In the coming days, a host of choices are available, depending on ice and weather conditions. The east coast of Greenland is yours to explore. The members of the experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, use their expertise to tailor your voyage to suit the day-to-day conditions. This allows for the best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and opportunities for wildlife encounters. The team generally attempts up to two landings or zodiac excursions per day, including cruising along spectacular ice cliffs and following whales feeding near the surface.
Be prepared to experience ice—and lots of it! East Greenland contains some of the Arctic’s most impressive scenery. Deep fjords and narrow channels, flanked by sharp ice-clad peaks soaring up to 2,000 meters (6,562 feet), and glaciers birthing gigantic icebergs that drift throughout the fjord system, combine to create breathtaking scenes. The tundra landscape is home to musk oxen, arctic hare, and reindeer. Throughout the area are ancient Thule archaeological sites, historical trappers’ huts, and the cabins of present-day Inuit hunters. A highlight is a visit to the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the most isolated and northernmost permanent settlement in the region and home to approximately 450 inhabitants. The community has an excellent museum, a gift shop, an abundance of Greenlandic sled dogs, and the opportunity to meet the friendly locals.
Explore Scoresbysund, the largest fjord system in the world and a favorite place for Inuit hunters. Massive glaciers flow into this fjord, the birthplace of hundreds of majestic Greenland icebergs. It is a spectacular place that simply needs to be seen to be believed. North of Scoresbysund lie the Kong Oskar and Kaiser Franz Josef fjords, two of the most significant fjord systems in Greenland, each encompassing several smaller fjords and sounds. Thanks to the fertile volcanic soil and the surrounding mountains, which offer protection from strong winds, the area is rich in wildlife. You might spot anything from musk ox and arctic foxes to mountain hares and even reindeer near the fjord. Look skyward and you could catch a glimpse of birds, including the glaucous gull, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, common raven, and common eider.
Try to get into the Northeast Greenland National Park's Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, which is a remote and rarely visited fjord system with many places to explore. As you sail through Kong Oskar Fjord, look at how beautiful the mountains are from a geological point of view. Then, depending on the ice conditions, head south along the coast of Liverpool Land.
On hikes across the tundra, you can stretch your legs and look for old graveyards and summer villages that the Inuit lived in 3,000 years ago. You may see musk ox, arctic hare, and reindeer grazing. The maze of calm, interconnecting waterways in this area provides excellent opportunities for sea kayaking. See ring seals, perhaps catch a glimpse of the elusive narwhal, and maybe even a polar bear hunting on pack ice.
