West Greenland: Disko Bay to Uummannaq by Small Ship

Day 1: Embark on your ship in Ilulissat

Arriving independently in the town by the ice fjord and you'll be immediately struck by the remote beauty of the landscape: rolling hills, towering glaciers and a bay scattered with sculptural icebergs. It’s a world away from the norm.

In the afternoon, board your expedition vessel. After a safety briefing, you'll set sail into Disko Bay, gliding beneath the low Arctic sun. Cruise among a mesmerising display of icebergs in every shade of blue. Overnight, you'll cross the bay and drop anchor beyond the glacial waterfalls near Qeqertarsuaq, on the southern shores of Disko Island.

Days 2 to 9: Expedition cruising

Begin your first morning with breakfast overlooking the dramatic volcanic cliffs of Disko Island. Spectacular even by Arctic standards, this island is a geological gem, its basalt columns a clear sign of its fiery origins.

According to local legend, Disko Island was once paddled here from the south by two seal hunters in kayaks, only to be anchored in place by a witch from Ilulissat. Whether true or not, the island’s rugged beauty invites exploration on foot.

You'll visit the colourful settlement of Qeqertarsuaq and soak up the scenery around the town. Cruising close to the eastern coast, you can often spot feeding humpback whales near the coastal caves here. On still days, the sound of ice calving from distant glaciers can echo across the bay.

Continuing north through the breathtaking Vaigat Strait, pass towering cliffs and navigate among vast icebergs. The region is home to some of Greenland’s most dramatic and active glaciers – among them, the mighty Eqip Sermia, renowned for its frequent, thunderous calvings.

Rounding the Nuussuaq Peninsula, the boundary between Disko and Uummannaq Bays, keep watch for whales and gargantuan bergs.

Your Captain will anchor off Niaqornat, a tiny, remote settlement often described as "the village at the end of the world". With a population of around 50, many residents are subsistence hunters, their homes adorned with polar bear hides, antlers and narwhal tusks. It’s a rare chance to glimpse – and respectfully engage with – traditional Greenlandic life.

Sailing onward, you'll approach Uummannaq Island, dominated by its heart-shaped mountain. Whether in bright sunshine or rising from drifting fog, it’s a spellbinding sight often accompanied by whales surfacing nearby.

Legend says a piece of every visitor’s heart stays behind on Uummannaq, forever calling them back. Maybe it’s the mountain, or the songs of children heard from shore – whatever the reason, it’s a place that lingers.

You'll then explore the town with its historic church, colourful settler houses, local museum and relics of early Arctic expeditions.

Pushing further east, reach a remote wilderness of active glaciers and iceberg-choked fjords. These rarely visited places remain largely unnamed and unexplored, a frontier few ships ever reach. Your crew, who know this coastline intimately, speak of it as one of the most breathtaking areas in North Greenland.

As you begin to head southwest, you're likely to witness the spectacle of massive icebergs calving, rolling and then releasing cascades of meltwater into the sea.

The return leg includes a voyage along the seldom-visited western coast of Disko Island, home to otherworldly geological formations and deeply carved fjords.

Day 10: Disembarking in Ilulissat

In the morning, you'll leave the ship one last time and continue your travels or make your way towards any homebound flights.

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.