East Greenland and Iceland Northern Lights

Welcome to Iceland! Your Arctic voyage begins in Reykjavik, Iceland’s artistic capital city. You can arrive in Reykjavik at any time today and make your way to your hotel. You'll have the day to explore the city on your own, so you may want to visit one of the many museums, cathedrals or galleries – or perhaps seek out one of Iceland’s famous hotdogs from a popular street stall.

After a free morning to continue exploring the city, you’ll make your way to your ship in the afternoon to board your vessel and begin your expedition. After you board the ship and set sail, you’ll be able to enjoy a range of activities on board – but don’t forget to keep an eye out for Arctic animals in the wildlife-filled water!

As you cruise north across the Denmark Strait, your expedition team will prepare you for the adventures that await. Learn about the storied history and politics of the Arctic, its fascinating wildlife, geology, ecology and climate, and the incredible sights you will soon explore. The team will also search for the seabirds soaring around your ship, as well as the whales that frequent the waters here.

The next week will be spent voyaging around Greenland’s remote northeast coast. Over the coming days, you’ll enjoy Zodiac cruises and shore visits to several locations. It’s worth keeping an eye out for grazing muskoxen, as 40 percent of the world’s muskoxen population lives in Northeast Greenland National Park. Sailing through spectacular Scoresbysund, the birthplace of many icebergs, you’ll immediately see why some say it’s the most beautiful fjord system on the planet. Sites such as Frederiksdal and Sydkap offer opportunities to explore the colourful tundra and the remains of ancient Thule settlements. At the entrance of the sound is East Greenland’s most northerly community, Ittoqqortoormiit, where you may spend time interacting with the Inuit people and learning about their way of life. You may also have a chance to see the northern lights here if the skies are clear. Deeper in the sound, Rode Oya offers a picturesque locale for admiring the beauty of sky-blue bergs set against striking red sandstone cliffs. Magnificent vistas also await at Kong Oscar Fjord, with possible landings at Ella Oya, renowned for its rugged cliffs and ice-choked waters, and flower-rich Botanikerbugt, on Ymer Oya. You may visit the Bay of Flowers, or Blomsterbugten, which boasts a colorful and lush landscape that is quite different from other Arctic regions like Spitsbergen. Expect spectacular fall colors, with a possible hike to Noa Lake. Perhaps see Kong Oscar Fjord (King Oscar Fjord). This bay is home to a variety of flora and sits on the south coast of mountainous Ymer Oya (Ymer Island), part of Northeast Greenland National Park. Go searching for muskoxen in C. Hofmann Halvo. The peninsula is also home to wheatears and snow buntings, and you may spot rock ptarmigans or great northern divers while at sea. Encounter stunning icebergs before hiking across Denmark Island, which offers stupendous views of Scoresbysund and Fonfjord below. Exploring the valley system of Frederiksdal on foot may offer views of muskoxen, glaciers and ancient Thule remains. Toward the northern end of Scoresby Land is Kong Oscar Fjord (King Oscar Fjord). Holm Bay is a common landing site here, offering panoramic views of the fjord and surrounding area. Within the fjord, and hence within Northeast Greenland National Park, lies Ella O (Ella Island). The Danish navy unit called Sirius Sledge Patrol trains here in summer. Muskoxen may also be spotted. Around 500 people call the northern settlement of Ittoqqortoormit home. Traditional hunting and fishing ways are alive and well here, as are the northern lights! This is known as one of the best places to have a chance of seeing the mysterious aurora borealis. One of Scoresbysund’s many fjords, O Fjord, which is also known as Island Fjord, is truly impressive, flanked by towering mountains and dotted with large icebergs. Touring Rode Oya, or Red Island, rewards with stunning views of white and blue icebergs against a background of soaring red sandstone cliffs. The unexpected contrast makes for striking photos. See Red Fjord, or Rodefjord, named for the colorful sandstone located on its western side. The stone has been 'stained' red by hematite, creating an odd beauty in this part of Greenland. Revered by many as the most beautiful fjord system in the world, Scoresby Sund is definitely the most extensive. The sound was named by William Scoresby Jr., a whaler, scientist and man of the cloth, who was famed for mapping more than 400 mi (640 km) off Greenland’s coastline.

As your Arctic adventure winds down, take in a presentation by your onboard experts, share your photos with fellow travellers, sip an icy cocktail in the bar or watch a movie - there are many activities during your time at sea. Your expedition team will also be on hand to answer any questions and point out wildlife.

Your journey comes to an end today in Reykjavik, where you’ll disembark from the ship. If you have booked post-expedition accommodation, you’ll be transferred to a central downtown location, otherwise you can make your way onward.