Arctic : Spitsbergen to East Greenland

Grandeur and spectacle are the watchwords for this itinerary. Covering many miles of extraordinary coastline, encounter wildlife such as narwhal, arctic fox, polar bear and musk oxen, all against a backdrop of some seriously impressive scenery. You may even witness the magical northern lights

This adventurous voyage focuses on the rugged and seldom visited northeast coast of Greenland and begins in Spitsbergen and ends in Iceland. Visit the largest fjord in the world, witness glaciers, gigantic icebergs, remnants of Inuit settlements and a surrounding landscape of mountains and tundra. It is only at the end of the summer, as the surrounding pack ice breaks up that access to the most remote and very beautiful parts of East Greenland becomes possible. Even in today’s age of receding last frontiers, this region sees few visitors. Though traces of former Inuit settlements are widespread, today just a handful of small hunting and fishing communities are found along the entire coast. In a place where man’s impact has been so minimal, nature lies virtually undisturbed.

Journey Objectives

Depart from Longyearbyen and sail through scenic Isfjorden to scenic Raudfjord edged by mountains and sparkling glaciers. Watch for bearded and ringed seals, seabirds and also polar bear before continuing to Moffen Island, a sanctuary for walrus, where you should encounter many hauled out on shore.

Whilst at sea bound for East Greenland, keep watch for fin, minke or humpback whales. Attempt to reach Foster Bugt, where Norwegian trappers once hunted polar bears and arctic foxes. Hopefully land at Myggebuten where the surrounding tundra is home to musk oxen, arctic hares and geese. Sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord ringed by towering mountains and choked with huge icebergs, on the look out for narwhal.

Land at Antarcticahavn and walk through the valley where autumn colours provide photogenic landscapes and groups of musk oxen may often be seen.

Scoresby Sund is the world’s longest fjord and reaches almost 200 miles inland. Its ice-free mouth attracts seals and East Greenland’s only large seabird colonies. Sail along the ragged, glaciated Volquart Boons coast, looking for narwhal and hopefully cruise by Zodiac along a glacier front, landing nearby. Explore the well-preserved remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago on Danmarks O.

Go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvo, a reliable spot for viewing musk oxen, rock ptarmigans and great northern divers – in late summer the landscape is particularly stunning with willow, birch and berry bushes changing colour. Then take a zodiac cruise along the 3 km wide face of the Eielson Glacier, past huge icebergs and hopefully ringed seals.

You’ll need a camera at the ready as you encounter towering icebergs, some more than 100 metres tall and a kilometre in length! Landing at Gurreholm, look out for a variety of wildlife including musk oxen, collared lemming, the predatory long-tailed skua, snowy owl and arctic fox.

Glimpse the daily life of the inhabitants of Illoqqortoormiut, which with a population of 500 is the largest settlement in Scorseby Sund. Heading down the coast at the mouth of Nansen Fjord, Gunnbjorns Fjeld comes into view. At 3,700m it is both the highest peak in Greenland and north of the Arctic Circle. Many possibilities for shore landings or Zodiac cruises ensure fantastic photographic opportunities and it is here, that the chance of seeing polar bear during this voyage is at its best. Rock ptarmigans and bearded seals also frequent the area. Head out to open sea for the journey towards Iceland.