Scoresby Sund 2010
10 days, 9 nights, Akureyri / Iceland - Keflavik/ Iceland | The Arctic coastlines offer some of the finest scenery and wildlife experiences in the world. Visitors to the region can witness enormous colonies of seabirds thronging the cliffs and shores, and enjoy the thrilling antics of whales and dolphins at sea and seals and Walrus hauled out on the rocks and ice floes. The lucky may even encounter the very symbol of the Arctic - the Polar Bear.
Scoresby Sund in North East Greenland, relatively close to Iceland, is the world's largest fjord system. Numerous fjords extend to the edge of the inland ice cap, where they are fed by large glaciers. Scoresby Sund is the longest fjord in the world, stretching for more than 200 miles, and also one of the deepest, over 1500 meters deep. Near the mouth of the fjord lies the main settlement in the region, Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the most isolated communities in the world.
A voyage to astounding fjords of East Greenland, where the Greenland people hunt, where we may encounter Polar Bears, and where we have a good chance to view the Northern Lights in the clear Arctic autumn nights!
| Twin private inside | Twin private | Superior | Suite |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $6,100 | $6,800 | $7,600 |
M/v Antarctic Dream
| Departure | ADT14, September 5th - 14th, 2010 |
| Price | Prices in USD, per person in cabin of choice From $5,000 per person |
| Included | Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as per itinerary All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship incl. snacks, coffee and tea All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff Transfers and baggage handling between hotels, airports and ship only for those passengers on the group flights in Spitsbergen and in Greenland All miscellaneous services Taxes and port charges throughout the program |
| Not Included | Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights Pre- and post land arrangements Transfers to / from the vessel outside Spitsbergen and Greenland Passport and Visa expenses Government arrival and departure taxes Meals ashore Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended) Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided) $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Please note All dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 25 participants (motor vessels) & 12 participants for the 'Noorderlicht'. All rates are quoted per person in US Dollar, based on twin occupancy. US Dollar rates apply for all sales outside Europe. 5% Discount will be granted for bookings for one or more consecutive voyages. Please note that all dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 50 participants on the Antarctic Dream, 70 participants on the Plancius and 14 participants on the Noorderlicht. Twin non private and Twin private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the share price. It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 80 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US Dollar 25 per passenger per night, to be paid by the contracting party of Oceanwide Expeditions. |
Scoresby Sund Map
World Travel Award 2009
Day 1 AKUREYRI
Arrive at Akureyri airport and make the short journey to the small port of the same name to join the ship. In the early evening we leave Iceland and sail north towards the Denmark Strait.
Day 2 DENMARK STRAIT
At sea, sailing north through the Denmark Strait. We are almost certain to see Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Gannets and rafts of Common Guillemots and Razorbills. We cross the Arctic Circle and continue north, perhaps seeing whales. In the evening we will spot our first icebergs appear as we approach the east coast of Greenland near Kap Brewster.
Day 3 DANMARKS ØY
In the morning we sail along the ragged and glaciated Volquart Boons Coast, here we may organize a zodiac cruise along one of the glacier fronts of this coast, and have our first landing near a glacier, like Maanegletsjer or in Vikingebugt. Later we land on Danmarksø where there are the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular 'tent rings' of stones indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are excellently preserved, allowing entrances and even bear-proof meat caches to be identified. There are also grave sites. In the evening we continue our sailing through the beautiful fjords to the west, choked with ice-bergs.
Day 4 CAPE HOFMANN HALVØ
We go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvø, a reliable spot for viewing Musk Oxen. We may also spot Rock Ptarmigans and at sea Great Northern Divers. The landscape here is particularly beautiful, especially during autumn when the Dwarf Willow and Dwarf Birch change color. Arctic Blueberry and Crowberry add their own colorful touch - the berries are tasty too! In the evening we sail through the fjord towards Scoresby Land enjoying the contrast between the warm autumnal colors of the vegetation on shore, backed by huge dark mountains, and the cold blue of the icebergs.
Day 5 SCORESBY SUND - SYDKAP
On our way to Sydkap in Scoresby Land in the morning, we encounter huge icebergs, some over 100 m high and more than a kilometer in length. Most of the bergs are grounded as the fjord is only about 400 m deep here. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter houses. As many as 20 people lived in these tiny houses, hunting Greenland Whales and using their vertebrae to build the houses. We may also land at Gurreholm on Jameson Land. The landscape here is gently undulating. Musk Oxen and Collared Lemmings - survive on the meager vegetation.
Day 6 ILLOQQORTOORMIUT
In the morning we land in Illoqqortoormiut, the biggest settlement near Scoresby Sund with about 500 inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just wander around to see the sledge dogs and the drying skins of seals, Musk Ox and Polar Bear. After lunch we will sail south, passing the amazing landscape of the Blosseville Coast where groups of Harp Seals can be spotted among the ice floes.
Day 7 NANSEN FJORD - MIKIS FJORD
At the mouth of Nansen Fjord we spot Gunnbjørns Fjeld, at 3,700m: it is both the highest peak in Greenland and also the highest mountain north of the Arctic Circle. We sail into Nansen Fjord another magnificent landscape with an enormous calving glacier front, which we can easily approach. At the inner side of the fjord along the northern shore there are ample landing and zodiac cruising opportunities. We meet often tame Rock Ptarmigans with young, and on the ice-floes Bearded Seals. If we can not sail into Nansen fjord due to glacier ice, which often fills the fjord, we will sail into Mikis Fjord, bounded by steep cliffs. The fjord is a good place to spot Ringed Seals and Harp Seals. At Södalen at the head of Mikis Fjord we land in a marshy delta. There are good populations of both Common and Arctic Redpolls, as well as a chance of seeing flocks of Barnacle Geese and Pink-footed Geese.
Day 8 KANGERLUSSUAQ - DENMARK STRAIT
In the morning, we head south for Kangerlussuaq fjord where glaciers reach the sea creating a fabulous landscape of glacier fronts, icebergs and cliffs. On shore there are the remains of dwellings of Thule culture people. We conclude the day with a Zodiac trip to Skaergårdshalvø, a popular summer hunting ground for the people of Ammassalik. Most years a number of families arrive here in early summer and stay until the end of the hunting season and we might be able to meet them. In the afternoon we will sail south-east towards the Denmark Strait.
Day 9 AT SEA
The whole day at sea offers excellent opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, at night the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
Day 10 KEFLAVIK
Arrive and Keflavik, and transfer for the airport for the flight home. N.B. The chances that the sea-ice will allow us to sail into the Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord and Scoresby Sund in September (based on experiences from 1992 until 2007) is about 85%. In case we can not sail into the Scoresby Sund we will resort to a programme in the East Greenland fjords more to the south.