Nansen Fjord, Scoresby Sund – Northeast Greenland

Explore fjords, glaciers and wildlife in this landscape of ice and rocks


From Svalbard to Greenland
OEX © Gérard Bodineau

Duration: 14 days
Starts: Keflavik
Ends: Longyearbyen
Language: English speaking voyage


Included


PLEASE NOTE: a chance (about 30%) that ice will obstruct passage into the fjord system. In that case it will be resorted to areas south of Scoresbysund, as far south as Ammassalik and / or Southeast Spitsbergen. 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.

Join for an adventurous Arctic voyage through the fjords of Greenland. You will visit areas that are home to seals, whales, and musk oxen.

Itinerary

© Erwin Vermeulen
© Gordon Luck
© Rinie van Meurs

Day 1: Journey begins in Keflavik
From Iceland’s international airport Keflavik and its port where you will embark the vessel, you depart for your Arctic adventure.

Day 2: Sea life along the counter currents
You sail westward in the warm Gulfstream Current and later in the cold East Greenland Current with a multitude of sea life (whales, seals, seabirds) at the mixing zones of these waters.

Day 3: Near Greenland’s highest mountain
In Nansen Fjord, surrounded by enormous glacier fronts, you spot Gunnbjörns Fjeld. At 3.700 m, it is the highest mountain north of the Arctic circle. Near the glacier fronts you may see bearded seals and at the mouth of the fjord large groups of harp seals.

Day 4: Historical d ‘Aunay Bay
This attractive fjord with several side arms, was discovered and first described by the Frenchman de Blosseville in 1833. polar bears and narwals have been seen there in previous visits.

Day 5: Inuit neighborhood of yesteryear
Today you reach Scoresby Sund, 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 6: 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 late summer foliage.

Day 7: 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 8: Settlement at Scoresbysund
Today you make a tundra landing at a lagoon, just west of Kap Stewart. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about four 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 9: Sights of Muskoxen
The second half of the day you spend in Blomsterdal (Flower Valley) near Antarctic Havn, where groups of musk oxen are often spotted. Another possibility is Ørsted Dal, with landing at Cape Seaforth.

Day 10: Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord
You sail through Antarctic sound and make a landing on Marie Island. You pass Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt (Flower Bay) and the intended landing site.

Day 11: Tundra, mountains, and icebergs
In the morning you sail into Foster Bay and land at Margrethedal, where at the east side of the river are remains of Thule culture from some centuries ago. The lower tundra areas near the shores are populated by musk oxen.

Day 12 – 13: Onward to Spitsbergen
You may eventually see the pointed mountains of Spitsbergen, when sailing along the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds here.

Day 14: Journey ends in Longyearbyen
Even the greatest journeys eventually come to an end. Today you disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

Itinerary

Day 1: Journey begins in Keflavik
From Iceland’s international airport Keflavik and its port where you will embark the vessel, you depart for your Arctic adventure.

Day 2: Sea life along the counter currents
You sail westward in the warm Gulfstream Current and later in the cold East Greenland Current with a multitude of sea life (whales, seals, seabirds) at the mixing zones of these waters.

Day 3: Near Greenland’s highest mountain
In Nansen Fjord, surrounded by enormous glacier fronts, you spot Gunnbjörns Fjeld. At 3.700 m, it is the highest mountain north of the Arctic circle. Near the glacier fronts you may see bearded seals and at the mouth of the fjord large groups of harp seals.

Day 4: Historical d ‘Aunay Bay
This attractive fjord with several side arms, was discovered and first described by the Frenchman de Blosseville in 1833. polar bears and narwals have been seen there in previous visits.

Day 5: Inuit neighborhood of yesteryear
Today you reach Scoresby Sund, 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 6: 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 late summer foliage.

Day 7: 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 8: Settlement at Scoresbysund
Today you make a tundra landing at a lagoon, just west of Kap Stewart. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about four 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 9: Sights of Muskoxen
The second half of the day you spend in Blomsterdal (Flower Valley) near Antarctic Havn, where groups of musk oxen are often spotted. Another possibility is Ørsted Dal, with landing at Cape Seaforth.

Day 10: Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord
You sail through Antarctic sound and make a landing on Marie Island. You pass Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt (Flower Bay) and the intended landing site.

Day 11: Tundra, mountains, and icebergs
In the morning you sail into Foster Bay and land at Margrethedal, where at the east side of the river are remains of Thule culture from some centuries ago. The lower tundra areas near the shores are populated by musk oxen.

Day 12 – 13: Onward to Spitsbergen
You may eventually see the pointed mountains of Spitsbergen, when sailing along the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds here.

Day 14: Journey ends in Longyearbyen
Even the greatest journeys eventually come to an end. Today you disembark in Longyearbyen, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.


© Erwin Vermeulen
© Gordon Luck
© Rinie van Meurs


INCLUSIONS

• Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
• All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
• Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
• Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to/ from Longyearbyen.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
• AECO fees and governmental taxes.
• Comprehensive pre-departure material.

EXCLUSIONS

• Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
• Pre- and post- land arrangements.
• Passport and visa expenses.
• Government arrival and departure taxes.
• Meals ashore.
• Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
• Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
• The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).


* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

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