Elite Traveler HRS 2024

elite traveler HOTELS, RESORTS &SPAS2024 23

Clockwise from left National Geographic Endurance ; the on-board ‘igloo’; Northeast Greenland National Park

DAYSEVEN Anchoring o ff Greenland’s southernmost town, Nanortalik, you will explore the settlement with local guides. The afternoon is bookmarked by a performance of local folk music and dance, followed by a lesson in traditional Inuit umiaks and kayaks. DAYEIGHT The highlight of the day is taking in panoramic views as Endurance sails through some of the most beautiful fjords in the world at Prins Christian Sund. Zodiac boats transport passengers to land to tick o ff someextra exploration around icebergs, while underwater cameras chart what’s happening beneath the waves. DAYNINE One of the only days spent at sea, on day nine the ship makes the journey across the Denmark Strait, known by some as the world’s largest waterfall due to the colder water diving as deep as 10,000 ft beneath the warmer currents. This day, crossing back to the Westfjords of Iceland, is a great chance to visit the on-ship spa and listen to some talks from the scientists and naturalists on board. DAYTEN Arrive at the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. One of the most dramatic spots on Iceland’s west coast, this landscape has been crafted by millennia of volcanic activity. Quaint fi shing villages sit next to encapsulating waterfalls, and the unusually shaped Kirkjufell Mountain is one of the most photographed in Iceland. DAYELEVEN Onthe fi nal day of the expedition, the Linbland National Geographic Endurance docks at the Icelandic capital of Reykjavík, the point where the whole journey began. From $13,815 per person. Contact Rachel Woodward, vice president of sales, rachelw@ expeditions.com, +1 510 289 9941, expeditions.com

DAYONE Arrive in Reykjavík.Take a trip to the Perlan Natural History Museum, one of Iceland’s most popular attractions, before venturing o ff to explore the sights and sounds of this island’s capital. DAYTWO After a leisurely morning, transfer to the airport for a chartered fl ight to Greenland. Arrive at Greenland’s main airport — situated at the head of the 120-mile long Kangerlussuaq Fjord — and board the Lindblad National Geographic Endurance and begin the voyage. DAYTHREE The fi rst port of call is Nuuk, one of the world’s smallest capital cities. Situated in the shadow of Mount Sermitsiaq, Nuuk has a population of nearly 18,000 and an economy that centers around fi shing. Take a walking tour of this unique destination with one of the locals, before visiting the national museum to discover how Greenland has developed over theyears. DAYFOUR Today, the ship crosses the boundary between western and southern Greenland. Paamiut is a small town that sits at the gateway to the Kuannersooq fjord system. Here, hundreds of fjords and islands dot the landscape, marked by terminal glaciers that stretch out from the Greenland ice sheet. Expect to see incredible wildlife like fi n whales and sea eagles. DAYFIVE The fi fth day is spent at sea as Endurance makes its way down to the Eastern Settlement areas of the Vikings in Greenland. You’ll follow the waterway known as Tunulliar fi k to Brattahlíð, where Erik the Red established a farm in the late 10th century. Here, you will visit replicas of Erik’s Longhouse and see where his son Leif Eriksson launched his fi rst voyage to America. DAYSIX The trip down the fjord continues. The Sissarluttoq World Heritage Center reveals what it must have been like for the Vikings and Inuits who lived on the edge of the ice cap over 1,000 years ago. Stopping at the small city of Qaqortoq — the most populous in southern Greenland — a local guide will show you around before you stop and try some traditional Inuit food.