Scoresby Sund & Northern Lights

Your Greenland expedition cruise will begin in Akureyri, Iceland. A bus transfer (approximately 6 hour drive) from Reykjavik city hall to Akureyri port is available at an additional cost and should be booked in advance. This transfer will take you through scenic Northern Iceland and is an enjoyable way to see a bit more of this beautiful country.

After embarking in the afternoon and settling in to your cabin and exploring your new surroundings, the ship will depart in the early evening, sailing northwards towards eastern Greenland. We recommend spending some time on deck searching for sightings of whales in the waters below and seabirds following the ship before settling down in your comfortable cabin for your first night on board.

Today will be spent on board sailing across the Denmark Strait towards eastern Greenland. As we sail you can enjoy the onboard lecture and presentation program, relax in your comfortable ship surroundings or spend some time on deck watching for the whales and migrating seabirds that are likely to be following the ship. Birds you are likely to encounter include common guillemots, fulmars, gannets and kittiwakes.

As we cross the Arctic Circle and approach the east Greenland coast, near Brewster, the first icebergs of your voyage will gradually come into sight and the excitement will build as we near these vast and intriguing lands.

This morning we will awake in Greenland and the spectacular iceberg graveyard of Scoresbysund, the longest and most spectacular fjord system in the world. After sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst we can board our Zodiacs for a thrilling cruise along the glacier fronts before visiting the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt. This part of Greenland offers breathtaking photo opportunities and simply needs to be seen to be believed.

After a thrilling morning we will enjoy a calmer afternoon on Danmark Island where we can take a gentle stroll across the landscape to see the remains of an Inuit settlement that was abandoned over 200 years ago. This interesting walk will allow us to closely observe these well-preserved sites and learn more about life on Greenland many years ago. Later in the evening we will re-board the ship and sail west, further into the berg-crowded fjords.

Another exciting day lies ahead as you enjoy a Zodiac cruise at one of the world’s most enchanting iceberg sites, Røde Ø. Your cameras will get a great workout here as you capture the unique sights of the austere blue-white icebergs sharply contrasting against the brooding red backdrop of the sediment slopes. After your adventurous Zodiac cruise it will be time to get back on board for a more relaxing cruise through the northern parts of Røde Fjord, keeping a lookout for the musk oxen grazing along the coasts.

The next day’s adventures will bring more encounters with colossal icebergs, some standing over 100 metres high, before we land at Sydkap to enjoy the excellent views Hall Bredning and good chances of seeing Arctic hares.

This morning we will have time to explore Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet, where we can enjoy a gentle walk along the tundra before making our way to Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund. Frozen in for nine months a year and sandwiched between the largest national park and longest fjord system in the world, the setting of this tiny outpost is simply stunning. It also bears the distinction of being the remotest inhabited community in the western hemisphere. Home to approximately 500 residents, Ittoqqortoormiit is a delightfully picturesque settlement that is a joy to walk around.

In the afternoon we will get back on board to sail past the beautiful landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.

As we spend our last day of exploration in Greenland we will sail to Turner Sound and Rømer Fjord to enjoy a gentle cruise inland where the waters are relatively glacier and ice-free. Here we will spend some time sailing around searching for wildlife. In this location we have our best chances of encountering narwhals!

The last day of our voyage will be spent at sea sailing across the Denmark Strait back towards Iceland. And although it may be our last day, there is still some excitement left to be had as we spend some time on deck searching for more seabirds and whale sightings. As night time approaches there will be a sense of anticipation in the air as we wait for updates on our chances of seeing the Northern Lights as we sail. We hope for good news as we make our way to deck in expectation of witnessing this beautiful natural phenomenon.

Your adventure ends back where it began, in the town of Akureyri, where after breakfast you will disembark to make your way homewards or onwards. A 6-hour bus transfer to Reykjavik city centre is available upon request at an additional charge. Please enquire for full details as this transfer should be booked in advance so as to avoid disappointment.