Plancius Itinerary
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis, Including Long Hikes9 days / 8 nights
About Plancius
- Refurbished research vessel with three-star accommodation
- Comfortable polar expedition ship with an exploratory atmosphere
- Enjoy hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, camping, and photography
- Boat crew, hotel staff, expedition team, and a doctor on board
Plancius is a refurbished Royal Dutch Navy research vessel embarking on epic adventures in the polar regions. Having undergone extensive refurbishment, this impressive expedition ship now promises comfortable cruises in some of the harshest environments on the planet. But, while the interiors are certainly inviting, Ortelius’ itineraries aim to immerse guests in the surrounding wilderness, offering a variety of epic activities such as mountaineering, skiing, or scuba diving. What’s more, this vessel’s modest-size makes for a wonderfully intimate atmosphere on board, adding extra exclusivity to the experience.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 9 days / 8 nights
Number of dives TBC
Experience Advanced Open Water - Minimum 30 dives
Insurance Required
Highlights
- Circular route to East Greenland’s Scoresby Sund
- Visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt
- Chance to see musk oxen and autumnal foliage at Røde Fjord
- Land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning
- A tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet
- Enjoy an exhilarating long hikes into the wild Greenland
- Diving is an optional activity
Day 1: On the Iceland road
Your journey begins in the morning, where by request you can transfer via chartered bus (T) from bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, 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.
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 neighbourhood 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. In the afternoon, we plan to sail by the east coast of Milne Land among a multitude of giant icebergs. If we can also land at Charcot Havn, we will make a walk to the Charcot Glacier. We will then continue by Bjørneør and sail into Øfjord.
Day 4: Colours of the cape
The goal is a Zodiac cruise near Sorte Ø, surrounded by icebergs. Their austere blue-white contrasts sharply with the sediment slopes nearby. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord and into Harefjord, 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 metres (328 feet) high and more than a kilometre (.62 mile) long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 metres deep (1,312 feet). You then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.
Today’s long walk goes from Sydkap to Nordøstbugt (12 km, 7.5 miles to the northeast), where the river coming from Holger Danskes Briller flows into the sea. We plan to walk south along the shore to Satakajik, seeing whale vertebrae and the remains of Thule summer houses. Passengers who opt out of the long walking group will join us at this location for their second excursion of the day.
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 (T) by chartered bus (a six-hour drive that you must book in advance) to the bus stop Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre at Austurbakki, Reykjavík, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
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
04:00pm
Akureyri
Akureyri International Airport: AEY
Return
09:00am
Akureyri
Akureyri International Airport: AEY
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/plancius/itn-2311150232481-east-greenland-scoresby-sund-aurora-borealis-including-long-hikes