Midnight Sun Greenland & Thule

This expedition starts with a flight from Denmark's charming capital Copenhagen. Less than five hours later you reach the settlement of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. This small airstrip is the main gateway to Greenland, and on arrival your transfer to the MS Fram.

The Disco Bay area offers fantastic sailing with wildlife and spectacular nature. Colourful villages cling to rough, rocky hills at the feet of the mountains surrounding the inland ice. Join excursions such as kayaking, hiking or other activities. In Sisimiut you can watch the artists make jewellery and crafts from bone, leather and metal. Join a sightseeing tour or hike, and taste Greenlandic specialities in a local restaurant.

Qeqertarsuaq is the only town situated on the old volcanic island of Disko. The area offers amazing Arctic experiences. Join optional excursions such as a tour of the town, kayaking or an ice cruising boat tour. If you appreciate archaeology and history, you should definitely pay a visit to the local museum. Alternatively, you can stroll around the town on your own.

It is said that when you visit Uummannaq, a piece of your heart remains on the island forever. Whether it is the magic of the heart-shaped mountain, or the sound of children singing as you go ashore, you will find plenty of things to charm you. And you will have opportunities to learn about Inuit culture and to experience the vast landscape with all senses. In Ukkusissat, the small houses are huddled together in the enormity of nature. Our optional excursions in these settlements include meeting the locals or taking a tender boat excursion to a landing at Qilakitsoq where mummies from the Thule era were found.

As we sail northwest along the Davis Straits towards the Lauge Koch coast, from 71° to 76° North, we pass some of the northernmost settlements in Greenland. In these harsh and remote areas, life is a constant battle against the elements, and you can learn more about this in one of the informative lectures given by our Expedition Team.

There is evidence of people living in the settlement now known as Dundas up to 900 years ago. Just north of Mount Dundas, there are a number of archaeological excavation sites, including Comer’s Midden, where several ruins and rubbish heaps containing shells, animal bones and other refuse have been found. In 1910, the Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen founded a trade post here and in 1963, the area was officially designated as Thule, the 17th municipality of Greenland and the northernmost community in the world. However, the town has since been abandoned, and you can wander around the old settlement, taking in the ruins of this trading post, or walk to the other side of the peninsula to see the remains of the old turf huts from the former settlement.

Situated just 0.85 miles from the North Pole, Siorapaluk is the northernmost 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, and you should not miss the opportunity to visit the church, museum or the local shop.

We sail to the fringe of the ice, in the wake of pioneers and explorers who sailed here to explore the high north and beyond. We will sail the waterway called Kane Basin, situated between Greenland and Canada's northernmost Island, Ellesmere Island. We will even try to reach 80° North. This area is known as the North Water Polynya, and most of the aquatic life of the Baffin Bay is concentrated near this region.

Qaanaaq (or Thule) was the first part of Greenland to be colonised by Inuits from the west more than 4500 years ago. Ancient philosophers called it Ultima Thule, or the edge of known territory. Greenlanders called the area Avanersuaq, the great north. And it really is the extreme north, as it the northernmost town in Greenland, just 30 km from Canada. In 1953 the original village was moved 200 kilometers north to Murchison Sound because the noise of aircrafts from the American airbase nearby disturbed the wildlife on which the Inuit depend. Hunting for seals, whales and polar bears in the traditional way is the main occupation in the town. The people living here are crucial to the Inuit identity as a powerful and pioneering people, and they are often considered proud to be the real people behind the classic associations like making handicrafts and hunting by kayak or dog sled. Visit the Ultima Thule souvenir shop to buy genuine and original artwork and crafts from the Qaanaaq district.

Enjoy a Day at sea as we sail along the remote northwestern coast of Greenland. Stay on deck to spot wildlife or attend a lecture given by our Expedition Team.

The Upernavik archipelago has islands as far as the eye can see; the Upernavik Icefjord to the north, and the world's largest bird cliff (Apparsuit) to the south. For centuries, the locals have migrated to Upernavik during the spring to take advantage of the rich hunting grounds. Many of the locals still go hunting and fishing, and in August you can witness the muskox-hunting season in the backcountry. This small settlement lies at 72° 47' N and 56° 10' W, 800 km north of the Arctic Circle, and everything is within walking distance. The town is also home to the world’s northernmost open-air museum, where you can learn more about colonial and Viking histories. When you explore the waters in a kayak you may be surprised to discover that a distant island turns out to be a massive iceberg instead.

Today, you will have a unique opportunity to witness the true power of nature on a visit to the Eqip Sermia Glacier, which calves icebergs into the open ocean. We will use the ship’s Polarcirkel boats to go ashore in this beautiful area. If you're feeling more active, you can take a short hike on your own in the area. Everybody who goes ashore is invited to a barbecue dinner with a terrific view over the glacier.

Ilulissat is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Just outside the town, at the mouth of the fjord, you can often see enormous icebergs that have run aground. They originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere. We offer a variety of optional shore excursions such as hikes, historic town walks and a boat tour to the Icefjord.

Itilleq means "the hollow", and as its name suggests, this small settlement is situated in a hollow, majestically surrounded by high mountains and glaciers. With the Arctic Circle passing just 200 metres south of the village centre, Itilleq can rightly claim the title of ‘the Arctic Circle Village’. The 130 people who live here are mainly engaged in hunting and fishing activities. The island has no fresh water, so its inhabitants have to use a facility that makes fresh water from sea water. The town's church has an interesting history: It was built in Thule (Umanak, North Greenland) in 1930 and was moved to Itilleq in 1963.

As we reach Kangerlussuaq, your expedition with MS Fram has come to an end. Take the opportunity to join a final excursion to the Greenland Ice Sheet. This vast icy wasteland stretches 1 500 miles north and reaches heights of up to 3200 metres above sea level. The road to the edge of the Ice Sheet boasts beautiful natural scenery, ranging from Arctic desert and tundra with low growing shrubs to hilly terrain offering breathtaking views over the landscape. Your plane to Copenhagen leaves late in the evening.

You arrive in the Danish capital early in the morning and may even have the time to explore "Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen" before you head home.