Thank you for another fantastic VW expedition! What a privilege to experience and photograph this wild and remote area in comfort while accompanied by the best leaders offering a wealth of experience and a willingness to share their immense talents. Thanks to Justin’s meticulous advance planning, all the arrangements were perfect throughout. –David & Kathy R., 2015 Greenland participants

THIS UNIQUE ADVENTURE MAY NOT BE REPEATED, AS OUR SHIP’S CHARTER COMPANY WILL REPOSITION HER FOLLOWING OUR VOYAGE AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

Greenland’s remote and little-visited ice fjords hold a wealth of arctic grandeur. Towers, arches, and walls of ancient blue ice thrust skyward from the water’s surface. Steep-walled fjords, dramatic coastal mountains, tundra in autumn color, the vast Greenland Ice Sheet, and the Aurora Borealis combine to form an incomparable landscape. Join this world-class team of leaders – Frans Lanting, Christine Eckstrom, and Justin Black – for this exclusive expedition to Greenland’s east and west coasts, photographing this arctic wilderness in all its glory. With generous photographic instruction and attentive support along the way, explore the largest fjord system in the world – Scoresbysund on the east coast – aboard the three-masted expedition vessel Rembrandt van Rijn, followed by a four-night stay on Greenland’s west coast at Ilulissat, where the massive Jakobshavn Glacier calves some 35 billion tons of icebergs into the sheltered waters of Ilulissat Icefjord, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on the world’s largest island. Excursions by helicopter for doors-off aerials, and by boat to get in among the massive bergs, yield extraordinary photographic opportunities.

Our adventure begins in Reykjavik, Iceland, the world’s northernmost capital. Guests will be greeted upon arrival at Keflavik International Airport and transferred to the elegant Hotel Holt, conveniently located in the city center. After an introductory group meeting and dinner at Grillmarket, one of Reykjavik’s finer restaurants, the next morning we board our private charter flight to Greenland’s east coast. Awaiting our arrival will be our private floating base camp for the first eight days in Greenland: the 168-foot, three-masted schooner Rembrandt van Rijn (click here for more about RVR). We are booking the entire ship for our exclusive use to ensure ample space for our group both on the ship and in zodiacs – our group will consist of sixteen to eighteen participants and three leaders (though Rembrandt normally sleeps up to 33 guests) in addition to her twelve-person crew and expedition staff. She is exceptionally well-suited to exploration and photography along the Greenland coast, with a reinforced hull, expansive unobstructed sight lines even under sail, and very comfortable accommodations. We will make frequent landings by zodiac to photograph in morning and evening light, and as serendipity presents us with compelling opportunities along the way. In addition to the arctic landscape, we will photograph whales if we encounter them, as well a variety of coastal and pelagic birds such as fulmars, kittiwakes, and gannets. The ethereal glow of the Aurora Borealis dancing in the night sky over the iceberg-dotted fjords and bays will be the sight of a lifetime. While underway, in the ship’s common area Frans, Justin, and the ship’s expedition staff will make inspiring and instructive presentations, and offer constructive feedback on participants’ photographs during group critique sessions, with the aid of the ship’s four large LCD screens.

To make this special itinerary possible, we have arranged three private charter flights aboard modern twin-engine turboprop airliners (Dash-8 and Bombardier Q200). After disembarking Rembrandt, a private charter flight whisks us across the world’s second largest icecap to the west coast and the small fishing port of Ilulissat, home to 5,000 Greenlanders and an equivalent number of sled dogs. There, our base will be Hotel Hvide Falk (White Falcon). One of the highlights there will be a series of helicopter excursions (one hour of flight time per participant, each with a window seat) to do aerial photography of icebergs, Jakobshavn Glacier and Ilulissat Icefjord, and to access the Greenland Ice Sheet itself. We will also make excursions on a local charter boats to approach towering icebergs, and hikes on the autumn tundra with stunning views of Disko Bay and the coastal mountains.

Click “read more” at below right for the detailed itinerary…

ITINERARY:

Sept 22 – Arrival day in Reykjavik: Transfers to Hotel Holt will be arranged for inbound guests from Keflavik International Airport (KEF). During the afternoon, there will be group introductions and orientation at the hotel’s library with wine and coffee served. Our first dinner as a group will be held at one of our favorite restaurants in Reykjavik, with a menu designed especially for us by the restaurant’s chefs. Overnight in Reykjavik.

Sept 23 – Fly to eastern Greenland: Early breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport to catch our Air Iceland flight to Nerlerit Inaat Airport at Constable Point to board the S/V Rembrandt van Rijn. We then cruise on the S/V Rembrandt van Rijn to Scoresbysund.

Sept 24-29 – Aboard Rembrandt: Cruise around Scoresbysund and eastern Greenland coast aboard Rembrandt van Rijn, visiting icebergs and islands, following whales, making landings by zodiac to photograph the incredible landscape, and keeping an eye out for the aurora borealis at night. All meals and accommodations aboard ship.

Sept 30 – On to Ilulissat: Disembark at Constable Point and fly an Air Greenland private charter flight to Ilulissat in western Greenland. Check in to Hvide Falk Hotel, explore and photograph in town, and enjoy our first dinner on Greenland itself.

Oct 1-3 – Ilulissat and environs: Daily excursions around Ilulissat area: one helicopter flight per participant, with an hour of flight time at a window seat to do aerial photography of Jakobshavn Glacier,  the Ilulissat Icefjord and icebergs, plus a landing to photograph the calving face the Greenland ice sheet, the second largest ice cap on Earth; outings aboard local charter fishing boat (accommodates whole group if necessary); hikes to photograph autumn color on the tundra. Overnights at Hvide Falk, and meals at Hvide Falk and local restaurants.

Oct 4 – Fly home: After early morning photography in Ilulissat and breakfast at Hvide Falk, we will transfer to Ilulissat airport to board our exclusive charter flight to Keflavik International Airport, Iceland (including a refueling stop in Kangerlussuaq). Our itinerary ends with disembarkation at Keflavik.

The cost of the all-inclusive package (including all charter flights from Reykjavik) is $17,995 per person based on single-occupancy, or $15,995 per person double-occupancy.

INCLUSIONS:

• Exclusive charter of the expedition vessel Rembrandt van Rijn, 8 days, 7 nights.
• Three exclusive group charter flights aboard spacious and modern Dash-8 aircraft: Reykjavik, Iceland – Constable Point, Greenland; Constable Point – Ilulissat; Ilulissat – Reykjavik
• Exclusive charter helicopter excursions in Ilulissat (one hour of flight time per guest, weather permitting)
• Exclusive charter boat excursions among the icebergs in Ilulissat (at least two three-hour excursions per guest, weather permitting)
• Accommodations in Reykjavik (one night) and Ilulissat (four nights)
• All meals, including wine or beer with dinners
• All ground transfers from arrival in Reykjavik to departure from Greenland.

EXCLUSIONS:

All international air travel and domestic transportation within your home country, any other travel services required to arrive at the tour commencement location, along with all associated taxes, levies and insurances. Immigration, duty, passport and visa fees where applicable. Personal items including gifts or other purchases, any paid communications, hotel room service or minibar charges, travel insurance (required), etc. Optional activities not explicitly listed as included in the itinerary, e.g. additional helicopter flights, additional boat excursions.