Plancius Itinerary
East and South Greenland Explorer21 days / 20 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 21 days / 20 nights
Number of dives 0
Experience No experience required
Insurance Not Required
Highlights
- Circular route around East and South Greenland
- Visit the town of Tasiilaq
- See various birdlife, including fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, and common guillemots
- Enter several fjords competing in beauty: d'Aunay, Nansen, Kangerlussuaq, and Ikersuaq or Kangertitsivaqmiit
- A hot natural spring encircled by icebergs can be found at Uunartoq
- Passing the Prins Christian Sund, surrounded by mountains of over 1,000 meters
Day 1: Largest town, biggest island
The adventure begins in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen. Enjoy strolling around this former mining town, whose parish church and Svalbard Museum make for fascinating attractions. Though the countryside appears stark, more than a hundred species of plant have been recorded here. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where we might spot the first minke whale of the voyage.
Days 2-3: Onward to East Greenland
We may eventually see the jagged edge of the East Greenland sea ice flashing into sight, depending on the conditions. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds.
Day 4: Tundra, mountains, and icebergs
As we approach Greenland, we may sail through the sea ice into Foster Bay and land at Myggebugten. Beyond the old hunters’ hut where Norwegian trappers once hunted for polar bear and Arctic fox, there is a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen as well as geese floating on the small lakes. From here we sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.
Day 5: The islands of Antarctic Sound
We arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt and the intended landing site. In the afternoon we head into Antarctic Sound, where we find the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most likely spot for a landing.
Day 6: Sights of the Arctic autumn
The first half of the day we spend in Antarctic Havn, an extensive valley where you can spot groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is dressed in the fiery colors of autumn.
Day 7: Arriving at Earth’s largest fjord
Today we reach Scoresby Sund, 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. We continue along the east coast of Milne deeper into the fjord.
Day 8: Enormous bergs, Arctic hares
In the morning we encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (328 feet) high and more than a kilometer long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 meters deep (1,312 feet). We then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares. Later we will land at Satakajik and see the remains of Thule dwellings.
Day 9: Settlement at Scoresby Sund
Today we make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresby Sund, with about three 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 we sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.
Day 10: Thule huts and hiking spots
Our next stop is Stewart Island, an important hunting area for the people of Scoresby Sund. There are beautiful remains of Thule houses to be seen here. Rømer Fjord and Turner Sound, meanwhile, give us the opportunity to sail far inland, as they have no glacier front at their head and are not clogged with ice. This also provides us good hiking opportunities.
Days 11-13: All the pretty fjords
Sailing south along the East Greenland coast, we enter several fjords competing in beauty: d’Aunay, Nansen, and possibly either Ikersuaq or Kangertitsivaqmiit. Most of these fjords have glacier fronts at the head, but any of them can offer us a chance to see polar bears.
Day 14: Smalltown Greenland
Tasiilaq, once known as Angmagssalik (about 2,000 inhabitants), is our next port of call. This charming town is the center of East Greenland, boasting a museum where you can learn about the colorful local history of this incredibly remote area.
Day 15: In the steps of Nansen
We next sail south to land 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.
Day 16: The valley of Mariedal
Today we circumnavigate Skjoldungen through one of the most spectacular fjords of southeast Greenland, then land at Qornoq to see houses from the Thule culture. We will then visit Mariedal and a beautiful valley where Greenlanders used to collect berries in autumn.
Day 17: Abandoned Greenland settlement
Moving on to Timmiarmiut, we see an abandoned Greenlandic settlement and will possibly sail into the fjord. Polar bears have sometimes been spotted here in the past. As an alternative, we may visit Igutsait to the south.
Day 18: Prins Christian Sund mountains
Our westward passing of the 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 may make a landing at Svaerdfiskens Havn or in the evening at Ikigait, once known as Herjolfsnes, a former Norse settlement.
Day 19: 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 20: Erik the Red’s base
In Eriksfjord we land at Ittileq, in a bay from which we can walk 4 km (2.5 miles) down a road to Igaliku (Gardar). In this small Greenlandic village, we can see the remains of a 13th-century Norse church, along with other ruins. Then in the afternoon, we plan to visit Bratthalid, the base of Erik the Red. This is a sub-Arctic area with birch trees, agriculture, and cattle. Later that evening, we arrive at Narssarsuaq for the final night of our voyage.
Day 21: Saying goodbye to Greenland
From the WW2-era airport of Narssarsuaq, we fly back to Copenhagen. Though our adventure has come to an end, we take home memories that will accompany us wherever the 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.
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
Longyearbyen
Svalbard Airport: LYR
Return
09:00am
Narsarsuaq
Narsarsuaq Airport: UAK
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/plancius/itn-2504180616301-east-and-south-greenland-explorer