Sailing the Scoresby Sund

In two hours we will have leaped from Keflavik (Iceland) to Constable Point in eastern Greenland. This sailing cruise will take us to the biggest fjord in the world –Scoresby Sund- and its huge icebergs. Join the sturdy schooners Hildur or Opal for an amazing expedition and hiking excursions to explore the awesome nature of Greenland: the fjord extends 350 km inland and offers spectacular scenery, arctic wildlife and glacier fronts.

Greenland cruise Scoresby Sund map

As trip Highlights:

  • Visit Ittoqqortoormiit, which is probably the most isolated village in the Arctic.
  • The 2000 metres high sheer granite cliffs of Milne Land.
  • Scouting for musk oxen, snow hares, grouse, geese and other wildlife in Hereford.
  • Close look at some of the most amazing cliffs and a glacier fronts.
  • Navigation close to some of the largest and most fascinating icebergs in all Greenland

Day 1. Flight from Iceland to Constable point. Sailing to Ittoqqortoormiit

Flight from Keflavik (Iceland's international airport) to Constable Point in Greenland. Constable Point is a small airfield on the west side of Hurry Inlet in Jameson Land. We embark and get an introduction and a safety briefing by the crew and then sail towards the village of Ittoqqortoormiit. We spend the evening with locals in Ittoqqortoormiit, which is probably the most isolated village in the world. Ittoqqortoormiit was founded in the 1925 by people from Ammassalik. It is the northernmost settlement on the east coast of Greenland. The 450 inhabitants make their living mostly by subsistence hunting of seals, narwhals, muskoxen and polar bears. The quaint little houses dot the rocky slopes of south Liverpool Land with magnificent views of Kap Brewster and the Volquart Boons Coast to the south.

Greenland cruise, cabin in Scoresby Sund

Day 2. Sailing in Scoresby Sund - Hekla Havn

Sail west between whole palaces of icebergs that gently drift under the influence of the currents in the Arctic waters in the mighty fjord of Scoresby Sund, after calving from the parent glaciers originating in the Inland Ice. Anchor at Hekla Havn, the site of an old Inuit settlement and wintering camp of the first scientific expedition to Scoresby Sund over a hundred years ago. A short evening walk exploring Hekla Havn and the surrounding area.

Greenland cruise, boat

Day 3. Sailing - Føhnfjord/ Rødefjord/ Harefjord
Sail west through the narrow Føhnfjord with the majestic basalt mountains of Gåseland on the port side and 2000 metres high sheer granite cliffs of Milne Land on the Starboard side. After being up close to the peculiar looking Red Island and even landfall at the red sandstone shore the tour continues to the north through Rødefjord which is often filled with both larger icebergs and ice crust from icebergs that are breaking up. We will arrive in Harefjord in the late afternoon where anchors are set for two nights.

Greenland cruise, Scoresby Sund iceberg

Day 4. Hiking around Harefjord

The whole day is spent ashore in Hereford scouting for musk oxen, snow hares, grouse, geese and other wildlife, which normally graze on the south facing slopes. Between 6 and 7 hours of easy to moderate hiking with a lunch break at the top of a ridge with a breath taking view over Harefjord where the glacier tongues descend into the sea. Those who prefer less exercise can stroll at the coast or stay on board enjoying the view. In the evening the crew will make a bonfire and prepare BBQ at the rocky beach.

Greenland cruise, Scoresby Sund, boat deck

Day 5. Sailing - Øfjord/Jyttes Havn

The sailing continues eastwards through the awesome Øfjord. This is one of the most spectacular parts of the trip. Terrific mountain peaks and granite walls tower 200 meters up from the sea just like if the Cerro Torre (one of the majestic mountains of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in South America) and Fitzroy river (in Queensland, Australia) has been moved to the Arctic: a true feast for the eyes. Usually the sea breeze in the Øfjord during the middle of the day allows sails to be set. Close look at some of the most amazing cliffs and a glacier fronts. This day ends by setting anchors in Jyttes Havn Bjørneøe in the late afternoon.

Greenland cruise, close to a glacier tongue in Scoresby Sund

Day 6. Hiking around Jytteshavn

The day is spent hiking in and around Jytteshavn in Bear Islands as this is possibly one of the nicest and most picturesque anchorages in Scoresby Sound. There are two options of a longer or shorter hike in the Bear Islands, or on the northernmost tip of Milne Land, a short zodiac ride away. Jytte Saavn is the place to try your skills at sea swimming at 71°N and temperatures can be as surprising as 13°C in the summertime. In the evening we offer a nice meal on board and then a cosy bonfire on the beach with story telling or singing.

Greenland cruise, polar bear at Scoresby Sund

Day 7. Sailing - Back to Constable point

We sail through the channel between the Bear Islands and Milne land with a breathtaking view of the spectacular archipelago. As we sail into the last evening and night of the trip, it is likely that we will see some of the largest and most fascinating icebergs of the journey and have a fantastic opportunity to photograph these frozen giants. When we wake up the next morning we will have anchored at the airstrip in Constable Point.

Greenland Cruise, icebergs of the Scoresby Sund fjord

Day 8. Flight from Constable Point to Iceland
The last morning we will enjoy a good breakfast together, write in the diary on board and share contact information with each other. Then we will disembark the schooner for the last time and board the aircraft in Constable Point and fly back to Keflavik.

Send a enquiry to check available dates in 2020 for this trip.

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No special physical condition is necessary, not more than being able to walk at a normal pace for some hours and have a good attitude for adventure.

Disclaimer: All adventure trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Greenland Net does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherit risk.


 

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Our commitments

Environmental sustainability. We believe in a responsible tourism with unspoilt nature of Greenland,
so all our trips are planned to have the least possible impact on the environment.

Safety. All our guides are expert about Greenland and know when either it is or it is not convinient to carry out an activity.
Our safety records are unmatchable.

Local population. Our Inuit Climate Change Patrol   ensures the maintanance of Inuit traditions by involving local people
in utilization of a sustainable tourism. 

Inuit Windsled 

To collaborate in the deepest knowledge of the most unfamiliar places on the planet and do so without affecting ecosystems. This is the philosophy that marks the Inuit Windsled Project, the only totally ecological vehicle designed for research in Polar lands.

Based on the ancient knowledge of the Inuit peoples, the Windsled developers have managed to create a means of transportation that combines tradition with modern means through kites that harness aeolian energy.

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Inuit Climate Change Patrol;

In Thule today sled dogs are still used and the inhabitants go in search of their livelihood in cloth-lined kayaks, but we are witnessing the last generation of true Inuit hunters. Most of these people are between 45 and 60 years old and the next generation aren’t continuing in these traditions… Are we witnessing  the last dynasty of the Kings of Thule?  

This fear is the germ of the Inuit Climate Change Patrol, current project led by Ramon Larramendi (founder of Greenland.net)

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