East Greenland and Iceland Northern Lights

East Greenland and Iceland Northern Lights

1,103 Views
12 Days From

$11995

East Greenland and Iceland Northern Lights

12 Days Starting and ending in Reykjavik

Visiting: Reykjavik, At sea, Exploring Northeast Greenland, At Sea

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

BQMIN

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 132

Physical rating:

Low, Low

Age range:

8-99 years

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Boat/Cruise Excursion

From: $11995

NB: Prices correct on 28-Jun-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

An Arctic expedition through East Greenland and Iceland is the perfect opportunity to mix nature and culture. From the spectacular icebergs of Scoresbysund, often touted as the world’s most beautiful fjords in the world, to the largest bird cliff in Europe, which is cluttered with cute puffins and other seabirds, there’s something to satisfy every outdoors-y type. And then, the surprising culture and history of this remote region – from meeting the Inuit people and learning about their way of life to the quaint island of Flatey where you can visit a church sporting a mural of Jesus in a classic Icelandic sweater.

Highlights

  • Witness inspiring vistas of mountains, fjords and towering cliffs of the Westfjords.

  • Sail through the icebergs of Scoresbysund, arguably the most beautiful fjord system on the planet.

  • Keep an eye out for the Northern Lights in Ittoqqortoormiit.

  • Explore the remains of ancient Thule settlements in Frederiksdal and Sydkap.

  • Sail through the icebergs of Scoresbysund in the Greenland Sea – the largest and arguably the most beautiful fjord system on the planet. 

  • Explore Northeast Greenland over seven full days at sea, which possible landing sites and activities including hiking in Denmark Island, witnessing the beauty of Northeast Greenland National Park and wildlife spotting in C. Hofmann Halvo.

  • Keep an eye out for the Northern Lights in Ittoqqortoormiit – about 500 people call this northern settlement home and it's known as one of the best places for spotting the aurora borealis. 

  • Wander Reykjavik at your own pace with some free time to begin your Arctic adventure. Visit the many museums, cathedrals and galleries or indulge in one of the famous streetside hot dogs.

  • Find home on the Ocean Adventurer. When you're not making on land expeditions or watching for marine wildlife on the deck, you can indulge in the many onboard features. Hit the gym, relax in the outdoor jacuzzi or hang out in the lounge.  

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Reykjavik

Location: Reykjavik

Accommodation: Hotel

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.

Day 2: Reykjavik

Location: Reykjavik

Accommodation: Expedition Cruise Ship

Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner

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!

Day 3: At Sea

Location: At sea

Accommodation: Expedition Cruise Ship

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

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.

Day 4-10: Exploring Northeast Greenland

Location: Exploring Northeast Greenland

Accommodation: Expedition Cruise Ship

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.

Day 11: At Sea

Location: At Sea

Accommodation: Expedition Cruise Ship

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

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.

Day 12: Reykjavik

Location: Reykjavik

Meals Included: breaksfast

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.

What's Included

  • Meals

    13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11 dinners

  • Accommodation

    Hotel (1 night), Expedition cruise ship (12 nights)

  • Transport

    Ship, Zodiac

What's Not Included

  • International Travel

  • Tipping and Gratuities

Transport

  • Ship , Zodiac

Included Activities

    Accommodation

    • Hotel (1 night), Expedition cruise ship (10 nights)

    Important Information

    • Your voyage is operated by our sister company, Quark Expeditions. All accommodation and transfer arrangements as listed in the itinerary are also operated by Quark Expeditions or their local representatives.
    • BOOKING CONDITIONS
    • To confirm your reservation, a deposit of 25% (unless indicated otherwise at time of booking) of the total invoice amount is required at time of booking. Balances are due 120 days prior to departure.
    • Please refer to our "Booking terms and conditions" page on our website for all Quark Expedition terms and conditions. www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-intrepid/booking-conditions
    • ADVENTURE OPTIONS
    • Kayaking is available to book on all Arctic voyages (except the North Pole). This must be booked prior to departure and incurs an additional cost. Spaces are limited so please enquire at time of booking. To participate in kayaking, previous, recent experience is essential. In addition, there are other included optional activities offered on some voyages such as hiking. This activity does not need to be booked in advance and no additional cost applies.

    Check out our Q&As

    • Are international flights included in this tour?

      No

    • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

      No

    • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

      Yes if aged 15+ and accompanied by an adult

    • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

      Yes

    • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

      No

    • Is this trip right for you

      As you’d expect, temperatures in the Arctic are very cold. A warm parka will be provided along with waterproof boots and unlimited hot drinks, but you should also bring base layers and lots of warm clothing. Please see the Essential Trip Information for further important details about what to bring.

      Weather depending, you will be making regular excursions in a Zodiac boat to explore the local area and look for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac, so make sure you are dressed appropriately and that you keep your camera safe and dry. Sturdy sea legs are needed as you make wet and dry landings from the boat, and on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces. Some ships also have a lot of stairs.

      The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area.

      This trip takes places during the time of year that Spitsbergen enjoys 24-hour daylight. Just one of the benefits of this is that incredible wildlife can be seen at any time of the day – be prepared to be woken at any time so as to not miss out on exciting animal sightings.

      Polar bears are one of the most incredible and appealing animals on the planet, but they are also powerful predators with little fear of humans. Therefore, it’s necessary to be aware of the guidelines surrounding any contact with Polar bears. Follow your leader’s instructions and do not stray from your group.

    • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

      No

    • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

      Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

    • How long has the tour company been trading?

      Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

    • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

      Yes

    • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

      Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

    • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

      Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

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    1 Select your preferred date

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    Friday - Tuesday

    Sep 20, 2024 - Oct 01, 2024
    $11995

    Book with Confidence

    • Free Date Changes

      Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

    • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

      Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

    • Low Deposit

      Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

    • Cancellation Policy

      We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

      Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

      At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

      At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

      At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.