Iceland, Scoresby Sund & the Aurora Borealis Cruise
Greenland
This voyage begins in Iceland but focuses on Scoresby Sund (Sound), Greenland's largest fjord. It is more than 300 kilometres (185 miles) long and offers some of the most the most isolated, sparsely populated and scenically superb parts of the island.
We will also visit Illoqqortoormiut, the biggest settlement in the Scoresby Sund with about 500 inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just wander around to see the sledge dogs and the drying skins of Seal, Musk Ox and Polar Bear.
We will also visit Illoqqortoormiut, the biggest settlement in the Scoresby Sund with about 500 inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just wander around to see the sledge dogs and the drying skins of Seal, Musk Ox and Polar Bear.
Nansen Fjord is another magnificent landscape with an enormous calving glacier front, which is easily approached. At the inner side of the fjord along the northern shore there are ample landing and zodiac cruising opportunities. In Nansen Fjord we find Gunnbjørns Fjeld, with a height of 3,700 meters (12,139 feet) both the highest peak in Greenland and the highest mountain north of the Arctic Circle.
Day 1
Arrive Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen. Before embarking, take time to visit the old mining village and museum.
Day 2 & 3
At sea, sailing south to Greenland along the shore. We are almost certain to see fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets and rafts of common guillemots. In the evening, we may spot our first icebergs as we approach the east coast of Greenland.
Day 4
We land in Antarcticahavn, an extensive valley where we could see groups of musk oxen. We are traveling along the coast when fall colors on the tundra will likely be very vibrant.
Day 5
Today we reach Scorsby Sund and sail along the rugged and glacial Volquart Boone. If the conditions are good, we will go along the glacial fronts of the coast by zodiac landing near Maane Glacier. Other landings will be on Danmark where there is an Inuit settlement abandonded 200 years ago with tent rings of stone still present indiacting where the summer homes had been located.
Day 6
Going ashore at Cape Hoffman Halvo will be a great spot to view musk oxen. There is a very good variety of birds. This is an especaiily beautiful area when the fall colors have started with dwarf willow, dwarf birch, Arctic blueberry and crowberry. In the evening we sail through the fjord to Scoresby Land.
Day 7
In the Northwest fjord in Scorsby Land we may encounter very large icebergs some as much as 100 m high. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter homes. As many as 20 people lived in these homes and hunted whales to use to build their vertebrae to build thier houses.
Day 8
In the afternoon, we land at Illoqqortoormuit, the largest settlement in Scordsby Sund. Wandering around the settlement will give you an oppurtunity to see how these villagers live with their drying fur pelts of polar bear, musk ox and seal.
Day 9
The whole day at sea offers excellent opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, at night the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) if we lucky.
Day 10
Arrive at Akureyri, and transfer by chartered bus to hotels in Reykjavik or continue home. The hotel is not included in the price of the package.
N.B.
The chances that the sea-ice will allow us to sail into the Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord and Scoresby Sund in September (based on experiences from 1992 until 2009) is about 90%. In case we can not sail into the Scoresby Sund we will resort to a programme in the East Greenland fjords more to the south.
Arrive Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen. Before embarking, take time to visit the old mining village and museum.
Day 2 & 3
At sea, sailing south to Greenland along the shore. We are almost certain to see fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets and rafts of common guillemots. In the evening, we may spot our first icebergs as we approach the east coast of Greenland.
Day 4
We land in Antarcticahavn, an extensive valley where we could see groups of musk oxen. We are traveling along the coast when fall colors on the tundra will likely be very vibrant.
Day 5
Today we reach Scorsby Sund and sail along the rugged and glacial Volquart Boone. If the conditions are good, we will go along the glacial fronts of the coast by zodiac landing near Maane Glacier. Other landings will be on Danmark where there is an Inuit settlement abandonded 200 years ago with tent rings of stone still present indiacting where the summer homes had been located.
Day 6
Going ashore at Cape Hoffman Halvo will be a great spot to view musk oxen. There is a very good variety of birds. This is an especaiily beautiful area when the fall colors have started with dwarf willow, dwarf birch, Arctic blueberry and crowberry. In the evening we sail through the fjord to Scoresby Land.
Day 7
In the Northwest fjord in Scorsby Land we may encounter very large icebergs some as much as 100 m high. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter homes. As many as 20 people lived in these homes and hunted whales to use to build their vertebrae to build thier houses.
Day 8
In the afternoon, we land at Illoqqortoormuit, the largest settlement in Scordsby Sund. Wandering around the settlement will give you an oppurtunity to see how these villagers live with their drying fur pelts of polar bear, musk ox and seal.
Day 9
The whole day at sea offers excellent opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, at night the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) if we lucky.
Day 10
Arrive at Akureyri, and transfer by chartered bus to hotels in Reykjavik or continue home. The hotel is not included in the price of the package.
N.B.
The chances that the sea-ice will allow us to sail into the Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord and Scoresby Sund in September (based on experiences from 1992 until 2009) is about 90%. In case we can not sail into the Scoresby Sund we will resort to a programme in the East Greenland fjords more to the south.
Date & Rate Information
2012 Prices (US Dollars)
M/V Antarctic Dream
| Code | Voyage | Start | End | N/D | Twin Private Inside |
Twin Porthole Private |
Twin Deluxe |
Superior |
| ATD14 | Iceland-Scoresby Sound | Sept 8 |
Sept 17 | 9/10 | $4,950 | $5,650 | $6,350 | $7,050 |
Registration
To confirm your space on these tours, please contact our office. 1.800.808.4492 or 206.463.1943
Deposit: 25% of trip cost
Cancellation Policy
In the event you must cancel your reservation, refunds will be made according to the following schedule: Deposit is nonrefundable. 90 to 61 days prior to departure, 50% of total is nonrefundable; less than 60 days prior to departure, 100% nonrefundable.
Fuel surcharge: If world fuel prices reach or exceed US Dollar 90 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure then the boat operator reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of $25 USD per night per passenger to be paid prior to travel.
Insurance
Because many advance logistical arrangements have been made prior to the running of this trip, we must adhere to the above policy. In light of this, we strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance. An application form will be sent to you upon request, or you may purchase it on your own. Because of the remote location, emergency medical evacuation insurance is required. Please check your personal insurance coverage and make sure it is applicable in foreign countries. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is a component of the insurance program IWA offers.
The MV Antarctic Dream
M/V “Antarctic Dream” is a Dutch built ice-reinforced vessel and served under the name Piloto Pardo for the Chilean Navy. The vessel was rebuilt as an unrestricted, worldwide passenger vessel and was completely refurbished in July 2005. M/v “Antarctic Dream” is registered in Panama. The vessel features a spacious dining room / observation lounge, bar, lecture room, fitness room plus sauna, boutique and passenger bridge.
The vessel offers accommodation for 84 passengers in 42 twin cabins with private toilet and shower, 4 superior with large window (3 with queen beds and 1 with 2 single beds), 16 private toilet and shower twin deluxe cabins with windows (6 with queen beds and 10 with 2 single beds), 20 twin private toilet and shower with portholes (5 with queen beds and 15 with 2 single beds), 2 twin private toliet and shower inside with no windows or port holes each with 2 single beds. All cabins have furthermore a desk, closed circuit TV, and inter-cabin phone service. Satellite email and phone service is available in the library.
The vessel is manned by 18 well-trained Chilean crew members. The on board staff consists of 1 expedition leader, 4 guides / lecturers, 1 hotel manager, 1 barman, 1 doctor, 3 chefs and 6 waitresses / cabin cleaners. The Antarctic Dream's expeditions offer you the ideal introduction to the Great White Continent. Departing from and finishing in the port of Ushuaia, we take in the most exciting sights of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Our program is orientated to the viewing of wildlife and the breathtaking scenery of narrow waterways, glaciers, icebergs and the rugged mountains.
Cabins of M/V Antarctic Dream
Total number of cabins: 42 twin cabins all with lower beds and private toliet and shower.
Superior
4 with large windows to two sides, bath
(3 with queen beds, 1 with two single beds)
Twin deluxe:
16 with large window
(6 with queen beds, 10 with two single beds)
Twin private:
20 with small porthole
(5 with queen beds, 15 with two single beds)
Twin private inside:
2 no porthole or window
(2 with two single beds)
MV Antarctic Dream's Deck Plan
Save $50
Subscribe to our free email newsletter and get $50 off your first booking!
Be the first to receive word about new trips and special discounts!
Google Plus One
