Looking for the adventure of a lifetime? Board the Byr, an Arctic expedition sailing yacht, and spend 11 days exploring the wildest regions of Iceland and Greenland! We will sail through ice-filled fjords, kayak with the whales among towering icebergs, visit traditional Greenlandic villages, and encounter dozens of animals you can’t find anywhere else. The ultimate Arctic playground awaits — are you ready to unleash your wild side?
Board a spacious sailing yacht and enjoy an epic 11-day journey through the heart of the Arctic. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure combines the thrill of sailing, the serenity of kayaking, and the exhilaration of hiking, offering an unparalleled chance to explore Iceland and Greenland's spectacular landscapes. An expert kayak guide, captain, and first mate will lead you through this adventure, keeping you safe and satisfied on your adventure. From the moment you step aboard our vessel, you'll be captivated by the raw beauty and untouched wilderness.
We start our journey by meeting at Ísafjörður harbor at 10am. We will move your gear onboard and have a safety briefing. We will depart Isafjordur harbor at around noon and sail to Seyðisfjörður Fjord, a journey of about 1-2 hours. Our evening anchorage will be either at Eyri or Folafótur.
We’ll enjoy an afternoon kayak trip or onshore walk with the opportunity to observe the many different species of birds found here such as puffins, black guillemot, whooper swan, eider, fulmar, oystercatcher, ringed plover, golden plover, common snipe, common redshank, glaucous gull, great black-backed gull, arctic tern, pied wagtail, redwing and many others. By the day’s end, we will return to our sailboat and enjoy our first night on board.
Meals: Dinner
On Day 2, we will visit Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, a flora and fauna paradise. The last permanent residents moved away in 1952, with only summerhouses remaining. There are no roads in this area – it is only accessible by boat. The vegetation is surprisingly lush; over 2m/ 6,5 ft tall angelica grows down to the coast and the lowlands and the slopes are decorated by wildflower patches.
During the morning, we will paddle to the ruins of the old whaling station where Norwegians processed around 12,000 barrels of whale oil between 1894 and 1915. Before the Icelandic government passed a law to protect whales in Icelandic waters. Subsequently, Icelandic companies processed herring in the same plant until it was finally shut down around 1940.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
We will explore the northernmost tip of the reserve. This area feels incredibly wild, with towering cliffs filled with thousands of nesting seabirds. The plan is to go kayaking in the morning and hiking in the afternoon, and we expect to see Arctic foxes foraging for eggs and young chicks. Both outings provide a very different perspective of this spectacular area. In the evening, we’ll prepare to depart for Greenland, as soon as we get a good weather window.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
On day 4, we will be crossing the Denmark Strait on our way to Greenland. In the afternoon, we should get our first glimpse of the mountains of Greenland. We will keep a watchful eye for icebergs that are always present in this area. Dolphins and whales are likely to be riding our bow wake.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
We continue our journey to the great Kangerlugssuaq Fjord (‘big fjord’), where we will anchor in Suhaili Bugt. This is a very sheltered anchorage where Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (the first man to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe) and Sir Chris Bonnington (Britain’s best-known mountaineer and one of the most successful expedition leaders in history) anchored their vessel, the Suhaili, during their attempt to climb Cathedral Peak in 1991. This will be our base camp for the following few days.
In Kangerlugssuaq Fjord we have plenty of options for hikes, climbs, and kayak tours. We can paddle over to the abandoned Skærgård Inuit settlement and explore the Uttendal Sound towards the ice-filled Watkins Fjord. We can also hike in the hills of Kræmer Island where there are fantastic vistas of the surrounding fjords, mountains, and glaciers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
We will leave Kangerlugssuaq Fjord and make our passage south.
This spectacular area was beautifully described in the British Admiralty Arctic Pilot: ‘The stretch of coast between Kap SM Jørgensen and Kap Deichmann, 90 miles NE, is considered one of the most difficult in Greenland; the mountains rise almost vertically from the sea to form a narrow bulwark, with rifts through which active glaciers discharge quantities of ice, while numerous off-lying islets and rocks make navigation hazardous’.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Sailing further south, we will explore new areas before entering Nigertuluk Fjord. Here are two spectacular calving glaciers, a sandy beach, and a tranquil mountain lake. All in all, this is a fantastic playground for hiking and kayaking.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
On Day 8, we will sail across to Kangertigtivatsiaq Fjord. There are hanging glaciers precariously balanced on the steep hillsides and other glaciers coming right down to the sea. At the head of the fjord, away in the distance, we will see a superb pinnacled mountain, reminiscent of St. Paul ́s Cathedral; this is Ingolfsfjeld. We will anchor overnight in Storø.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Our journey continues as we sail further south into the remote and little-explored territory of Depot Sound. We will pass the Idrac Glacier, Fladøerne Island, and Smalsund, and will anchor overnight in Sermiligaq.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today, we will sail further into Sermiligaq Fjord and enter the stunning Ikasaq Sound, where we will make a short stop at the abandoned WWII military base of Bluie East 2. From there, we will continue our passage to Ammassalik Fjord and anchor next to Kulusuk village in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
We will go ashore and visit the village of Kulusuk. This is where our expedition ends. You can catch a departing flight back to Iceland – or continue exploring Greenland on your own!
Meals: Breakfast (lunch will be provided if flights leave in the afternoon)
Expedition Engineering (EE) are the best adventure trip operators I have encountered. My wife and I have undertaken either privately organised trips or trips run by operators other than EE all over Australia and the world for the last 55 years, Without reserve I recommend EE paddling trips even for less competent/confident paddlers. EE is superior with innovative spectacular destinations, safety briefings/procedures and social interaction. Travel with Matt and Ang They will not let you down.
Included:
Not included:
This tour is meant for adventurers with previous kayaking experience. You should be comfortable kayaking for 1.5 hours at a time, for up to 4 hours a day. You will also potentially need to paddle in some swell and wind waves. Remember: the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your trip.
Liability waivers are a standard part of all guided outdoor adventures. Recently, the requirements have become a bit more rigorous for ACMG guides—meaning that you’ll need to agree to the signing of the waiver at the time of booking.
Prior to booking, we ask you to review the waiver. During the checkout process, you’ll have to acknowledge the risks and agree to the signing of the waiver. You are required to bring a printed copy on the trip.
Please note that signing and agreeing to the terms of the waiver is required in order to join this adventure. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us prior to booking.
This tour is the perfect opportunity to experience wildlife! We will be exploring some of the wildest and most remote regions of Greenland and Iceland, so your chances of seeing local wildlife will be much higher than in standard tours.
Here is a list of animals we may encounter on this trip:
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Expedition kayaks, paddles, lifejackets, skirts, dry suits, and safety equipment will be provided by your guide.
Group sizes and pricing
Min. age requirements
To get to Isafjordur harbor, the starting point of the tour, most people fly into Keflavik International Airport. From there, you can take a 45-minute flight to Isafjordur.
Alternatively, if you want to see more of Iceland, you can take a bus to Isafjordur. However, this is logistically more complex and will take you over 7 hours.
You will be meeting your guide at Isafjordur harbor at 10am on the first day of the tour, so make sure to plan your trip accordingly. Once you get there, your guides will help you move your gear onboard and the tour will start.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
I have done several trips with Expedition Engineering now and have found Matt and Angela to be very professional and considerate in the planning and execution of their expeditions. Prior to Covid, I had the pleasure of joining them on three exploratory trips, one each to Raja Ampat, Kamchatka Peninsula, and Alaska. Being self-supporting camping based exploratory trips, both Matt and Angela went to extraordinary lengths to research these new areas, access local equipment and knowledge, engage professional local guides, provide nutritious and tasty meals, and ensure participant safety was always at the forefront of everything they did. With these trips being exploratory in nature, there were always unknowns and not everything went to plan, but Matt and Angela’s experience came through every time with their extensive preparation and knowledge providing effective solutions to keep the journeys on track, and all participants safe and engaged. While sadly I have not had the good fortune of joining them on any expeditions recently, I look forward to being part of their adventures in the near future when the cost of flights drop to a level that makes long distance travel affordable again. I cannot recommend Expedition Engineering enough if you are looking for an adventurous journey in some of the most spectacular and remote parts of the world.