Scoresby Sound, Greenland

The group assembled in Reykjavik, Iceland, and then took a chartered Dash 8 plane to Constable Point on the East Coast of Greenland. The left hand map below shows Greenland and its size and position relative to the United Kingdom and other European countries. The route taken and key locations visited are identified on the right hand map (both maps courtesy Google).

For the story of the trip day by day, click on the thumbnails to open each gallery in turn. For a quick look at 20 of my favourite photographs from the trip, click on the thumbnail below-centre.

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To get back to this page from an individual photo, click on the cross in the top right of the photo window, then click on the link next to the gallery title in the top left of the gallery window.

Home Page An arbitrary collection of 20 of my favourite photographs from this expedition



Getting there
We took a minibus from the centre of Reykjavik to the international airport at Keflavic, a 40 minute drive away. We eventually boarded a Dash 8 aircraft for a flight to Nerlerit Inaat airport (also known as Constable Point) on Greenland. From there we were transported by rigid inflatable boats to the ship that was to be our home for the next 10 days or so.        Day 2: Borgvig and Vikingebugt
We had hardly turned in after a tiring day of travel before we were woken with a call to the deck to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). A few hours later we were again woken to view and photograph the landscape of Borvig in the dawn light. Later we travelled west to Vikingebugt, where we photographed formations of basalt columns.        Day 3: Denmark Island
We sailed (under diesel power) from Vikingebugt to Denmark Island. While most of the party disembarked to trek across part of the island, I stayed aboard to welcome them at the far end, where we were anchored at an inlet known as Hekla Havn.

Day 4: Fonfjord and Renodde
The weather was wet and snowy as we made our way down Fonfjord. The icebergs took on an eery appearance in these conditions, but were worth photographing. Later on we landed at Renodde (Reindeer Point) for more photography.        Day 5: Rode Island
The weather was even worse than the previous day, with a combination of rain and snow. This did not prevent us landing on Rode Island to view and photograph an "iceberg graveyard". This is an area where the depth of the fjord is so shallow that any icebergs ground there.        Day 6: Harefjord and Rypefjord
The borders of Harefjord were rich in tundra and gave us the chance to observe and photograph musk oxen. After lunch we sailed up Rypefjord to the Eaelsen Glacier where we enjoyed a combination of Zodiac cruises and a landing.

Day 7: O Fjord and Bjorne Islands
O Fjord is a long and very beautiful waterway, with steep cliffs on either side, icebergs dotted around and the occasional glacier "flowing" into it as well. There was sufficient wind to travel under sail power for some time, and we all lent a hand either by pulling ropes or getting in the way. Later on we had a Zodiac landing on one of the Bjorne Islands.        Day 8: Bjorne Islands and iceberg cruising at Nordorsbugt (Sydkap)
We were anchored off the Bjorne Islands when we received another night call to come and view the Aurora Borealis. This was stronger and longer lasting than previous displays so some of us were up for several hours in the hope of taking some great photographs. We progressed during the morning in a north-westerley direction to the Nordorsbugt area. We took our time over this, cruising round some huge icebergs on the way, then anchored off the peninsula known as Sydkap in the evening.        Day 9: Sydcap and Hall Bredning
There was an early deployment of the Zodiacs east of Sydkap to photograph landcape as the sun rose. After breakfast we landed again, this time at Sydkap itself. This area boasts two huts, one derelict and one used by hunters. After lunch the crew once more raised the sails, as much for a photo opportunity as for propulsion. (The wind was rather light.) With sails furled once more we progessed down Hall Bredning for the long journey to Ittoqqortormiit, our destination the following morning.

Day10: Ittoqqortormiit
Ittoqqortormiit is a settlement at the mouth of Scoresby Sound, and has a population of around 220. It was founded in 1925 by Ejnar Mikkelsen who brought around 80 settlers from Tasiilaq, where the living conditions were deteriorating due to over-crowding. Visitors are directed to various "activities" that happen at fixed times for their benefit. These include the feeding of a pack of hunting dogs and the release of a weather balloon. Folowing our visit we motored up Hurry Fjord, passing the abandoned settlement of Kap Hope and eventually dropping anchor just south of Constable Point.        Days 11 and 12: Hurry Fjord and Depart
The plane to bring in the next set of passengers for the Rembrandt van Rijn and take us back to Reykjavik was due to arrive around 14:30, so there was time for one more morning landing. The Zodiacs landed us near the outflow of a stream and some of us went for a hike up the hill while others stayed photographing ice crystals. In the event the plane was delayed by a day, so we had to spend an extra, unscheduled, night on board the Rembrandt van Rijn - in the fresh bed linen intended for the next set of passengers. There was time for a further landing in the morning of the 14th September before it was confirmed that the plane would arrive. Around midday we made our way to the airport, and safely back to Reykjavik, albeit after our previously booked flights home had departed!

Home Page		An arbitrary collection of 20 of my favourite photographs from this expedition

	Getting there We took a minibus from the centre of Reykjavik to the international airport at Keflavic, a 40 minute drive away. We eventually boarded a Dash 8 aircraft for a flight to Nerlerit Inaat airport (also known as Constable Point) on Greenland. From there we were transported by rigid inflatable boats to the ship that was to be our home for the next 10 days or so.	Day 2: Borgvig and Vikingebugt We had hardly turned in after a tiring day of travel before we were woken with a call to the deck to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). A few hours later we were again woken to view and photograph the landscape of Borvig in the dawn light. Later we travelled west to Vikingebugt, where we photographed formations of basalt columns.	Day 3: Denmark Island We sailed (under diesel power) from Vikingebugt to Denmark Island. While most of the party disembarked to trek across part of the island, I stayed aboard to welcome them at the far end, where we were anchored at an inlet known as Hekla Havn.
	Day 4: Fonfjord and Renodde The weather was wet and snowy as we made our way down Fonfjord. The icebergs took on an eery appearance in these conditions, but were worth photographing. Later on we landed at Renodde (Reindeer Point) for more photography.	Day 5: Rode Island The weather was even worse than the previous day, with a combination of rain and snow. This did not prevent us landing on Rode Island to view and photograph an "iceberg graveyard". This is an area where the depth of the fjord is so shallow that any icebergs ground there.	Day 6: Harefjord and Rypefjord The borders of Harefjord were rich in tundra and gave us the chance to observe and photograph musk oxen. After lunch we sailed up Rypefjord to the Eaelsen Glacier where we enjoyed a combination of Zodiac cruises and a landing.
	Day 7: O Fjord and Bjorne Islands O Fjord is a long and very beautiful waterway, with steep cliffs on either side, icebergs dotted around and the occasional glacier "flowing" into it as well. There was sufficient wind to travel under sail power for some time, and we all lent a hand either by pulling ropes or getting in the way. Later on we had a Zodiac landing on one of the Bjorne Islands.	Day 8: Bjorne Islands and iceberg cruising at Nordorsbugt (Sydkap) We were anchored off the Bjorne Islands when we received another night call to come and view the Aurora Borealis. This was stronger and longer lasting than previous displays so some of us were up for several hours in the hope of taking some great photographs. We progressed during the morning in a north-westerley direction to the Nordorsbugt area. We took our time over this, cruising round some huge icebergs on the way, then anchored off the peninsula known as Sydkap in the evening.	Day 9: Sydcap and Hall Bredning There was an early deployment of the Zodiacs east of Sydkap to photograph landcape as the sun rose. After breakfast we landed again, this time at Sydkap itself. This area boasts two huts, one derelict and one used by hunters. After lunch the crew once more raised the sails, as much for a photo opportunity as for propulsion. (The wind was rather light.) With sails furled once more we progessed down Hall Bredning for the long journey to Ittoqqortormiit, our destination the following morning.
	Day10: Ittoqqortormiit Ittoqqortormiit is a settlement at the mouth of Scoresby Sound, and has a population of around 220. It was founded in 1925 by Ejnar Mikkelsen who brought around 80 settlers from Tasiilaq, where the living conditions were deteriorating due to over-crowding. Visitors are directed to various "activities" that happen at fixed times for their benefit. These include the feeding of a pack of hunting dogs and the release of a weather balloon. Folowing our visit we motored up Hurry Fjord, passing the abandoned settlement of Kap Hope and eventually dropping anchor just south of Constable Point.	Days 11 and 12: Hurry Fjord and Depart The plane to bring in the next set of passengers for the Rembrandt van Rijn and take us back to Reykjavik was due to arrive around 14:30, so there was time for one more morning landing. The Zodiacs landed us near the outflow of a stream and some of us went for a hike up the hill while others stayed photographing ice crystals. In the event the plane was delayed by a day, so we had to spend an extra, unscheduled, night on board the Rembrandt van Rijn - in the fresh bed linen intended for the next set of passengers. There was time for a further landing in the morning of the 14th September before it was confirmed that the plane would arrive. Around midday we made our way to the airport, and safely back to Reykjavik, albeit after our previously booked flights home had departed!