Complete East Greenland

This 12 day expedition journey links the culturally shaped fjords of the Ammassalik region with several days in Northeast Greenland National Park and the remote Blosseville Coast. From Reykjavik, the route crosses the Denmark Strait into an area known for steep mountains, large glacier fronts and drifting icebergs. Landings and Zodiac cruises alternate with time at sea, when the expedition team provides expert context on the nature and history of East Greenland. Along the way you gain insight into the lives of the Tunumiit in Tasiilaq and meet people in Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the country’s most isolated communities. In the national park, the expedition character comes especially to the fore. The route within the protected area is intentionally flexible, and destinations and their order are chosen according to weather, wind and ice, with a focus on distinctive landforms, geological contrasts and, with good chances, Arctic wildlife as well.

Complete East Greenland: The Itinerary

Day 1, Embarkation in Reykjavik
The tour services begin with dinner. In Reykjavik you will board the ship and receive the safety briefings for the expedition before the route sets course for the east coast of Greenland.

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Day 2: At Sea Across the Denmark Strait
While crossing the Denmark Strait, expert talks and the shared search for wildlife accompany you in a marine area with high productivity. Over the course of the day, the team provides background knowledge on ecology, geology and Arctic wildlife, and prepares you for the procedures during Zodiac cruises, as well as for the safety rules in the polar bear area.

Day 3, Kuummiut and Ikateq
In the morning, Kuummiut in the Ammassalik Fjord takes center stage, a place with no road connection, where the sea forms the link to the outside world. Between fishing, sled dogs, and boats, a quiet glimpse into everyday life in East Greenland emerges, often accompanied by drifting icebergs in the sheltered waters. In the afternoon, Ikateq follows, a fjord with traces of the Second World War, the former US Air Force base Bluie 2 East has been preserved as a relic and becomes an unusual historical contrast within the surrounding landscape.

Day 4: Tasiilaq on Ammassalik Island
As the largest settlement in East Greenland, Tasiilaq preserves the culture of the Tunumiit and its distinctive history since its founding as a trading station in 1894. Depending on local possibilities, impressions range from handicrafts and workshops to hikes through tundra meadows, and encounters with sled dogs are also possible with the owners’ consent. Traditional forms of expression such as drum dancing can complement the visit, without any individual program points being guaranteed.

Day 5, At Sea Toward Ittoqqortoormiit
Along a remote coastline, cold currents from the Arctic Ocean and the fringes of the Gulf Stream shape the conditions and support a rich food chain. With binoculars and an alert eye, seabirds and other marine life can often be observed, while lectures on board place the region in context, in terms of nature and history.

Day 6: Ittoqqortoormiit
Ittoqqortoormiit is considered one of the most remote communities on Earth and is the only settlement in this region. The town was founded in 1925, and to this day a subsistence oriented way of life plays an important role. During a landing, you can get to know the museum, the church and community life, and you often meet people in traditional clothing. At the same time, the visit marks the transition from an inhabited coast to the vast expanses of Northeast Greenland National Park.

Days 7 to 9: Northeast Greenland National Park
After passing Liverpool Land, Northeast Greenland National Park opens up, the largest protected land area in the world at almost one million square kilometers. In this uninhabited, Arctic shaped landscape, planning remains deliberately flexible and is decided daily according to weather, wind, sea and ice, with announcements the evening before. Possible destinations include, among others, the steep cliffs of Ella Island near Bastionen, Maria Island with a historical connection to the Second World War, and Blomsterbugten on Ymer Island with views of the Devil's Castle mountain and its distinctive rock layers. Depending on conditions, the calving Waltershausen Glacier, the Moskusokse Fjord, or wildlife viewing areas on Jameson Land may also be considered. Along the way, the expedition team deepens understanding of nature and history with talks and context on shore, while the surroundings are continuously scanned for Arctic wildlife.

Day 10: Blosseville Coast
Southward follows the Blosseville Coast, a rugged region whose shapes were strongly influenced by volcanic activity around 50 million years ago. Historically, the coastal sections were traveled by both Inuit and researchers such as Ejnar Mikkelsen. If conditions allow, a landing in this now uninhabited landscape is possible.

Day 11: Return Journey by Sea to Reykjavik
On the return journey, there is time to process the impressions of the past days. The expedition team concludes its lecture series, and a shared review on board rounds off the trip in a calm setting.

Day 12: Disembarkation in Reykjavik
After breakfast, the travel services end. In Reykjavik, you leave the ship and begin your individual onward journey.

Special features:
In East Greenland and especially in Northeast Greenland National Park, the itinerary is explicitly dependent on weather and ice and is set situationally by the captain and expedition leader, usually with an announcement the evening before. Landings and Zodiac cruises take place according to local conditions and safety requirements, including briefings on how Zodiac operations are conducted and rules for safety in regions where polar bears may occur. Encounters with sled dogs are only possible with the owners’ consent.
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