Icebergs and Eskimos in Greenland - Arctic Adventure

Departure from Sofia Airport on a direct flight with Ryanair to Copenhagen at 16:40 (air tickets are outside the package price). Landing in Copenhagen at 18:20, welcome and transfer to hotel  Scandic Webers 4*. Located in the top centre of the city, our hotel is a great starting point for exploring the central square with its beautiful town hall and sightseeing in the old part of the Danish capital. Overnight.

Breakfast. Free time to explore Denmark's colourful capital with its bohemian spirit and Nordic charm. We'll visit Tivoli Park, whose lovely gardens inspired Hans-Christian Andersen to write The Glory of the Emperor of China. We'll stroll along Strøget, Copenhagen's main shopping street, sample the renowned Karlsberg beer, and see the colourful and iconic Newhavn district, Amalienborg Palace, Marble Church and the Little Mermaid statue, a symbol of the city. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Copenhagen airport for your flight to the west coast of Greenland. The flight is operated by Greenland Airlines and after a short layover in Nuuk, we arrive in Ilulissat. The town's name means Iceberg and here we will truly be in the icy realm of icebergs! Welcome and transfer to the hotel Best Western Plus Hotel Ilulissat 4*  – guaranteed comfort in the harsh Arctic nature! Here will be our base for exploring the famous Disco Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The town is a mix of Eskimo and modern culture and is famous for its countless dog sleds (which have the right of way!). It is next to giant icebergs carved into bizarre sculptural shapes and is famous for its over 4,000 years of history dating back to the first Eskimo settlers. Check in, time to acclimatise and first walk behind the Arctic Circle among the small houses painted in bright colours so they stand out in the white landscape. Each colour once had a specific meaning that denoted the use of the building, but these days Greenlanders can choose whatever colour they wish for their houses.

At the end of a long summer day, an evening cruise to the Ilulissat Icefjord awaits us. The majestic glacier drops its icy tongues into Disco Bay, which break off to feed an unceasing procession of giant ice blocks floating on the water's surface. At the end of the fjord is one of Greenland's most active and fastest glaciers, Sermek Kujalek. An opportunity for amazing photos against the backdrop of the setting polar sun! Return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today the whole day is dedicated to exploring the amazing beauty and life in the „ice kingdom“. In summer, the snows here melt completely to reveal vast meadows of grasses, mosses and colourful flowers. The morning begins with a hike in the Sermermiut Valley, the site of ancient Eskimo settlements dating back 4,000 years. Along the way, we will explain the special features of this area and why it was here that the first Eskimo tribes found refuge. We will tell stories and legends about the lives of the Inuit and how they lived before the arrival of Europeans. We will look at the remains of some of the settlement structures that can be seen along our route (they are not obvious if you don't know what to look for). The entire Sermermouth area is currently under the auspices of UNESCO. The final point of our short walk is Nakaavik, literally translated „The Place to Fall“, which offers spectacular views of the icebergs.

In the afternoon it is time for a photo safari to observe the summer migration of the whales. By boat we will go inside the open part of Disco Bay where large herds of 3 species of whales gather in summer - Humpback whales, Minke whales and Fin whales. One of them, the humpback whale is extremely playful and agile, you will recognize it by the swell on its back and its long white fins. In an acrobatic leap it can display up to 90% of its body above the water and this is a golden opportunity for your photographic skills. In the silence of the boundless ocean of ice chunks, we will enjoy the majestic swimming of these giants, exhaling huge water fountains, slapping tails and playing in their natural Arctic environment. Return to the hotel and free time for dinner. Overnight.

After breakfast, we have a full-day boat trip to Greenland's most active iceberg, the Eki Glacier. Leaving Ilulissat, we will sail about 80 km north along the coast, passing the small settlement of Okaatsut/Rodebay, the huge Pakitsok fjord system and crossing the Ataa Strait, flanked by high mountains, to reach our destination. The Eki Glacier is 80 km long, about 5 km wide and is known as the „Collapsing Glacier“. It is certainly one of the most beautiful places in Greenland! The sight and sound of huge chunks of ice falling into the ocean is impressive, and the experience of it happening before your eyes is simply „Like a Movie!“. Lunch in the heated cabin of the ship, hot tea and coffee included.

Return back to Ilulissat and have the opportunity to have dinner in one of the unique restaurants of this town, where we can taste typical Eskimo delicacies - snow crabs, Greenland halibut, as well as whale and venison meat.     

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we depart back to Denmark. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Copenhagen with Greenland Airlines. Arrival and check-in at hotel  Scandic Webers 4*.  Overnight.  

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in Copenhagen until noon. Transfer to the airport for return flight to Bulgaria with Ryanair at 18:20. Landing at Sofia airport at 22:00.

End of program.