath where you will see a great deal of the flora so particular to Disko. A nice waterfall marks the end of the hike. 2-3h 2-3 Scan, Eng, Ger Unlimited Included Uummannaq Town sights Modern, culture, tradition and Inuit. The introduction on board will give you an overview of this charming place. After you may explore the settlement by yourself. Uummannaq Church, built of huge granite blocks, is right in the centre of the town. There are also traditional turf huts nearby the church. The town museum displays include replicas of the costumes of the famous Qilakitsoq mummies and collections of traditional arts and crafts, and a special exhibition about the expedition of the German meteorologist Alfred Wegener. Both the church and the museum have an entrance fee of approx 20 DKK. Hike along the heart shaped mountain Nature. The hike starts at the harbour by the landing site. We walk up through Uummannaq town, and go behind the town where we hike through a light hilly terrain. The last part of the hike is quite steep. Behind Uummannaq Santa Claus himself has found a location just suitable for his needs. He uses this cabin when he has to build up his strength for the stressful Christmas month. You may leave your Christmas wish at his cabin. During the hike you get a sense of how small Uummannaq Island is and you will be surprised of the rich flora you can find in this north arctic area. From the Cabin you have a marvellous view of the Sea towards Nuussuaq Peninsula. 3h 5 Scan, Eng, Ger Unlimited Included Greenlandic Lunch at Uummannaq Hotel Traditional Right beside the harbour side overlooking the fjord is the comfortable Uummannaq hotel. Here you can enjoy your lunch holding Greenlandic specialities while enjoying the splendid view. You can also walk out to the balcony, which gives you a nice overview of the maritime life of Uummannaq. The beverage is not included. Duration Degree Language Max. cap Price per person 1-2h 1 100 36/NOK275 Sailing to the Red Desert Nature. You sail with the local ship among the magnificent icebergs across the fjord and a local guide will show you the beautiful spots on your way to the red desert. The desert is an incredible mineral landscape, in which minerals high in sulphur and iron content have reacted to produce deposits of yellow sulphur. Only a few plants can grow here and the landscape is almost extraterrestrial. Page 5 of 8
Duration Degree Language Max pax Price per person 4-5h 3 Eng, Scan Max 34 178/NOK1350 Talk with young people Meet the local youth, hear about their lives and their dreams for the future. Have a personal chat, where you can ask questions and learn about everyday life in North Greenland. Duration Degree Language Max pax Price per person 1h 1 Eng, Scan Max 15 11.75/NOK85 Talk with local Hunter. The art of local fishing and hunting, which developed over hundreds of years, has untill today had a high importance in peoples lives. Listen to a local hunter/fisherman as he tells you about his work. He will also show you the tools and explain how they work. Duration Degree Language Max pax Price per person 1h 1 Eng, Scan Max 20 14.75/NOK110 Dundas Settlement sights - Knud Rasmussens old trading post - Culture, history. In Dundas you can go ashore and take a walk in the old settlement. You may here see the remaining from Knud Rasmussens old trading post. It is also interesting to walk to the other side of the peninsula where you find the remains of old turf huts from the former settlement. Siorapaluk Settlement sights culture, nature Here we will explore a typical northern-greenlandic hunter settlement. From this place you should send your postcards! You can also walk up in the valley behind the village sometimes you can meet snow hares there. Qaanaaq (Thule) Town sights incl. museum/church Culture, modern, tradition, interaction and history. Qaanaaq was only established in 1953. It is a quite modern place and you will get an introduction on board. We recommend to visit the Knud Rasmussen museum which is housed in the former home of this famous Arctic explorer. The local church is famous for its painting: Here you may notice that the Jesus figure on the altar is wearing socks. This is because the locals put them on as it is too could up here not to be wearing socks. Upernavik Town sights included the Museum. Upernavik means the place of spring. The town is home to approximately 1500 inhabitants and situated facing the open sea. You may pass the more than 200-year-old buildings, the school from 1911, and the turf house that now are the world s northernmost open-air museum. There is also possibility to see the grave of Navaranaq the Greenlandic wife of the explorer Peter Freuchen. Eqip Sermia Nature walk The area opposite Eqip Sermia is fantastic for hiking and there will be possibilities to go on hikes at different levels (level 2, level 3 and level 5 hike). Afterwards relax later on board with a BBQ on the outside deck and a beautiful view to the glacier. 2-3h 1 /2-4 Scan, Eng, Ger Unlimited Included Ilulissat Town sights Modern, culture, tradition, Inuit and history Enjoy a stroll in this beautiful town. Ilulissat means icebergs in Greenlandic and the name could not be better for the town next to the Ilulissat Icefjord. The introduction on board will prepare you for the active harbour area, the busy life of a bigger town and the beautiful Knud Rasmussen Museum. In the museum you may take some time for the extensive collection from Knud Rasmussens expeditions and the history of Ilulissat. The entrance fee is of approx 40 DKK Hike to Sermermiut Nature, culture. Guided hike to the ancient settlement of Sermermiut where inuits have been living for thousands of years. The settlement is located approximately 1.5 kilometres south of the city at the estuary of the Ice Fjord. Page 6 of 8
3h 2-3 Scan, Eng, Ger Unlimited Included Boat trip to the Ice Fjord - Nature. Ilulissat is renowned for its beautiful and breathtaking Ice fjord. The fjord is best experienced from a boat up close. We sail in to the estuary where the gigantic icebergs in the northern part of the fjord have stranded. There are good possibilities for seal watching. Coffee & tea will be served on board. Approx.2h 1 Scan, Eng 240 75.75/NOK575 Helicopter to the Icecap - Nature. No presale, only bookable onboard On this excursion we will fly at low altitude over the icebergs that fill the fjord in its full length of 40 kilometres. In the bottom of the fjord is the enormous front of the glacier. The helicopter will fly close to the glacier and land on the rock at Kangia with a view over the glacier and the ice cap. After approximately 30 minutes ground stop we will fly at low altitude over the ice fjord until we reach the icebergs stranded at the estuary of the Ice fjord. From here we have a magnificent view of the deep ice foot under the iceberg and the turquoise sea. There is no "guaranty" that you will see seals on this trip, but there are good possibilities. 1,5 h 1 Scan, Eng 54 3350 Hike to Holms Bakke Every year, on the 13th of January, the people of Ilulissat hike to Holms Bakke to welcome the sun after the long dark winter. Holms Bakke has a magnificent view over the Jakobshavn Icefjord, where the icebergs find their way out of the fjord with an average speed of 19 meters a day. This glacier produces approx 10% of all calving ice in Greenland. After a couple of hours hiking, we visit the abandoned settlement Sermermiut and the old Inuit graves. We will rest for our lunch break at Holms Bakke. The hike continues along the ice fiord and the guide will tell about the flora & fauna, and of course about the ice. This splendid hike requires good hiking skills. 4-5 hours 4 Scan, Eng 15 68.50/NOK520 Rodebay Rodebay is a small typical Greenlandic settlement with approximately 40 inhabitants and 200 Greenlandic dogs. It is situated 12 km north of Ilulissat. After a breathtaking boat ride to Rodebay, or Oqaatsut as it is called in Greenlandic, we have a short settlement walk talking about the history and life in a small Greenlandic community. Highlight is the lunch at the Restaurant H8. They have an interesting concept: they serve Greenlandic dishes with German herbs so it is attractive for the Greenlanders as they at least know the meat- and for the tourists at least the herbs are familiar! 4-5 hours 2 Scan, Eng 24 190.50/NOK1450 Itilleq In Itilleq there will be some houses open for a kaffemik. That means that you are welcome to visit a local home, talk with the host, and have a piece of cake and a coffee but leave again latest after 20 minutes. Please be so kind to remove your shoes before entering the house. Arts and crafts are for sale in the old shop (cash only). Please feel free to visit the library and the school. Watch out for a soccer game- Itilleq vs. MV Fram! We need players- and supporters! 3-4 h 1 Scan,Eng,Ger Unlimited Included Kangerlussuaq Bus tour towards the Inland Ice Nature. During this 3½ hour trip, you will experience pristine tundra as our expedition vehicles take you through beautiful scenery towards the enormous Greenland Ice Cap. On the way there are chances to spot Musk Ox and Reindeer that roam this fertile area. One of the most remarkable features is the moraine landscape in front of the Ice Cap. This is probably how most of Europe looked like, some 10-15.000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. We will stop for coffee and tea next to a melt water river, coming from the Ice Cap, and you will be able to make astonishing photos of the Ice edge, moraines and powerful river, or simply enjoy the lush tundra vegetation. Page 7 of 8
Part of the bus ride is off-road and the drive normally takes about 1 hour each way. Be aware of that the road sometimes is quite bumpy. 3,5h 3 Scan, Eng Unlimited Included Barbeque In the late afternoon you are welcome for an outdoor barbeque in our hospitality tents close to the airport. 1-2h 1 Scan, Eng Unlimited Included Page 8 of 8