East Greenland & Scoresby Sund

Voyage Overview

Discover the ancient tundra on long hikes in Scoresby Sund.

Prepare to explore the largest fjord system on Earth, dominated by glaciated peaks over 2,000 meters high, and expanses of spectacular, rolling tundra. On long hikes, spend entire days away from the ship, encountering iconic Arctic wildlife in areas untouched by civilization and the modern world. Immense icebergs, tumbling glaciers, and the adventure of a lifetime await!

Optional Long Hikes: Long hikes are for groups of up to 24 passengers, accompanied by two armed expedition staff and a Zodiac that will scout ahead for polar bears along the shoreline. Passengers who join this activity should be willing and able to walk about 15 km (9 miles) over semi-rough terrain, including shorelines, tundra, low hills, and river crossings. Walks will take around six hours from start to finish, including rest times. We will walk at a moderate pace and avoid any alpine terrain. Passengers who do not take part in the long walk will have a morning landing at the start point, then sail to the end point for their second landing in the afternoon.

Trip Details

Duration: 10 Days

Ship: Plancius, Expedition Ship, 108 Guests

Start: Akureyri, Iceland

End: Akureyri, Iceland

Itinerary

Day 1: Embarkation in Akureyri, Iceland
Your journey begins in the morning, where by request you can transfer via chartered bus from bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavik (the meeting point) to the ship in Akureyri (the embarkation point). You arrive in the afternoon after a six-hour drive through northern Iceland.

PLEASE NOTE: This transfer is an additional cost and must be booked and paid for in advance. In the early evening, the ship departs from the port of Akureyri, sailing north toward the Denmark Strait.

Day 2: Sailing to East Greenland
While sailing north across the Denmark Strait, you’re likely to see fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, and common guillemots. You then cross the Arctic Circle, possibly spotting whales. By evening, as snow-capped peaks appear on the horizon, the first icebergs flash into sight with your approach to the east Greenland coast, near Kap Brewster and the mouth of Scoresby Sund.

Day 3: Arriving at Earth’s largest fjord
In the morning, you’ll likely encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters high and more than a kilometer long; most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep. We will try to land at Tyskit Nunat (Greenlandic for Germany), where, in 1930-31, a party of Alfred Wegener’s research team wintered and performed scientific observations. Wegener himself perished on the ice cap that winter. In the early afternoon, we land at Saakattaakajik, where we see the remains of Thule summer houses with whale vertebrae incorporated into the construction. From there, we may make a good walk in the direction of Sydkap (12 km), where we also may arrive by Zodiac, depending on weather and sea conditions. In the early evening, we sail by the Bjørne Øer (Bear Islands) archipelago at the eastern mouth of Øfjord.

Day 4: Exploring Tundra of Hoffman Peninsula
After having sailed through narrow and breathtaking Øfjord, surrounded by mountains in excess of 2000 m high, including the spectacular Grundtvigskirken, we arrive at the Hoffman Peninsula, where we often see muskoxen. Here, excellent opportunities for long hikes present themselves, crossing the tundral peninsula from Harefjord to Rypefjord. Non-long walkers will be offered excursions on the south side of the peninsula in the morning and on the north side in the afternoon. In the early evening, we once again enjoy the spectacular views of Øfjord as we retrace our route past Grundtvigskirken.

Day 5: Zodiac cruising and walks in Vikingebugt
On the Volquart Boons Kyst, you may enjoy a Zodiac cruise in Vikingebugt near its glacier front, where we have good chances to see polar bears, on the ice shoals in the sea. A walk on the striking basalt columns at Helgenaes provides fantastic views back across towards Øfjord and the distant shores of Jameson Land, and opportunities to see good examples of patterned ground. In the evening, we plan to sail some way westward along more of the many glacier fronts on Volquart Boons Kyst

Day 6: Exploring the ettlement at Scoresbysund
In the morning, we aim to land at Hurry Inlet, in Liverpool Land. Our landing site will likely be on the east side of Hurry Inlet, close to a historic hunter’s cabin, which was erected by the Romanian Dumbrava in 1930. In autumn, the residents of Ittoqqortoormiit fish for sea trout in the surrounding lakes. Walks along the coast provide excellent views over Neils Klinter (Cliffs) at the opposite side of Hurry Inlet, famous for Jurassic fossils. An alternative could also be Hareelv, where we often meet muskoxen. Our afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund, with about five hundred inhabitants. At the post office, you can buy stamps for your postcards, or stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. The church may also be open, where information about the history of Ittoqqortoormiit is available. In the afternoon, you sail south, passing Kap Brewster and the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.

Day 7: Stewart Ø
The island of Steward Ø is an important hunting area with cabins for the people of Scoresby Sund, with well-preserved remains of dwellings from the Thule people from centuries ago. The hill behind these cultural remains provides superb views of the glaciers nearby. This is a good area to spot polar bears among the glacier ice, narwals, and different species of seals.

Day 8: Remote shores
The exciting narrow Turner Sound with strong currents, where walruses are occasionally spotted, and Rømer Fjord, both grant us the opportunity to sail far inland, as they have no glacier front at the head and are not clogged with ice. Here, you may again get the chance to spot narwhals. Halfway into Rømer Fjord on the south side, there are also warm springs. This stretch of coastline is rugged and magnificent – a true example of the ancient beauty of Greenland.

Day 9: At Sea
A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds, and at night, the magical northern lights. On your journey back towards Akureyri, you may pass the tiny islet of Kolbeinsey and the Icelandic island of Grimsey. As you approach Iceland as evening falls, the skies may glimmer with the aurora one final time.

Day 10: Journey’s end at Akureyri, 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. The optional bus transfer from Akureyri to Reykjavik is an additional cost.

PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.