Greenland - Kayak & Hike Scoresby Sund

We meet in Ísafjörður, in Iceland’s north-west. If flying in today, you will be transferred to the group hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure until a group dinner with your guides this evening. If you are in Ísafjörður prior to this day, make your way to the group hotel (if not already staying there), room check in is from 3pm. Ísafjörður has plenty to see and do, including the Westfjords Heritage Museum and the Museum of Everyday Life. There are great gift shops, including knitwear stores selling traditional Icelandic designs. For some action, there are scenic walks and mountain bike trails around the town. Day trips to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and Vigur Island, home to an incredible number of Arctic terns and coastal birds, including puffins, are possible from Ísafjörður. Meet your guides tonight for a welcome dinner.

Meals:  D

The morning is at your own leisure before the afternoon transfer to M/S Quest. On boarding, you’ll meet the captain and crew who will introduce you to life onboard and conduct a safety briefing. Your kayak guide will cover paddle safety and help with gear fitting. We depart Isafjörður and head out to the mouth of the fjord, called Ísafjarðardjúp which translates as ‘Depth of the fjord of sea ice’. *Please note that lunch is not included today.

Meals:  B,D

Sailing north through the Denmark Strait. We are almost certain to see Fulmar, Kittiwake, Gannet and rafts of Common Guillemot. We cross the Arctic Circle and continue north, perhaps seeing whales.

Meals:  B,L,D

Scoresby Sound stretches almost 300 kms from east to west. Numerous fjords radiate from the sound, the longest is 200 kms and extending to the edge of the inland ice cap. Scoresby Sound is one of the birthplaces of Greenland’s famous giant icebergs and among the most scenically spectacular landscapes in the world. Our aim is to experience as much time as possible outdoors, be it paddling, hiking or wildlife viewing (or all three!) Our experienced Arctic team will use their know-how to design a day to day itinerary that makes the best use of the weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Following are locations we’ll potentially visit. SYDKAP - A small promontory jutting out from Scoresby Land offering good walking and delightful views across the sound. There are great opportunities for kayaking past lonely beaches where 3000-year-old gravesites can be visited on shore. Nests of grounded giant bergs the size of 10 storey buildings with green tunnels and aquamarine lakes offer hours of endless enjoyment for kayakers and zodiac rides. ITTOQQORTOORMIIT - A colourful Inuit community of about 400 residents, the majority of whom still depend largely on hunting. Explore the village and meet parents pushing prams with cute round-faced babies peeping out from Arctic fox fur jackets or stop into the museum and gift shop to see remarkable local crafts. The town is situated close to the world’s largest national park and right next to the world’s largest and deepest multi-branched fjord system. Meeting the locals in this far flung settlement is a highlight for many. THE BEAR ISLANDS - The Bear Islands or Bjornøya, provide incredible opportunities to wind through the narrow passages and towering icebergs by kayak and zodiac and hike steep but accessible ridges up the islands. Step ashore to explore the coastline or hike to the hill tops to view the icecap in the distance. SEFSTROM GLACIER – ALPEFJORD A narrow waterway between peaks of up to 2200 metres, it is surrounded by serrated brown mountains with hanging glaciers clinging like limpets to stony gullies. The snout of the Sefstrom Glacier juts out and almost blocks Alpefjord, however, there’s access for kayaks and zodiacs and the opportunity to walk on the glacier. Clumps of Arctic flora in its late summer glory are visible as we cruise along the coast. RED FJORD - The contrast of red sandstone arches against white and blue icebergs makes Red Island a photographer’s paradise. We may be able to land on the islands for a tundra walk and an opportunity to see musk oxen grazing in the autumn sun. Some other possible landing places are Rypefjord, Øfjord, Fønfjord, Milne Land and Hekla Havn on Danmark Island.

Meals:  B,L,D

We will spend the whole day at sea recrossing the Denmark Strait.

Meals:  B,L,D

The expedition concludes in Ísafjörður this morning. You may choose to continue exploring Iceland by land or catch a flight to your next destination.

Meals:  B