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Plancius

Plancius Itinerary

South Greenland Explorer - Aurora Borealis

10 days / 9 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.

Learn more about Plancius

Itinerary details

Length of trip 10 days / 9 nights
Number of dives 0
Experience No experience required
Insurance Not Required

Highlights

  • One-way route along the southeast of Greenland
  • A hot natural spring encircled by icebergs can be found at Uunartoq 
  • Passing of Prins Christian Sund is surrounded by mountains of over 1,000 meters 
  • Land at Tingmiarmit, seeing an abandoned Greenlandic settlement and Thule houses 
Day 1: Erik the Red’s Base
We arrive by plane at Narsarsuaq and board the ship, preparing to start our Greenland adventure. In the evening we visit Bratthalid, where Erik the Red lived about a thousand years ago.

Day 2: Uunartoq hot spring
Today we reach Lichtenau, a lovely though nearly deserted Greenlandic village, where the Herrnhuters had a mission in the 18th century and where some of their large German-style buildings still remain. We will then try to get to Uunartoq, where we can bathe in a large hot spring surrounded by icebergs. Across at Vagar, we find the remains of a Norse homestead.

Day 3: Prins Christian Sund mountains
Our eastward passing of Prins Christian Sund is surrounded by mountains of over 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) and is one of the highlights of the voyage. We will try to make a landing at the small village of Augpilaqtoq, where we can still meet some hunters of the area. As an alternative, we may make a landing at Svaerdfiskens Havn.

Day 4: Fjords and glacier fronts
Sailing northward in the East Greenland Current, we aim for Igutsait Fjord or Napassorsuaq Fjord. Both feature glacier fronts and small icebergs, where an isolated population of polar bears was once found hunting seals.

Day 5: Abandoned settlements
Today we land at Tingmiarmit, seeing an abandoned Greenlandic settlement and remains of Thule houses at the north side of the island. Deep into the Tingmiarmiut Fjord, we are again in the area where polar bears hunt seals among the drifting glacier ice.

Day 6: The valley of Mariedal
Next we visit Skjoldungen, one of the most spectacular fjords of southeast Greenland. Our aim is to land at Qornoq, where we’ll see houses from the Thule culture, then visit Mariedal and a beautiful valley where Greenlanders used to collect berries in autumn.

Day 7: In the steps of Nansen
We sail to today’s landing at Umivik, where the explorer Fridtjof Nansen ascended the Greenland ice sheet. Here you may even be able to walk a short distance in his steps.

Days 8-9: Denmark Strait’s wildlife and auroras
As we sail in the Denmark Strait on our way to Iceland, the going can be rough. But be sure to spend some time on deck looking for migrating whales, seabirds, and the magical lightshow of the aurora borealis.

Day 10: Farewell Greenland, hello Iceland
We return from our adventure with memories that will last a lifetime, arriving at the Icelandic port town of Keflavik.

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

Narsarsuaq

Narsarsuaq Airport: UAK

Return

09:00am

Keflavik

Keflavik Airport: KEF

Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/plancius/itn-2412180111101-south-greenland-explorer-aurora-borealis