Greenland Expeditions 2025: Phase 3

GREENLAND 74°N to ICELAND 65°N 2025

EXPEDITION CONCEPT: PROSPICE EX ANIMO

Prospice ex animo (latin) = To Move Forward, with Courage/from the Heart

OUR GRAND CONCEPT FOR 2025: FOUR INTERCONNECTED EXPEDITIONS FROM THE HEART OF THE ARCTIC TO THE SUB-ARCTIC

Each leg of can be undertaken independently, or together for the ultimate arctic expedition.

With the expeditionary tradition of the past and the trappings of the future, an array of dramatic nature and Arctic wildlife awaits you!


CURATED & HOSTED BY JOE SHUTTER WITH S/V LINDEN

For PHASE THREE, the expedition sails south, out of King Oscar Fjord and into Scoresby Sound,Northeast Greenland; out of there the world’s largest National Park and into the world’s largest fjord system, before returning to Iceland.

After completing this journey, the expedition enters into its last phase and sail east rom Iceland, stopping over in the Westman Islands before crossing to the Faroe Islands (part of the Kingdom of Denmark), the Shetland Islands, (part of Scotland, UK) and then finally stopping in Bergen, Norway.

(Prospice ex animo. Meaning: To Move Forward, with Courage/from the Heart)

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

  1. Traverse the remote coast of Northeast Greenland

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

  3. Explore two different fjord systems in Northeast Greenland

  4. Visit some of the most remote, ice-free fjords in East Greenland

  5. Visit the world’s largest National Park (The Northeast Greenland National Park)

  6. Visit the world’d largest fjord system

  7. Participate in an active scientific programme which seeks to collect data about the Arctic (entirely voluntary)

  8. Undertake the expedition with a small ground of 12 amazing people from all over.

  9. Enjoy stunning Arctic vistas and landscapes with the trappings of civilisation

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

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

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

EXPEDITION A

DEPARTS: 28 AUG (MON) (Reykjavik, Iceland)

RETURNS: 11 SEPT (MON) (Reykjavik, Iceland)

Duration: (14 days, 13 nights)
Passengers: 12 (SOLD OUT)

EXPEDITION B

DEPARTS: 11 AUG (MON) (Reykjavik, Iceland)

RETURNS: 21 SEPT (MON) (Reykjavik, Iceland)

Duration: (14 days, 13 nights)
Passengers: 12

Where are we going on this intrepid expedition? Clink/tap to expand.

To join this expedition, you need to apply!

The Great Expedition Company invites those with an expeditionary spirit to join us on a voyage of breath-taking scenery and unforgettable wildlife encounters high into the quiet sanctuary of the Arctic

Read through all of the information on this page.

Find the Zoom call scheduling window at the bottom of the page. Apply and book a call with Joe to discuss your participation in this expedition.

We only want people who have read the whole web page to apply! Why? Because we want people to understand what they’re in for: the adventure of their lives!

Citizen Science: A Call to Action

We have taken the decision to run a scientific programme on board this expedition, owing to the remoteness of the locations we will be travelling in and the general lack of data about the Arctic. The purpose of this programme is to shed light on the continuing influence of the changing climate on the Polar Regions.

In Practice, this means that the crew will be collecting data at regular intervals throughout the expedition relating to water temperature at, the presence of microplastics (if any), salinity and acidity levels as well as keeping a rigorous log on sighted wildlife along the way.

At the end of the expedition, all the data will be collated into a report which will be disseminated to Scientific databases which can be used to aid in further research about the Arctic.

All passengers are invited to participate in this ongoing programme on board and involve themselves. It must be said that there is no obligation at all, and participation is entirely voluntary.

Tucked away high above the level of the Arctic Tundra, itself a very unforgiving landscape, lie the world’s largest fjords, some of which extend to over 240 miles in length. Sailing 70° north, only 20 degrees away from the North Pole, this expedition will take you on an invigorating and disconnected exploration far away from the stresses of the modern world. This slice of simplicity and proximity to nature is restoration for the spirit that is weary of modernity.

The human exploration of Scoresbysund is but a brushstroke upon a tremendous and exuberant canvas on one of the oldest places in the world.


We propose to seek out its secrets, and reveal them, with you.

What’s all the fuss about Northeast Greenland, anyway?

It is said that there are two phases in life: life before Greenland and life after Greenland. Greenland is portal through which one passes and cannot pass back through: whatever you think think Greenland is, it’s more, its bigger, and grander.  This expedition will lay bare the secrets of Greenland in an unparralled setting.

OUR PEOPLE MEAN EVERYTHING TO US. MEMORIES FROM YEARS PAST.

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 Svalbard seas.

Founder of The Great Exped & Expedition Leader

Welcome, curious explorer! Joe here. British-Brazilian, 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 depending my knowledge of the Arctic and Antarctic.

My affinity for the Polar Regions has no limits. Through my lens and many years of exploration, I have honed the artful skill of curating positive and purposeful experiences which I take great joy in sharing with fellow explorers.

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 expedition parties. I strive to use my expedition time on the most remote and unique places and experience, but I’m always ready for whatever nature has lined up for me. I am always there for my people.

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.⁣

@joe_shutter

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.

@sv__linden

Joe Shutter

YOUR EXPEDITION LEADER

A personal note from Joe:

Captain Rasmus is a gentle soul with kind eyes; I have no doubt that you will feel welcomed and at ease in his presence, and safe in his sailing skills. He is a breathe of fresh air on the seas: intelligent yet humble, he is committed to exploring in an intentional and eco-friendly manner, which was the very basis for which I decided to form a collaboration between The Great Expedition Company and S/V Linden. We have a mutual respect and understanding for the fragile Arctic we intend to sail in, and as such, we can plan to explore with purpose and wonder. I am beaming with excitement just writing these words, knowing what lies ahead of you and I: awe-inspiring natural beauty, thrilling wildlife encounters, and genuine human connection amongst our intimate group as we set sails under the Arctic sun.

ARCTIC MEMORIES

WE ARRANGE

  • Accommodation on board, incl. bedding & towels

  • All meals, snacks, tea and coffee throughout.

  • Your inbound flight from ICELAND to GREENLAND via a chartered private plane at the beginning of the expedition.

  • Provision of a complimentary “Great Expedition Kit” : a curated collection of Expedition essentials to enhance your expedition.

  • Expedition champagne and port supply.

  • Usage of 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: 26 August - Sept 09  2025

    (14 days, 13 nights)

  • Berths: 12

  • Price: €11,995

    • (with 20% deposit payable to secure a 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 OBJECTIVE

With 14 days and 13 nights at our disposal, we really have a strong time budget for this expedition; and we need it, because we have a lot of amazing stuff to see! Broadly speaking, the expedition will leave Mestersvig, in King Oscar Fjord, sail past Flemingfjord and Carlsberg Fjord, around the suggest coast of Liverpool Land which faces the Denmark Strait, going into Scoresby Sund (originally called Scoresby’s Sound) and follow a circuit of Milne Land, the largest island in Scoresby Sound. Along the way, we will experience dramatic landscapes, active glaciers and huge icebergs that will dwarf even our larger vessel, S/V Linden. After traversing Øfjord, Rødefjord, Fønfjord and the Volquart Boons, we will begin our return sail to Reykjavik, Iceland, which we expect to take 3 days.

DAY 1-2

You will arrive at the airport in Reykjavik and board your charter flight to Mestersvig. We will get everyone on board and settled into their cabins and We will aim to throw off the ropes. We will sail out of King Oscar FJord and try to stop by at some of the islands and fjords along the way.

DAY 3-4

Round the coast of Liverpool Land on this day, we will start to enter Scoresby Sound, the world’s largest fjord system. From Cap Brewster, we will want to follow the Volquart Boons with their ever-rising collection of mountains and glaciers, some of which are very active. We will need to be on the look out from now, because now we are in Polar Bear territory, where they are regularly seen patrolling the cliffs in search of food and seals on ice floes.  

DAY 5-6

Passing by Vikingbukta and Denmark Ø, our search for polar bears continues. Later in the afternoon, we will settle into a nice cruising speed down Fønfjord and finish the night at Red island and the graveyard of Icebergs. if time allows, we can launch a sunset zodiac cruise around the Red Island and enjoy the stunning icebergs by sunset and potentially even by moonlight.

DAY 7-8

Our expedition continues north, up Rødefjord, so called because of the red sedimentary deposit which line the fjord, and will can observe Muskox and go on a Muskox safari, following round Hereford (the hare fjord) and eventually finding a sheltered anchorage there.  

DAY 9-10

In what could easily be labelled as the highlight of the expedition, we will pass through the immense Øfjord, with towering granite peaks resembling the Cerro Torre and Fitzroy of Patagonia. Made of the same stuff actually.  the Stand out peaks include the Grundtvigskirken (1977m) and another needle shaped peak that remains unnamed. 

DAY 11

After sailing down Øfjord, we will find ourselves in the Bear Islands, also known as the Arctic Riviera. It is a stunning archipelago and a hiker’s paradise, filled with solid granite hills and abundant plant life for this latitude. A day spend exploring there bear islands is a day well spent.

DAY 12-14

Leaving Scoresby Sound, we will be followed by immense icebergs which will be going in the same direction as use. if the winds are good, we can sail out of the fjord system. We may wish to stop at the small village of Ittoqqortoomitt (population 375) on the way out as our last dry land for 3 days as we sail to Iceland.

DAY 15

We aim to arrive into the harbour of Reykjavik, Iceland in the morning of the 15th day, Monday September 9th and then shortly thereafter begin the disembarkation process, wrapping up a phenomenal expedition.

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.