Greenland, the largest island in the world, has 85 percent of its area covered with ice, and here you'll find some of the world's most active glaciers; and you most probably will experience the calving of an iceberg. You'll have many opportunities to see walrus, seals, a variety of whales and birds, musk ox, wild reindeer, and some of the more than 500 species of plants. On this Northeast Greenland tour you will discover the Arctic wilderness through an enticing itinerary designed to engage and excite you from one port to the next. Northeastern Greenland offers some of the most spectacular and unspoiled scenery anywhere on Earth. The frozen coastlines of this part of the world's largest island have been witness to the birth of some of nature's most breathtaking creations. The struggle for survival has always engendered a healthy respect for the environment in the few people who live here. During this Northeast Greenland tour you will witness the quite unique interaction of man and nature as you cruise through this landscape rich in culture, history, and spectacular wildlife, into the northern lands of the Midnight Sun

Day 1: Reykjavik, Iceland
Founded as the first Viking settlement off continental Europe, Reykjavik today is the modern capital of Iceland. Its surroundings include fantastic spots of natural beauty, with geysers, mountains, and geothermal bathing. Begin your Northeast Greenland tour and embark MS Fram in the afternoon.

Day 2: At sea, Denmark Strait
Cruising the Denmark Strait, keep a lookout for Humpback and Minke whales. Later, you will approach the rarely visited coast of eastern Greenland, home to some of the most isolated, sparsely populated, and scenically superb parts of the world's largest island. Here you will come closest to the original Greenland, where you can find Polar bears, Musk oxen, Arctic hares, and a variety of birds, including the Gyrfalcon and Snowy Owl.

This part of Greenland is thinly populated for both historical and natural reasons. It is locked in by pack ice for much of the year, which has made this area very isolated - from both the rest of Greenland and the wider world. The first Europeans came here only just over 100 years ago; this separation from the rest of the country is clearly reflected in the language and culture of the region.

From this point on, your Northeast Greenland tour itinerary will depend on ice and weather conditions, which vary unpredictably. This is an expedition into an area that very few ever travel to and no specific itinerary can be guaranteed in advance. No matter where you go, you will experience things most travelers never have an opportunity to enjoy.

Day 3: Ammassalik, Greenland
Ammassalik is the largest community in east Greenland. Most of its inhabitants are employed fishing for the Greenlandic halibut, Atlantic salmon, and other fish that make up the economy of this remote place. This historic district was the site of eastern Greenland's first trading post, founded in 1893. The municipality covers an area five times the size of Denmark, though it has a population of less than 5,000.

Days 4-8: Northeast Greenland
One of the reasons northeastern Greenland is so rarely visited is because of the enormous amount of ice moving along the coast. Cold water currents out of the Arctic Ocean transport some 1,550 to 1,750 square miles of ice each year, leaving only the late summer period open for navigation. Seasonal variations are unavoidable and your excellent bridge crew, under the command of your captain, will monitor the ice situation at hand. This is a real expedition!

Your tour takes you north for Kangerlussuaq Fjord, where glaciers reach the sea, creating a fabulous landscape of glacier fronts, icebergs, and cliffs. On shore, there are the remains of dwellings of the ancient Thule people, the ancestors of the modern Inuit.

If ice conditions allow, you will reach Mikis Fjord, bounded by steep cliffs and Nansen Fjord, often choked with beautifully sculpted icebergs and ringed by high mountains. At 12,140 feet, Gunnbjorn Fjeld is both the highest peak in Greenland and the highest mountain north of the Arctic Circle.

Scoresby Sund is the largest fjord in the world. Huge icebergs float beneath a backdrop of spectacular mountains and tundra. Passing Cape Brewser and entering the fjord will challenge observers' understanding of scale; everything here is outsized.

In Ittoqqortoormiit, several hundred Greenlanders make their home. In this isolated hunting community, people still depend on hunting Polar bears, Musk oxen and seals for their livelihood. The only connection to the world is either by air to Iceland or via the occasional visiting ship.

In the following days, you will venture farther north towards Northeast Greenland National Park. This is the largest national park in the world, more than three times the size of the British Isles or about one-and-a-half times the size of France. The number of visitors in this area barely surpasses four digits per year. Here, you will have the possibility to visit places such as the legendary Alpefjord, with its magnificent mountains, and the Stauning Alps, some of them soaring more than 10,000 feet high.

You may see displays of the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, which can be especially lively in this area in late August and September (see photo above).

The place names of northeast Greenland are witness to its rich history of scientific expeditions, wintering by trappers, and forays by nations that wanted to plant their flag and claim new lands. Examples include Geographical Society Island, Kong Oscar Fjord, Teufelschloss, Waltherhausen Glacier, and Myggbukten. This is also the area where Thule culture "winter houses" are found. As many as 20 people occupied each of these tiny houses, hunting Greenland whales and using the vertebrae to build the simple yet efficient structures.

Days 9-10: At sea, Denmark Strait
Cross the Denmark Strait and continue to Iceland's West Fjords, an area of cascading waterfalls and huge numbers of nesting birds. At charming and remote Isafjordur, visit the Maritime Museum for a demonstration of traditional dancing.

Day 11: Reykjavik
Return to Reykjavik, the world's northernmost national capital. Home to just 171,514 people, the city nonetheless boasts a vast selection of restaurants, museums, and shops. Here in the Icelandic capital, your Northeast Greenland tour comes to an end.

SAILING DATE: 
September 13, 2010

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNTS
Rates from US$ 6032 per person

For rates, please call 1-800-334-6544 (U.S.) or +1-212-480-4521 (International) or go to the form How to Book.

Within India you can call us toll free at 1-800-345-3324 or visit www.cruisenorway.in

Other Greenland programs

Click on link to view the virtual Greenland cruise (broadband recommended).

Why sail on MS Fram?
- She's the only brand new vessel making regularly scheduled expedition cruises in Greenland
- Board landing craft via a unique sea level docking bay built right into the hull of the ship - no need to climb a ladder to access landing craft
- She's a true expedition ship with ice classified double hull, yet she also boasts luxurious "ocean liner" amenities and facilities.
- Norwegian Officers with years of experience navigating Antarctic/Arctic waters
- All cabins have flat panel televisions and refrigerators
- Modern bathrooms have built in hair dryers and heated floors
- Amenities on board include internet café, wi-fi, fitness room, sauna and Jacuzzi
- Observation lounges, restaurant and bars have floor to ceiling windows for viewing the spectacular scenery
- On board lectures by renowned scientists in state of the art multi media conference rooms
- Newly designed sturdy Polar Circle Boats are used for landings - not old fashioned zodiac craft

Click here for MS Fram's deck plan.

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