Compare Greenland Traditional Dogsled Expedition by Want Expeditions vs Country Roads of Scandinavia - Classic Group Classic Group by Insight Vacations

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: Welcome to Oslo

On arrival at Oslo airport, your transfer will leave for the hotel at 09:30, 12:00 or 14:30. Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at 17:30, to enjoy a Welcome Dinner with wine.

Day 2: Cosmopolitan Oslo Relaxed Start

Sightseeing with a Local Expert includes views of Akershus Castle and the Royal Palace. Walk around the Opera House and marvel at the stricking contemporary architecture of the new Bjorvika district. Wander through Frogner Park, with its intriguing sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The afternoon is at your leisure to continue exploring as you wish. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to the most modern ski jump in the world? Maybe explore City Hall where the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony is held, or walk upon the famous architecture of Oslo Opera House.

Day 3: Oslo City to Coastal Bergen

Journey across the Hardanger Plateau, Europe's greatest mountain plateau and the largest national park in the Nordic countries, before arriving at your hotel in the historic port of Bergen. Join your Travel Director for a city orientation and hear about the seafaring traditions of this beautiful harbourside town. In the evening, savour a delicious dinner at local restaurant.

Day 4: Ancient Hanseatic Port of Bergen Relaxed Start

A Local Expert introduces you to Bergen with a visit to Bryggen, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Centre. Explore its beautiful wooden houses, see the 14th century Haakon's Hall and stroll through the lively fish market with its many stalls. After seeing the 13th century Haakon’s Hall, there will be time to explore all that this exciting town has to offer. Perhaps spend a leisurely afternoon on the traditional train of the Flåm Railway?

Day 5: A Coastline Like No Other Relaxed Start

Enjoy the morning at leisure to ascend Mount Fløyen by the only funicular in Scandinavia or alternatively visit the home of composer Edward Grieg, located alongside the beautiful lake Nordås. Afterwards, travel along this incredible coastline and sail across fjords passing an abundance of islands. Arrive in Stavanger, one of Norway’s oldest cities founded almost 900 years ago. The city has continued to evolve with changing times and now the headquarters of the Norwegian oil industry, Stavanger is a fusion of old world charm and cosmopolitan flair.

Day 6: The Wonders of Lysefjord Relaxed Start

Cruise through Lysefjord, one of Norway's most breathtaking fjords and be charmed by its stunning natural beauty. See the Preikestolen plateau and Pulpit Rock, a plunging cliff face and one of the most iconic places in Norway. You will also see the mysterious Vagabond's Cave and enjoy the fjord landscape through panoramic windows or from the sundeck. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax or continue exploring Stavanger.

Day 7: Lyngdal and Kristiansand

In Lyngdal, tour the Wild Salmon Centre with a biologist guide, learn about protecting salmon populations and the local ecosystem. Observe the majestic fish in their own environment, via a unique indoor 'staircase' and viewing area. Relax and enjoy the scenic drive around the southern cape of Norway. Upon arrival in Kristiansand, your orientation walk of the city centre will show you the Dom Kirke and the Nupen Fountain. Savour a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8: Kristiansand to Aarhus

Say farewell to Norway as you sail across the Skagerrak to Hirtshals, Denmark. Your journey continues to Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city and one of Europe's cultural treasures with world-class museums and modern art. Explore Aarhus with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert and visit Den Gamle By Open-Air Museum, offering a trip through 300 years of Danish culture. Walk among historic houses relocated from all over the country and see traditional workshops. Alternatively, take a walk in the Botanical Gardens with your Local Expert and learn about Danish nature and flora, as well as international plants in the Tropical Houses. Join your fellow travellers for a Farm-to-Table dinner of delicious regional specialties, made from locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.

Day 9: Historic Aarhus Relaxed Start

A vibrant mix of youthful energy and a blast from the past makes Aarhus a city with an energetic beat of the pulse. Join your Local Expert for an exploration of the city centre. See the City Hall, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum — topped with an immense and interactive artwork — and Dokk1, the largest public library in Scandinavia. Walk through the cathedral neighbourhood and visit the new township for splendid views of Aarhus Bay. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace.

Day 10: Odense and the Fairytales of Fyn Relaxed Start

Cross the Jutland Peninsula to the town of Odense, on the island of Fyn.Visit the Hans Christian Andersen House and explore the author's creative universe. The newly opened, innovative exhibition is a remarkable homage to one of the most famous Danes. In the evening, visit the glittering lights and enchanting atmosphere of the world-famous Tivoli Gardens.

Day 11: Wonderful Copenhagen Relaxed Start

Meet your Local Expert and pay a visit to Hans Christian Andersen's iconic Little Mermaid statue. Later, see Christiansborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace, the Renaissance Stock Exchange, the unusual Round Tower and Copenhagen Cathedral, where the Crown Prince of Denmark married Princess Mary. The afternoon is at your leisure. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Cofoco restaurant and enjoy a delicious Celebration Dinner of sustainable ingredients, as you toast to the end of your Scandinavian adventure.

Day 12: Depart Copenhagen

Departure transfers arrive at Copenhagen airport at 06:30, 09:00 and 12:00.