Ultimate East and South Greenland Discovery

Explore the remote fjords and shorelines of East Greenland, seeing remains from Thule, Norse, and Viking cultures in addition to Arctic wildlife, and dazzling glaciers. We may see polar bears in aurora-lit southeast Greenland

This is a combination cruise consisting of a few smaller cruises. Learn more

Title

Ultimate East and South Greenland Discovery

Start – End

Tripcode

PLA11C25

Language

German language assistance, English speaking voyage, Bilingual voyage, English - German

Embarkation / Disembarkation

Longyearbyen - Keflavik

Nights / Days

29 nights

Group request For reservations with more than 15 guests you can contact us directly
Trips included in the combination
Cabin/berths choice is subject to availability. We can’t guarantee the exact same cabin placement on each cruise.

East and South Greenland Explorer, Incl. flight from Narsarsuaq to Copenhagen

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Explore the remote fjords and shorelines of East Greenland, seeing remains from Thule, Norse, and Viking cultures in addition to Arctic wildlife

East Greenland is among the most remote and least populated areas of the Arctic, a wild place of dramatic fjords, small Inuit settlements, and ancient remains from Viking and Thule cultures. Sail and explore the coastlines of this ruggedly beautiful region, enjoying its impressive rock formations and colossal icebergs while keeping an eye open for Arctic wildlife.

Dates: 13 Aug - 2 Sep, 2025
Ship: m/v Plancius
Embarkation: Longyearbyen
Disembarkation: Narsarsuaq
Duration: 20 nights

South Greenland Explorer, Aurora Borealis, Incl. flight from Copenhagen to Narsarsuaq

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Experience history, dazzling glaciers, and search for polar bears in aurora-lit southeast Greenland

Southeast Greenland offers many historic sites relating to ancient Thule, Norse, and Moravian culture while also allowing us to walk in the footsteps of famed polar explorers like Fridtjof Nansen. Glaciers, icebergs, and fjords make for a dazzling environment where we may see polar bears, and the crossing to Iceland will give us a great opportunity to observe migrating whales and seabirds.

Dates: 2 Sep - 11 Sep, 2025
Ship: m/v Plancius
Embarkation: Narsarsuaq
Disembarkation: Keflavik
Duration: 9 nights
Itinerary
PLEASE NOTE:

All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with AECO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed of our vessel is 10.5 knots.

Short description

East Greenland is among the most remote and least populated areas of the Arctic, a wild place of dramatic fjords, small Inuit settlements, and ancient remains from Viking and Thule cultures. Sail and explore the coastlines of this ruggedly beautiful region, enjoying its impressive rock formations and colossal icebergs while keeping an eye open for Arctic wildlife. Glaciers, icebergs, and fjords make for a dazzling environment where we may see polar bears, and the crossing to Iceland will give us a great opportunity to observe migrating whales and seabirds.

Day 1: Largest town, biggest island

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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.

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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.

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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 the small lakes. From here we sail through Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord, surrounded by towering mountains and bright interior icebergs. An alternate route is Sofia Sound, a narrower waterway.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Today we make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresby Sund at 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.

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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.

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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 front at the head, but any of them can offer us a chance to see polar bears.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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We arrive by plane at Narsarsuaq and board the ship, preparing to start our Greenland adventure. In the evening we visit Bratthalid, where Erik the Red lived about a thousand years ago.

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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.

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Our eastward passing of 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 will try to make a landing at the small village of Augpilaqtoq, where we can still meet some hunters of the area. As an alternative, we may make a landing at Svaerdfiskens Havn.

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Sailing northward in the East Greenland Current, we aim for Igutsait Fjord or Napassorsuaq Fjord. Both feature glacier fronts and small icebergs, where an isolated population of polar bears was once found hunting seals.

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Today we land at Tingmiarmit, seeing an abandoned Greenlandic settlement and remains of Thule houses at the north side of the island. Deep into the Tingmiarmiut Fjord, we are again in the area where polar bears hunt seals among the drifting glacier ice.

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Next we visit Skjoldungen, one of the most spectacular fjords of southeast Greenland. Our aim is to land at Qornoq, where we’ll see houses from the Thule culture, then visit Mariedal and a beautiful valley where Greenlanders used to collect berries in autumn.

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We sail to today’s landing 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.

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As we sail in Denmark Strait on our way to Iceland, the going can be rough. But be sure to spend some time on deck looking for migrating whales, seabirds, and the magical lightshow of the aurora borealis.

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We return from our adventure with memories that will last a lifetime, arriving at the Icelandic port town of Keflavik.

m/v Plancius

Our most longstanding vessel, Plancius is a classic choice for some of our most popular polar voyages. Full ship info »

Cabins & Prices

Prices are displayed with discounts applied if you book berths or cabins on all cruises.

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Quadruple Porthole

  • Cabin size 12 m²
  • 1 porthole
  • 2 upper & lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Ample storage space
  • Safe deposit box
  • This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin

Sharing berth

9900 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

11000 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Triple Porthole

  • 1 porthole
  • 1 upper berth & 2 lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Safe deposit box
  • Ample storage space
  • This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin

Sharing berth

13950 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

15500 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Twin Porthole

  • Cabin size 12 m²
  • 1 porthole
  • 2 lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Safe deposit box
  • Ample storage space

Complete cabin

27900 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

31000 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

23715 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

26350 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Sharing berth

13950 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

15500 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Twin Window

  • Cabin size between 12,5 m² and 13,5 m²
  • 1 window
  • 2 lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Safe deposit box
  • Ample storage space

Complete cabin

30510 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

33900 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

25934 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

28815 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Sharing berth

15255 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

16950 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Twin Deluxe

  • Cabin size 13,5 m²
  • 2 windows
  • 2 lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Ample storage space
  • Safe deposit box
  • These cabins are corner cabins and are slightly more spacious than the normal twin porthole/window cabins

Complete cabin

32310 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

35900 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

27464 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

30515 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Sharing berth

16155 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

17950 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Superior

  • Cabin size between 21 m² and 23 m²
  • 2 windows
  • 1 double bed
  • 1 sofa bed
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Refrigerator
  • Coffee & tea maker
  • Hair dryer
  • Safe deposit box
  • Ample storage space

Complete cabin

36180 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

40200 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

30753 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

34170 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available
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Quadruple Porthole

  • Cabin size 12 m²
  • 1 porthole
  • 2 upper & lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Ample storage space
  • Safe deposit box
  • This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin

Complete cabin

18540 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

20600 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Sharing berth

4635 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

5150 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Twin Porthole

  • Cabin size 12 m²
  • 1 porthole
  • 2 lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Safe deposit box
  • Ample storage space

Complete cabin

12960 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

14400 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

11016 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

12240 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Sharing berth

6480 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

7200 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Twin Window

  • Cabin size between 12,5 m² and 13,5 m²
  • 1 window
  • 2 lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Safe deposit box
  • Ample storage space

Complete cabin

13860 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

15400 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

11781 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

13090 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Sharing berth

6930 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

7700 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Twin Deluxe

  • Cabin size 13,5 m²
  • 2 windows
  • 2 lower berths
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Hair dryer
  • Ample storage space
  • Safe deposit box
  • These cabins are corner cabins and are slightly more spacious than the normal twin porthole/window cabins

Complete cabin

14760 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

16400 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

12546 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

13940 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Sharing berth

7380 USD

Share your cabin with others for the best price.

8200 USD

Sorry, berth is not available
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Superior

  • Cabin size between 21 m² and 23 m²
  • 2 windows
  • 1 double bed
  • 1 sofa bed
  • Private shower & toilet
  • Desk & chair
  • Flatscreen TV
  • Telephone & WiFi (supplemented)
  • Refrigerator
  • Coffee & tea maker
  • Hair dryer
  • Safe deposit box
  • Ample storage space

Complete cabin

16740 USD

Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.

18600 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available

Single cabin

14229 USD

Price for the complete cabin occupied by 1 person (1.7x the shared rate).

15810 USD

Sorry, cabin is not available
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