Expedition cruise Svalbard,Norway, Greenland and Iceland
Discover the wonders of Svalbard’s northwest coast, sail along Greenlands spectacular east coast with its huge fjord's, remote communities and fabulous wildlife, before sailing across to the spellbinding Iceland.
On arrival in Longyearbyen, you will be met by your guide and taken on a sightseeing tour to explore the remote outskirts and ‘Capital’ of Spitsbergen, including a stop at the local museum. After the tour you will be transferred to the port in the late afternoon to embark the Greg Mortimer. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before the important pre-departure briefings. Your voyage commences, cruising out of the beautiful Isfjorden, find a spot on one of the observation areas watching for seabirds as they rise and fall skilfully, using the air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.
Staying at: AE Expeditions Greg MortimerAs you cruise northwards along the west coast of Spitsbergen, you will make stops at intriguing places like Kongsfjorden or Magdalenefjorden. Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay) is incredibly scenic, the fjord is headed by two giant glaciers—the most actively calving glaciers in Svalbard. There’s ample time ashore for hiking on the lush tundra amongst the summer flowers and observing the remarkable bird cliffs near the 14th July Glacier, where even a few puffins nest between the cracks in the cliffs. Your guides will keep watch for polar bears and Arctic fox. Feel a sense of history at the 350-year-old remains of a Dutch whaling settlement, Smeerenberg on Amsterdamøya. It is a place of extraordinary legends of thousands of men living there during the 1630s, a town complete with shops, gambling dens and the like. In reality, only 400 men and fifteen ships visited Smeerenberg during its peak in the 1630s for whaling.
Continue exploring this magical region.
As you cruise southwest across the Greenland Sea – the main outlet of the Arctic Ocean – the ship may encounter whales feeding in the productive waters of the north. Sightings of fin whales are common and blue whales have been seen in more recent years. As you begin to approach Greenland it is likely that you will encounter pack ice, and if you are really lucky, see polar bears hunting for prey. The strong icy currents have isolated East Greenland from the Polar Basin, attracting large numbers of fish, seals and whales. Climatic conditions and the concentration of ice in the vicinity often create thick morning fog that vanishes with the onset of the midday sun. The onboard experts will inform and entertain with fascinating discussions on plants, animals, ice, and early explorers like Nansen, Andree and Scoresby. Conditions permitting, there may be a chance for kayakers to launch their sea kayaks and the remaining explorers to cruise in the sea ice with Zodiacs.
This stretch of coastline is ripe for exploration, with its many secrets locked in place by drift ice for up to eight months each year. Home to polar bear, snowy owl and musk ox, it's the world's largest national park, covering 972,000 square kilometres; most of which is inland ice and the rest a composite fjord landscape.
The ships captain will attempt to enter Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, a remote and rarely visited fjord system with countless opportunities for exploration within the Northeast Greenland National Park. Cruising through Kong Oskar Fjord marvel at the geological beauty of the mountains and land in a few places to explore the landscape and wildlife of Greenland. The route takes you south along the coast of Liverpool Land, with the passage dependent on ice conditions. The aim is to reach Scoresbysund, the world’s largest fjord and a favourite hunting ground of the local Inuit. Massive glaciers dump into this fjord, the birthplace of the famous big Greenland icebergs. There maybe an opportunity to visit the remote Inuit community of Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresby Town) and to hike across the tundra. Spend your days exploring the land, the ice and the sea around Scoresbysund. Other Landings along the coast may include: Cape Humboldt – a beautiful point on Ymer Island. There is a good chance to take a tundra walk and witness musk oxen grazing and keep a lookout for Arctic fox and ptarmigan. A lone trapper's hut looks over the bay and magnificent icebergs. Sefstrom Glacier adorns the narrow- peaked waterway in Alpefjord. Join a Zodiac cruise (and kayak) around the snout of the glacier and deeper into the fjord behind, returning along magnificent cliffs that are festooned with small colourful gardens of Arctic flowers growing wherever water is available. Sydkap in Scoresbysund offers good walking and delightful views up Øfjord and into Hall Brednung. Join expeditions to explore the ancient gravesites on shore, or nearby giant icebergs that offer hours of enjoyment for kayak and Zodiac excursions. Røde Ø –one of the most remarkable collections of beautiful icebergs in the world. A combination of shallows near the island and tidal currents strand hundreds of large iceberg in a small area around Røde Ø, or Red Island. The contrast between the magnificent blue of the ice and the red sandstone landscape is breathtaking.
Continue exploring the region
What shall we see today?
Relax on board the Greg Mortimer or hike the glorious landscape?
Don't forget your camera, you never know what your going to see today.
The flora and fauna at this time of year is truly magnificent.
Your final day on the coast of Greenland, what will you see?
In the Denmark Strait, you sail towards Iceland. Keep a lookout for whale blows and the many seabirds that trail the ship in the ever present Arctic winds. Enjoy the time to reflect on your recent adventures, share and exchange photos, and soak in the fresh ocean air. As you near Iceland, you will find you are returning to the rest of the world as the ship encounters fishing vessels working the coastal waters
During the early morning you will cruise into Reykjavik.Say a fond farewell your expedition team and fellow expeditioners as you all continue your onward journeys. A transfer is included into town or onwards to the airport. NOTE: Due to departure flight schedules out of Reykjavik, we recommend that passengers stay overnight in Reykjavik before continuing with your onward international travel arrangements.
From £10485 per person, based on 2 persons sharing an Aurora stateroom on a full board basis
This roughly converts to: 12,058 EUR | 13,735 USD
Remember that each trip we craft is unique, and you'll receive a personalised trip proposal based on your travel dates and preferences, and in the currency of your choice (GBP, USD, or EUR).
Many of trips can be tailored to your requirements and departure dates. Please get in touch with us for a tailored quotation and details of availability for your preferred travel dates. All trips and departures are subject to availability.
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