Day 16

Returning to Greenland

Hello again! It’s hard to believe we have now been aboard Viking's Octantis for 15 incredible days. We've travelled back from the Canadian High Arctic and made our way back to Nuuk, Greenland, where we had to say goodbye to some of our fellow passengers. However, this transient experience only allows room for new friendships as we welcomed a new group for the second leg of our journey towards Toronto. Altogether, there are just 52 of us continuing on this extraordinary longitudinal world cruise, making it an intimate affair as we traverse beautiful landscapes and vibrant cultures together.

Exploring Coastal Towns

After bidding farewell to Nuuk, we continued on our adventure exploring several charming coastal towns in southern Greenland. Our first stop was Paamiut, a picturesque settlement known for its stunning scenery and rich cultural heritage. Wandering through its colourful streets, we marvelled at the Arctic architecture and enjoyed the hospitality of the local residents. Every town tells a unique story of the land and its people, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the everyday life of this remote environment.

Our next stop was was the deserted mining town of Ivigtut. We awoke to glorious sunshine and paddled the calm waters of the fjord. We caught glimpses of muskox on the mountainsides and white tailed sea eagles majestically soared above our kayaks. Later, we ventured into town and strolled through the ghostly town.

Navigating the North Atlantic Waters

Currently, we are sailing from Ivigtut, Greenland, towards Battle Harbour, Newfoundland. We are incredibly fortunate to have Captain Jorgen Cardestig at the helm, whose wisdom and experience have guided us safely through these breathtaking waters. In fact, on his advice, we departed Greenlandic waters a day earlier than expected to circumvent a formidable storm brewing in the North Atlantic despite the idyllic weather we had been experiencing. This decision highlights the importance of being prepared and adaptable in the face of Mother Nature’s unpredictability. The key to these types of expedition is to be flexible as you never know what lies around the next corner; however, despite the Captain's quick thinking we are currently experiencing the roughest seas to date with gale force winds and very tumultuous seas! Hopefully, things settle down over the next 24hrs!