DAY 1 REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND
In the afternoon, we await to welcome our guests onboard Ocean Albatros.
DAY 2 AT SEA, CROSSING THE DENMARK STRAIT
DAY 3 ECLIPSE DAY, BLOSSEVILLE COAST, EAST GREENLAND
During the early hours of the day, we approach the massive rock walls of the Blosseville Coast. A hundred years ago this coastline was feared by sailors due to the almost permanent sea ice, which even in summer could trap and crush unsuspecting ships. However, warmer temperatures during the last decades and huge advances in marine technology mean this forbidding coast and its sheltered landings in the dramatic fjords can now be accessed by certain ice-strengthened vessels such as ours.
For this important day, we have carefully researched the best possible viewing location – a location as close to eclipse centre line as possible, with easy Zodiac access, views unobstructed by mountains to the southwest and likely to have clear skies. Ocean Albatros will drop anchor close to the shore around noon. Our expedition staff will scout the area for wildlife, and after lunch all guests will get ashore by Zodiac in good time to set up their equipment and view this natural wonder.
The shadow of the moon moves toward us from north Greenland at a speed of 4,000 kilometre per hour. The partial eclipse begins at 16:37 local time (the same as UTC and Reykjavík time), and the totality begins at 17:37. The sun at maximum eclipse will be in the southwestern sky, unobstructed by any mountains at the mouth of our little fjord. At 17:40 the first rays slip past the lunar disk to create the legendary “Diamond Ring” – and then the totality is over. The spectacle ends around 18:33 when the last fringe of the moon leaves the solar disk, and the shadow continues south toward the northern coast of Spain. We will pack up our equipment, tripods, and other belongings and return to the ship, where a gala dinner has been prepared for this very special day!
Eclipse photography - a word of advice
Much has been written about how to take good pictures during a solar eclipse. The most important phrase in almost all these descriptions is: DON’T! It is extremely difficult to get good pictures, especially during totality, and it requires very advanced equipment and knowledge. If you do not have this, you risk missing the most important thing, namely experiencing the special and unreal atmosphere that a total solar eclipse gives. Instead, use the short span of the eclipse to observe the effect of the fast-changing light on the landscape. And when turning your eyes towards the sun, always wear the solar eclipse glasses provided.
DAYS 4 ALONG THE BLOSSEVILLE COAST
Captain and his officers will steer Ocean Albatros south along Blosseville, the most dramatic coast outside of Antarctica. The tall and dark rock walls have their origin in the opening of the Atlantic Ocean, when Norway and Greenland separated, and thousands of cubic kilometres of lava flowed up through Earth’s crust. The dramatic layers of black rock bear testament to countless volcanic eruptions in the region approximately 50 million years ago.
DAY 5 TASIILAQ, EAST GREENLAND
Proceeding along the coast, we soon arrive at Tasiilaq, the largest settlement in East Greenland. Unlike the west coast, which has had uninterrupted contact with Europe since the 1700s, the coast of East Greenland remained more or less uncontacted until around 1894, when a Danish trading post was established at Tasiilaq by Gustav Holm’s famous Skin Boat Expedition.
DAY 6 SKJOLDUNGEN/SAQQISIKUIK
Today's adventure begins as we sail into magnificent Skjoldungen, a staggeringly beautiful fjord on the southeastern coast of Greenland. The fjord is named for Skjold, an ancient Danish King of Norse legend, while the Greenlandic name, Saqqisikuik, references the sunny climate of the area. Various archaeological finds on the island which sits in the middle of the fjord suggests nomadic Inuit groups visited and stayed in the area in years gone by.
DAY 7 PRINS CHRISTIAN SUND AND AAPPILATTOQ
South of Skjoldungen lies Cape Farewell, which is renowned not only as Greenland's southernmost point, but also for its infamously challenging weather. With this in mind, we deliberately opt for a far more comfortable but also more spectacular route, cruising across to West Greenland via the inside passage of Prins Christian Sund. Known in Greenlandic by its typically descriptive name of Ikerasassuaq ('the Big Strait'), this 60 km long waterway reaches from the east coast to the settlement of Aappilattoq in West Greenland.
DAY 8 TASERMIUT AND UUNARTOQ
Tasermiut (meaning 'the Settlement by the Lake') is one of Greenland's best kept secrets. Extending northeastwards 75 km from the town of Nanortalik to the Ice Sheet, the fjord is lined by green, fertile side valleys and sheer granite walls reaching 2000 m above sea level. These rock walls are often compared to El Chalten in Argentina, or California's Yosemite, but in reality the sheer scale of these cliffs far exceeds both, and they are a lifetime goal for the world's most expert rock climbers.
DAY 9 ASSIARSUK AND ITILLEQ KUJALLEQ
During the early morning we will cruise below the majestic mountains of Tunulliarfik Fjord towards the small village of Qassiarsuk. The fjords here are lined with lush green meadows and dotted with small sheep-farming settlements, of which Qassiarsuk is perhaps the best known.
Across the fjord lies Itilleq, a small bay where a trail leads to the village of Igaliku. During the afternoon, we will trek through the lush green hills to see the remains of the Norse Bishop's palace at Garðar - once a place of great power and influence in this remote corner of the Norse world.
DAY 10 AT SEA, EN ROUTE TOWARDS NUUK
DAY 11 NUUK, CAPITAL OF GREENLAND
A mixture of skyscrapers and traditional wooden houses, the quaint and the cosmopolitan, Nuuk is a city of contrasts. The vibrant bustling capital of Greenland, Nuuk feels much larger than its 19,000 inhabitants, and offers a wealth of experiences to visitors. The calm fjords around Nuuk have been inhabited by Paleo-Inuit cultures since at least 2200 B.C., and archaeological evidence indicates waves of migration through the area as ancient hunters followed migrating prey.
DAY 12 KANGAAMIUT AND EVIGHEDSFJORDEN
On the last full day of our expedition, we will arrive at the small village of Kangaamiut, an incredibly picturesque settlement in Greenland’s central Qeqqata region. Surrounded by cold rich waters and a vast back country brimming with game, life in Kangaamiut moves at a slower pace, and locals still live a largely traditional lifestyle, surviving by hunting and fishing.
Day 13 KANGERLUSSUAQ - DISEMBARKATION
During the night, we will sail up the 160-kilometer/100 mile Kangerlussuaq Fjord. After breakfast aboard the ship, we will bid a fond farewell to the ship's crew, Expedition Team, and fellow travellers before shuttling ashore by Zodiac.
