Arctic Cruise in East Greenland

   
 
 

Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis

9 Days / 5 locations in Iceland and Greenland

Scoresby Sund, Aurora Borealis. Witness the Northern Lights at Scoresby Sund

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Reykjavik - Akureyri
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Dinner

On the Iceland road

Your journey begins in the morning, where by request you can transfer via chartered bus (T) from the city hall of 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 (T) is included and must be booked in advance. In the early evening, the ship departs from the port of Akureyri, sailing north toward the Denmark Strait.

 
Day 2     At Sea
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Sailing to east Greenland

While sailing north you’re likely to see fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, and common guillemots. You then cross the Arctic Circle, possibly spotting whales. By evening, the first icebergs flash into sight with your approach to the east Greenland coast, near Brewster.

 
Day 3     At Sea
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Inuit neighborhood of yesteryear

Today you reach Scoresbysund, sailing 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. The afternoon goal is to visit Danmark Island, where you find the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular stone tent rings indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are well preserved, with easy identifiable entrances, bear-proof meat caches, and grave sites. In the evening you continue sailing the berg-crowded fjords to the west.

 
Day 4     At Sea
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Colors of the cape

The goal is a Zodiac cruise near Røde Ø, one of the world’s most cherished iceberg attractions: The austere blue-white of the icebergs sets sharp against the brooding red backdrop of the sediment slopes. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord, with the chance to see musk oxen and warm autumnal foliage.

 
Day 5     At Sea
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Enormous bergs, Arctic hares

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.

 
Day 6     Ittoqqortoormit - Scoresbysund
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Settlement at Scoresbysund

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.

 
Day 7     At Sea
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Narwhal waters, polar bear shores

Turner Sound and Rømer Fjord grant you the opportunity to sail far inland, as they have no glacier front at the head and are not clogged with ice. In this location, you have your best shot at spotting narwhals and polar bears.

 
Day 8     At Sea
On Board the M/V Hondius
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Sea life under the northern lights

A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds – and at night, the magical northern lights.

 
Day 9     Akureyri - Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast

Journey’s end at Akureyri

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 (T) (a six-hour drive that you must book in advance) to the Reykjavik city hall, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

 

Notes

PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. The onboard expedition leader determines the final itinerary. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed for m/v Hondius is 10.5 knots.

Also Note

Sep. 13, 2020 departure is on the M/V Plancias

Sep. 18, 2020 departure is on the M/V Ortelius

Price Includes
Voyage Aboard the Indicated Vessel As Indicated in the Itinerary.
All Meals Aboard the Ship Including Snacks, Coffee and Tea.
All Shore Excursions and Activities Throughout the Voyage by Zodiac.
Program of Lectures
Transfer (t), That Must Be Booked in Advance, Between Akureyri (ship) and R
Use of Rubber Boots and Snowshoes
All Miscellaneous Service Taxes and Port Charges
Aeco Fees and Governmental Taxes.
Comprehensive Pre-Departure Material
The Customary Gratuity at the End of the Voyages for Stewards and Other Ser
Price Does Not Include
 Baggage, Cancellation and Personal Insurance (which Is Mandatory).
 The Customary Gratuity (guidelines Will Be Provided).
 Any Airfare, Scheduled or Charter Flights
 Pre- and Post Land Arrangements.
 Government Arrival and Departure Taxes.
OCE-1269
1.28.15.WP26