Marine mammals watching, glacier snorkeling, polar freediving
Greenland: find yourself at the ends of the Earth

June, 26th – July, 3rd, 2018

Photo: Andrey Sidorov

Ask any of your friends if they've been to Greenland and if any of they have they will definitely tell you you just can't blow such an opportunity. Most likely, though, they haven't: few people get to see these lands with their own eyes and this is exactly why this program's going to be more than just a trip – it's going to be a true adventure. Work up the courage to become a pioneer discovering this remote country and join us for some polar diving with awe-inspiring icebergs towering above the ocean and whales ready to make us the best company ever.

Ready to visit one of the most hard-to-get-to places of the world? Come along, and you won't be able to forget what you will have seen.



Краткая информация
We're setting out to reach one of the world's most fascinating and hard-to-get-to places – Greenland. The journey will start in Ilulissat, where the most active northern hemispheric glacier is located. We'll walk around the city for a while and then get close to the famous Ilulissat ice fjord, which servers the source of billion tons of ice that get washed out into the ocean every year. The place is so majestic it's on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

Observing fjords from the land is exciting enough, but you can see more than that having submerged into the polar waters to check what they look like from the other side. Diving at iceberg-ridden bays, you'll get a chance not only to run into local flora and fauna representatives, but also see historic shipwreck sites.

If you're looking forward to seeing whales, wait till we get to Aasiaat: this region is known to be inhabited by the biggest number of whales in Greenland, so you're just bound to see a few. We're after something more than just whale watching, though. You'll get why we're so crazy about swimming with whales the moment you see one right next to you, surrounded by gigantic drifting ice rocks.

Later on Disko island you'll see smaller chunks of ice scattered around the black sand beaches of Greenland. The scenery is somewhat surreal – if you're into photography you won't be able to put the camera down.

Hiking to the mountains in Uummannaq to enjoy the views of the city and the ocean is another adventure on the list. Watch locals follow their unique way of life and ask anything about their customs to hear lots of surprising and even shocking things. Did you know whales might have specific spots where they tend to swim to and die? Well, you'll get to see one of such clandestine places for yourself when we get to the whale graveyard.

Enjoy your diving among drifting glaciers in Sarkak and exploring the Okkaatsut settlement of only 46 people. Save some energy to make the most of the diving experience near Okkaatsut, though, as this is another chance for us to take a swim in the ice-cold waters of the ocean in the company of whales.



Itinerary
Day 1 (June, 26th)
Ilulissat. Flight from Copenhagen to Ilulissat. Yacht check-in. Organizational issues.

Day 2 (June, 27th)
Exploring Ilulissat and the area. Visiting the Ilulissat fjord on a yacht. Iceberg watching. Searching for whale sightings. Diving, freediving.

Day 3 (June, 28th)
Aasiaat. Whale watching. Diving, freediving with whales among icebergs.

Day 4 (June, 29th)
Kekertarsuak. Visiting the only settlement on Disko island. Lyngmark glacier. Dog sled riding. Walking along black sand beaches with ice chunks washed up on the shore. Hiking to the mountains to visit the waterfalls of the Valley of the Winds.

Day 5 (June, 30th)
Uummannaq. Exploring the city. Hiking to Uummannaq mountain. Visiting city viewpoints. Visiting the whale graveyard. Getting to know the Inuit culture and way of life.

Day 6 (July, 1st)
Sarkak settlement. Watching enormous icebergs. Freediving, diving.

Day 7 (July, 2nd)
Okkaatsut. Visiting a settlement of only 46 people. Watching drifting icebergs. Searching for whale sightings. Diving, freediving.

Day 8 (July, 3rd)
Transfer to the airport. Flight to Copenhagen. Departure.
Price 3000€ per person

What's included?
  • expedition yacht rental fees (according to the itinerary);
  • double/triple occupancy accommodation at the yacht;
  • fuel cost according to the itinerary;
  • ship and crew services;
  • meals at the yacht;
  • gear and equipment rental fees;
  • cleaning services;
  • anchorage fees;
  • guiding services;
  • transfers according to the itinerary;
  • medical transportation insurance;
  • first-aid kit, medicine;
  • some of additional basic expenses.
Additional expenses
  • plane tickets;
  • visa (if required);
  • meals outside the yacht;
  • emergency evacuation with no insurance coverage;
  • additional expenses caused by bad weather conditions, flight schedule changes, gear and equipment loss or damages, participants' unwell state and other unpredicted expenses.

Please note that:
  • the itinerary is designed for favorable weather conditions and might require adjustment due to changes of the latter.
  • the cost of the program does not cover additional expenses as well as the tickets, but we can help you find the best offer available if needed.
  • in the case of you changing your mind or not being able to join us the prepayment will not be refunded as our calculations are based on the amount of people signed up and the money is spent mostly on the transportation and accommodation services.


Справка
Greenland is the biggest island of the planet with the total area of 2 166 086 square kilometers. Being located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans it has over 85% of the territory covered with ice. The western areas of the island, which spread along the coastline and are not covered with the ice sheet, are relatively densely populated while the eastern ones are mostly desolate landscapes and drifting icebergs. Glaciers of Greenland produce 10 to 15 thousand icebergs a year, when big chunks of ice break off of them and get washed out into the ocean.

You can only get here by plane via the former US air force stations – the airports of Kangerlussuaq in the west and Narsarsuaq in the south. The cities are not connected by roads, so you can only move around by plane, helicopter or ship.

The most active glacier of the northern hemisphere is located in Ilulissat – the city which name literally translates as "iceberg". And this name speaks for itself as travelers from all over the world flock here to watch icebergs break off and drift into the ocean at the speed of 20-35 meters a day. About 20 billion tons of ice a year come from the Ilulissat fjord, which is situated to the west from Disko island and is included into the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

Aasiaat is called the Whale Capital of Greenland as each summer it attracts thousands of adventure seekers willing to take a swim in the company of whales. They also can't but try riding a dog sled on Disko island, which is on the list of world's 100 biggest island and the second biggest island of Greenland. The Lyngmark glacier is the only place in Greenland you can give dog sled riding a go in summer.

Okkaatsut settlement has 46 people living in it at the moment and there's a school, a church, a store and even a restaurant here, which is located in an old colonial period building. But the place still remembers the times when it was a Dutch whale hunting station and whale sightings are still really frequent in this area.

During the arctic summer the sun never sets in Greenland and it's probably the best place to experience this unique phenomenon. In Ilulissat it lasts from May, 25th till June, 25th, so it might be sunny in Ilulissat even when the clock strikes midnight.

Good to know:
  • the temperature of the water in the ocean is about 3˚C;
  • the temperature of the air is about 5˚C;
  • no special physical training or experience is required for the trip;
  • the trip is carried out under the supervision of qualified guides;
  • make sure to check visa requirement for your citizenship;
  • you will need a 7 or 9mm open cell wetsuit with a helmet, 7mm neoprene gloves and socks, flippers, mask and tube;
  • you might need to pack motion sickness pills or patches as we'll spend most of the time on board a yacht.

Why choose Team Trip?

  • Our team unites travelers, mountaineers, divers, photographers, guides and ethnographers experiences enough and qualified to organize unconventional trips. Surrounded by professionals you will not only learn a lot about the field they work in, but also feel safe and taken care of throughout the travel.
  • The team spirit is just as important: we treat our clients like our friends and it's no wonder most of them do stay in touch after travelling with us. Having fun is part of our motto and a great sense of humor is a must for our team members.
  • We thoroughly select, check and double-check all of our routes before we lead the group, so there won't be any surprises but for the nice ones.
  • Safety is our utmost priority, that's why we only collaborate with trustworthy and reliable accommodation providers, guides and transportation services. We prepare for the trips we organize and our knowledge of the area is impeccable.
  • Taking part in wildlife preservation programs and wildlife photography contests allows us to reflect on what we see during our trips. We've won several so far (Siena International Photo Award, Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016, Gesellschaft Deutscher Tierfotografen), but most importantly this way we're able to give back instead of merely taking.

Once you have made up your mind or in case further information is required contact us and we'll gladly answer all of your questions and make a booking for you

info@team-trip.ru
+7 999 721 01 84



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info@team-trip.ru