The iceberg alley and North of Thulé

On board the polar yacht Le Nanook

• In the land of giant icebergs and whales, the most extraordinary parade of ice cathedrals.
• Thule and Qaanaaq, the world of the last polar Eskimos and the Inuit communities of West Greenland.
• Inuit civilizations, ‘the last kings of Thule,’ French polar expeditions and modern Greenland.
• The giant glaciers and polar bears of the basins and straits north of Thule.

Grands Espaces

• An expedition cruise on one of the smallest expedition boats.
• 25 years of Polar expertise, an itinerary completely oriented towards wildlife observation and the discovery of the polar environment
• A 100% French-speaking cruise (passengers and team)
• Outings and conferences supervised by our team of naturalist guides

Your program

DAY 1 | Reykjavik – Ilulissat

Private direct flight from Keflavik. 3-hour flight over the east coast and then the ice cap, and arrival in Ilulissat, Greenland. Transfer to the port and boarding of the Ocean Nova, positioned off the coast, near the icebergs. Welcome on board. Installation in your cabins, then afternoon of visits: Rasmussen Museum and walk towards the ice field/icebergs of Kangia. This UNESCO World Heritage site is cluttered with giant icebergs over more than 60 kilometers, as the glacier advances towards the sea 30 meters per day. Presentation of the trip before dinner, and evening of tourist navigation.

DAY 2 | Ilulissat – Eqi

Morning of free discovery (shopping, souvenirs, museums) for those who wish in Ilulissat. Departure at the end of the morning through the well-sheltered strait between the island of Disko and the ice cap towards the glacier Eqi, which flows in numerous icebergs into a splendid bay. It is there that from 1948, the French Polar Expeditions established their base camp for work and crossings of the ice cap. You will disembark on this historic site of the expeditions of Paul-Émile Victor. Evening sailing off the village of Qeqertaq, then in the sheltered strait of Disko.

DAY 3 | The icebergs alley

This famous alley is punctuated by giant icebergs coming from 5 large emissaries of the cap and the bay of Melville. All day, you will cross these crystal cathedrals; and off the coast, we will probably observe whales and seabirds. To the east, the immense ice cap of 1.7 million km2 rises to its peak. It produces 30,000 to 40,000 icebergs per year.

Day also used by our team of guides-confederators to return to our first visits, familiarize ourselves with the world of polar ice and situate Greenland.

DAY 4 | Glaciers of Nuussuaq and Igdluligssuak

North of Upernavik, the Red Head and Kullorsuaq area is known for its ice fields. From early in the morning until around 10 pm, you will be all day on the zodiacs and aboard the Nanook in another universe: the largest iceberg fields of West Greenland. The glaciers Nutarssuaq and Igdluligssuak, coming directly from the cap, are the most active. You will approach them in a zodiac. Seals, bears and sometimes whales can be observed there. The small village of Nuussuaq, with its 60 houses, is home to a community of hunters.

DAY 5 | Savissivik, village and bay – Cap York

Early arrival at Savissivik, a village formed by a community of Inuit hunters (bears, mergules, sharks, whales…). Day of exploration of Savissivik Bay, north of Melville Bay, a beaching area for giant icebergs, with glaciers and polar bears in this extraordinary setting. In the evening, landing at the western end to discover Inuit vestiges of the Thule culture, and optional hike to the impressive monument dedicated to the explorer Peary, erected on top of a mountain. It was here that Peary discovered a giant meteorite used to make weapons.

DAY 6 | Dundas – Old Thulé

The original village of Thule, before the installation of the American Danish air base came to drive away the Inuit. This strategic base was established at the time of the Cold War. In Dundas, we will see the remains of the Inuit village where Jean Malaurie described “The Last Kings of Thule” and where the explorer Knud Rasmussen established his trading post.

DAY 7 et 8 | North of Thulé

Ice floe in search of wildlife, you will go to Etah and towards the Humboldt glacier with its 110 km of ice front. This is the region where Inuits hunt narwhals, walruses, musk oxen and polar bears. Discovery of the site of Etah, a historic passage point for great Inuit civilizations.

DAY 9 | Fjord d’Inglefield and Qaanaaq

Qaanaaq (650 residents), the northernmost village of Groen- land, founded in 1951. Community of narval hunters. Observation of these cetaceans is rare, because they have become fierce.

DAY 10 | Siorapaluk

Landing from 8am in this picturesque village of 20 houses. Discovery of the colorful houses and hunting trophies (narwhal, walrus, bear). Navigation to the island of Agparssuit, rich in seabird colonies. Zodiac cruise possible according to the sea.

DAY 11 | In the Baffin Sea

Day of navigation to Upernavik, on the route of the explorers of the Northwest Passage. Synthesis conferences: landscapes, wildlife, ice floe, isolated Inuit communities, history of North Greenland and the North Pole. Sailing off the bay of Melville.

DAY 12 | Upernavik

Arrival in this town of 1100 inhabitants clinging to the granite rock. Visit of the village, the church, the museum and its outdoor museum. Discovery of the different eras: Inuit civilizations, Vikings (13th century), Danish settlers, modern fishing economy. Former colony of birds disappeared, Upernavik glacier calving at the end of the fjord. Zodiac cruise and observation of sled dogs on the islands.

DAY 13 | Uummannaq

Visit of the city, the church and the museum dedicated to Alfred Wegener. Traditional peat houses and exhibition on the mummies of Qilakitsoq. City leaning against a heart-shaped piton, housing the ‘House of Greenlandic Santa Claus’. Sailing towards the Nussuaq peninsula. Passage near Kutdlikssat, ancient mining city now a ghost.

DAY 14 | Ilulissat – Island

Transfer to the port then the airport. Free time in Ilulissat according to schedules. Return flight to Iceland with overflight of the ice cap, the mountains of the east coast and the Icelandic volcanoes, before landing in Iceland.

©Photos-Grands Espaces

LE NANOOK

✔ A reinforced hull boat, ice class 1B, intended for large expeditions and long crossings

✔ 12 passengers maximum

✔ 2 zodiacs for excursions

✔ Lounge, bar and panoramic restaurant, sauna and jacuzzi, Scandinavian style interior

Built in 1968 in Denmark to face the North Seas, this 53.5 m ship, classified as ice 1B, is designed for oceanic expeditions. With two 2,200 HP engines, it reaches 12 cruising knots. It accommodates up to 12 passengers in 9 comfortable cabins (8 to 16m 2), each equipped with single or double beds, a workspace, storage and a private bathroom and it has two zodiacs for outings.

Fully restored between 2020 and 2024, it benefits from redesigned cabins and a panoramic lounge. This robust and elegant boat will sail in the Arctic from 2025.