Exploring Scoresbysund & Northeast Greenland | Pursuit

Steeped in history and bursting with contemporary flair, Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, was founded around 870 C.E, marking the birth of the first permanent settlement on this island nation. Today, it is home to approximately 200,000 inhabitants, making up nearly 60% of Iceland's population. Reykjavík holds the title of the world's northernmost national capital, and it takes pride in its reputation as one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities globally. Its commitment to sustainability and eco-consciousness is evident in every corner, from its energy-efficient buildings to its pollution-free skies.

The charming small fishing village of Grundarfjörður is located in the middle of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and thus provides easy access to Stykkishólmur, Snæfellsbær and the Snæfellsnes National Park. Its best-known landmark is undoubtedly the peak of Mt. Kirkjufell. Translated as ‘church mountain,’ Kirkjufell is the most easily recognizable peak, and one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. During summer months a Viking Village is built in the center of town where Viking re-enactments occur quite regularly. During the Á góðri stund town festival in July, the town’s 900 residents decorate their houses in red, blue, yellow, and green, transforming the town into a spinning kaleidoscope of color.

The town first began trade in 1786, and around 1800, French merchants came to Iceland and settled in Grundarfjörður, where they constructed a church and a hospital. The town has prospered through the fishing industry for a long time. The surrounding sea is rich with birdlife & marine life throughout the year.

The small village of Patreksfjörður serves as gateway to the Westfjords peninsula in northeastern Iceland and some of the country’s most spectacular attractions. Fishing is the main industry here, although tourism is quickly growing thanks to Patreksfjörður’s proximity to such natural wonders as Dynjandi waterfalls. Dynjandi — which translates as “thunderous” — rivals Gullfoss in sheer spectacle, cascading more than 325 feet down a series of increasingly wider steps; the rocky footpath to the top passes seven smaller falls. Látrabjarg, a rocky promontory that marks the westernmost point of Europe (not counting the Azores), is recognized as one of the best birdwatching spots on the planet. Látrabjarg’s four rugged, wind-battered cliffs — stretching for nearly nine miles and reaching close to 1,500 feet in height — are home to more than 1 million birds, including massive colonies of colorful puffins and around 40 percent of the world’s nesting razorbills. The red sands of Rauðasandur beach are a stark contrast to most of the country’s black volcanic beaches, while the wreck of Gardar BA 64, Iceland’s oldest steel whaling ship, lies in rusting ruins along Patreksfjörður’s shore.

Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard and soak in the incredible views along the way.

The small Greenlandic town of Ittoqqortoormiit sits at the entrance to Scoresby Sund, the longest fjord on Earth. Although founded in 1925, the original colonists to the area were Palaeo-Eskimo peoples 4,000 years ago.

Housing 500 people, Ittoqqortoormiit derives its name from Greenlandic meaning ‘Big-House Dwellers’. A walk through town, reveals a vibrant Greenlandic culture. Seal, muskox and even a polar bear skin can be seen drying on racks outside of private homes. Greenlandic sled dogs sit patiently on their leashes in front yards, awaiting winter, their wooden sledges propped against buildings. In the local food store seal and whale meat are among the regular traditional foodstuffs laid out beside common western items. Ittoqqortoormiit has a post office where you can purchase Greenlandic stamps and mail your postcards as well as a quaint church, its gabled interior painted in white and sky-blue. The entire community, in fact, is a picturesque kaleidoscope of color, each building painted in bright hues of red, blue, yellow and green.

Scoresby Sund, the longest fjord in the world, cuts into the East Greenlandic Mountains 350 kilometers (216 miles), is 50 kilometers (30 miles) wide and occupies an area equivalent to the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. This is one of the most remote and wildest regions on Earth. It was named in honor of English explorer William Scoresby who mapped the fjord in 1822.

Wildlife, including muskox, foxes, Arctic hares, short-tailed weasels and lemmings are commonly seen in the large river-valleys. Near Hekla Haven, large areas of expansive tundra dotted with hundreds of freshwater ponds have transformed into the brilliant reds and yellows of Arctic autumn.

Rødefjord is world-famous for its iceberg graveyard. Three large tidewater glaciers including three kilometer (2 mile) wide Rølige Brae glacier drain into fjord. Hundreds of icebergs, having calved from the glacial faces, are trapped in the shallows of the bay. Elegantly sculpted by wind and water into a blue-ice wonderland of picturesque forms, they are one of the most dramatic landscapes imaginable.

Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard and soak in the incredible views along the way.

Hidden in the northernmost reach of the Icelandic mainland, Siglufjörður is a charming fishing hamlet of approximately 1,200 residents. Founded in 1918, it was once the thriving hub of North Atlantic herring fishing. Today, the legacy of this industry lives on at the Síldarminjasafnið Herring Era Museum, one of Iceland's largest maritime and industrial showcases, where visitors can delve into both traditional and modern aspects of herring fishing. High mountains, serene freshwater lakes, the meandering Hólsá river, black sand beaches, and a plethora of birdlife create a diverse and captivating landscape — the perfect backdrop to this serene destination.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSION*:
The Herring Heyday of Siglufjörður
Explore the herring history of Siglufjörður’s; visit the acclaimed Herring Era Museum, sharing snippets of local history and culture en route. Here, you'll watch the lively Herring Salting Show, a performance that brings to life the work of the "herring girls." Enjoy the opportunity to sample local herring served with traditional rye bread, complemented by a shot of Icelandic schnapps.

*Please note this expedition experience is exclusively available on our expedition sailings onboard Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Pursuit. All shore excursions shared here are subject to availability and are weather and conditions permitting.

The remote island of Flatey is located in Breidafjörður Bay on the northwestern part of Iceland. “Flat Island” is 2 km long and 1 km wide has only one road through the quaint little old village. Sheep and seabirds are the most numerous inhabitants, including large numbers of Atlantic puffins and Arctic terns. The island is a paradise for bird watching with over 30 different species during the breeding season.

Heimaey Island is the largest in the Westman Islands located four miles off the south-west coast of Iceland. One of the most visually impressive islands in Iceland, it is ringed by tall, vertical sea cliffs many hundreds of feet high. Heimaey is also the home to over eight million Atlantic puffins, more nesting puffins than anywhere else on earth. A local story tells that puffin chicks, taking their first flights at night, often become stranded in the village streets, where the local children rescue them and set them free the next day.

In January of 1973 the island received the nickname, ‘Pompeii of the North’ when a volcanic eruption and lava flow destroyed half the town. This caused a crisis when the town’s only harbor was nearly blocked by advancing lava. Nowadays it is a lively place with a vibrant culture and over four thousand residents. Archaeological excavations suggest that people lived on Heimaey as early as the 10th Century.

Steeped in history and bursting with contemporary flair, Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, was founded around 870 C.E, marking the birth of the first permanent settlement on this island nation. Today, it is home to approximately 200,000 inhabitants, making up nearly 60% of Iceland's population. Reykjavík holds the title of the world's northernmost national capital, and it takes pride in its reputation as one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities globally. Its commitment to sustainability and eco-consciousness is evident in every corner, from its energy-efficient buildings to its pollution-free skies.