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polar regions: arctic

East Greenland - Aurora Borealis

Scoresbysund, the world’s longest fjord system, beckons you to explore Greenland. Enticing you with some of the world’s best displays of the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, the Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit also offers you a rare connection to the past, as they still live off the land as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago.

Iceberg-choked fjords, tundra hikes and the Arctic wildlife of Greenland National Park create picture perfect scenes every day. One of the most active expeditions, you can climb atop mountains and watch herds of grazing musk oxen on the horizon. This is pure wilderness, the untouched Arctic as it was thousands of years ago.

Day 1 - Reykjavik

Your East Greenland adventure begins with an overnight stay in thoroughly-modern Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital city.

Accommodations: Hotel TBA
Included Meals: n/a

Day 2 - Embarkation Day in Reykjavik

After a leisurely morning exploring Reykjavik on your own, transfer to Reykjavik’s port to begin your expedition to Greenland. As you sail out to sea, your first wildlife sightings will be seabirds above and whales below, get ready for a great adventure!

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: dinner

Days 3-4 - At Sea

Sail through the Denmark Strait en route for mysterious Greenland. Your onboard Expedition Team will keep you informed and entertained with presentations about Greenland’s wildlife, history and geography.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 5-7 - Greenland National Park

Fjords and flower meadows punctuate the scenery of Greenland National Park, where Arctic Fox and Musk Oxen roam free. Your days will be spent exploring and learning about the unique history and geology of Greenland. King Oscar Fjord is a hiker’s paradise. You may walk across the delicate flower-and-berry-strewn tundra at Holm Bay, Zodiac-cruise through spectacular Alepfjord or challenge yourself with a climb to the top of nearby Ella Island (the views are worth it.) From Ella Island head to the Antarctic. Yes, curiously, there is an Antarctic Sound in the Arctic. The area is home to beautiful purple and gold colored rocks with Ymer Island and Blomsterbugten, the “Bay of Flowers”, ready to explore in the distance. Keeping a constant eye out for wildlife, head south along the Liverpool Coast. Weather conditions are variable here, but we’ll aim to visit Storefjord and the “warming island” of Uunartoq Qeqertaq, which was only discovered in 2005.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 8-11 - Scorsbysund Fjord

Arriving at Scoresbysund, find yourself mesmerized by the largest, longest, and – some say – most beautiful fjord system in the world. This area was named for William Scoresby, who charted the east coast of Greenland in 1822.

At the start of the sound, Itoqqortoormitt is East Greenland’s most northerly community and one of the world’s last remaining examples of a living hunter society. With clear skies, there is a great opportunity to see the Northern Lights here. You can also support the local Inuit artisans by purchasing unique handicrafts. Our time here is spent bonding with the Inuit people and gaining an appreciation of their way of life.

Sailing on, deeper into Scoresbysund, encounter massive icebergs and an ancient Thule settlement as Sydkap and fjord is approached. The scenery here is something you can’t even imagine, with towering mountain sides and hundreds of apartment size icebergs playing tricks with your sense of perception.

Pushing onward, come to Rypefjord and Kap Hofmann Halvø. Keep eyes peeled for sightings of rare blue icebergs, which are more normally seen in the Antarctic. With binoculars in hand, birders should keep watch for Wheatears, Snow Buntings and Ravens at Rypefjord.

At Cape Hofmann Halvø there is the best chance for closer encounters with grazing Musk Oxen and enjoy a final hike out on the colorful tundra.

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 12-13 - At Sea

Your homeward journey re-crosses the Denmark Strait, gives you a couple of days for whale watching. During the crossings, visitors have seen White-beaked Dolphins and Humpback, Minke and Blue Whales. Birders have enjoyed spotting Kittiwakes, Gannets, Guillemots, Fulmars and Razorbills on our journey back to Iceland

Accommodations: Sea Spirit
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 14 - Disembarkation in Reykjavik

Your Greenland adventure comes to an end as you enter port in Reykjavik. Head to the airport, or if you have time, stick around to explore this great city.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast



Itinerary Notes: Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the captain's discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

Included: Pre night accommodation as indicated in the itinerary; Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping; All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks on board throughout your voyage; All shore landings per the daily program; Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader; A daily program of lectures by noted naturalists; All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program; Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and Special Guests as scheduled; Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting the voyage; A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings; An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep; Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock; A selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages; Hair dryer and bathrobe in every cabin; Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader; All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; All luggage handling aboard ship; Arrival transfer from Longyearbyen airport to your hotel if you arrive one day prior to embarkation; On embarkation day transfer from your hotel or Longyearbyen airport to the ship; On disembarkation day group transfer from the ship to airport or local designated drop-off location; Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $100,000 per person.

Exclusions: International airfare; Passport and any applicable visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel; Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and medical travel insurance; Excess baggage charges; Laundry and other personal charges. Telecommunications charges; The voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew.

Families & Children: At date of embarkation, a minimum age restriction of 8 years and minimum height and weight requirements (weight of 64lbs or 29kg and 48 in. or 1.2 m. tall) must be met. Children under 16 years of age must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times, and may not participate in adventure options.

Arrival & Departure: When considering flights for your East Greenland adventure cruise plan to arrive Reykjavik any time on day one. Plan outgoing flights to depart no earlier than 12 noon on the final day. Get a free flight quote.

Payment & Cancellation: A deposit of 20% (minimum $1,000 per person) is required to confirm a reservation. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. Payments by bank wire transfer, check, money order or major credit card are accepted. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
180 days or more - $1000 per person admin fee
179 to 120 days - per person deposit amount is forfeited
119 days or less - all deposits and tariffs, whether paid or not

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Qualifications: The East Greenland - Aurora Borealis cruise will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has full mobility, and leads an active life. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join any off-vessel excursions, passengers must be able to navigate the steep, 30-stair, gang-way, un-assisted both down and up. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in zodiacs. Trip members will take excursions to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet," requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. You are traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

800-728-2875 | 530-583-1775 | fax 530-583-1711 | travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com