Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland – Iceland

Long hikes are for groups of 24 passengers maximum, accompanied by two armed expedition staff and a Zodiac that will sail ahead to watch for polar bears along the shoreline. Passengers who join this activity should have the willingness and ability to walk at least 15 km (9 miles) in semi-rough terrain that includes shorelines, tundra, low hills, and river crossings. Walks will take around six hours from start to finish, rest times included. We will walk at a modest pace and not cross any alpine terrain. Passengers who do not take part in long walks will have a landing in the morning at the start point of the walk, then sail to the end point of the walk for their second landing in the afternoon.

You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

Sailing to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, you take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.

Sailing to southwest on the East Greenland Current along the edge of the sea ice you may eventually see the coast of Northeast Greenland. Keep watch for polar bears, seals and whales and migrating seabirds. Depending on the sea-ice conditions we may already land at the end of day 5 at the mouth of Davy Sound.

The first half of the day we plan to spend in Antarctic Havn, a natural harbour for the old historic ship Antarctic. To the southwest is an extensive valley where we can spot groups of musk oxen. Later we may land at the head of one of the fjords south of it,  like the east side of Nathorst Fjord. It is all ice dependent.

Today you reach Scoresby Sund, sailing along the glaciated 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 multitude of giant icebergs. We will then continue by Bjørneør and sail into Øfjord.

The goal is a Zodiac cruise near Sorte Ø, surrounded by icebergs. Their austere blue-white contrasts sharply with the sediment slopes nearby. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord and into Harefjord, with the chance to see musk oxen and warm autumnal foliage.

In the morning you encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (328 feet) high and more than a kilometer (.62 mile) long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep (1,312 feet). You then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.

Today’s long walk goes from Sydkap to Nordøstbugt (12 km, 7.5 miles to the northeast), where the river coming from Holger Danskes Briller flows into the sea. We plan to walk south along the shore to Satakajik, seeing whale vertebrae and the remains of Thule summer houses. Passengers who opt out of the long walking group will join us at this location for their second excursion of the day.

Today you make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about five hundred inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. In the afternoon you sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.

The island of Stewart Ø is an important hunting station for the people of Scoresby Sund and also a good area to spot polar bears, narwals, and the beautiful remains of Thule houses.

Rømer Fjord grant you the opportunity to sail far inland, as it has no glacier front at the head and is not clogged with ice. In this location, you may get the opportunity to spot narwhals. At the western shore about half way to the head of the fjord are hot springs.

One of the most beautiful fjords in East Greenland, with good landing opportunities, surrounded by glacier fronts and rich in wildlife with seals of different kind and often narwals.

We plan to sail into De Reste Bugt and d’ Aunay Bugt large fjords named by the Frenchman De Blosseville in 1833, when he made extensive discoveries at this now called Blosseville Coast. Chances to find bears, narwals and seals in these fjords are pretty good.

A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds when rounding Northwest Iceland.

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Akureyri, where on request you can transfer by chartered bus (a six-hour drive that you must book in advance) to the bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavík, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.