From around day 8 to day 11, venture into the Northeast Greenland National Park, a vast, near-empty wilderness. Board Zodiacs to reach glacier-carved Alpefjord, where peaks rise like granite spires, and step ashore on Ella Ø for guided hikes across tundra dotted with dwarf willow and lichen. In Blomster Bugt—“Flower Bay”—look for late-summer blooms and sculpted shoreline rocks.

Created in 1974 and larger than many countries, the park shelters musk ox, Arctic fox and seabirds amid abandoned trapper huts and endless silence. Your team sets an unhurried pace to soak in the lakeside atmosphere, read the landscape’s glacial history, and appreciate how isolation has preserved this pristine Arctic realm.

On or around day 12, land at Myggbukta, a broad bay whose name recalls summer mosquitoes but rewards visitors with sweeping Arctic stillness. Take a short hike to the remains of an early-20th-century Norwegian hunting and radio outpost, then continue across tundra to scan for musk ox and geese grazing on sheltered flats.

Your guides trace the story of seasonal trapping camps and communications in this high-latitude frontier, explaining how shifting sea ice and storms dictated access. Along the lagoon edge, you’ll pause for photos and reflection, absorbing the interplay of pale grasses, patterned ground and distant ice-capped ridges.

Throughout days 2–12, join the team to contribute to citizen science: log seabirds from deck, note whale sightings, or assist with simple ocean observations that support ongoing research. Indoors and out, photography guides help you master exposure on bright ice, compose iceberg abstracts, and capture wildlife responsibly.

Short evening sessions examine Arctic light and weather, from soft fog to low-angled sun, and how to tell a visual story of an expedition. These practical moments deepen your connection to the places you visit and ensure you return with images—and knowledge—that reflect the clarity and mood of East Greenland.

When conditions allow on days 3–10, join guides to kayak quietly among small bergy bits in sheltered corners of Scoresby Sund. From water level, hear the faint fizz of ancient air in the ice and watch mirror-calm reflections ripple as your paddle dips. Distances are unhurried, with safety gear and support boats nearby.

Along red-tinged cliffs and glacier fronts, your leaders explain ice dynamics and fjord geology while you enjoy a rare sense of stillness. This optional experience is at additional cost and is bookable on tour; prior kayaking experience is recommended, and departures are confirmed locally based on weather, ice and wildlife activity.

After disembarkation on day 15, extend your journey with a guided excursion across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Walk boardwalks above steaming vents at Gunnuhver, see the Mid-Atlantic Ridge come ashore at the Bridge Between Continents, and admire Atlantic swells on lava-black headlands. Time permitting, unwind with a geothermal spa soak to ease travel muscles.

Along the way, your guide connects Iceland’s volcanic story—recent eruptions, lava fields and rift valleys—with daily life in the southwest. This optional experience is at additional cost and can be booked on tour or in advance, offering a fitting finale before your flight home.

Spend day 2 at sea crossing the storied Denmark Strait. Join expert-led talks on Arctic geology and sea ice, marine mammals, and the culture of East Greenland. Out on deck, naturalists help you spot northern fulmars and kittiwakes, and you may glimpse minke or humpback whales as the ship makes steady progress west.

In concise sessions, learn how the East Greenland Current funnels drift ice south from the Arctic Ocean and how Norse seafarers once navigated these waters. Practical workshops fine-tune your field craft—how to photograph iceberg textures, read cloudscapes, and dress for shore landings—preparing you for the fjords to come.

Across days 3–7, enter Scoresby Sund, the world’s largest fjord system. Join your guides to cruise by Zodiac among icebergs that glow blue against calm, mirror-like water. In Rødefjord, the iron-rich sandstone bluffs ignite in rust-red hues, a vivid contrast to drifting floes where ringed seals haul out and guillemots arc overhead.

Between Hurry Inlet, Danmark Ø and the Bear Islands, the team chooses the best sheltered coves for landings and scenic navigation. You’ll pause for photos and reflection beneath serrated ridgelines, learn how Devonian sediments forged these red escarpments, and experience the deep quiet that defines East Greenland’s fjords.

If ice and weather allow on days 3–6, step ashore in Ittoqqortoormiit, one of Greenland’s most remote settlements at the mouth of Scoresby Sound. Join a guided walk to meet local residents, learn about life beside seasonal sea ice, and visit community landmarks such as the church and small craft workshops.

Founded in 1925, the town preserves traditions of subsistence hunting and dog sledding shaped by Arctic conditions. Your hosts explain how supply ships, polar night, and wildlife patterns set the rhythm of the year. Time permitting, browse for local handicrafts and hear stories that illuminate the resilience and warmth at the heart of East Greenlandic culture.

Begin your voyage on day 1 as you board in Reykjavík and settle into your cabin. You’ll meet your Expedition Team, explore the ship’s observation decks, and get acquainted with life on board. As the ship eases out into Faxaflói Bay, take in views toward Mount Esja and the city’s skyline while anticipation builds for Greenland’s east coast.

That evening, attend safety and environmental briefings and a concise overview of the route: crossing the Denmark Strait toward Scoresby Sund and the Northeast Greenland National Park. Your guides outline AECO best practices for responsible wildlife viewing and explain how expedition flexibility unlocks the best landings and zodiac cruises depending on ice and weather.