EAST GREENLAND
__________________
13 DAYS
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
| Day 1 | Reykjavik, Iceland | Explore Reykjavik, overnight hotel |
| Day 2 | Embarkation in Reykjavik | Board the Sea Spirit and set sail |
| Day 3 | Ísafjörður, Iceland | Historical buildings and museums |
| Days 4 |
Denmark Strait | Head towards Scoresby Sund crossing the Arctic Circle. |
| Days 5-10 |
Exploration of Scoresby Sund | Fjords, Glaciers, icebergs, towering cliffs and mountains, hiking, Ittoqqortoormiit village |
| Days 11 |
Denmark Strait | Onboard presentations and workshops, seabirds, whales |
| Days 12 |
Snæfellsnes, Iceland | Kirkjufell mountain, Snæfellsjökull volcano |
| Days 13 |
Disembarkation in Reykjavik | Voyage ends after breakfast. |
Day 1-2 Reykjavik, Iceland
Overview:
Welcome to Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland and starting point of our expedition. After arriving via scheduled commercial flight service, you are free to explore this fascinating city. Reykjavík is home to a wealth of cultural institutions including museums, galleries, and the Hallgrímskirkja church. Leisure possibilities inside the city include parks, gardens, and thermal baths. You can also take advantage of Reykjavík’s wide range of shopping possibilities, excellent dining options, and famous nightlife. Your hotel for the night has been arranged by us and is included in the price of the voyage.
Day 2 Embarkation in Reykjavik, Iceland
In the afternoon we welcome you aboard the luxury expedition ship M/V Sea Spirit. Explore the ship and get comfortable in your home away from home for the extraordinary adventure to come. Savor the anticipation reaching Greenland as we slip our moorings and sail out of the harbor into the bay of Faxaflói, where you may see your first whales.
Days 3 Ísafjörður, Iceland
Situated in beautiful Vestfirðir (Westfjords), the town of Ísafjörður embodies Iceland’s unique blend of rich cultural heritage and contemporary charm. Ísafjörður’s longstanding significance as a fishing and trading port are reflected in its many historical buildings and museums. The town contains the country’s largest collection of old timber frame houses, mostly constructed by foreign traders in the 18th century. The local folk museum contains the oldest house in Iceland, built in 1734. Yet the small, relatively isolated town has a surprisingly vibrant and modern feel to it.
Days 4 Across Denmark Strait
From Iceland we head across Denmark Strait toward Scoresby Sund in East Greenland, crossing the Arctic Circle on the way. There is a good possibility of whale sightings in this stretch of water. After nightfall, we have our first opportunity to see the aurora borealis.
Days 5-10 Exploration of Scoresby Sund, Greenland
Scoresby Sund is a true Arctic wilderness and this part of the voyage is a real expedition. Our route and exploration opportunities here are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice conditions we encounter. Our experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and
opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented to us by Nature in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic.
Scoresby Sund is the largest and longest fjord system in the world. This area contains some of the Arctic’s most impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by ice-clad peaks up to 2000 meters high, reach deep into the mountainous heart of Greenland. Tidewater glaciers create colossal icebergs that float with wind and tide throughout the fjord system. On shore, fields of multicolored tundra are home to musk oxen and Arctic hare. The landscape—vast, open, and seemingly untouched since the beginning of time—is a hikers’ paradise. Throughout this area we also find ancient Thule archeological sites, historical trappers’ huts, and modern Inuit hunters’ cabins.
The Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit is the only permanent settlement in the region. The community boasts an excellent museum, a gift shop, a post office, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and of course the
opportunity to meet Inuit people.
The days are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by our experts, and enough stunning scenery to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions. Each night brings new possibilities for incredible displays of aurora borealis—the Northern Lights. This is the perfect time and one of the world’s best places to experience this otherworldly celestial phenomenon.
Day 11 Denmark Strait
Head towards Iceland across the Denmark Strait. Along the way there will be presentations and workshops conducted by the expedition leaders. Seabirds and whales will often be sighted so be ready to head out on deck with your camera.
Day 12 Snæfellsnes, Iceland
The famous Snæfellsjökull volcano and picturesque Kirkjufell mountain are dominant features in the impressive landscape of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. A rich cultural and literary history and the success of fishermen and merchants are evident in local fishing villages.
Day 13 Reykjavik, Iceland
After breakfast we say farewell in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland and ending point of our expedition. We provide a transfer to the international airport or to the city center if you wish to spend another day or more in Iceland before flying home. From Reykjavík the entire country is accessible through day tours or longer journeys by rental car. The options for additional adventures are endless.