Icebergs & Auroras: East Greenland & Svalbard

Day 1: Embark in Longyearbyen - sail out to Isfjorden

Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago, and explore this former mining village. The parish church and the Svalbard Museum are well worth visiting. In the early evening, your ship will sail out of Isfjorden – keep an eye out for your first wildlife sighting as minke whales are known to frequent the area. 

Day 2: Raudfjord - West Spitsbergen

Today, you will sail into Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers. It’s home to ringed and bearded seals, seabird colonies and surprisingly rich vegetation. You’ll also have a good chance to see a polar bear, for instance near Hamilton Glacier. 

Days 3 & 4: At sea, en route to Greenland

On your way to Greenland, you may spot the edge of the East Greenland sea ice. Look out for whales and migrating seabirds.

Day 5: Myggebugten, Greenland

As you near Greenland, your ship will attempt to navigate through the sea ice towards Foster Bay, where your first landing will be at Myggebugten. Beyond the historic hunters' hut – once a base for Norwegian trappers in the early 20th Century, who hunted polar bears and arctic foxes – lies a vast tundra, home to musk oxen. The small lakes in the area are a haven for geese.

Next, you’ll sail through the breathtaking Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, flanked by towering mountains and choked with massive icebergs in its deeper reaches. Alternatively, you may pass through the narrower Sofia Sund.

Day 6: Blomster Bugt 

Today, you will arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a striking mountain with layer upon layer of exposed rock. Across the fjord lies Blomsterbugt, your planned landing site.

In the afternoon, you'll venture into Antarctic Sound, where you'll encounter the intriguing islands of Ruth, Maria and Ella. Maria is the most probable spot for a landing.

Day 7: Alpefjord

In the morning, you’ll enter Segelsällskapets Fjord with the beautifully streaked Berzelius Mountains on the north side. You’ll land on the southern part of this stretch of water in an astounding place where ancient sedimentary geology lies literally at your feet.

A trek takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, arctic hare and ptarmigans. In the afternoon, the ship will venture into Alpe Fjord, which is as spectacular as the name implies. You may embark on a long zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier, which once blocked the access to the interior of the fjord, and venture deep inside to the very end. Adventure at its finest!

Day 8: Antarcticahavn

In the first half of the day, you'll explore Antarcticahavn, a vast valley where groups of musk oxen roam. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is painted in the fiery hues of autumn, adding a vibrant touch to the rugged landscape.

Day 9: Scoresby Sund 

Today you’ll reach the largest fjord on the planet, cruising along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. You might also take part in a zodiac cruise along one of the glacier fronts, as well as visit the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt.  

In the afternoon, the plan is to sail along the eastern coast of Milne Land, navigating through a sea of towering icebergs. If conditions allow, you will also stop at Charcot Havn, where you can take a stroll to the Charcot Glacier. Afterward, you’ll continue past Bjørneør and enter Øfjord, where there may be an opportunity for another landing.

Day 10: Sorte Ø and Røde Fjord

You'll aim to take a zodiac cruise near Røde Ø, one of the world’s most cherished iceberg attractions, today. Its stark blues and whites contrast vividly with the brooding red of the sedimentary slopes. In the afternoon, you'll sail through the northern reaches of Røde Fjord, where you may spot musk oxen and take in the rich autumn colours.

Day 11: Enormous bergs, Arctic hares

In the morning, you'll encounter massive icebergs, some towering over 100 meters (328 feet) high and stretching more than a kilometer (0.62 miles) long. Most of these giants are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters (1,312 feet) deep. Afterward, you'll land near Sydkap, where you'll enjoy stunning views of Hall Bredning and have a good chance of spotting Arctic hares.

Day 12: Ittoqqortoormiit

In the morning you’ll land at Ittoqqortoormiit, the biggest settlement in the Scoresby Sund with about 500 inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just wander around to see the sledge dogs and the drying skins of seal, musk ox and polar bear. After dinner we will sail south passing the amazing landscape of the Blosseville Coast.

Day 13: At sea

You will spend the whole day at sea and have splendid opportunities to see large whales, seabird migration and, as darkness sets in, the Aurora borealis (Northern Lights).

Day 14: Disembarkation in Akureyri

In the morning, you will arrive in Akureyri in Iceland. On request, you can transfer by chartered bus to a centrally located hotel in Reykjavik (six hours, must be booked in advance). 

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.