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Spitsbergen & Northeast Greenland - Search for Aurora Borealis

From Svalbard to Iceland seeking Aurora Borealis

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 1 review

14 Days from

$7750 USD

Trip Code: OAO
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Twin private with Porthole
$10850 USD
Twin private with Window
$11950 USD
Twin Deluxe
$12650 USD
Superior
$14250 USD
One way bus transfer Akureyri to Rekyjavik
$150 USD

Duration

  • 14 Days

Activities

  • 13 days expedition cruising

Accommodation

  • 13 nights aboard Ortelius

Meals

  • 13 Dinners
  • 12 Lunches
  • 13 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

1 / 10

Discovery and Cruising

Trip highlights

  • The beauty of Spitsbergen
  • Wildlife viewing for Polar Bear, Musk Oxen, Arctic Fox along with whales, seals and numerous sea birds
  • Cruising the ice-laden fjords of Greenland’s East Coast
  • Walking on the Greenland Tundra
  • Scoresby Sund
  • The Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit

Overview

The coastline of Greenland is spectacular. With numerous fjords, the coastline consists of breathtaking high mountains, high cliffs and numerous glaciers. The large glaciers produce the huge, cathedral-like ice-bergs that are abundant in the surrounding waters. An area rich in wildlife we hope to see Polar Bear, Walrus, Ringed and Bearded Seals, Musk Oxen along with numerous species of seabirds. Our voyage encompasses the north west coast of Spitsbergen, before heading over to the east coast of Greenland. We hope to enjoy landings at Myggebugten and Blomster Bugtand sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord as we make our way to Scoresby Sund, Greenland's largest fjord. Further south we travel through the Northwest Fjord before making a stop at Illoqqortoormiut,the largest settlement in Scoresby Sund, where we have a chance to send postcards and experience local life. Our final day is spent at sea before we arrive in Akureyri in Iceland.

Itinerary

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Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to stroll around this former mining town, whose parish church and Polar Museum are well worth visiting. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden.

Meals: D

We sail into Raudfjord on the north coast of West Spitsbergen, a beautiful fjord with spectacular glaciers. It is home to Ringed and Bearded Seals, seabird colonies and surprisingly rich vegetation. We have a good chance to see Polar Bears near Hamilton Glacier, or more to the head of the fjord. From there we continue to Moffen Island on which Walruses haul out.

Meals: B,L,D

At sea, on our way to Greenland, we may see the edge of the East Greenland sea-ice. We will keep watch for whales, and also for migrating seabirds.

Meals: B,L,D

As we approach Greenland we may sail through the sea ice into Foster Bay and land at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters’ hut (where Norwegian trappers hunted for polar bear and Arctic fox in the first half of the 20th century), there is a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen, with geese floating the small lakes. From here you sail through Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.

Meals: B,L,D

You arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt and the intended landing site. In the afternoon you head into Antarctic Sound, where you find the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most likely spot for a landing.

Meals: B,L,D

In the morning we enter Segelsällskapets Fjord with the beautiful Berzelius Mountains on the north side. We will land on the south side of the fjord in an astounding place where the ancient sedimentary geology is literally at your feet. A hike will take us near a small lake with good chances to see Muskoxen, Arctic hare, and Ptarmigan. In the afternoon the ship will venture into Alpe Fjord, which is as spectacular as the name implies. We may embark on a long Zodiac cruise around the Gully Glacier which once blocked the access to the interior of the fjord and venture deep inside to the very end. Adventure at its finest!

Meals: B,L,D

The first half of the day we will spend in Antarcticahavn, a wide and extensive valley where we may see groups of Musk Oxen. At this time of year, the autumnal colours of the sparse vegetation make the landscapes even more beautiful.

Meals: B,L,D

Today we will reach the Scoresby Sund, and sail in the morning along the ragged and glaciated Volquart Boons. Here we may organise a zodiac cruise along one of the glacier fronts of this coast, and have our first landing near for instance Maane Glacier. Later we will land on Danmark Ø, where we will find the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular ‘tent rings’ of stones indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are excellently preserved, allowing entrances and even bear-proof meat caches to be identified. There are also grave sites. In the evening, we will continue our sailing through the beautiful fjords to the west, choked with ice-bergs.

Meals: B,L,D

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.

Meals: B,L,D

This morning in the Northwest fjord in Scoresby Land, we will encounter huge icebergs, some over 100m high and more than a kilometre in length. Most of the bergs are grounded as the fjord is only about 400m deep here. We will land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter houses. As many as 20 people lived in these tiny houses, hunting Greenland Whales and using their vertebrae to build the houses. We may also land at Gurreholm on Jameson Land. The landscape here is gently undulating.

Meals: B,L,D

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.

Meals: B,L,D

We will spend the whole day at sea, and have splendid opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, in the night if were lucky, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

Meals: B,L,D

In the morning we will arrive in Akureyri where the trip concludes. A bus transfer (approx 6 hours) to Reykjavik can be arranged at an additional charge please ask for details.

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

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What’s included?

Included

  • 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 13 dinners
  • Comfortable cabin accommodation and use of all public areas on cruise
  • Specialist expedition staff
  • All shore excursions from the ship including the use of zodiacs
  • Lectures, videos, slide and film shows and guide services
  • Medical services (there is a resident medical officer and infirmary on board)
  • Port taxes and port charges imposed by government authorities
  • Pre-departure information

Not included

  • Air transport and airport transfers before and after the cruise
  • Visa, passport and vaccination charges and airport departure taxes
  • Accommodation and meals or other services not included in the ship cruise itinerary
  • Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
  • Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, travel insurance and items
  • of a personal nature such as bar charges, wine and phone calls
  • Emergency evacuation charges
  • Tips and gratuities

Reviews (1)

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