Arctic Expedition: Greenland Day 2 - Blomsterbugten & Nanortalik ( Musk Ox hunting )

Arctic Expedition

Day 2 - Blomsterbugten & Nanortalik

Previous: First Landing ( Myggebugta & Kapp Humboldt )

Photo Album: Day 2 - Blomsterbugten & Nanortalik

Video : Day 2 - Blomsterbugten & Nanortalik

Blomsterbugten: Icebergs, Oxen, and the Odd Wolf Print

We woke to a calm, sunny morning at Blomsterbugten. The bay was dotted with icebergs, gently drifting past like they were in no hurry whatsoever—classic Greenland vibes.

We climbed a steep hill toward a lookout with views over a cluster of lakes.

Lake Noa, tinted with a soft pink hue, lay perfectly still. Peaceful, yet the guides stayed on high alert, rifles in hand. Polar bears don’t RSVP.

Along the way, we stumbled on a series of wolf prints. Definitely adds some drama to your morning stroll.

As always, wildflowers added bursts of colour, moths flitted by, and the ever-enthusiastic mosquitoes showed up in plenty. Nature’s fan club.

Off in the distance, a musk ox grazed contentedly on the tundra, completely unfazed by our presence. A couple of ducks with stylish pink legs came much closer—but weren’t exactly social, paddling away with purpose. So much for warm Greenland welcomes!

To Nanortalik – Icebergs and Ancient Dwellings

Back on the boat, we spotted more quirky, sculptural icebergs on the way to Nanortalik. The weather held up—sunny, warmish, and perfect for some open-deck lounging (jacket still required, though).

Soon after landing, we made our way toward an old human settlement site.

Just as we crested a slope, we startled a musk ox who clearly wasn’t expecting guests. It gave us a long, thoughtful stare, took a few steps back, paced around like it was weighing its life choices—and then bolted uphill in a burst of dust. Quite the show.

The settlement itself was a humble cluster of 3 or 4 ancient subterranean huts—low to the ground, with crawlspace entries. No one’s sure exactly how old they are—there hasn't been any formal archaeological work yet—but Vikings did live around here between 900 and 1800 BC. They either moved on or disappeared about 200 years ago. Possibly due to the mosquitoes. Just saying.

Musk Ox Encore + Evening Magic

Further up the trail, we spotted more musk oxen... but with the sun right behind them, our photos turned out more “mystical silhouette” than National Geographic. So we took a detour to swing around and try for a better angle.

Video of the day's actions. Day 2 - (for full screen, use this) & Nanortalik

Just as we reached a good position—bam! Three musk oxen came charging in from the left. Thankfully, they were a safe distance away, and as soon as they saw us, they stopped, looked mildly embarrassed, and casually trotted off up the hill. Crisis averted, memory card spared.

We eventually rejoined our original route and were rewarded with clear views and great photo ops of the original herd. Plenty of pictures. Plenty of video. Plenty of satisfaction.

Golden Hour & Kayak Glory

Later, around 9:30 p.m., with the low golden sun casting magic across the landscape, we cruised past the cliffs of Ella Island and into Kong Oscar Fjord. One of those moments where even the camera can’t do it justice.

Meanwhile, shoutout to our kayak team, who paddled a whopping 31 km from Blomsterbugten to Nanortalik—an 8-hour journey! They returned to the boat looking tired but triumphant. Hats off and paddles up to them.

Our footprint for the day...