Spitsbergen to Northeast Greenland

Overview
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Maps
Ship Information
Highlights

Northeast Greenland is one of the world`s last remaining wilderness areas. The grandiose landscape is dominated by glaciers and beautifully shaped icebergs. Most of the year this ice-choked coast is inaccessible and it is only in late summer, when the tundra is clad in autumn colours, that we have a chance to get here.

On this exciting expedition we venture into one of the largest remaining wilderness areas in the Northern Hemisphere, where large areas are virtually untouched by man. Here lies the vast Northeast Greenland National Park inhabited only by a handful of scientists and park wardens. The expedition starts in Spitsbergen, where we embark the ship M/S Quest. During the first part of the expedition we explore Spitsbergen`s fjord-indented coastline. Here, the polar bear and walrus populations are protected and with luck we encounter some of these fantastic creatures. We continue west towards Greenland and take turns searching for whales from the open decks. Our goal is to reach the Greenland coastline as far north as the pack ice border and weather allows. We continue south along one of the world`s most spectacular coastlines, where the vast fjord systems are littered with icebergs. We have chances of visiting remains of ancient Inuit dwellings and the modern settlement Ittoqqortoormiit. With Zodiacs we cruise along glacier fronts or around large icebergs. During refreshing hikes on the tundra we hope to meet some of the many muskox that roam here. Finally we cross the Denmark Strait and look out for seabirds and whales. The trip ends in Reykjavik, capital of Iceland.

Please note: Our exact route will depend on ice and weather conditions. The places mentioned above are just examples of some of the many sites this expedition has to offer. We always strive to maximise your experience, but remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

Spitsbergen to Northeast Greenland itinerary:

Day 1: Longyearbyen

Arrive in Longyearbyen and embark the ship M/S Quest.

Day 2 - 3: Exploring Spitsbergen

We visit some of the many magnificent fjords in western Spitsbergen, where vast glaciers tumble down into the sea. If very lucky we spot polar bears or walrus here.

Day 4 - 5: The Greenland Sea

We shape a south-westerly course and from the decks we keep a constant lookout for whales which may be encountered in these waters. Our knowledgeable guides entertain us with lectures on the Arctic flora, fauna, geology and history of exploration. During parts of the crossing we can expect to meet the pack ice boarder, which often embraces Greenland`s northern coast. Few things in life are as exciting as standing on board a ship cruising past large floes of pack ice.

Day 6 - 11: Northeast Greenland

We reach the shores of Greenland and are now in a part of the world completely ruled by ice and weather conditions. We plan to make Zodiac landings each day and the following are some of the places, which we may visit: Clavering Island At Clavering Island is a hunter`s hut, which reveals a bit about the life of a hunter and trapper in these high latitudes. On the tundra we often see some of the many muskox, which inhabit these shores. Northeast Greenland is one of very few places in the world where we can see these huge, woolly herbivores, weighing up to 400 kilos. Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord and Kong Oscars Fjord We hope to explore these beautiful fjord systems, which are framed by mountains shooting vertically out of the sea. We make several landings and are dwarfed by the towering mountains. Scoresby Sound As we reach Scoresby Sound, we make a landfall and enjoy the breathtaking view of this immense fjord, largest in the world! Here we have chances of seeing remnants from the Thule people, which arrived to Greenland in the 12th century. In the small village of Ittoqqortoormiit, with only 500 inhabitants, we learn more about life in this isolated place 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Day 12-13: Across the Denmark Strait

We spend hours on deck in the company of seabirds keeping a lookout for whales. We may encounter humpback, minke, sei and fin whales. Our guides continue to enlighten us with educational slide presentations.

Day 14: Reykjavik, Iceland

In Keflavik we disembark the ship. We make an excursion to the Blue Lagoon, where we take a relaxing bath in the warm water. In the evening we enjoy dinner together and overnight at a centrally located hotel in Reykjavik.

Day 15: Reykjavik

We explore the capital of Iceland on our own, before we transfer to the airport for the flight home.

Map for Spitsbergen to Northeast Greenland

Quest

We proudly present our expedition ship M/S Quest. The ship was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry on Greenland`s west-coast. In 2004/2005 she was completely refurbished and has now a career as a small and comfortable expedition ship. Quest takes 53 passengers in 26 cabins, all with sea-view and private facilities. The triple cabins on deck 3 have upper and lower berths. All other cabins have two lower berths or a double bed. In your cabin you also find a desk with chair and ample storage space for clothes and equipment. The superior cabins on deck 3 and 4 are spacious and have a separate sitting area and TV/DVD. The Owner`s cabin, next to the Captain`s cabin, on deck 4 has a double bed, two large picture windows, a sitting area and TV/DVD.

In the dining room you are treated to delicious meals in between landings and in the panorama lounge you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding polar landscape. Here you can listen to entertaining lectures on the area`s flora, fauna, history and glaciology. In the lounge you also find a well-stocked bar and a small library. The ship has spacious observation decks where you can enjoy the beautiful vistas and search for seabirds, whales and polar bears. The ship has a European Captain and there is a friendly and informal atmosphere on board. Travelling with this small expedition ship offers an entirely different experience and perspective than you get on a larger and more conventional cruise ship.