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Spitsbergen to North-east Greenland
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'Professor Molchanov/Multanovskiy' |
'Grigoriy Mikheev' |
GMK14 02 Sep - 15 Sep 2007 (14 Days) aboard Grigory Mikheev
Greenland and its surrounding waters are home to more than eight species of whales, two million seals, Walruses, Polar Bears, Reindeer, Musk Oxen, Arctic Hares, Arctic Wolves and a spectacular variety of seabirds. It is the largest island in the world, 90% covered by glaciers, and inhabited by less then 100,000 people, with a fascinating history. This is an adventurous voyage along the pack ice of east Greenland. There is a good chance of favourable sea ice conditions so that we can find an entrance to Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord and Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord in the world with huge glaciers, icebergs, impressive tundra together with a friendly Greenland hunting community (Itoqqortoormiit). Along the pack ice we shall see Fin Whales and Minke Whales, and in Greenland, Musk Oxen. Polar Bears sometimes come to south Greenland drifting on the ice. We are offering these cruises on the Professor Molchanov and Aleksey Maryshev, expedition cruise ships that spend much of their time in the Arctic and Antarctic, commencing with a flight from Oslo to Spitsbergen, and returning with a flight Keflavik, Iceland/UK. We can arrange travel to Oslo at extra cost. Please note that the following itinerary is for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. Please note that depending on Oslo/Longyearbyen flight schedules it may be necessary to fly to Longyearbyen the day before the cruise starts and an overnight stay in Longyearbyen will be needed. Alternatively the flights may leave Oslo very early in the morning, in which case an overnight in Oslo will be needed. Itineraries Day 1 Arrive in Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of the Spitsbergen archipelago of which West Spitsbergen is the largest island. Before embarking there is an opportunity to visit this former mining community, located on the shores of scenic Isfjorden. The Parish Church and the Polar Museum are well worth visiting, while in the immediate area more than 100 species of plant have been recorded. In the early evening the ship will sail out of Isfjorden. Day 2 Heading north from the mouth of Isfjorden, we stop on the offshore island of Ytre Norskøya to visit a 17th century Dutch whaling site, whose large graveyard is a reminder of the terrible hardships faced by whalers at that time. Their main quarry was the Greenland or Bowhead Whale, often also called the Right Whale because it was the right one to pursue. The whalers hunted this species to the brink of extinction and today it is a rare privilege to encounter these giants of the deep in Spitsbergen's seas. The island is a breeding place for many seabirds, including Puffins and Black Guillemots and although it is late in the season, some birds remain on their ledges. On the tundra, Arctic Skuas are still caring for their young. Next we head for the north coast of West Spitsbergen and scenic Raudfjord, where shimmering glaciers sweep down from a mountainous backdrop. Sailing into the fjord, whose vegetation is surprisingly rich and varied, we'll be keeping an eye out for Ringed and Bearded Seals, and perhaps visit some seabird colonies. Day 3 We sail into Liefdefjord to the magnificent Monaco glacier, where we have a fair chance of seeing Polar Bears. In the afternoon we land at Sördalsbukta and take a walk on the tundra. In World War II, the German Kriegsmarine employed a weather station at this spot. From here we continue to Moffen Island, a sanctuary and popular haul-out for Walrus. Days 4 & 5 At sea, on our way to Greenland, we sail along the rim of the impressive East Greenland Ice. On deck, we will keep a lookout for the tell-tale blow of Fin, Humpback and Minke Whales, which may herald rewarding encounters and also for migrating seabirds, especially the Brünnich's Guillemots, which swim with their young from Spitsbergen, along the sea ice to South Greenland. When East Greenland ice conditions are light (about 70% chance each year): Scoresby Sund Day 6 Approaching Greenland we will attempt to sail through the sea ice into Foster Bugt, making our first landing at Myggebugten. In the first half of the 20th century, Norwegian trappers hunted here for Polar Bears and Arctic Foxes. Beyond the old hunters' hut lies an extensive area of tundra, grazed by Musk Oxen and Arctic Hares. The tundra is peppered with small lakes, which are home to geese during the breeding season. Day 7 Today we sail into Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, a magnificent fjord with towering mountains on both sides, its inner reaches choked with huge icebergs. We will land near Blomsterbugt to view the beautiful geological formations. We go ashore to view some unusual geological formations and perhaps Arctic Hares, which are often observed in the vicinity. An alternative is Traillø, or Antarcticahavn, where we may see groups of Musk Oxen. At this time of year the autumnal colours of the sparse vegetation make the landscapes even more beautiful. Day 8 Today we reach the Scoresby Sund, probably making our first landing at Kap Brewster. Since the mouth of this, the world's longest fjord, remains ice-free almost all the winter, it is an excellent place for viewing seals. The area is also home to the only large seabird colonies on the eastern coast of Greenland. Serious hikers can cross the valley and climb on to the plateau of Kap Brewster from where they will have an excellent view over the fjord, Liverpool Land and the sea. On their way they may spot the white Gyr Falcon, Wheatears and Snow Buntings, and Arctic Hares. In the evening we sail further into the Scoresby Sund making our way along the ragged and glaciated Volquart Boons Coast. Day 9 We continue along Scoresby Sund, taking the Zodiacs for a spectacular cruise along the glacier front in Vikingebugt, a bay surrounded by striking basalt mountains. Later, we land on Danmarks Ø where there are the remains of an Inuit settlement and burial ground, abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular 'tent rings' of stones indicate the summer houses, while the winter dwellings can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are in excellent condition, allowing entrances and even bear-proof meat caches to be identified. Day 10 We go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvø, a reliable spot for viewing Musk Oxen. Here we may also spot Rock Ptarmigan, while Great Northern Divers, with their stunning plumage and unmistakeable profile, can be observed cruising offshore. The landscape here is particularly beautiful, especially during autumn when Dwarf Willow and Dwarf Birch turn to a blaze of colour. Arctic Bilberry and Crowberry add their own colourful touch - and the berries are tasty too! Later, we cruise by Zodiac among huge icebergs calved from the 3km-wide front of the Eielson Glacier, where Ringed Seals often congregate. In the evening we sail through the fjord towards Scoresby Land, enjoying the contrast between the cold blue of the icebergs, the warm autumnal colours of the tundra, and the imposing backdrop of dark mountains. Day 11 On our way to Sydkap in Scoresby Land, we encounter huge icebergs, some over 100m high and more than a kilometre in length. As the fjord is only about 400m deep here, most of the 'bergs' are grounded. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of some Thule culture winter dwellings. As many as 20 people lived in these tiny houses, hunting Greenland Whales and using their vertebrae to support the roof. We may also land at Gurreholm on Jameson Land, a gently undulating landscape, but with a harsh climate. Though snow sometimes lies throughout the summer, Musk Oxen manage to survive on the meagre vegetation, along with Collared Lemmings, who attract predatory Long-tailed Skua, Snowy Owl and Arctic Fox to the area. Day 12 In the morning we land in Illoqqortoormiut, the principal 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 tethered outside the brightly painted wooden homes, and the drying skins of Seal, Musk Ox and Polar Bear which betray the hunting livelihood of many of the local people in this far-flung place. Before lunch we will sail south to Iceland, passing the amazing landscape of the Blosseville Coast. Day 13 We are the whole day at sea and will have splendid opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration. At night, if we are very lucky, a clear sky may bring fantastic displays of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Day 14 Arrive in Keflavik and transfer to the airport for the flight home. When East Greenland ice conditions are heavy (about 30% chance each year): Ammassalik Day 5 & 6 We continue to sail south along the East Greenland Ice, until we can reach the coast of East Greenland. As we continue sailing along the ice we will have good chances to observe seals, Polar Bears, Ivory Gulls, and large whales. Day 7 At the mouth of Nansen Fjord we are in view of Gunnbjørns Fjeld, at 3,700m both the highest peak in Greenland and the highest mountain north of the Arctic Circle. Next we sail into Mikis Fjord, bounded by steep cliffs and a place where we sometimes spot Polar Bear, Ringed and Harp Seals. In the afternoon, we land at the head of the fjord at Sødalen, whose fertile marshes attract migrating flocks of Barnacle and Pink-footed Geese. This is a rewarding area for walking and birdwatching, both near the mouth of the river and further up the valley, where both Common and Arctic Redpolls can be observed. Day 8 In the morning we sail into the Kangerlussuaq fjord where glaciers reach the sea creating a fabulous landscape of glacier fronts, icebergs and cliffs. On shore there are the remains of dwellings of Thule culture people. The fjord is also a place to see sometimes Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls. After several landings we sail out of the fjord in the evening. Day 9 Today we explore the Tassilaq and Kangertigtivatsiaq fjords, both hemmed in by towering mountains. Sangmilik is one of the few landing sites in these fjords and once ashore there is a chance to pick delicious Arctic Bilberries and Crowberries. We then take a Zodiac trip along the impressive front of the Glacier de France in Schweizerland, an area packed with giant icebergs and frequented by hunters from the Ammassalik area. Day 10 Ammassalik is the largest town in East Greenland and the centre for several small outlying hunting and fishing settlements. The population of about 3,000 live by hunting Walrus, Narwhal and Polar Bear, and fishing for Arctic Char. We will spend the whole day in and near this friendly village which offers an excellent opportunity to experience modern Greenlandic culture. Day 11 In Køge Bugt (Ikeq) the vast inland icecap reaches the sea and can be easily and safely accessed on foot. Those who have visited Antarctica will note the similarities of the landscape, with giant tabular icebergs calving from vast glacier fronts. We intend to land at Husryggen, an abandoned settlement from the sixties. At nearby Umivik we look for the place where Nansen went ashore and started his epic traverse of the Greenland Icecap. Day 12 & 13 We return across the Denmark Strait, again keeping a sharp lookout for whales, which gather to feed in the nutrient-rich waters west of Iceland. At this time of year, a clear night sky may bring the awesome spectacle of the Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights). Day 14 Arrive in Keflavik and transfer to the airport for the flight home. M/V Professor Molchanov and Professor Multanovskiy
M/V Grigoriy Mikheev and Aleksey Maryshev
Accommodation : Cabins as described above subject to availability. Travel : Flights to Oslo can be arranged, either from London, or some regional airports - please enquire for details. Overnight accommodation in Oslo can also be arranged. The trip ends with a flight Iceland-UK. A taxi can be used for the short transfer from the airport to the vessel. Leaders: Guides from Oceanwide Expeditions Prices per person:
The prices are per person, and are fully inclusive of flights Oslo/Longyearbyen, the cruise, meals during the voyage, shore excursions by Zodiac and activities throughout the voyage, lectures and leadership by expedition staff, taxes and port charges and pre-departure information The prices exclude travel to and from Oslo before the cruise, and Keflavik/UK flights, overnight accommodation and airport transfers in Oslo and Keflavik, passport and visa expenses, Government arrival and departure taxes, travel insurance, meals ashore, optional tips to leaders and crew, drinks, excess baggage charges and other personal expenses. | |||||||||||||