Wildlife Watching & Fjord Sailing Expedition in Greenland

YOUR SAILING AREA

Illulissat, Greenland

Sailing in Greenland is a truly awe-inspiring experience as you navigate through the fjords, towering mountains, glittering glaciers and icebergs of all shapes and sizes. The landscape is breathtakingly beautiful and unlike anywhere else on Earth. Discover charming fishing villages and learn about the fascinating Inuit culture. You might even catch a glimpse of some of the incredible wildlife that calls this region home, such as whales, seals, and polar bears. It’s a journey that will stay with you forever and an adventure that should not be missed!

From Ilulissat around Disco Bay

Begin and end your sailing in Greenland in Ilulissat, a bustling adventure hub in West coast. Ilulissat is famous for the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ilulissat Fjord, where the calving glacier Sermeq Kujalleq fills the fjord with the world’s largest icebergs that come straight from the vast inland ice sheet. From Ilulissat, we will head northwards to Uummannaq Fjord, circumnavigating Disco Island, where Amundsen famously docked during his journey to conquer the North-West Passage.

Most of the voyage will be spent sailing inshore, exploring the fjords, mountains, and islands around here. However, we will also be venturing a little further offshore for shorter stretches and will probably sail through some of the nights. It will be a great experience to have the wheelhouse filled with the midnight sun during our night watches!

Wildlife in Greenland

The waters of Disco Bay are renowned for their thriving and rich marine ecosystems. Runoff from the land and glacier fronts carry lots of minerals and nutrients for plankton and algae, which in turn support the rest of the ecosystem. One of the larger species at the top of the food chain here is the humpback whale, which can be seen blowing and diving among floating icebergs. When we are this far north, we may even be lucky enough to spot a pod of narwhals, although they are very rare here in the summer.

During the voyage, we will come across several small, cosy villages. These villages are on rocky slopes beside the blue seafront, with colourful houses clinging to the mountainsides. Some of the villages we will visit on this leg of the journey include Uummannaq and Qeqertarsuaq. We will dock here, explore the surroundings, and hope to make new friends while learning about the local Inuit heritage and traditions. Along the way, we will visit secluded anchorages in stunning landscapes, where we can have bonfires on the beach. 

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Below is a rough itinerary of what to expect but please remember that we will be subject to the weather conditions!

Day 1: Welcome on board in Ilulissat

Meet at the harbour in Ilulissat where we will introduce ourselves to the other guests and get familiar with the boat. We will also discuss safety information and learn the basics of sailing and navigation. Once we are all prepared, we will hoist the sails and embark on our adventure, sailing into the midnight sun on the very first day.

Day 2: Sailing day to Uummannaq Fjord

On our first night, we’ll establish our watch rotation and spend the day familiarizing ourselves with the vessel and learning more about sailing as we sail north towards the next fjord basin. We’ll arrive at the Uummannaq fjord and anchor there for the night.

Day 3-4: Uummannaq – sea cliffs and caves, hiking and exploration

Spend the next few days exploring the Uummannaq area, including the beautiful village of Uummannaq. The village is located below towering rocky peaks that reach over 1000m high. We have heard rumours about some great sea cliffs and caves on an island in this fjord, so we plan to make the most of our exploration days.

Day 5: Whale watching around Disco Island

Sail south, along the outer coast of Disco Island. These waters are known to be abundant with diverse marine life, so we may catch a glimpse of seals and whales in the sea, and perhaps even musk oxen and polar foxes on land.

Day 6: Qeqertarsuaq

Disco Island is situated on the south side, in a beautiful sheltered bay surrounded by mountains like all other villages in Greenland. We usually stop here to rest, hike, and explore the little town. It’s worth noting that this is where Roald Amundsen and his expedition vessel Gjøa made their last stop in Greenland before heading towards the Northwest Passage.

Day 7: Back towards Illulissat and the ice fjord

Sail back to Disco Bay, once again visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Ilulissat Ice Fjord. This fjord is approximately 1000 meters deep, and the enormous inland ice is causing massive icebergs to calve into the fjord. In the evening, we anchor at Ilimanaq, located south of the ice fjord. Depending on the weather, we aim to have dinner on the beach by the bonfire and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Day 8: Depart in Ilulissat

All voyages for Valiente

Valiente

Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff

Deck plan

Life on Board Valiente

You don’t need any experience to join Valiente’s expedition sailing holidays, just a love for the natural world and a real sense of adventure.

Getting Involved

Sailing with Valiente is a real hands-on, humbling experience as you work with the crew and fellow guests to navigate the Arctic wilderness together. Get stuck into all aspects of life on board, from taking the helm, setting & trimming the sails, basic sail theory and domestic duties.

The skipper and first mate, (plus a dedicated guide for Svalbard sailing voyages) will be onboard for the duration of Valiente’s sailing holidays. Along the way, preferably by sailing but sometimes under motor, we will include all guests in the sailing experience. 

The physical sailing of Valiente is relatively straightforward so she’s a great boat to learn on if you haven’t sailed before. Her simple rig has three sails; the main, genoa and jib, all working off a winch system. The wheelhouse is set at deck level, with a modern navigation system. You can take the helm, working with the skipper to watch your course. The crew that sail in these waters are wildly skilled, resourceful and calm and they are always on hand to guide guests.

The boat works on a relaxed watch system, usually 4 hours on and 8 hours off. This gives guests a real chance to have some focussed sailing time but equally have the time to just be. To sit, watch the world go by, to relax, nap, read a book in your cabin, play cards in the saloon or just simply sit at the bows, watching, reflecting as the world glides by. If Valiente spends time on anchor, the watch system will run overnight, but with all guests and crew participating, you wouldn’t be on watch on consecutive nights.

There is always a thorough safety briefing and introduction once guests have settled onboard, followed by a “man overboard” procedure (don’t worry – this is a fender not a real person!) and a fire safety drill.

Below Decks

Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat, (there’s even heated towel rails in all bathroom and a heater in the wheelhouse) so she is wonderfully cosy! The spacious saloon and galley are set mid ships with 360° windows at deck level – perfect for cooking with a view. The galley is really well equipped with an induction hob, two domestic ovens, two fridge drawers and plenty of storage space.

All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. Cabins are not allocated until all guests are booked and on board so that every is matched with the right size bed and right facilities for their needs!  A small bath towel is provided per person but you’ll need to bring an extra hand towel or swim towel if you wish.

There are full size domestic showers with plenty of hot water although as with all sailing experiences, guests are asked to be respectful with their water consumption. It may not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day we are either in a harbour with fresh water or we sail through a place where we can borrow showers or enjoy a sauna. A morning swim in the sea is free and is available all year round!

Naomi from the VentureSail team sailed with Valiente in Norway – you can read her blog here for an insight into her experience! 

Eating Aboard

Aside from setting the sails and taking the helm, the next most important aspect of Arctic sailing on Valiente is definitely the food! Once you’ve boarded the boat, a crew member will split all guests into pairs, who are then divided over a rota for breakfast, lunch and dinner duties. With an average of 10 people on board, you’ll normally end up doing one of each service over a week’s voyage.

If you’re not much of a cook, fear not! There will be a menu plan for the whole voyage already planned out with all the provisions on board. The menu plan is entirely flexible depending on the plan for the day, maybe you catch a fish or maybe the more confident cooks will want to experiment a little! Alongside the menu plan, there is a correlating recipe book, especially made with ingredients, quantities and cooking methods to match the meal plan.

Cooking on board is an integral part of how a sailing ship operates. A hearty feed after a sailing adventure, a chance to bring everyone together, for confidence to grow and cultural culinary tips to be shared.

Things to note

Sailing vs Shore time

Night-watches?

Kit List

Valiente has limited space for possessions, so please be considerate and travel as light as possible. There is no storage for rigid cases, so please bring your items in a soft bag or rucksack. We recommend a travelling light principal with lots of lightweight, easy-drying layers.

CLOTHING & SAIL WEAR

• Woollen/thermal underwear, two sets
• Woollen socks and thermal soles, two sets
• Hat and gloves (preferably wool with wind and waterproof outer layer)
• Scarf, buff (something to keep you warm around your neck), preferably wool.
• Warm sweater, preferably with a high-neck
• Warm trousers, preferably with an inner layer
• Down Jacket or fiber-jacket (like Primaloft)
• Nice/party/”Restaurant clothes”
• Watertight sailing boots
• Trainers/light shoes to use onboard
• Hiking shoes for hiking trips ashore
• Waterproof sail-wear / oilskins. Preferably, one light shell set for hiking and one heavier for sailing
• Sailing gloves (not a must). You may also use bicycle gloves or ski gloves
• High water-tight boots of the kind you use when fishing in a river. It’s not a must but smart when going ashore in the dinghy on unsheltered beaches

OTHER EQUIPMENT

• Sunglasses, Sun cream
• Small towel, soap
• Swimming wear
• Thermos for hot water if eating freeze-dried food on a hike or hot beverages
• Personal water bottle
• Backpack for trips onshore, 40-60 litres
• Earplugs and eye-cover (if you’re a sensitive sleeper)
• Cash – NOK (sometimes useful when going ashore at smaller places)

Sample Menu for Valiente

This is an example of what could be served while sailing with Valiente. There is not a dedicated cook on board Valiente. Guests all take it in turns on a rotation basis to cook for the boat. This is an enjoyable part of sailing with Valiente as you make firm friends and experience recipes from around the world!

Breakfast

• Eggs, bacon, beans and toast
• Pancakes with jam and spreads
• Oatmeal with various toppings
• Bread and spreads
• Yoghurt and/or milk with cereal

Lunch

• Cauliflower or onion Soup
• Fish soup (using fish we’ve caught from our lines!)
• Cream porridge with cured meats
• Tomato soup and omelette
• Pancakes

Dinner

• Fish or veggie burgers
• Pasta with smoked salmon
• Chilli con carne
• Tacos
• Vegetable lasagne
• Bali chicken stew
• Salmon with root vegetables and sour cream
• Pasta bolognese with salad
• Sautéed reindeer stew
• Self-caught cod with pea puree

Dessert

• Fruit salad with vanilla sauce and firkløver chocolate
• Cream buns
• Sweet biscuits or chocolate

We usually have fish burgers on the first evening, as this is a simple meal to make on the first night, and it has been a SeilNorge tradition to start the trip with fish burgers for many years. Sometimes we go out for dinner on land (each guest pays for themselves) on the final evening of the trip, if we are back in harbour in time. But this is up to the individual group of guests. Other times we might also go out for a dinner on land the day the trip has ended, if people are still in town!

Snacks

We provide a small amount of snacks for the trip, but we usually suggest that guests bring some of their own snacks as well, especially for trips on land (nuts, cookies, chocolate, chips, dried fruit, crackers, etc.). It is always fun when people bring a little something from their home country to share with the rest of the crew. Guests are also welcome to supplement with other food items if they have very specific wishes or needs that we are not able to cater to.

What’s included

• Full Board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, soft/hot drinks)
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet) and wash towel
• Full crew plus tuition
• Marina and fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket
• Fishing equipment
• Use of the on board small sailing dinghy for extra practice!

What’s not included

• Alcohol
• Wetsuits
• Waterproofs > Guests can rent oilskins from us for 500NOK per trip, per person
• Swim towel
• Any flights
• Transit hotels
• Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
• Travel Insurance
• Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
• Crew tips
• Personal expenses
• Any meals ashore

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise everyone to have the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be more than 12 miles offshore.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals and soft drinks are included. Guests work on a rotation basis to cook together onboard.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Yes - please specify at time of enquiry.

• Are there any added extras?

  There's an honesty bar for soft drinks and alcohol that can be settled at the end of the voyage.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  3x double cabins, 1x twin bunk cabin, 1 x quad bunk cabin.

• Is there a porthole in my cabin?

  Yes, all cabins have portholes and deck hatches.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  The three double cabins have en-suites and the twin cabins share a bathroom.

• Are bedding and towels included?

  Yes, all bedding and a towel is provided.

• Is there a hairdryer on board?

  No, please do not bring one. The sea breeze makes a great natural alternative!

• Will I be able to wash my clothes?

  No, Valiente does not have laundry on board.

• Is there heating on board?

  Yes!

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English is the common deck language but there will be international guests and crew.

• Is there WIFI?

  No! It's time to disconnect from the modern conforms and reconnect with nature! When within shore range, you should be able to reach 4/5G. Please make sure you have international roaming set up on your data plan.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  12v charging available 24/7 in every cabin and 220 EURO 2pin when connected to shore power/generator.

• What is the currency on board?

  Norwegian Krone.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes, every bunk is numbered with an allocated life jacket.

• How do I get on and off the boat?

  Valiente is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy and climbing up the boats step ladder over the gunwale - there will always be a crew member to steady. There is also a swim ladder on the stern of the boat.

• Are waterproofs provided?

  Guests can rent oilskins from Valiente for 650NOK per trip, per person.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.

• Does the boat have any water toys?

  Valiente has folding kayaks and hand fishing lines.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• Is there an age limit?

  Minimum age 14, between 14-18 need to be accompanied by parent/guardian.

Travel Planning

From: Illulissat

To: Illulissat

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.