Greenland

Oslo-Longyearbyen Flight with SAS or Norwegian  Airlines. We are keeping an eye on the Summer 2024 flight schedule so we can advise best flights to book. 

On arrival to Svalbard we will be met by the Oceanwide Expedition team who will take our main luggage direct to the ship leading us free to explore the  magic of Svalbard.  In the early evening, around 4-5 pm  we will  sails out of Isfjorden. If we are lucky  we might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

Today we sail to Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen. We take in an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers – and maybe even visited by ringed and bearded seals. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies, rich vegetation, and the possibility of polar bears.

We are sailing until we eventually see the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice flashing into sight ahead, depending on the conditions. Keep a watch out for whales and migrating seabirds here.

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 we sail through Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.

Today we  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 we head into Antarctic Sound, where you find the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most likely spot for a landing.

In the morning we enter Segelsällskapets Fjord, with the streaked slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering the north side. We land on the south shore, where ancient sedimentary formations lie right at our feet. A hike takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans. In the afternoon the ship ventures into Alpefjord, aptly named for the spire-like peaks that thrust up around it. We may then embark on a Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier, which once blocked access to the interior of these waters. Continuing deep into the fjord, we experience a definitive Greenland adventure.

The first half of the day we spend in Antarctic Havn, an extensive valley where we can spot groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is dressed in the fiery colors of autumn.

Today we reach Scoresbysund, sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. We 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, we continue sailing the berg-crowded fjords to the west.

Today 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.

In the morning we 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). We then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good chance  of seeing Arctic hares.

Today we 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 we sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.

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

The end of our voyage, the beginning of a new way of living and being .We will arrive and disembark in Akureyri around 9am. We will request and  pre-book a  chartered bus (a six-hour drive) to Reykjavikur / city hall in Vonarstraeti. Rates for this will be confirmed closer to our trip  it’s usually  approx  $120 per person none way.) There will be stops along the way to take pictures, have a bite to eat and of course , bathroom breaks!  It’s best to stay in Iceland today and make arrangements to stay on and explore  or, if your time is tight,  fly out on the 1st September.