Day 4 - 6 Exploring the Sermilik Fjord Complex
The landscape along Greenland’s isolated and rarely visited east coast is wild and magnificent. Great fjords indent the coastline, penetrating far into sheer-sided mountains capped by the world’s second-largest ice sheet. Sermilik Fjord is the mightiest of them all, a marine playground for a multitude of Arctic wildlife. Base camp provides a safe and comfortable outpost from which to explore this vast expanse of wilderness. Though this area is profoundly secluded, the wider region is dotted with a few isolated villages where Greenlandic Inuit people practice subsistence lifestyles in this stunning yet uncompromising Arctic environment. In varied encounters, learn about their culture, still based on fishing and hunting, and discover how they are retaining their traditions while adapting to contemporary life in the 21st century.
On Zodiac excursions observe the rugged and ever-changing shoreline, navigating among a flotilla of icebergs in an array of wild shapes, some far larger than a house. Look for whales and seals, both of which are present in these waters, depending on ice conditions. Guided sea kayaking outings are also an option for exploring the waters of the bay. Plenty of time is spent ashore, too, with walks and hikes for varying ability levels.
Explore the mountainsides and wander near glaciers that wind down from the Greenland Ice Sheet. This huge ice mass, second in size only to Antarctica, stretches more than 1,500 miles from north to south and is nearly a mile deep at its thickest, coverning 80 percent of the island. Learn about the crucial role it plays in regulating the earth’s climate, and see how rapidly it is being affected by global warming. Amid fields of waving Arctic cotton grass, scout for wildlife such as Arctic fox and hare and enjoy birdlife, including eiders, loons, and possibly peregrine falcons.
The long hours of summer daylight allow for extensive exploration, but eventually it will be time to retreat each evening to base camp, for a hearty dinner and interpretive presentations by the naturalist Expedition Leaders who will share their extensive knowledge of Greenland's geology, glaciology and human history. Retire to your cabin under the sunny night sky.
You will be staying at Base Camp Greenland, Full board