Compare Greenland Traditional Dogsled Expedition by Want Expeditions vs Norway & Denmark in 10 days - Land of the Vikings - Superior by Exoticca
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 6,749 | $ 2,599 |
| Price Per Day | $ 675 | $ 260 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Luxury |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | 9 breakfasts, 2 dinners. |
| Description |
This expedition is exceptional, because it serves to promote one of WANT Expeditions's sustainable tourism goals. The Inuit people have led a very subsistence lifestyle for generations, which unfortunately is collapsing as western views, religious organizations, and international communities and organizations place pressure on them to change their ways and modernize. Particularly, there is major international controversy over whether hunting by native peoples is negatively affect existing populations of endangered and threatened species, such as the Narwhal and Polar Bear. This trip allows its participants to understand the challenges native peoples face to survive in remote, isolated, and "unproductive" regions, while at the same time helping to establish a new means of survival and economy through tourism fees, without disrupting their traditional and evolving lifestyles. This trip was difficult in design, but in the end, we were able to convince our hosts that while we wanted as an authentic experience as possible, and the opportunity to get as close to the animals as space and safety would allow, that except for unavoidable and necessary circumstances, when it came down to firing the final "shot", the only clicking to be heard would come from our cameras and blanks being fired from their guns as they demonstrated how they would carry out the kill. This expedition is a pioneer step for transitioning natural and cultural resources from predation to protection, while generating understanding in a global world, and preserving traditional values. And, this trip has been so wildly successful it is running a solid three years straight! This trip has also been featured in the 2010 winter issue of CAPA, and is a true expedition and incredible dream for a true adventurer. |
Begin in Oslo and its cultural delights. Spend your nights on the Norway's most beautiful fjords in Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. Discover the city of Bergen, surrounded by the characteristic landscape of towering mountains and crystal-clear fjords and cross the glistening Hardangerfjord. Then, arrive in Copenhagen, bursting with stunning Rococo architecture and royal history. |
Day 1: Arrival/Copenhagen/Ilulissat
Accommodation: Comfortable City Hotel
We will arrive at Ilulissat 2:50 in the afternoon. At the end of April, there is almost 24 hours daylight here, so we will have plenty of time to get to our accommodation and to discover this interesting township. Ilulissat (aka Jakobshavn from founder Jakob Severin) is the third largest settlement in Greenland after Nuuk and Sisimiut. The town has a population of 4,500. It lies in the municipality of Qaasuitsup, about halfway up the country's west coast, and about 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. In direct translation, Ilulissat is the Greenlandic word for "the icebergs". Ilulissat is Greenland's most popular tourist destination on account of its proximity to the picturesque Ilulissat Icefjord. The Icefjord runs west 40 km from the Greenland ice sheet to Disko Bay close to Ilulissat town. At its eastern end is the Jakobshavn glacier, the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. The glacier flows at a rate of 20-35 m per day, resulting in around 20 billion tons of icebergs calved off and passing out of the fjord every year. So while we have no organized program for the rest of the day (other than lunch and dinner at the hotel), those interested can easily arrange a transfer from our hotel to visit the fjord and the glacier. Otherwise there is plenty of other things to see in town, and it is quite fun to just stroll around and get to know the locals and their lifestyle. We will return to the hotel for a great dinner and some rest before another great day in Greenland.
Day 2: Ilulissat/Qaanaaq
Accommodation: Bunk House - shared accommodation and facilities
Today we depart from Ilulissat and head to Qaanaaq, possibly stopping briefly en route in Upernavik. Once we touch down in Qaanaaq, it won't take much to get the feeling that we are truly at the end of the world! Accommodation here in general is exceptionally limited, but tonight we stay in private houses that are being offered for tourism purposes. In general, although these are not luxurious houses, they offer all the modern amenities and comfort we will require including: basic beds with comfortable mattresses, heat, kitchen, bathrooms with hot shower and storage spaces. Once we have taken our rooms, we will take off to explore town or to purchase some additional items from the local (well-supplied) store.
Come dinnertime, we will have our first chance to meet the representative of our local hunters, who will carry out a short demonstration of the sleds, the sleeping arrangements and other items to be used on the ice. As we get to know the representative, and listen to his update about weather predictions and latest news on wildlife movement in the area, we will lay out the anticipated schedule for the following days. This orientation will be our first and best opportunity to start learning and understanding their daily lives, society, culture and survival skills necessary in such an environment. This is also a great opportunity for you to express world values concerning preserving biodiversity. An interpreter will help us communicate and to ask any questions we may have - a luxury that will not be present later during the trip. Once on the ice, communication will be a challenging, yet exciting and rewarding part of our experience. Still, it is important to express our interest and curosity, and to encourage them to naturally go about their activities, while we document their daily lives in a typical environment. We appreciate if the hunters bring their weapons and demonstrate how they would approach and kill the animals (including seals, birds, and the very occasional polar bears and Narwhals) in the field.
After we've had our orientation, the next most exciting activity is the chance to meet our individual drivers. In order to choose, we'll draw straws, then spend a few minutes introducing ourselves to each other. After the representative leaves, your expedition leader will check our modern equipment, making sure we are all adequately prepared for life on the ice. Your leader will also set a departure time and an approximate route for the next 6 days. Once this is all settled, we will have a few more hours of free time in the village and a self-organized dinner, before going to bed to rest one last time in a heated room with a proper mattress.
Day 3: Qaanaaq/Dogsled Expedition
Accommodation: Dogsled Camp
Breakfast will be served relatively early, as we are expecting our hunters to come and meet us this morning. The exact trip schedule, timing, and routing will be re-evaluated with them upon arrival, because it entirely depends on the weather and the ice conditions. Soon following their arrival we will depart on our amazing expedition on dogsleds covered with our gear and the local equipment. Our hunters will bring a very basic canvas tent and some warm fur blankets to cover the sled, so other than our warm Arctic expedition wear, we only have to carry our own sleeping bag, an air mattress, and our own food. Once we reach our camp of the day, two hunters will put their emptied sleds together and will erect a tent over the sleds. This way the sleds become a large bed, catering for 4 people: two of us and two local hunters. The hunters will have a small stove for heating and some cooking equipment, so we will have a moderately supplied life inside. Occasionally, there will be abandoned hunter's huts near to our camp, so all or some of us will be able to spend the night in those. But this is still the future; we are, at the moment, just taking off for our first day of exploration over the sea ice. Most probably, at first we are heading NE, towards a more northerly settlement, called Siorapaluk. We shall reach the settlement in about 6-8 hours and stop for a few hours. We can stroll around, explore the local lifestyle and the huge Little Auk colony on the cliffs behind the settlement, while our hunters will discuss the latest wildlife movement news with their local colleagues in order to determine a more exact routing for the rest of the week. Late in the afternoon, we will take off in the desired direction again, and will set up our camp for the night after a few more hours of sledding. Depending on the actual conditions, we might already reach the edge of the ice and the large polynia that is usually at this part of the North Baffin Bay. Either way, we shall set up our camp for tonight, blow up our air mattresses and each cook our own dinner, using the equipment of your host, or if you like, your own. Since by the end of April the sun never goes down, we will have to adjust to nights that are quite bright throughout.
Day 4: Dogsled Expedition
Accommodation: Dogsled Camp
Our first morning on the ice! After a gentle wake up call by our hunters, we prepare our breakfasts, take the camp down and venture off in search of wildlife, ice and other interesting things to see. Depending on the actual conditions, we might follow the edge of the sea ice for quite a while, looking for any signs of Narwhals or seals, or we might go inland, following the footsteps of a Polar Bear or any other wildlife signs such as the Arctic Fox or Arctic Hare. We will have an absolutely full day on the ice, learning as much as we can about the techniques of Inuit dog sledding, wildlife tracking and other survival skills. At one point, we will also learn the easiest and best way to erect a proper ice igloo. By the end of the day, late in the afternoon or early in the evening, we set up our camp again and have yet another fun night, trying to cook our own meals.
Day 5: Dogsled Expedition
Accommodation: Dogsled Camp
Another full day out on the ice with our dogs and hunter hosts. The exact activity of the day will be determined by them and by the weather, animals and ice conditions. We will organize a harpoon-throwing contest and build a proper igloo-wall around our portable toilet (practicing our new igloo-building skills).
Day 6: Dogsled Expedition
Accommodation: Dogsled Camp
Another full day out on the ice with our dogs and hunter hosts. The exact activity of the day will be determined by them and by the weather, animals and ice conditions.
Day 7: Dogsled Expedition
Accommodation: Dogsled Camp
Another full day out on the ice with our dogs and hunter hosts. The exact activity of the day will be determined by them and by the weather, animals and ice conditions.
Day 8: Dogsled Expedition/Qaanaaq
Accommodation: Bunk House
Today we will still spend a whole day out on the ice, but during the last day or two, our hunters have been designing our routes the way that today we will be within no more than eight hours dogsled-distance from Qaanaaq. So after a possibly very long day, running across the frozen sea or land with our dogs and sled, we shall return to Qaanaaq, the first real sign of civilization after an entire week out on the ice. We take our 'usual' rooms in the two private houses, cook our own meals and after a well-deserved hot shower, enjoy re-packing our belongings for our departure the following day and will have an hour session with the hunters' representative and an interpreter again, allowing us to ask any questions me may have left. Now we will have a great night's sleep on a
Day 9: Qaanaaq/Ilulissat
Accommodation: Comfortable City Hotel
Our flight back to Ilulissat does not depart until early afternoon, so we have a comfortable morning to spend our time as we wish. We can either stroll around town one more time and take images, visit the local souvenir shop for the perfect momento, visit our hunters in their homes and say a proper good by to them and to the dogs, or you can simply sleep in after our tiring last week and finish packing this morning. Plan on departing by 11am to check-in for our flight to Ilulissat. At this time our airplane is likely to stop not only in Upernavik, but also in Quaarsut, but we will still get to Ilulissat in the late afternoon. Which, again, due to the constant daylight, gives us enough time to do further explorations in the region. There are no organized excursions, but one is welcome to explore the town or enjoy the brewery within our hotel.
Dinner will be an organized event to properly send us off after such a pioneering expedition. With so much fun and such a rich experience behind us, we will certainly have a lot to discuss and recap on. After dinner, we will retire to save some last bits of energy for yet another long flight back to Copenhagen.
Day 10: Ilulissat/Departure
Our flight leaves as early as 07:20 in the morning, so we will have a very early breakfast, followed by a transfer to the airport. Just like on the way up, we change aircraft in Kangerlussuaq and depart on our final flight at 11:25 am. It is going to be as late as 19:45 upon our landing in Copenhagen, but there are still plenty of later flights out of the city to most European or North American destinations, so our exciting expeditions ends here at Copenhagen Airport, with all of us spreading out in transit and catching our connecting flights. Have a safe trip home!
Day 1: US - Night on board
Ready to discover the spectacular landscapes and scenic fjords of Norway? Arrive at your departure airport to catch a flight to Oslo.* Night on board. * Important: If your outbound flight leaves at dawn (before 04:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the selected departure day.
Day 2: Oslo
Arrive at Gardermoen airport and transfer to the hotel.* Oslo is the capital of Norway and a great place to discover the local culture and cuisine. The city is known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, its green spaces and its numerous museums, many of which are dedicated to the country's Viking heritage. Overnight stay in Oslo. * Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service.
Day 3: Oslo - Oppland
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning enjoy a fascinating panoramic tour of Oslo including Frogner Park which houses the Sculptural Ensemble of Vigeland, the Town Hall, the Royal Palace, and the Modern Opera House. Afterwards, set off for Lillehammer, the city famous for the Olympics of '94, which is situated on the shores of Lake Mjøsa. Admire its tiny picturesque streets. Here you have the option to visit the Maihaugen Open-Air Museum.* Continue through the Oppland region and check-in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Oppland. * Optional Maihaugen Open-Air Museum: Maihaugen is Norway’s largest open-air museum outside of Oslo. The museum offers more than 200 buildings from different eras, superb cultural experiences and numerous exhibitions. You may find a cheaper price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.
Day 4: Oppland - Sogn og Fjordane
Breakfast at the hotel. An exciting day awaits as you set off for Briksdal Glacier. On the way, stop for a brief visit to the beautiful Lom Church.* Located inside the Jostedalsbreen National Park, the Briksdal Glacier is set within the breathtaking Briksdalen Valley, rising to a height of 1200 metres. Enjoy some free time in Briksdal to admire the unbelievable views, take photos, explore the valley and have lunch (at your own expense). Afterwards, head to the Førde region, to check in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Sogn og Fjordane. * Optional Entrance to Lom Church: Enjoy entrance to Lom Stave Church where you can admire the beautiful Romanesque architecture of this 12th-century site, one of the largest churches in Norway.Please note: You may find a cheaper entrance ticket price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.
Day 5: Sogn og Fjordane - Sognefjord - Bergen
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off into the landscapes of the land of fjords, and enjoy a panoramic cruise through the beautiful Sognefjord, one of the most famous and beautiful in the whole of Norway. Admire the Nærøy Fjord and the Sognefjord with its high mountains, waterfalls and breathtaking landscape, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Afterwards, continue to Gudvangen to enjoy some free time in this quaint village, nestled at the base of the Angosto Fjord. We recommend taking an optional excursion to the fascinating Viking Museum here.* Afterwards, continue to Voss where you can explore at your leisure until finally arriving in Bergen the 'capital of the fjords'. Transfer to the hotel and get settled in. Overnight stay in Bergen. * Optional Viking Museum Visit: Visit Gudvangen's Viking Museum to learn more about this important period in Norwegian history. The Viking Museum is home to impressive Viking-style buildings, re-enactments and brilliant insights into Norway's Viking heritage.
Day 6: Bergen
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on a fascinating panoramic tour of Bergen for an overview of its sights and history. Visit the Fish Market, famous for its busy atmosphere and excellent produce, and the Hanseatic Neighbourhood or Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with traditional buildings, museums, restaurants and cafes. The afternoon is free at your leisure. We recommend an optional Funicular Ride to Mount Floyen.* Overnight stay in Bergen. * Optional Mount Floyen Funicular Ride: Ride to the top of Mount Floyen for exceptional views of Bergen and the surrounding fjord-lands. You may find a cheaper price at the destination, but it is recommended that you book through Exoticca to secure your place in advance.
Day 7: Bergen - Hardangerfjord - Oslo
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off early towards Oslo and on the way travel across the mighty Hardangerfjord. On the shores of this fjord you can watch the various different farming communities, many of them dedicated to fish farming. After admiring the glistening fjord, head to the Hardangervidda Plateau, home to large herds of wild reindeer. Continue to Olso and watch the changing landscapes and natural beauty of the Buskerud region pass by. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Oslo.
Day 8: Oslo - Copenhaguen
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer* to the airport to take flight to Copenhguen. Arrival in Copenhagen. Upon arrival, transfer on your own** to the hotel in the city center. The rest of the day at leisure, we suggest walking the streets and exploring the city of the Royal family and the main street Strøget, with many shops, bars, and coffee shops. Overnight in Copenhaguen. * Transfers are provided by a regular Flybuss Service. ** Possibility to book private transfer in the next step of the booking.
Day 9: Copenhaguen
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a trip through the classic channels of Copenhaguen. Discover some of the churches and castles, appreciate the old hanging houses and the new buildings at the same time you sail through the most popular channels: Nyhavn and Ved Stranden. Overnight in Copenhaguen.
Day 10: Copenhaguen
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will have a free day to enjoy on your own. You can take profit of the time to go shopping or visit some emblematic sites. We recommend one of the two optional excursions: Hop-on Hop-off tourist bus or the entry to the Tivoli Park. Overnight in Copenhaguen. * Optional excursion Hop-on Hop-off in Copenhagen: touristic bus trip through the principal sites of Copenhagen. You can decide where to stop and where to continuo your trip. The tickets are valid for 72 hours and you can use to move around the city. During the trip you will have audioguide service. * Optional excursion Tivoli Park: entry to the Tivoli theme Park. Enjoy the time in the one of the oldest theme parks of the world. It was opened in 1843 with only a carousel and a small roller coaster, and now is one of the most important places in the city. This was a source of inspiration for Walt Disney and his creation.
Day 11: Copenhaguen - US
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, self-transfer* to the airport for your return flight back to the US.* Arrive in the US and end your trip. * Possibility to book private transfer in the next step of the booking.
