Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

Expedition to Greenland ANCIENT CULTURES, GLACIAL LANDSCAPES, AND ADVENTURES UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN

HIGHLIGHTS • Hike on the moonscape of the Greenland Ice Sheet • Cross wilderness valleys to look for herds of shaggy musk ox • Experience the culture of the Inuit, who have lived in Greenland for hundreds of years • Walk to an ancient Viking settlement along iceberg-strewn shores • Discover the glacier-carved wonder of the pristine Western Fjords • Cruise past towering icebergs under the long evening light of the Arctic summer • Enjoy a special Inuit barbecue, sample Greenland’s fresh local seafood DETAILS • 9-day trip begins in Nuuk and ends in Ilulissat • 8 nights rustic hotels • All meals included

This wonderfully varied journey includes a hike on the Greenland Ice Sheet, spectacular boat rides, and even a musk ox safari. PHOTO: PEARL BUCKNALL

With icebergs spilling out of its fjords, humpback whales spouting in its waters, and a fascinating Inuit culture, Greenland is perfect for WT-style adventure, and we’ve created a magnificent one brimming with great activities. We boat deep into the stunning Western Fjords, walk on the surreal Greenland Ice Sheet, enjoy an Inuit barbecue, and hike the tundra in search of musk ox. In Ilulissat, north of the Arctic Circle, we hike right alongside icebergs on the shores of Kangia Icefjord, discover an ancient Inuit settlement, and during our midnight cruise, marvel at the incredible dance of light and color of the Arctic twilight reflected on massive icebergs. If you’ve ever wanted to experience one of the planet’s most jaw-droppingly beautiful places, Greenland is the place. Days 1-3 Nuuk / Western Fjords / Qooqqut Nuan In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, we hike up Ukkusissat Mountain and enjoy a traditional Inuit-style barbecue by the sea. On our boat cruise below the granite cliffs of the Western Nuuk Fjords, we’ll fish along the way, bringing our catch to a boat-in lodge where the chef will transform it into our dinner while we hike to a Viking ruin.

DATES Jul 22-30, 2018 Aug 1-9

PETE CAIRNS

Days 4-5 Kangerlussuaq / Musk Ox Safari / Hike the Ice Sheet We hike across ice-carved valleys to search for Greenland’s wild musk ox herds (this is the best place in the country to see them), then have the extraordinary experience of hiking on the moon-like terrain of the Greenland Ice Sheet, with ice crunching beneath our feet. Day 6 Ilulissat / Midnight Cruise North of the Arctic Circle, we visit the community of Ilulissat, home to more sled dogs than people. We’ll explore colossal Kangia Icefjord on a midnight cruise beneath the towering face of the Sermeq Glacier, the most active in the world (said to have spawned the iceberg that sank the Titanic ). whales, we enjoy a coastal hike and picnic lunch with a panorama of floating icebergs and distant Disko Island. Our last hike brings us right among the giant icebergs along the wild shores of Kangia Icefjord as we make our way to the ancient Inuit settlement of Sermermiut. Depart on Day 9. Days 7-9 Disko Bay / Sermermiut Boating out through Disko Bay, on the lookout for humpback

TRIP COST $6695 (10-12 members) $7095 (6-9 members) Single supplement: $350

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

A mix of moderate walks and hikes over varying terrain, 1-5 hours a day, cultural exploration, travel by small boat, access to the Ice Sheet by rough dirt road

GUNTER GRAFENHAIN

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL EUROPE@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 75