Spitsbergen – Northeast Greenland, Sail & Fly

Experience an Arctic expedition aboard a traditional three-masted sailing ship with modern comforts, linking Spitsbergen with Northeast Greenland. Vast fjord landscapes, glaciers, sea ice, tundra, and Arctic wildlife are at the heart of the journey. With a bit of luck, you may spot seals, whales, seabirds, Arctic hares, musk oxen, and even polar bears in their natural habitat.

The itinerary: Spitsbergen – Northeast Greenland, Sail & Fly

Day 1: The Largest Town on the Largest Island
You arrive at Longyearbyen Airport, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, on the largest island of the Svalbard Archipelago. If you use a flight indicated by the operator to Longyearbyen, transfers and baggage handling between the airport and the ship are included. At the start of your journey, you explore this former mining town on a walk, including sights such as the local church and the Svalbard Museum. More than a hundred plant species grow in the surrounding barren landscape. In the afternoon, embarkation takes place. Your first cruise leads into Isfjord, where you may already spot your first minke whale. In the evening, the ship continues to Trygghamna, where the next morning you visit the remains of a 17th-century English whaling station and an 18th-century Pomor hunting station.

Day 2: Foxes, Seabirds, and Grazing Reindeer
From Trygghamna, you hike to Alkhornet, an impressive cliff that serves as a breeding site for numerous seabirds. While exploring the cliffs, you may observe Arctic foxes moving skillfully among the rocks. If there is little snow, you may also see reindeer grazing peacefully on the Arctic vegetation. The combination of fresh air, spectacular views over the water, and rich wildlife makes this day unforgettable.

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Day 3: Fuglefjorden to Raudfjorden
You sail into Fuglefjorden, surrounded by the imposing glaciers Svitjodbreen and Birgerbukta, breeding grounds for skuas. With some luck, you may also spot polar bears along the shore. You then continue to Raudfjorden on the north coast of Spitsbergen. This region is ideal for observing ringed seals, bearded seals, and occasionally beluga whales. The rugged beauty of the landscape offers many opportunities to photograph wildlife and glacier scenery.

Day 4–7: Voyage to East Greenland
Over the coming days, you head for the coast of East Greenland, keeping an eye on the jagged edges of the sea ice. Watch for migrating seabirds and various whale species. This stage of the journey offers time to enjoy the majestic vastness of the Arctic seas and the calm of the open ocean.

Day 8: Remains of the Trappers
In Foster Bay, you land at Myggbukta in the late afternoon. Near the old hunters’ hut, where Norwegian trappers hunted polar bears and Arctic foxes in the early 20th century, lies a wide tundra inhabited by musk oxen. Small lakes offer opportunities to observe Arctic flora and birdlife.

Day 9: Bright Icebergs and Towering Mountains
Gliding through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, you enjoy views of high mountains and luminous icebergs. In the evening, you reach the striking Devil’s Castle, part of the Eleonora Bay Supergroup. This ancient sedimentary rock formation, created 950 to 610 million years ago, shapes the remarkable landscape of the coming days and is a highlight for photography and scenic observation.

Day 10: The Heart of the Arctic
Landing in Blomsterbugten gives you the chance to observe Arctic hares and musk oxen. Noah Lake is home to great northern divers and their chicks. In the afternoon, you travel deeper into Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord and find shelter in Renbugten, while colossal icebergs and classic Arctic scenery accompany your passage.

Day 11: Into the Antarctic Sound
You land in Renbugten to again look for musk oxen and Arctic hares. Around midday, you continue east into Antarctic Sound. Before darkness falls, you reach Maria Island and explore the remains of an old Inuit settlement.

Day 12: Meeting Menander
You sail into Kong Oscars Fjord and attempt a landing near Menander Øer. This area is ideal for extended hikes and offers many opportunities to observe Arctic flora and fauna.

Day 13: Colors of the Arctic Autumn
In Antarctic Havn, you spend the afternoon in a broad valley, where you observe musk oxen in their autumn surroundings. The sparse vegetation glows in golden colors, while your guide provides insights into the geopolitical events of the early 1930s between Norway and Denmark.

Day 14: Sailing to Scoresby Sund
You spend a day at sea heading for the largest fjord system in the world: Scoresby Sund. The voyage through this impressive landscape with its majestic glaciers offers time to fully enjoy the beauty of nature.

Day 15: Former Inuit Neighborhood
At Scoresby Sund, you sail along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst and enjoy a Zodiac cruise past glacier fronts. You visit the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt before exploring Danmark Island. Here, you find the remains of an approximately 200-year-old Inuit settlement, with well-preserved stone circles of summer and winter houses and meat caches.

Day 16: Giant Icebergs near Sydkap
Near Sydkap, you observe Arctic hares and enjoy views of the entrance to Nordvestfjord. Colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters high and more than a kilometer long, accompany your passage. Most are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep.

Day 17: The Tundra of Jameson Land
Along the west coast of Jameson Land stretches a vast tundra where musk oxen graze. You may attempt a landing at one of the sites such as Tyskit Nunat and reflect on Alfred Wegener’s explorations. If conditions allow, you may also visit Cape Hooker or a scenic lagoon west of Cape Stewart.

Day 18: Settlement in Scoresby Sund
Today, you visit Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresby Sund with around 500 inhabitants. Here you can send postcards, stroll through the village, and admire the sled dogs as well as the dried skins of seals and musk oxen.

Day 19: Hikes in Hurry Inlet
In the morning, you stop on the southern coast of Jameson Land at a lagoon near Cape Stewart. Here, waders and geese gather for their autumn migration, while musk oxen and lemmings live off the sparse vegetation. In the inner Hurry Inlet, you take walks at the head of the fjord and along one of the rivers. If you wish, you can climb J.P. Koch Fjeld near Hareelv. In this remarkable area, fossils have been discovered linking fish and amphibians from the Lower Cretaceous.

Day 20: Final Stop at Constable Pynt
In the morning, you disembark at Constable Pynt and then fly by charter aircraft to Keflavik in Iceland. Your expedition ends there, but the experiences and memories of the untouched Arctic will stay with you for a lifetime. This is also a good opportunity to extend your stay, for example with a short self-drive through Iceland or extra time to explore Reykjavik.

Included in Spitsbergen – Northeast Greenland, Sail & Fly

- Voyage and overnight stays on board the booked vessel according to the published itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage on board, including snacks, coffee, and tea
- All shore landings and activities throughout the voyage, including Zodiac excursions
- Expert lectures and guidance by an international expedition team on board and ashore
- Free use of snowshoes
- Transfers and baggage handling between airport, hotels, and ship only for passengers using a selection of indicated flights to Longyearbyen
- All other taxes and port charges related to the ship program
- AECO fees and governmental taxes
- Comprehensive travel documents (boarding pass, travel information)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi. All guests receive 1.5 GB of data per day, renewed every 24 hours
- Complimentary Dopper water bottle for use during and after your expedition
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