Greenland to Iceland.

The Final 2027 Expedition.

SEPT 16-30, 2027

A Sea Journey Between Two Worlds

✈️ to GREENLAND, ⛵️ IN GREENLAND, ⚓️ TO ICELAND

All Vibes. No Scurvy. 15 days, 14 nights. Passengers: 12

· Remote Landscapes · Arctic Wildlife · Northern Lights ·

Full board + 🍾 + 🧀

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

Remember what its like to be a kid again, to experience pure unadulterated excitement, free of judgement or second guesses

Explore the most remote coast of Northeast Greenland

Get a taste of the golden age of exploration on a traditionally rigged, wooden sailing vessel

Sail with a small group of 12 amazing people from all over.

Enjoy stunning Arctic vistas and landscapes with the trappings of civilisation

Pursue an intentional, knowledge-oriented expedition experience with respect to the destination

Experienced crew and Expedition Leader that are at least as excited to be there as you (!)

Eat well, drink well and live well whilst traversing the most remote parts of the Arctic.

IF this sounds like your kind of adventure, here’s what to do next:

Explore this page and get to know the expedition.

Find the calendar at the bottom and choose a date and time that works for you.

Meet your Expedition Leader to learn more and if everything feels right, get yourself on board.

Expedition Intro

This is a small-group sailing expedition down the wild coast of East Greenland and finishing with a sea crossing to Iceland. We begin among enormous icebergs, deep fjords down the Blosseville Coast to Kulusuk, whereupon we turn east and set sail across the Denmark Strait. Greenland slowly disappears behind us. Iceland rises ahead. Ten days of wilderness, whales, glaciers, ice, open ocean and life under sail. Two extraordinary Arctic islands. One proper sea voyage.


We propose to seek out the secrets of Greenland, and reveal them with you.

Kangerlussuaq: The Great Fjord of the East

South of there Blosseville Coast and inhabited for 2000 years by there Inuit and first reached and mapped by Europeans during Georg Carl Amdrup’s East Greenland expedition in 1900, Kangerlussuaq is one of the great fjords of this coast. Almost 45m/70km long and in places approaching 2700ft/900m deep, its sheer mountains plunge into extraordinarily deep water. The great prize here is the narwhal, where they live unmolested by human hunting. Seals live and polar bear migrate up and down the surrounding fjords and ice, while beneath the mountains lies the remarkable Skaergaard Intrusion: ancient magma formed during the geological opening of the North Atlantic. a huge body of magma that crystallised underground during the opening of the North Atlantic. Lawrence Wager discovered it scientifically during the British Arctic Air Route Expedition in 1931, and it subsequently became one of the world’s classic locations for studying how magma differentiates as it cools.

In the paths of explorers past: The Barren Blosseville Coast

Named after French naval officer and explorer Jules de Blosseville, who charted this coast in 1833 before disappearing with his ship La Lilloise, the Blosseville Coast remains one of East Greenland’s wildest frontiers. His discoveries and those of his shipmates died with them. Today, we know that the coast Towering basalt mountains rising precipitously above the sea, glaciers descend towards the coast and immense fields of drifting ice guard its shores. And there are hot spots too: peppered along the coast are geothermally active areas with hot water springs.Remote, uninhabited and notoriously difficult to reach, this is expedition country in its purest form.

King Christian IX Land

South of Kangerlussuaq we enter King Christian IX Land: a vast, mountainous wilderness stretching towards Tasiilaq named by Danish explorer Gustav Holm in 1884, but much of its immense coastline remained virtually unknown to Europeans until Georg Carl Amdrup’s Carlsberg Foundation Expedition of 1898–1900. First systematically explored by Europeans in the late 19th century, its shores had already been travelled and inhabited by Inuit for centuries, whose abandoned settlements can still be found along the coast. Here great branching fjords carve the mountains into islands and peninsulas, glaciers descend from the ice sheet and some of Greenland’s highest peaks rise inland. Polar bears, seals and whales inhabit its coast and waters, while ancient gneisses meet the volcanic geology created during the opening of the North Atlantic.

JOINING YOU ON BOARD

The Great Expedition Company has no back-office. Expedition leader Joe Shutter has carefully curated this unique sailing itinerary, along with the expertise of S/V Linden’s Captain, Rasmus Jacobsen, and together they will sail with you through the wonders of the Arctic.

Joe Shutter

YOUR EXPEDITION LEADER

Founder of The Great Exped & Expedition Leader

Welcome, curious explorer! Joe here. I made Iceland my home 10 years ago.

I’ve spent many summer seasons sailing in Eastern Greenland and traversing the harsh highlands of Iceland. In recent years, I have had the pleasure of developing my knowledge of the Arctic and Antarctic.

I prosecute a gratuitous and exuberant expedition leading style. I believe fervently in enjoying myself and fomenting an atmosphere of merriment and jubilation with my expeditions.

For me, seducing the spirits of fellow explorers and sharing in the wonders of the Arctic is my eternally-repeatable aim. Bringing people together with a common passion has always been my favourite thing: there’s a special energy in this that I have never found anywhere else.⁣

Hörður Kristleifs

YOUR DRONE MASTER

Drone Master Extraordinaire and Co-Leader

Hey there, I’m Hörður, a photographer specializing in aerial photography. Born and raised in Iceland, the Arctic is more than just a destination for me. It is my heritage and my home.

For the third year in a row, I am thrilled to join forces with my friend Joe as your co-host for this mission. There is a rare energy that exists on the deck of a schooner in the middle of the Greenland Sea, and I am honored to help guide that journey.

My role on this trip is to make sure you have total peace of mind while we’re out there. Droning from a ship in the Arctic comes with its own set of challenges, and I’ll be right there to handle the technical side and the difficult launches with you. The gear is safe and the shots are locked in!

My aim is to foster a space where we can explore, create, and disconnect from the noise of the world together. Let’s head North and capture the spirit of the High Arctic!

Rasmus Jacobsen

YOUR ARCTIC CAPTAIN

Captain of S/V Linden & Experienced Navigator

Growing up in Denmark and living on a yacht, my family raised me within a maritime lifestyle and eco-friendly culture from childhood. Since then, I’ve enjoyed over 30 years on the ocean thus far: working on galleons, square rigs, research vessels and passenger ships.

My passion lies in seeking out the most untouched arenas of the Arctic, placing a great emphasis on exploring without any signs of human activity. 

My crew and I are committed to embodying an environmentally-friendly approach to sailing, inspired to seek out the abundant beauty of Svalbard in a purposeful manner. Hence, collaborating with The Great Expedition Company is a harmonious eco-expedition match.

ARCTIC MEMORIES 2018-2026 ❤️

WE ARRANGE

  • Accommodation on board, incl. bedding & towels

  • All meals, snacks, tea and coffee throughout.

  • Your inbound flight from ICELAND to GREENLAND at the beginning of the expedition.

  • Your return sail to GREENLAND to ICELAND via at the end of the expedition.

  • Expedition champagne and port supply.

  • Access to the ship’s cigar humidor

  • Free use of onboard sauna

  • Extensive Pre-Departure Preparation Material

    • Equipment and Information Pack

    • Destination-specific Expedition Preparation Guide - everything we think you need to know about your location before you get there.

  • All guided hikes ashore

  • All guided zodiac excursions to shore

  • Educational and Informational services from the Expedition Leader and crew

  • Port surcharges, permits and landing fees

  • Photography guidance and tuition in-the-field, as-we shoot

  • Editing session on board in the salon upon request

  • Some other goodies and extras that are not mentioned

YOU ARRANGE

  • Your flights to Iceland

  • Your flight from Iceland at the end of the expedition.

  • Additional Alcoholic beverages beverages on board (outside of champagne and port form the expedition supply)

  • Personal travel & health insurance

  • Crew gratuities (entirely discrentionary)

  • Personal equipment and gear for the expedition

DETAILS

  • Dates:

    • SEPT 16-30 - 15 days, 14 nights

  • Berths: 12

  • Cost:

    • €12,895

    • 25% deposit to secure your spot

  • Starts: Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Ends: Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Linden Saloon

  • Linden beside a glacier in Svalbard

  • Linden Cabins made up

  • Linden Saloon: rear.

  • Learning the ropes

LIFE ON BOARD S/V LINDEN

S/V Linden is undeniably a swoon-worthy vessel.  This elegant 50 meter three-masted tall ship captures everyones attention as she glides on the polar seas. She is very strong, capable, and best suited scouring the ice in the Arctic. Built in 1993, as a modern take on the original Linden from 1923, she has been sailing for more than thirty years around the northerly seas, proving that she is trustworthy and made for arctic adventures.

Linden will host us in her bright and comfortable main saloon, where plenty of windows provide a panoramic view for you to watch the waves roll by. Accommodation is made up of 5 twin bunk-style cabins and 2 single cabins. Home-cooked meals by the on board chef will be enjoyed in her main saloon, amid a well stocked library of polar literature. Day to day life on board is exciting yet easy-going: we will discuss the upcoming route over a hearty breakfast, plan our days activities, share life experiences over warm tea, and keep our binoculars in hand whilst we look out for wildlife.

Having been built in Finland there is, of course, a well-sized sauna on board, which will be the perfect refuge after a polar-plunge!

TECHNICAL DATA:

Length overall: 49.5 meters / 164 ft.
Beam Breath: 8.8 meters
Draft: 3.1 meters
Passengers: 12
Crew: 6-8
Cargo space: 35 Ton
Crane: SWL1,1T4M
Deck space: 80m2
Tenders: 2x ZodiacMk5, 1xZodiac MOB 4,56m
Sail area: 690 square meters
Speed on sails: 8 knots avg.
Speed on Engine: 6 knots
Range: Unlimited

EXPEDITION ITINERARY

Below is our intended sailing route, but please take into consideration that wind and weather conditions may adjust our sails. This is a natural part of the adventure of sailing. Our strength is to abide by the conditions which nature gives us, never against it, still making the best out of our time.

All expedition itineraries are approximate and are designed to give you a rough idea of the sorts of places we will go and the sorts of places we will see. A true expedition must respond to the prevailing conditions such as the weather, ice, and wildlife opportunities. That being said, the backbone of the expedition will head north and then down south again roughly on the following basis.

EXPEDITION ITINERARY

The expedition will start in Iceland. From there, a private charter flight will take us to Constable Point. From Constable Point, we sail down the channel, briefly to the village of Ittoqqortoormiit, and then into the fjord system for the rest of the week. If you’re wondering what the rest of the days have on store for you, you will find a brief description below.

Reykjavik
Pop: 135,688

Reykjavik will very likely feel very small (unless you’ve come from somewhere smaller)

Constable Point (CNP) Pop: 0, just us

Less of an asphalt operation and more of a wet (and sometimes dry) dirt operation. No jets, just turbo props. There is no permanent population.

Blosseville Coast
Pop: 0, just us

The most barren and desolate part of East Greenland, and its begging to be explored.

King Christian Land IX
Pop: 0, just us

Unfamiliar territory for us, but steady as she goes down south of Kangerlussuaq towards Amassalik

DAY 1

Meet at Reykjavik Domestic Airport in the morning for our special chartered flight to Constable Point.

Board S/V Linden and get an introduction from the Captain and crew before sailing towards the village of Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the world’s most isolated villages. The quaint little houses dot the rocky slopes of South Liverpool Land with magnificent views of Kap Brewster and the Volquart Boons Coast to the south.

DAY 2 -4

We waste no time in leaving the Sound, past Cap Brewster and down the Blosseville Coats, stopping at Stewart Island, sailing through Turner Sound and Romer Fjord where we may take a dip in the hot spring there before continuing south, ever vigilant for bears that migrate through the are as well as up and down the coast.

DAY 3-5 

Now we’re really remote. Pushing past Romer FJord, our next stop will be Barclay Bay, where narwhals have been regularly spotted through the years. We cross our fingers and hope for the best as we keep a watchful eye.

DAY 5-7  

South past Barclay and towards Kangerlussuaq, we are not in the most remote parts of the Blosseville Coast. These are proper exploration days. Zodiac landings, hikes, enormous basalt mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, sea ice. Polar bear watch.

DAY 8-10

SKangerlussuaq, a major objective of the expedition. First we start with checking out the Skaergaard Intrusion: ancient magma formed during the geological opening of the North Atlantic and then we press deeper in to the fjord. Gradually, this epic landscape will begin to reveal its secrets.

DAY 11-12

After Kangerlussuaq, we press onwards through King Christian IX Land, and yet, we may decide to travel less rather than more, since our time is better spend in the more remote rather than the more accessible places. There is always a critical balance between sailing and exploring.

DAY 12-14/15

A bridge between worlds, and our sea crossing to Iceland begins. We expect our crossing to take between two and two and a half days. By the end of the 14th day, perhaps even by the beginning of the 15th, we will have arrived in Reykjavik, thus drawing the final expedition of the season to a close and therefore our season.

FAQ’s

Below are some answers to a few commonly asked questions, with some additional suggestions. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, then you can raise it with us via a Zoom call.

  • What level of photography do I require?

    • This is not expressively a photography workshop, but Joe will be happy to assist and guide you as you wish. You can be as photographically creatively active or as inactive as you like, and we welcome many other forms of creativity. We even had a dressmaker join us on expedition once and it was amazing to watch her conjure up her design based on the inspiration she was getting from nature.

    How fit do I need to be?

    • You can engage in as much or as little physical exertion as you like, but you do need to be able to get into and out of the ship and zodiac, and go up and down the stairs.

    What & where will we eat?

    • All meals will be prepared and served by a chef on board Linden, and dietary requirements can be supported.

    Will we see the Northern Lights?

    • No, not during the Arctic summer as the midnight sun reveals itself for longer periods. Although it is rare, it can also rain in Svalbard too.

    What will the weather be like during June in Svalbard?

    • The weather in June will be near 5 °C / 40 °F throughout the day, dropping to 0 °C / 30 °F at night. With this said, windchill may decrease the temperature - please see the ‘Clothing’ FAQ section. Our "Equipment and Information" One of the aspects of our extensive pre-departure material, will make sure you have all the bases covered.

  • Althopugh we provide an exhaustive list of what to pack in our "Equipment and Information Pack", part of our extensive Pre-Departure material, wee do offer the following as a guide for the initially curious.

    There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes! It’s essential to dress appropriately for arctic conditions. Below are our recommendations:

    • Sturdy hiking boots for getting off the boat and exploring land (if you wish to)

    • Comfy and warm shoes for below deck, such as slippers

    • 1st layer: base layer, like merino wool or bamboo long-sleeve & leggings

    • 2nd layer: mid-layer, like a wool jumper, fleece, or packable puffy jacket

    • Main outer layer: like a down-filled coat. We will be sailing in “summer”, but the Arctic does not follow any usual weather rules, so you must come prepared

    • Waterproof layer: GORE-TEX zip-up coat or similar, and ideally it’s also windproof to tolerate any windchill.

    • If you enjoy reading then definitely bring a book or two. You’ll likely cherish that book in the future, knowing where you read it

    • If you like journaling and writing then bring along a pen & notebook

    • Sunblock! The Arctic sun has no mercy, and reflects strongly off the snow, ice and sea water

    • In the same vein as sunblock, bring lip balm, as the Artic summer is drying

    • A water bottle. It’s much easier to use on board than a regular cup

    • Finally, don’t forget to bring your expeditionary spirit!

    • Bring something from your home country to share with the group!

WHO ARE YOU?

A proper expedition is always comprised of an elaborate mosaic of characters, each with their own story and each with something to offer to the expedition group. Our job is to put together an incredible group of people: similar enough to embrace the spirit of adventure in the Arctic, different enough to introduce healthy diversity and counterpoint in the individual and shared experience of the Arctic.

We need to ensure that everyone who seeks to join us on our expeditions are a positive, forthcoming and interesting individual, hence why The Great Expedition Company follows a curation protocol when selecting guests to join us. This is why our selection process is curated.

Having “what it takes” simply means you’re open to new places, new people and unforgettable sights. We’re all smart in different ways, and it’s up to team leading the expedition to put together a truly excellent group for a truly exceptional experience.

Find the Zoom call scheduling window below, tell us something about yourself and then book a call with us to discuss your participation.