Plancius Itinerary

Northeast Greenland Solar Eclipse Explorer Voyage

You touch down in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. 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 in it. In the early evening the ship sails out of Isfjorden, where we might spot the first minke whale of your voyage.

In 1823 the Irish scientist, soldier, and explorer Edward Sabine had an observatory on Indre Norskøya in northwestern Svalbard. Using a pendulum to study gravity, he suggested a project to measure the meridians (lines of longitude through the poles) on Spitsbergen, the goal of which was to define the curvature of the Earth. We will try to get to Sabinehaugen, where he did his observations. Sailing next into Raudfjorden, on the north coast of Spitsbergen, we’ll see an expansive fjord spilling with glaciers—and maybe even visited by ringed seals, bearded seals, and polar bears. The cliffs and shoreline of this fjord also support thriving seabird colonies.

We may eventually see the jagged edge of East Greenland sea ice flashing into sight ahead, depending on the conditions. Keep watch for whales and migrating seabirds here.

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 hunted for polar bears and Arctic foxes in the first half of the 20th century), there is a sprawling tundra populated by musk oxen, with geese floating in the small lakes. From here we’ll sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs.

For those who choose to attend, we will have our first long hike (6-7 hours) today. We’ll start at Myggbukta station and head into Badlanddal, then turn south to Fangsthytte near Cape Bennet. A Zodiac will sail ahead of the walking party and parallel to the coast to watch out for bears. We will then sail through Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs.

We arrive at Teufelschloss (Devil’s Castle), a mountain with layered geology. On the other side of the fjord is Blomsterbugt, the intended landing site. In the afternoon, we head into Antarctic Sound to find the islands of Ruth, Maria, and Ella. Maria is the most likely spot for a landing.

In the morning, we enter Segelsällskapets Fjord, with the streaked slopes of the Berzelius Mountains bordering the north side. We land on the south shore, where ancient sedimentary formations lie right at our feet. A hike takes you near a small lake with good chances to see musk oxen, Arctic hares, and ptarmigans. In the afternoon, the ship ventures into Alpefjord, aptly named for the spire-like peaks that thrust up around it. We may then embark on a Zodiac cruise around Gully Glacier, which once blocked access to the interior of these waters. Continuing deep into the fjord, we’ll experience a definitive Greenland adventure.

The first half of the day we will spend in Antarctic Haven, an extensive valley where you can spot groups of musk oxen. At this time of year, the sparse vegetation is wearing the fiery colors of autumn.

Today we reached Scoresby Sund, sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. We 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 along 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 Charcot Glacier before continuing to Bjørneøer.

We will have a Zodiac cruise near Sorte Ø in the morning, surrounded by icebergs. Their austere blue-white color contrasts sharply with the sediment slopes nearby. At midday we will position the ship in the center of the moon shadow in Øfjord. In the afternoon, we watch the solar eclipse either from the ship or one of the nearby shores.

In the morning, we will encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 meters (330 feet) high and more than a kilometer (0.6 miles) long. We’ll then land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and Arctic hares. Today's long hike goes from Sydkap to Satakajik, showing us the remains of Thule winter houses built with whale vertebrae. In the evening, we sail into Øfjord.

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 four 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.

A sea day grants us the opportunity to spot whales and seabirds.

Even the greatest adventures eventually come to an end. We disembark in Akureyri, where, on request, you can transfer by chartered bus (a six-hour drive that must be booked in advance) to the bus stop at Harpa Concert Hall at Austurbakki, Reykjavík. 

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics, and local regulations.