I’m inviting you to a unique adventure – a sailing trip around Greenland on a famous 60ft yacht Peter I, one of a very few sailing ships daring and able to visit these waters. Greenland with its iceberg-prone coasts and bays is difficult for any vessels, but have no fear: this one has proven its excellence in arctic waters many times. In 2010, Peter I – captained by my namesake Daniel Gavrilov – has become the first sailing ship to sail around the Arctic in a single season without ice-breaker assistance, passing through the Northeast and Northwest Passages both.
This summer, we’re conducting a weeklong photo workshop on board the yacht while cruising the Greenland ice waters. We’ll be shooting at nights, while our days will be spent resting and sorting out photos. The time is the best for this kind of activity: in late July, the sun is barely touching the horizon at night so in a fair weather, we’ll have a whole night of golden and blue hours!
Please note that the yacht can accommodate only seven participants at once, so the size of our group will be very limited. Best to book your trip as soon as possible!
The workshop price includes lodging on the yacht, guides and instructors’ wages, master classes and support in practical photography, all excursions in Greenland; in other words, everything but the air fare to to Ilulissat and back. The prices for air tickets can be monitored at http://www.airgreenland.com/ or https://www.airiceland.is/. One convenient way to plan your trip is through Copenhagen; also, our tour might become a good extension of a visit to Iceland.
I would recommend you to check the prices for air travel to Ilulissat before booking the workshop; the tickets are expensive so it’s wise to monitor the prices. Usually, the earlier you book, the cheaper it gets.
Our workshop will be very different from a traditional Greenland tour; usually, Zodiac boat excursions are available only during limited hours; while we’ll be at sea all the time, chasing good lighting conditions and interesting exposures without sacrificing our mobility.
Day 1 (26 July or 2nd August)
Arrival at Ilulissat: the cultural, administrative, and sport center of the Western Greenland. The name means “Icebergs” in the West Greenlandic language. The town of Ilulissat (formerly Jacobshavn) is located in the mouth of an glacier fjord, so drifting icebergs and floes are everywhere in sight. The endless white and the intangible universe of ice contribute to a unique lighting – you’ll never forget what it looks like!
Day 2
In the morning, we arrive at Flakkerhuk, on the eastern side of the Disko island. Our way lies between huge icebergs, perfect for shooting. Near Narujuk or Modderbugt we go ashore to stretch our legs and do some birdwatching. Another remarkable place to visit today is Saqqaq, the famous home of a prehistoric Paleo-Eskimo culture with fragments of 4000-year old human dwellings.
Day 3
In the morning, we pass through the Davis Strait. If the weather is fair, we might be able to see the ice edge of the Baffin Bay. During the day, we go ashore in two places, Nordfjord and Qasigissat: both are picturesque locations with lush green vegetation, lakes and valleys surrounded by imposing basalt cliffs.
Day 4
Today we visit Diskofjord, and near Sioraq, go see the remnants of another Paleo-Eskimo settlement belonging to the same Saqqaq culture. In the evening, we pass the Queqertaq island.
Day 5
Today we reach Qeqertarsuaq, or Godhavn – a town on the Disko Island founded in 1773 by the Danish whaler Svend Sandgreen. For two centuries, whaling was the main trade here. These days it’s fishing and hunting. On our way southwards from Godhavn, we’ll have the opportunity to watch humpback whales at sea.
Day 6
We’re entering the Disko Bay and sail to Aasiaat, the fifth-largest town of Greenland. Its brightly colored wooden houses catch our attention long before our yacht reaches the destination. The townsfolk are surprisingly fine connoisseurs of culture and art, so the local museum is a must see. Not to forget sledding and kayaking along the beach, watching the whales and mesmerizing iceberg fields in the golden light of a midnight sun.
Day 7
Return to Ilulissat. Before coming ashore, we sail to the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the largest and most active in the whole world – it produces about 10% of all Greenland icebergs! It’s believed that the Titanic itself was sank by the ice that calved off this magnificent glacier.
Pictures and plans of the yacht:
Pricing:
Total price: 1950 EUR per person
Maximum Number of Participants: 7
Difficulty: easy
Included in the price:
– All transfers
– Accomodation on yacht
– Instruction and master classes by professional guide
– All meals and drinks
– Professional team of Arctic sailors
Not included in the price:
– Airfare to and from Ilulissaat airport
– Alchogolic drinks
Tour leader:
Daniel Kordan
