Scoresby Sund and Northern Lights

Transfer by bus from Reykjavik hotels in the morning to the ship in Akureyri, where we arrive in the afternoon after six hours drive through North Iceland. In the early evening we leave Iceland and sail north towards the Denmark Strait.

Sailing north through the Denmark Strait. We are almost certain to see fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets and common guillemots. We cross the Arctic Circle and continue north, looking out whales. In the evening we will spot our first icebergs as we approach the east coast of Greenland near Kap Brewster.

In the morning we sail along the ragged and glaciated Volquart Boons Coast. Here hope to take a zodiac cruise along one of the glacier fronts of and have our first landing near a glacier, such as Maanegletsjer or in Vikingebugt. Later we land on Danmarkso where there are the remains of an Inuit settlement abandoned around 200 years ago. The circular 'tent rings' of stones indicate the summer houses, while the winter houses can be seen closer to a small cape. The sites are well preserved, allowing entrances and even bear-proof meat caches to be identified. There are also grave sites. In the evening we continue our sailing through the beautiful fjords to the west, choked with icebergs.

We go ashore at Cape Hofmann Halvo, a good spot for viewing musk oxen. We may also spot rock ptarmigan and, at sea, great northern divers. The landscape here is particularly beautiful, especially during autumn when the dwarf willow and birch change colour, along with  Arctic blueberry and crowberry - the berries are tasty too! In the evening we sail through the fjord towards Scoresby Land enjoying the contrast between the warm autumnal colours of the vegetation on shore, backed by huge dark mountains, and the cold blue of the icebergs.

On our way to Sydkap in Scoresby Land in the morning, we sail past huge icebergs, some over 100m high and more than a kilometre in length. Most of the bergs are grounded as the fjord is only about 400m deep here. We land near Sydkap to view the remains of the Thule culture winter houses. As many as 20 people lived in these tiny houses, hunting Greenland whale and using their vertebrae to build the houses. The landscape here is gently undulating. Musk oxen and collared lemming - survive on the meagre vegetation.

In the morning we land at a lagoon at the south coast of Jameson Land, an area with waders and geese collecting for the autumn migration. In the afternoon we visit Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in the area with about 400 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 seals, musk oxen and polar bears.

The whole day at sea offers excellent opportunities to see large whales and seabird migration and, at night, Northern Lights.

Arrive at Akureyri, and transfer by chartered bus to hotels in Reykjavik