South Greenland: Iceland to Kangerlussuaq
Aboard MS Fram

Duration:	15 days/ 14 nights
Dates:	May 24 - June 7, 2008
Cost:	Starting at $5,975 (double occupancy) Single and triple rates available upon request. AARP members enjoy a discount of $150 per cabin.

This 15-Day Expedition Program from Iceland to Greenland features lectures by expert guides, PolarCirkel boat landings and excursions; starting at $5,975 per person. ITINERARY Day 1: Depart the U.S. Depart from the U.S. on your transatlantic flight to Reykjavik, Iceland. Day 2: Arrive In Reykjavik Arrival in Reykjavik. Transfer to your hotel. You'll have the rest of the day to explore this vibrant capital with its many museums, galleries and restaurants. Overnight. Day 3: Reykjavik Breakfast at your hotel. The rest of the day at your leisure. Optional shore excursions include the Golden Circle, featuring Gullfoss, Iceland's more famous waterfall and Geyser, world famous geothermal area, bubbling activity; Whale Watching, when you're almost guaranteed of spotting the largest animal on earth, the magnificent blue whale; the Westman Island, rich in birdlife and wonderful sights; Lake Myvatn, with its amazing lava formations and sulphur pits and boiling mud pools; or a Glacier Adventure on Europe's largest glacier. Overnight. [B] Day 4: Reykjavik/Embarkation/At Sea Transfer to the MS Fram late afternoon for embarkation of your cruise to Greenland. During the evening, a series of lectures will be held on board on topics related to history and wildlife in the area. [B/D] Day 5: Tasiilaq Today we arrive at Tasiilaq located on Ammassalik Island, just south of the Arctic Circle. The Inuit culture has an important rile to play in everyday life, but Tasiilaq is also a modern community with all the facilities found elsewhere in the world. Learn more on the city by going on a town walk, enjoy the surrounding on a hike to the flower valley, or you can choose to take an adventurous dog sledge ride. [B/L/D] Day 6: Skjoldungen This spectacular mountainous coast in the Skjoldungen area is well-known for its undisturbed wildlife. The area is separated from the mainland by 60 miles of channels untouched by human population or industries. You may have the option to go ashore and watch nature at its purest. [B/L/D] Day 7: At Sea A series of lectures will be held on board on topics related to history and wildlife in the area. [B/L/D] Day 8: Uunartoq When the cruise takes you to Uunartoq, you find the best and most accessible hot springs in Greenland. Take the option for a dip in the warm springs surrounded by mountainous icebergs and the arctic nature. [B/L/D] Day 9: Qassiarsuk Known for the settlement of the Viking Erik Raude, Qassiarsuk has only a population of 56 people. When Erik Raude first settled in Qassiarsuk, he thought it was the richest and best site in Greenland. Take a quickwalk around and visit the reconstruction of Erik Raude's longhouse and Thjodhildes' church. You may also visit local coffee/cake and handcrafts market. [B/L/D] Day 10: Qaqortoq This is the center of the largest municipality town in South Greenland with 3,400 people living there today. The town square has Greenland's oldest fountain situated close to the harbor, and the square is encircled by some of the most well-preserved buildings from the colonial era, some of which are built more than over 200 years ago. In this town join one of the optional excursions: Town walk, "Stone and Man" tour, Great Greenland tour, or try Greenlandic specialties. [B/L/D] Day 11: Ivittuut Arriving at the smallest community in Greenland, Ivittuut is a former cryolite mine, which was extracted for use by the Allied during World War II, but it was closed down in 1987. Today you have the option to take a walk around community or join on a PolarCirkel cruise in the Karsakn strait. [B/L/D] Day 12: Nuuk The capital of Greenland houses about 15,000 people and holds the political and social center of Greenland. Nuuk means peninsula in English, and is an accurate description of the city's location near one of the largest and most spectacular fjord systems in the world. It is the oldest town in Greenland founded in 1728 by Hans Egede, a Danish-Norwegian missionary. Today the town is a place where old and new traditions meet, from picturesque old buildings in "Kolonihaven" to the building of the Greenland Home Rule. Tour the capital by bus and visit the Greenland National Museum, or visit the newly opened Art Museum on your own. Other travel options include whale watching in the Nuukfjord, a helicopter tour over the glaciers and Norse ruins, or a hike by the Nuukfjord. [B/L/D] Day 13 At Sea While we are cruising at sea, a series of lectures will be held on board on topics related to history and wildlife in the area. [B/L/D] Day 14: Kangerlussuaq/Disembarkation/Reykjavik Return to Kangerlussuaq, situated in the end of the Kangerlussuaqfjord (Big Fjord). The town lies just north of the Arctic Circle and is one of the best places to observe native wildlife. In the early 1960's musk oxen were introduced to Kangerlussuaq from North East Greenland, and today they count over five thousand. Disembark the ship and transfer to Kangerlussuaq for your late morning return flight to Reykjavik. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight. [B] Day 15: Reykjavik/Arrive in the U.S. Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your return flight back to the U.S. on Icelandair. [B] Meal codes: [B] Breakfast [L] Lunch [D] Dinner FARES INCLUDE · Roundtrip Economy Class transatlantic airfare from New York on Icelandair; · One-way Economy Class airfare between Reykjavik and Kangerlussuaq; · Accommodations in first-class hotels; · Accommodations on board the MS Fram in select cabin category; · Transfers as indicated in itinerary; · Meals as indicated in itinerary; · Port charges; · Services of a tour director; · Shore Excursions as indicated. FARES DO NOT INCLUDED · Add-on airfares for gateways other than New York; · Optional shore excursions; · Gratuities; · Air taxes · Fuel surcharges of $6 a day.