Icebergs & Auroras: East Greenland & Svalbard

Day 1: Embark in Longyearbyen

You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions.

Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where you might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

In the evening you sail for Trygghamna, where you see the remains of a 17th-century English whaling station and 18th-century Pomor hunting station, both of which you can visit the next morning.

Day 2: Foxes, seabirds, and grazing reindeer

From Trygghamna you walk to Alkhornet, a large seabird cliff where the birds are scouting out breeding places.

Below the cliffs is a common place to spot Arctic foxes, and you may also see reindeer grazing on the lush vegetation if there’s not too much snow.

Day 3: Fuglefjorden to Raudfjorden

You sail into Fuglefjorden amid views of Svitjodbreen and Birgerbukta, both breeding places for great skuas as well as likely spots to spy a polar bear. Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, is a fine area for gazing over the glaciers.

It’s also a favourite hangout for ringed and bearded seals, colonies of seabird, and the occasional polar bear and beluga whale.

Days 4-7: Myggebugten, Greenland

You may eventually see the jagged edge of the east Greenland sea ice flashing into sight ahead, depending on the conditions. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds here.

Day 8: Remains of the trappers

The goal is to sail into Foster Bay, making your first landing at Myggbukta in the late afternoon or evening. Beyond the old hunters’ hut (where, in the first half of the 20th century, Norwegian trappers hunted for polar bear and Arctic fox) there is a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen, with geese floating the small lakes.

Day 9: Icebergs and mountains 

You sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, enjoying its lofty mountains and bright interior icebergs. In the evening you reach Teufelsschloss, a prominent mountain that comprises part of the Eleonora Bay Supergroup: sedimentary rock created between 950–610 million years ago to a depth of 16km (10 miles).

This rust-red multi-layered unique geology defines the scenery over the coming days.

Day 10: The essential Arctic

Landing at Blomsterbugten, you have a good chance of spotting Arctic hare and musk oxen. Noah Lake is home to great northern divers as well as their young, and the hiking opportunities here are numerous.

In the afternoon you venture deeper into Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, finding shelter in Renbugten. Colossal icebergs and quintessential Arctic scenery accompany you while passing through this narrow fjord system.

Day 11: Into Antarctic Sound

Today the aim is to land in Renbugten in search of musk oxen and Arctic hares. Around lunch you head east into the inversely named Antarctic Sound, enjoying views of the ancient sedimentary rock.

You should arrive at Maria Island before nightfall.

Day 12: Meeting Meander

You cut into Kong Oscars Fjord for an attempted landing near Menander Øer, a location with lively walking opportunities.

Day 13: Colours of Arctic autumn

Continuing east, you land in Antarctic Havn. You spend the afternoon in this expansive valley, where you can see groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is colored with golden fire.

Your guide may be able to tell you about the intriguing geopolitics that played out here in the early 1930s between Norway and Denmark.

Day 14: Sailing to Scoresby Sund

Spending the day at sea, you make for the largest fjord system in the world: Scoresby Sund.

Day 15: Inuit neighbourhood 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. During the afternoon, you sail along the east side of Milne Land amid a number of scattered icebergs.

Day 16: Enormous icebergs near Sydkap

You land near Sydkap, where Arctic hares are often seen, and during lunch you get a glimpse of the entrance to Nordvestfjord in Scoresby Land.

Here you encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100m high (328ft) and more than a kilometre in length (0.6 miles). Most of these bergs are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400m deep (1,312ft).

Day 17: The tundra of Jameson Land

At the western shores of Jameson Land lies a vast tundra with grazing musk oxen. You'll try to make a landing on one of the areas, such as Tyskit Nunat, remembering Alfred Wegener’s efforts to cross Vandreblokken.

You may also visit Kap Hooker or a lovely lagoon west of Kap Stewart.

Day 18: Ittoqqortoormiit

Today’s stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresby Sund 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.

Day 19: The hikes of Hurry Inlet

In the morning you stop on the south coast of Jameson Land, at a lagoon near Kap Stewart. Here the waders and geese are collecting for their autumn migration, and musk oxen and collared lemmings survive on the meager vegetation.

Further inside Hurry Inlet, you may take a walk near the head of the fjord as well as one of the rivers that terminate here. Here is a chance of a climb up the mountain of J.P. Koch Fjeld, near Hareelv. In this remarkable area, scientists found fossils that linked fish and amphibians in the lower Cretaceous period. You spend the night at anchor off Constable Pynt.

Day 20: Constable Pynt

You'll take the chartered plane from Constable Pynt to Keflavik, taking home memories for a lifetime.

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.