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Experience the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, along the west coast of Greenland. 2013 is slated to be a maximum intensity year for the Aurora Borealis, and this 8- to 15-day voyage aboard sailing vessel Rembrandt van Rijn provides an intimate, exclusive voyage to experience this natural wonder and see whales, glaciers and other beautiful flora and fauna along the way to South Greenland.

This voyage starts in Aasiaat and ends in Nuuk (8-day itinerary) or Narsarsuaq (15-day itinerary). Highlights beyond incredible Northern Lights viewing include seeing musk oxen, sailing by the Jakobshavn Glacier with its enormous icebergs, visiting old dwellings of Greenland’s Thule culture (dating from the 11th century) and bathing in a large hot spring, surrounded by icebergs.

Day 1 - Embark Aasiaat

Arrive in Aasiaat from Kangerdlussuak by chartered plane (flight not included in the voyage cost). Aasiaat is a settlement that was created in the 17th century to support the whaling in the mouth of Disko Bay. Its port is ice free from late spring to early winter.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Jakobshavn Isfjord

Today find yourself just south of the large Jakobshavn Glacier with its enormous icebergs. The Jakobshavn Isfjord is a World Heritage Site. Just south of it, climb a hill, conditions permitting, and enjoy the view across the bay with icebergs.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Disko Bay

The island groups of Hunde Ejland and Kronprinsens Ejland at the mouth of the Disko Bay are surrounded by rich waters that attract both seabirds and whales. Call at the small settlement on Hunde Eijland where old dwellings of Greenland’s Thule culture (dating from the 11th century) and graves from 18th century Dutch whalers can be seen.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Sydbay (Ukivik)

Arrive at Sydbay (Ukivik) on a beautiful sandy beach where the 18th century whalers traded with the Greenlanders during the annual Assivik, an occasion when people from a large area come together. We land also at nearby Isortoq with remains of houses of the Thule culture. Look for reindeer.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Evighedsfjord

Kangaamiut at the mouth of Evighedsfjord is a friendly Greenlandic village where people still indulge in handicraft. Some way into Evighedsfjord (Eternities Fjord), near the glacier fronts of Sermetsiaq and Taterat Sermiat, find yourself surrounded by mountains nearly 6,500 feet high.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Between Alanngua and Fiskefjord

South of Maniitsoq between Alanngua and Fiskefjord, land in an area that is the base of a large impact crater, caused by a huge meteorite, which hit the earth about 3 milliard years ago. It is the oldest impact structure recorded to date on earth.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Godthåbsfjord

Sail some way into Godthåbsfjord and visit some ruins from Vesterbygd (western settlement) of the Norsemen and see majestatic icebergs from the Kangersuneq. The Moravians had a mission in the abandoned Umanaq settlement.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Nuuk

On this exchange day in Nuuk, some passengers may disembark and new passengers may embark; others may remain aboard to continue the voyage to Narsarssuag. Nuuk (Godthåb - Neu Herrenhut) the capital of Greenland has a population of about 15,000. An excursion should include a visit to the museum, which has a remarkable collection of Inuit mummies, dating from the 15th century, which were found near Uummannaq, farther to the north. The Cultural Centre of Nuuk, which each year has an exhibition of the work of a Greenlandic artist, is also worth visiting. The waters to the west of the town are a good place to see humpback whale and blue whale.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Lichtenfels

Call at Lichtenfels, an abandoned Herrnhuters mission post with a large cemetry from the 18th century, and Fiskenaes (formerly called Brielse Haven).

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Lookout for Whales

Sail past Flade Isblink and keep a lookout for humpback whale and minke whale.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - Arsuk

This Sunday morning, try to attend a church service in Arsuk, a dwindling Greenlandic community with about 140 residents. In Ivittuut walk along the remains of a Cryolite mine and around a small cemetery connected with it. In this area see musk oxen, which were introduced into the area in the last century.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12 - Qaleralik Sermia

Today sail to the beautiful glacier fronts of Qaleralik Sermia, where you will have some zodiac excursions and make some landings near the glacier. Deeper into Bredefjord at Qoornooq, land in an area with beautiful remains of houses from the Thule culture.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13 - Lichtenau

Reach Lichtenau a lovely but nearly deserted Greenlandic village, where the Herrnhuters had a mission in the 18th century, and where still some of their large buildings remain. Today's goal is Uunartoq, where you can bathe in a large hot spring, surrounded by icebergs. Close to it is Igdlorpait another abandoned Moravian mission.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 14 - Eriksfjord

In Eriksfjord visit the Viking sites of Gardar (a walk of almost two miles from the landing site at Itilleq in the neck of the Peninsula) and Brattahlíð, where Erik Red lived about a thousand years ago. In the evening arrive at the port of Narsasrsuaq.

Accommodations: Rembrandt van Rijn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 15 - Disembark Narsarssuaq

From Narsarssuaq fly by scheduled plane to Kangerdlussuak and Copenhagen (flight not included).

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Alternative Itinerary: In addition to the 15-day itinerary listed above, travelers can opt to cruise either the first 8 days from Aasiaat to Nuuk, or the final 8 days from Nuuk to Narsarssuaq. 2014 itineraries are as follows: Sept 11 Aasiaat to Kangerlussuaq, Sept 18 Kangerlussuaq to Nuuk, Sept 25 Nuuk to Narsarsuaq, Oct 2 Narsarsuaq to Narsarsuaq. Please call for more detailed information about each voyage.

Itinerary Notes: In 2013 we expect maximal displays of Aurora Borealis on these autumn voyages. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife and the Northern Lights. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.

Included: All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by zodiac; Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; Transfers and baggage handling between airport/ship/airport in Greenland harbors in connection with the chartered group flights; All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges; AECO fees and governmental taxes; Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Exclusions: Airfare, whether scheduled or charter flights; Pre- and post land arrangements; Passport and visa expenses; Transfers to/from the vessel on commercial flights; Passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; Meals ashore; Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance, including mandatory emergency evacuation insurance; Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided); Possible fuel surcharges; It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 120 per Barrel Brent, 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US $ 25 per passenger per night. For boot rental or parka pre-purchase, you must fill out a pre-order form no later than 8 weeks prior to departure.

Room Configurations: Cabins can be booked at single occupancy for 1.7 times the shared rate. If you are traveling alone, but would like to share the cabin with another passenger, no extra costs will be involved should you end up alone in the cabin.

Families & Children: Children under 16 years old in Superior, Family Triple and/or Family Quadruple cabins receive a 40% discount. Parents are entirely responsible for their children at all times, on land and on board; there is no onboard day care or nursery facility.

Payment & Cancellation: In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% the trip total is required at the time of booking. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 60 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 90 days - 20% of total trip cost
89 to 60 days - 50% of total trip cost
59 to 0 days - 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $100,000 per person. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Activities: Guided shore excursions, walks, wildlife spotting and zodiac cruises are included in the fare and will be offered to all passengers during the voyages. Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting. The landings will take three to six hours per day over untracked area. According to circumstances (the weather, the ice-situation or the passengers' wishes) the program can sometimes be adjusted. Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.

Qualifications: For the Greenland Aurora Borealis Cruise you must be in good general health and you should be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although you will spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway from the ship to the water level to board the zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats. Ashore it can be slippery and rocky. You are travelling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.


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