
Title: | Scoresby Sund, Aurora Borealis - Birding |
Dates: | |
Tripcode: | HDS14-21 |
Duration: | 8 nights |
Ship: | m/v Hondius |
Embarkation: | Akureyri |
Disembarkation: | Akureyri |
Language: | Language assisted voyage |
Important: | Kayaking is an optional activity |
More about: |
Arctic cruises Greenland cruises |
PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The on-board expedition leader determines the final itinerary. Itineraries may mention places that require permission to land, which must be granted by the relevant national authorities. Such permission is not granted prior to the publishing of these itineraries. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed for m/v Hondius is 10.5 knots.
Birding: -
We will have at least one dedicated expedition guide in our team who will share their expert knowledge about bird species and who will be available to help you identify, photograph on deck and learn more about the birds that we see. In addition to outdoor sessions, our guide will focus on species and related information on the birds of the Arctic in re-caps and lectures onboard.
Day 1: On the Iceland road
Your journey begins in the morning, where by request you can transfer via chartered bus (T) from the city hall of Reykjavik (the meeting point) to the ship in Akureyri (the embarkation point). You arrive in the afternoon after a six-hour drive through northern Iceland.
PLEASE NOTE: This transfer (T) must be booked and paid for in advance. In the early evening, the ship departs from the port of Akureyri, sailing north toward the Denmark Strait.
Day 2: Sailing to east Greenland
While sailing north you’re likely to see fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, and common guillemots. You then cross the Arctic Circle, possibly spotting whales. By evening, the first icebergs flash into sight with your approach to the east Greenland coast, near Brewster.
Day 3: Inuit neighborhood of yesteryear
Today you reach Scoresbysund, sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. You may also enjoy a Zodiac cruise past one of the glacier fronts, along with a visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt. The afternoon goal is to visit Danmark Island, where you find the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular stone tent rings indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are well preserved, with easy identifiable entrances, bear-proof meat caches, and grave sites. In the evening you continue sailing the berg-crowded fjords to the west.
Day 4: Colors of the cape
The goal is a Zodiac cruise near Røde Ø, one of the world’s most cherished iceberg attractions: The austere blue-white of the icebergs sets sharp against the brooding red backdrop of the sediment slopes. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord, with the chance to see musk oxen and warm autumnal foliage.
Day 5: Enormous bergs, Arctic hares
In the morning you encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (328 feet) high and more than a kilometer (.62 mile) long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep (1,312 feet). You then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.
Day 6: Settlement at Scoresbysund
Today you make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresbysund at about five hundred inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. In the afternoon you sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.
Day 7: Remote shores
Turner Sound and Rømer Fjord grant you the opportunity to sail far inland, as they have no glacier front at the head and are not clogged with ice. In this location, you may get the opportunity to spot narwhals.
Day 8: Sea life under the northern lights
A sea day grants you the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds – and at night, the magical northern lights.
Day 9: Journey’s end at Akureyri
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Akureyri, where on request you can transfer by chartered bus (T) (a six-hour drive that you must book in advance) to the Reykjavik city hall, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Highlights you might experience
m/v Hondius
Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, optimized for the most innovative exploratory voyages throughout the Arctic and Antarctica. Full ship info »
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN
Hiking
FREE
Kayaking
on request
Photo Workshop
FREE
Birding
FREE
Cabins & Prices
Quadruple Porthole

- 2 portholes
- 2 upper & lower berths
- Small sofa
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
- This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Share your cabin with others for the best price
Triple Porthole

- 2 portholes
- 1 upper berth & 2 lower berths
- Small sofa
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
- This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Share your cabin with others for the best price
Twin Porthole

- 2 portholes
- 2 single beds
- Small sofa
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Share your cabin with others for the best price
Twin Window

- 1 window
- 2 single beds
- Small sofa
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
- Please be aware that the view from some windows might be partially obstructed due to the design requirements of the ship
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Share your cabin with others for the best price
Twin Deluxe

- 2 windows
- 2 single beds
- Sofa
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Bathrobe
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Share your cabin with others for the best price
Superior

- 2 windows
- 1 double bed
- Sofa
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Bathrobe
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Junior Suite

- 1 double window
- 1 double bed
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Bathrobe
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).
Grand Suite with private balcony

- 1 double window
- 1 double bed
- Sofa
- Private balcony
- Private shower & toilet
- Flatscreen TV
- Desk & chair
- Telephone and WiFi (supplemented)
- Refrigerator
- Coffee & tea maker
- Bathrobe
- Hair dryer
- Cabinet
- Wardrobe
Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).