Balto Itinerary
Tasiilaq to Scoresby Sound13 days / 12 nights
About Balto
- Sophisticated luxury onboard an intimate polar expedition ship
- Voyages to remote and unspoiled regions with just 12 guests
- Six-person cedar-lined sauna and cold shower on board
- Cosy social spaces furnished with a card table and stove
Blending serious adventure with sophisticated luxury, Balto is truly one-of-a-kind when it comes to small polar expedition ships. This stylish, sturdy vessel boasts a high ice-class rating and is well-geared towards demanding projects including professional photography and videography operations. And, discerning travellers will be pleased to know that Balto’s capabilities don’t come at the detriment of standards of comfort. In fact, despite the remote nature of these voyages, guests aboard this vessel are treated to some truly first-class creature comforts – including elegant interior design, cosy stove-warmed communal areas, and an inviting cedar-lined sauna.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 13 days / 12 nights
Number of dives 0
Experience No experience required
Insurance Not Required
Highlights
- One-way trip exploring Greenland’s Scoresby Sound
- Visit the town of Tasiilaq
- Explore the impressive Sermilik fjord system
- Venture into Scoresby Sound – the world’s largest fjord system
- Enjoy breathtaking nature, icebergs in all shapes and polar bears
- Explore some abandoned Inuit winter houses of Tuttilik fjord
Day 1: Reykjavik
We arrive individually to Reykjavik and check into our hotel (included in the flight and hotel package described below).
Day 2: Embarkation day
We fly from Reykjavik into Kulusuk airport. In the afternoon we board M/S Balto and begin our great exploration. On an expedition of this kind the exact route will be decided by weather and ice.
Days 3-11: Expedition cruising
We visit the town of Tasiilaq. With its 2000 inhabitants it is the largest settlement in East Greenland. It is home to an older and different Inuit culture, where shamanism and native culture is much more vibrant and alive than in other parts of Greenland. During our expedition here, we will learn more of local myths and legends, such as the one about tupilaqs. In Greenlandic Inuit religion, a tupilaq was an avenging monster fabricated by a practitioner of witchcraft or shamanism by using various objects such as animal bone, skin, hair or sinew. If lucky we get to witness some ritual or singing.
We continue to explore the impressive Sermilik fjord system. We navigate amongst a myriad of icebergs of all shapes and sizes, in a never-ending spectrum of blue. These fjords are awe-inspiring and could be explored for days. We make several remote anchorages, visit a hunting village and are constantly on the lookout for whales, which are sometimes seen in the fjords.
As we sail north we get to experience the eastern wild, beautiful and unchartered coastline.
The strong currents are carrying a parade of icebergs south. Glacier faces go straight into the ocean and there are many unexplored fjords. The following are just examples of places we might stop at along our way:
In the ice choked Tuttilik fjord, meaning the place where the reindeer live, we hope to go ashore and explore some abandoned Inuit winter houses.
As we continue north, we enter some of the wildest coastal landscapes in Greenland. In favourable conditions we enter Kangerlussuaq fjord and Watkins fjord with beautiful hiking possibilities.
A little bit further up the coast is Nansen fjord, which lies directly south from the impressive Gunnbjørn fjeld, Greenland’s (and the Arctic’s) highest mountain, measuring 3694 metres. We have now entered the area where we are most likely to see polar bears and we intensify our scouting! Polar bear sightings are rare and not an everyday thing in Greenland, but if you wish to see one, the leg from here to Scoresby Sound offers the best chances.
We pass Kap Vedel en route to the Barclay Bugt area and are thus officially sailing along the Blosseville Coast. This is arguably one of the most perilous coastlines in the Arctic in terms of ice, current and tide. This stretch of coast was discovered by Jules de Blosseville in 1833 aboard La Lilloise. Høst Havn provides good anchorage and hiking opportunities. We continue and explore the area of Rømer fjord, Deichmann fjord and Steward Ø. On rare occasions narwhals have been spotted here.
On our final day we aim to venture into Scoresby Sound. Here we are surrounded by breath-taking nature, icebergs in all shapes and the fascinating and uniquely flowing basalt columns.
Day 12: Disembarkation
In the morning we disembark in Constable Point and fly to Reykjavik and check in to our hotel (included in the flight and hotel package described below).
Day 13: Homeward bound
Fly back home from Reykjavik.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Transfer details
Departure
12:00pm
Kulusuk
Kulusuk Airport: KUS
Return
10:00am
Reykjavik
Reykjavik Airport: RKV
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/balto/itn-2311270435371-tasiilaq-to-scoresby-sound