Sail and Explore East Greenland

This sailing adventure covers two amazing destinations, Iceland, Greenland and crossing of famous Denmark Strait. In the thousands of miles covering the coasts of Eastern Greenland there are only 7 settlements, these settlements are home to only 3500 residents and we will be visiting five of them. It is one of the last wild places in northern hemisphere. We will see numerous whales and seals in their natural habitat, we may be even lucky to see a polar bear wandering the shore. We will pay a visit to an abandoned second world war army base. Eat fresh fish and wild berries harvested and caught by Inuits. Anchor surrounded by breath taking scenery, and experience first hand the land where the sun never fully goes down. We will experience the real taste of isolation but also lively atmosphere in native settlements. In our opinion this is the most amazing sailing experience of a lifetime and the pictures in your camera will be beyond expectations.

Your sailing adventure

Crossing the Denmark Strait

We start in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. From here we sail across the Denmark Strait to Tasiilaq, the most populous area on the east coast of Greenland. In Greenlandic, Tasiilaq means “the town with sea water that looks like a lake”. Tasiilaq is located on the island of Ammassalik, in one of the most remote and beautiful areas in the world, and is home to great outdoor adventures and traditional culture. The trackless wilderness, the waterways known only to the locals and the pristine, snow-capped mountains attract outdoor adventurers from all over the world to Tasiilaq every year. After two days at sea, we have time to explore the town, visit the local museum or have a drink in the only pub on the east coast of Greenland.

Petersen Bay and Sermilik Fjord

We sail west to Johan Petersen Fjord, named after the Danish Arctic explorer and also known as Petersen Bay, which lies on the western shore of Sermilik. We navigate the boat through unspoilt waters with majestic cliffs and huge glaciers stretching from the mountains to the sea. We approach a marine-terminating glacier and explore the glacier front from the dinghy.

From here we continue to Sermilik Fjord, one of the largest fjords on the south-eastern coast of Greenland. Its Greenlandic name 'Sermilik' means 'place with glaciers’, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges, calving glaciers, icebergs of various shapes and pristine waters. Sermilik was initially explored in 1888 by Fridtjof Nansen, who considered it as a possible route to the ice cap, but decided to start his crossing in Umivik Bay.

Tiilerilaaq and Bluie East Two Base

We visit the settlements of Tiilerilaaq (formerly Tiniteqilaaq) and Kuummiut (Kalaallisut) in the municipality of Sermersooq. The old Inuit village of Tiilerilaaq is one of the most exciting and beautiful places in Greenland and is home to only about 70 inhabitants. Once we have anchored the boat in the bay, we have time ashore to explore the settlement with its colourful wooden houses overlooking the endless icebergs with their dramatic peaks. Just like in other Inuit villages, the atmosphere is filled with the sounds of howling dogs and cracking ice, and the sight of polar bear skins and drying fish in the open air. The next stop is the abandoned US Army Air Force base, known by the code name 'Bluie East Two' on Ikateq, which was in operation from 1942 to 1947. The base was abandoned in 1947 and everything was left behind, including rusted fuel drums, military vehicles and collapsed buildings.

Karale & Knud Rasmussen Glaciers

We continue to sail along the Ikateq channel to enter the end of the Sermiligaaq Fjord to the stunning Karale and the Knud Rasmussen glaciers. At almost 25 kilometres, the Karala Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the area north of Kuummiit. We will sail along the edge of the glacier to get a closer look at this breathtaking natural wonder and discover towering mountains and crystal clear icebergs in perfect harmony with the serenity of nature. This is actually the northernmost point at which we reach close to the Arctic Circle. Kuummiut, a beautiful fishing and hunting village, lies at the end of the Ammassalik Fjord. If we are lucky, we can watch whales here or see the spectacular Northern Lights dancing across the sky in all their splendour. We also visit Sermiligaaq, which name means "Beautiful Glacierfjord” in Greenlandic; a settlement hidden in the north-eastern part of the island of Ammassalik.

Kulusuk - Embarkation and disembarkation point

Our final port of call is Kulusuk, a small settlement that is home to the only international airport in the Ammassalik region and widely regarded as the gateway to East Greenland. Its air connections make it a practical and accessible point for crew changes at the end of the voyage.

Kulusuk also serves as a joining and starting point for our Greenland to Iceland route, which explores the same coastline and anchorages in reverse order. This allows sailors to choose the direction and length of their adventure while experiencing the highlights of East Greenland’s remote and dramatic coastline.

The passages will be a combination of day and overnight passages to make the most of your time exploring this extreme place. The routes were explored and planned by our chief instructor who has extensive experience in area with over 20 expeditions. Please note all of our adventures and places to visit are subject to weather and many other conditions.

Dates