Icelandic sheep or pony grazing in the distance. A few modest outposts of civilization, in the form small fishing communities nestled along the fjords and shores of the Denmark Strait, face out into the mighty Atlantic—keeping alive a maritime heritage that dates back to the Viking days. One of today’s highlights is a chance to visit Vigur, a private island that provides guests with unique opportunities to delve into Icelandic culture and heritage as early as the 11th century. Vigur is widely regarded as a capsule of Icelandic heritage.” Upon arriving on shore by Zodiac, we will be welcomed by the people who own this incredible island. One of the co-owners is polar explorer Felicity Aston, the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica. You’ll learn about the Icelandic tradition of eiderdown harvesting, and the wide array of Arctic birdlife and seals that are found in Vigur. It’s estimated that the island is home to over 7,000 breeding ducks, 100,000 puffins, Europe’s largest colony of black
Guillemot, and huge flocks of Arctic terns. You’ll also have opportunities to ramble about the island, taste local food and visit the island café. Today’s adventure options include Zodiac cruising, sea kayaking, paddle excursion program, and, potentially, a guided shore hike. Right across the bay is Mongufoss, one of Iceland’s most remote and beautiful waterfalls, which we’ll visit by ship after our onboard lunch.
ARCTIC PATAGONIA DAYS 6 – 10 | EXPLORING SOUTHEAST GREENLAND
Your exploration of Greenland begins with East Greenland, one of the least- visited and most remote parts of the world’s largest island. Our journey along the coast will be influenced by weather and ice conditions, with each day—and each off-ship excursion—presenting new adventures. Expect glaciers, steep mountains and breathtaking fjords. Transiting the 100–km long Prins Christian Sund (Ikerasassuaq)—one of the world’s most scenic fjords—will reveal incredible views. Guests can expect dramatic mountain and seascapes with glaciers tumbling down to the sea, and capitivating vistas stretching along the entire fjord. The South Greenlanders who live on this frontier are as unique as the region they inhabit. This is where the migrating hunting people from the east eventually settled around the European trading posts.
DAYS 4 & 5 | AT SEA: CROSSING THE DENMARK STRAIT
As we sail southwest across the Denmark Strait toward Greenland, your Expedition Team will prepare you for the exciting adventures ahead—both on and off-ship. Our team of polar experts will present on a wide range of topics, including the geology, wildlife, climatology and enthralling history of Greenland. The team will also search for (and identify) the seabirds soaring about the ship—and they’ll most certainly alert you whenever there’s a whale sighting.
The handful of villages in this region are
EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you may experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife encounters as described are expected, but not guaranteed. Your Expedition Team will use their considerable experience to seek out wildlife in known habitats, but the presence of any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not guaranteed.
Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details
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