East and South Greenland In Depth

Day 1: Embark from Akureyri

By request, you can transfer via chartered bus from Reykjavik to the ship's embarkation port in Akureyri. You'll arrive in the afternoon after a six-hour drive through northern Iceland. This transfer must be book and paid for in advance.

In the early evening, the ship departs from the port of Akureyri. We often see whales at the mouth of the fjord. During the night, we cross the Arctic Circle.

Day 2: Sailing to East Greenland

While sailing north, it's likely that you'll spot fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, common guillemots, and possibly whales. The first icebergs come into sight in the evening as the ship approaches the east Greenland coast near Kap Brewster.

Day 3: Arriving at Earth’s largest fjord

Today, you arrive at Scoresby Sund and sail along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. You may also enjoy a Zodiac cruise past one of the glacier fronts, along with a visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt.

In the afternoon, we plan to sail by the east coast of Milne Land among a mass of huge icebergs. If we can land at Charcot Havn, we may walk to the Charcot Glacier. From here, we'll continue past the small island group of Bjørneøer (Bear Islands). 

Day 4: Enormous icebergs & Arctic hares

In the morning, you'll most likely encounter gargantuan icebergs, some over 100m (328ft) high and more than a kilometre (0.6 miles) long. Most are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400m deep (1,312ft). We'll land near Sydkap, and take in the fine views of Hall Bredning where there will be a good chance of seeing Arctic hares.

Today’s hike takes you from Sydkap to Nordøstbugt (12km, 7.5 miles), where the river coming from Holger Danskes Briller flows into the sea. The plan is to walk south along the shore to Satakajik, where you can see whale vertebrae and the remains of Thule summer houses.

Those who opt out of the hiking group can join the hikers at this location for their second excursion of the day.

Day 5: Landfall at Ittoqqortoormiit

The morning stop is at Ittoqqortoormiit, the only settlement in Scoresby Sund, and home to about four hundred inhabitants. You can buy stamps for your postcards at the post office, or just stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals, polar bears, and musk oxen.

In the afternoon, the ship heads north, passing the picturesque landscapes of Liverpool Land. In the night, we'll navigate into Kong Oscar Fjord.

Day 6: Alpefjord’s lofty peaks

Today you'll enter Segelsällskapets Fjord, distinctive for the striped slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering its north side. Landing on the south shore, where ancient sedimentary formations are located, a hike takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans.

Alternatively, the ship will venture into Alpefjord, aptly-named for the spire-like peaks that thrust up around it. There may then be the opportunity to embark on a Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier - this glacier once blocked access to the interior of these waters. Sailing deep into the fjord, you'll experience quintessential Greenland.

Day 7: The islands of Antarctic Sound

In the early morning, the ship will pass by the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella, before arriving at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle). This mountain has impressive layered geology. Blomsterbugt, and the intended landing site, are on the other side of the fjord though.

In the afternoon you'll sail amongst icebergs on a route through the majestic Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord and Mackenzie Bugt.

Day 8: Remains of Thule Culture at Eskimonaes

We'll plan to land at Eskimonaes, on the southern shore of Clavering Ø, where Douglas Clavering met a small group of people from the Thule culture in 1823. They represented the only living Thule people ever seen in Northeast Greenland. The remains of their existence can be found across Greenland.

Day 9: Islands with polar history

From early in the morning until late in the day, we'll sail by various islands, where more than a century ago, the first polar expeditions set foot on land. Sabine Ø and Bass Rock (Pendulum Islands) are where Edward Sabine conducted his Pendulum experiments in 1823, and also where cabins built by the Baldwin-Ziegler Polar Expedition were constructed. During the night, we will pass Shannon Ø.

Day 10: Store Koldewey

This island was named by the second German Polar Expedition of Koldewey, 1869-70. We'll aim to land on the historic Kap Alf Trolle or Kap Ahrend.

At this point we are well into the High Arctic climate regime. The landscape will be getting lower and more rounded, than that further south. We may encounter heavier sea ice streaming south. Proposed landing sites will be assessed, based on accessibility through the sea ice.

Day 11: Germania Land

The plan for today is to land at Thoms Thomsen Naes, Fyrretyvekilometersnaesset, or another site in Germania Land. This region has musk oxen and sometimes a lonely wolf. The landing sites depend on ice and weather conditions and also wildlife opportunities.

Day 12: Through or around the sea ice

When sailing eastward along the jagged edge of the Northeast Greenland sea ice, we'll keep an eye out for whales, seals, polar bears, and migrating seabirds. This is a landscape of constant change, and a real frontier for many species found in the Arctic.

Day 13: Approaching Spitsbergen

Today we'll be in the open sea, sailing eastward in the northernmost branch of the warm Gulf Stream toward Spitsbergen. If time allows, we may land late in the day at the walrus haul-out at Poolepynten.

Day 14: Longyearbyen

Once docked at Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, you can enjoy a stroll around this former mining town. The church and Svalbard Museum are particularly fascinating attractions.

Alternatively, you can board the first plane to Oslo for your onward journey.

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.