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8 days - Sailing expedition on sturdy Icelandic oak fishing boats to Scoresby Sund.

Join the sturdy sailboats, Opal (max 12 guests), Hildur (max 9 guests) or Tilvera (max 12 guests) for an amazing expedition where you explore the magnificent nature of Greenland in Scoresby Sound fjord. The fjord extends 350 km inland and offers spectacular scenery and tranquil surroundings. The preservation of Icelandic oak fishing-boats serves you well.

With only 12 fellow adventures and with no Wi-Fi, take a step out of the modern world with our passionate hosts, to experience something truly magnificent.

Highlights include

  • Live on board a traditional sailing ship for 7 amazing days in the natural wonders of Scoresby Sund in East Greenland.
  • Encounter the arctic landscape and wildlife in one of the most remote places in the world
Day 1
Depart Iceland with private charter to NE Greenland
Day 2
Palace of icebergs in Scoresby Sund
Day 3
Uluru like red rock monuments beside massive icebergs..
Day 4
A day ashore scouting for muskoxen, snow hares, grouse, geese and wildlife
Day 5
Terrific mountain peaks and granite walls tower above your Icelandic fishing boat
Day 6
Hiking, Arctic sea swimming and zodiac rides
Day 7
Bear Islands and Milne land with a breathtaking view of the spectacular archipelago
Day 8
Return to Iceland
Start/End Place
Reykjavik, Iceland tours
Destinations Visited
Iceland tours
Greenland tours
Duration
8 Days
Group Size
12
Suitability
Easy independent voyage suitable for singles & couples
Code
50DN0360

Details

Transportation

Traditional wooden Icelandic fishing boats, which have been carefully restored and adapted to a new role without compromising their original character. All the boats undergo strict inspection and are approved by Lloyd's Register.

Schooner Opal:

Built at the Bodenwerft in Damgarten, Germany in 1951, she served as a trawler in the Baltic and North Sea and in the Barents Sea. In 1973 new owners started her restoration. During 8 years until 1981, Opal was converted to the elegant but seaworthy, two masted schooner she is today. She has sailed all over the world, completing several trans-Atlantic crossings, being carefully maintained through the years. She has undergone restoration and had interior work done to better fit her for the new purpose as an expedition ship.

The Opal has six double/twin cabins plus crew facilities. She has three bathrooms, two showers. She comfortably fits 12 passengers, plus her crew.

Tilvera:

A steel ketch has eight comfortable cabins (there of six twin cabins for guests), an spacious saloon with an inspiring library and a charming deckhouse.

Schooner Hildur

Hildur was built in Akureyri in 1974 by two shipwrights, Gunnlaugur and Trausti. She only sleeps 9 with double, quad and single berths. The hallway features spacious shared shower facilities and toilets. She is a two masted schooner with 250 sqm of sails.

Included
  • International flight Reykjavík – Constable Point – Reykjavík.
  • Accommodation on board in made up bunks/beds with shared facilities.
  • All meals on board the sailing ship.
  • Services of the crew, hiking excursions (as per itinerary) and arrangements
Not Included
  • Airfare to and from Iceland.
  • Visas or Individual travel insurance.
  • Excess baggage charges.
  • Laundry charges and items of personal nature.
  • Alcoholic beverages (available for extra charge & to be paid upon departure with cash money).
  • Optional pre or post tours in Iceland

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart Iceland with private charter to NE Greenland

Depart Keflavík (Rekjavik airport) for a flight to Constable Point in Greenland, a small airfield on the west side of Hurry Inlet in Jameson Land. Embark the Schooner and get an introduction and a safety briefing by the crew and then sail towards the village of Ittoqqortoormiit where the evening is spent with locals in perhaps the most isolated village of the world.

Ittoqqortoormiit was founded in the 1925s by people from Ammassalik island. It is the most northerly settlement on the east coast of Greenland. The 450 inhabitants make their living mostly by subsistence hunting of seals, Narwhale, Muskoxen and Polar Bear. 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.

Meals
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Donna Wood or Opal

Day 2 - Palace of icebergs in Scoresby Sund

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 Sound, after calving from the parent glaciers originating in the Inland Ice. Anchor at Hekla Havn, on Denmark Ø, the site of an old Inuit settlement and wintering camp of the first scientific expedition to Scoresby Sound over a hundred years ago. A short evening walk exploring Hekla Havn, and the surrounding area.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Donna Wood or Opal

Day 3 - Uluru like red rock monuments beside massive icebergs..

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.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Donna Wood or Opal

Day 4 - A day ashore scouting for muskoxen, snow hares, grouse, geese and wildlife

The whole day is spent ashore in Harefjord scouting for muskoxen, 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.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner

Day 5 - Terrific mountain peaks and granite walls tower above your Icelandic fishing boat

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 front. This day ends by setting anchors in Jyttes Havn Bjørneøe in the late afternoon.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Donna Wood or Opal

Day 6 - Hiking, Arctic sea swimming and zodiac rides

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 Milneland, a short zodiac ride away. Jytteshavn 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.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Donna Wood or Opal

Day 7 - Bear Islands and Milne land with a breathtaking view of the spectacular archipelago

Sailing 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‘ll be experiencing sights of the largest and the most fascinating icebergs of the journey. This provides a fantastic opportunity for photographs of the majestic and impressive icebergs that are often found in this particular area. When we wake up the next morning we are anchored at the airstrip in Constable Point.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Donna Wood or Opal

Day 8 - Return 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 Keflavík Iceland.

Meals
1 Breakfast
Dates & Prices

Price per person. The tour starts and ends on Wednesdays, please check dates and ships below, subject to availability, books out very early.

Dates
Valid From
Valid To
From Price
Status
Accommodation
26 Jul 2023
6 Sep 2023
26 Jul 2023
6 Sep 2023
USD 7,474
Limited availability
Standard
24 Jul 2024
10 Sep 2024
24 Jul 2024
10 Sep 2024
USD 7,941
Limited availability
Standard

Important Information

Departures on sailing ship Opal (maximum 12 pax) 2024:

24 July – AVAILABLE
31 July – AVAILABLE
7 August (sold out)
14 August (sold out)
21 August (sold out)
28 August (sold out)
4 September (sold out)

2023 departures on the Opal are already completed sold out.

Departures on sailing ship Hildur (maximum 9 pax) 2023:

16 August (sold out)
23 August (4 seats left)
30 August (2 seats left)
6 September (sold out)

2024 - only one available date on the 4 September 2024.

Departures on sailing ship Tilvera (maximum 12 pax 2023):

2 August (sold out)
9 August – AVAILABLE
16 August – AVAILABLE
23 August (2 seats left)
30 August (sold out)
6 September (sold out)
13–25 September (extra departure, 13 days including crossing to Iceland – price € 7.700 per person) – (sold out)

2024 - Four departures available

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