Do you ever feel like you just can't get far enough away from the office? Your Blackberry follows you, and you always have a place to plug in your laptop...there's no such thing as a genuine vacation. Of course, Greenland is remote, but that's only a start. If you really want to sever your ties to civilization, you need to set sail for Denmark's misnamed island, 95 percent of which is covered in icecap.

Abercrombie & Kent brings you to this remote destination in style -- aboard a 60-foot sailing yacht that will take you above the Arctic Circle. The journey begins in Isafjordur, Iceland, where you will prepare to sail into the Denmark Strait for Greenland. After a day on the water -- with seals, dolphins and whales dotting the seascape -- Greenland comes into view, where guests will begin to explore the small towns, fjords and natural wonders of a land that few encounter.

While the sights from the ship will be unlike anything you've seen before, nobody wants to spend the entire 10-day excursion watching passively. Abercrombie & Kent has built in plenty of opportunity to explore the remains of a Thule village or hike in the imposing mountains. The itinerary is not etched in stone; local weather conditions make flexibility mandatory.

Regardless of the prevailing conditions, you are likely to remember Greenland. For Eric Degerland, the high point was "kayaking through absolutely calm water covered in the thin remains of pack ice." He remembers vividly that "each piece [was] about the size of an ice cube in a drink, which profusely crackled and popped while we passed through!"

If you are expecting this experience to resemble a typically "cruise," think again. There are only 10 beds on board, two of which can be turned into a double. There is plenty of food available -- lamb, fish, pasta and bread -- but, you may have to help yourself in the kitchen, as the ability to cook may be limited while under sail. Though the vessel is heated, it may have to be turned off from time to time. Sleeping bags are required. Guests can rent them or bring their own.

Greenland is an unusual destination. While your colleagues dash off to Florida for yet another round of golf, you may want to head in the opposite direction. Choose the picturesque brutality of the untamed north over the mundane, and you will be rewarded with stories that will captivate any audience.

The Travel Lab: Greenland Sailing Expedition

Tom Johansmeyer

10/20/08