Secret Atlas has added two small group photography departures for travelers who want to pursue the Northern Lights in Scoresbysund, East Greenland, during September 2026. Both nine day sailings use MV Vikingfjord, carry no more than 12 guests, and combine an Iceland to Greenland charter flight with a flexible expedition cruise led by polar photographers.
The first departure runs from September 21 to 29, while the second runs from September 28 to October 6. The product is not a conventional port sequence with guaranteed daily calls, so the buying decision depends as much on comfort with weather led exploration and a tightly limited baggage allowance as it does on the published price.
- Two current dates: September 21 to 29 and September 28 to October 6, 2026.
- Ship and group: MV Vikingfjord with a maximum of 12 guests.
- Starting rate: Secret Atlas lists rates from £13,400, €15,700, or $18,100 per person.
- Air connection: A private charter flight links Iceland with Nerlerit Inaat in East Greenland.
- Main planning check: Compare live cabin space, airfare to Iceland, baggage limits, insurance, and flexible expedition conditions before paying.
What Secret Atlas added for September
A July 19 report from Breaking Travel News describes the pair as new Northern Lights photography tours limited to 12 guests. The report places the emphasis on individual photography instruction, wildlife encounters, and a smaller expedition format rather than the scale of a conventional polar cruise ship.
The current Secret Atlas booking page confirms both departures, the nine day duration, MV Vikingfjord, and photographer Randy Hanna. It also shows the later departure with only four places available when checked, while the earlier sailing still displays booking options without the same limited space message.
That distinction matters because the headline price is only a starting point. The operator lists a twin or double cabin from £13,400 per person, while a suite and a single cabin begin at £15,600 on the first departure, subject to the inventory and terms displayed for the chosen date.
Prices are also shown in euros, United States dollars, Canadian dollars, and Australian dollars. A traveler should use the currency actually charged by Secret Atlas and confirm whether the quote changes with payment timing, cabin selection, exchange rates, or any optional services.
The journey starts with a charter flight from Iceland
Secret Atlas says guests meet at a prearranged point at Keflavik Airport or Reykjavik Airport before boarding a charter flight to Nerlerit Inaat, also known as Constable Point Airport. The operator describes the flight as roughly two hours on a DHC 8 200 or similar regional aircraft suitable for Arctic operations.
The published baggage allowance is 20 kilograms for checked luggage and 5 kilograms for carry on baggage. That is a meaningful constraint for a photography trip because camera bodies, lenses, batteries, cold weather layers, and personal items can reach the limit quickly, so equipment planning belongs near the top of the booking checklist.
After landing in East Greenland, the current trip description says guests take a short hike to the shore and transfer by Zodiac to Vikingfjord. This is not the same embarkation pattern as walking through a cruise terminal, and travelers should ask about assistance, surfaces, steps, wet landings, and equipment handling if mobility or heavy camera gear is a concern.
The final day reverses the charter route to Iceland and includes a hotel night before departure from Reykjavik. Travelers should still verify the exact hotel, included transfers, flight timing, and the earliest sensible onward airline connection rather than treating the return as an automatic same day international flight plan.
Scoresbysund is explored without a fixed daily promise
Secret Atlas outlines possible stops across the Scoresbysund fjord system, including Viking Bay, Danmark Island, Hare Fjord, Ofjord, the Bear Islands, Sydkap, and Ittoqqortoormiit. The operator also makes clear that polar exploration is responsive to weather, sea ice, wildlife, and local conditions, so these places are possibilities rather than a guaranteed checklist.
The strongest product feature is time and flexibility within a very small group. Instead of dividing hundreds of passengers into landing waves, Vikingfjord can move a dozen guests together for Zodiac cruises and shore exploration when the expedition leader and captain judge conditions suitable.
The Northern Lights remain a natural event and cannot be promised. Secret Atlas positions late September as a favorable period because darkness has returned to East Greenland, while the trip plan also seeks stable positions around forming sea ice for long exposure photography when conditions permit.
Wildlife language needs the same caution. The operator lists possible musk ox, Arctic fox, Arctic hare, polar bear, and narwhal sightings, but none should be treated as an included attraction or a reliable daily event.
Vikingfjord defines the scale of the product
Secret Atlas describes Vikingfjord as an ice strengthened expedition vessel serving 12 guests with eight crew members and two Zodiacs. Its public ship page lists a bridge observation lounge, an open plan lounge, a dining space, a sauna, a hot tub, and ensuite cabins, giving the voyage more comfort than the vessel’s working ship profile might suggest.
The exact ship image used with this article was photographed in September 2023 after Vikingfjord’s major rebuild. It shows the current red hull, white superstructure, open working deck, and Zodiac alongside the vessel, which is a more truthful product reference than a generic expedition ship or a scenic Greenland image without the named vessel.
A 12 guest ship also creates tradeoffs. It offers a more intimate group and fewer people moving ashore, but it cannot provide the broad restaurant, entertainment, medical, or accessibility infrastructure found on a large resort ship.
Deep Arrival’s cruise planning hub can help frame the wider ship and itinerary comparison. The Secret Atlas quote and guest documents remain the controlling sources for inclusions, insurance, payment deadlines, cancellation terms, medical requirements, and the equipment rules attached to this exact expedition.
| Decision point | Published detail | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Departure | September 21 or September 28, 2026 | Current cabin space and final meeting time in Iceland |
| Cabin | Twin, double, suite, and single choices are displayed | Exact occupancy, price, and sharing rules |
| Flight | Private charter to Nerlerit Inaat | Included transfer, hotel, airport, and onward flight buffer |
| Baggage | 20 kilograms checked and 5 kilograms carry on | Camera packing, battery rules, and any excess baggage option |
| Route | Flexible Scoresbysund exploration | Conditions, landing ability, and accepted itinerary changes |
What photographers should settle before booking
The operator presents Randy Hanna as the lead nature photographer and describes additional guidance from Virgil Reglioni and Giancarlo Zuccolotto. Prospective guests should confirm which experts are assigned to their exact departure, how much instruction occurs in the field or onboard, and whether the program is suitable for a beginner, an experienced photographer, or both.
Cold weather changes ordinary camera planning. Travelers should ask for the current recommended equipment list, battery handling rules, charging access, tripod guidance, backup storage expectations, and advice for protecting lenses and electronics during Zodiac transfers and changing temperatures.
The advertised full moon and potential sea ice platform may create compelling conditions, but neither should be treated as a scheduled studio session. Cloud cover, wind, ice, aurora activity, wildlife, and safe anchoring decisions remain outside the operator’s control.
Travel insurance also deserves a product specific check. A policy should be tested against the expedition cost, remote medical care, evacuation, weather delays, missed charter connections, photography equipment, and any activity exclusions stated in the guest documents.
- Choose the exact departure before comparing cabin prices because availability differs between the two dates.
- Protect the charter connection with a sensible arrival buffer in Iceland and a cautious onward flight plan.
- Weigh camera equipment against the 20 kilogram checked and 5 kilogram carry on allowances.
- Accept that the route, landings, wildlife, sea ice, and Northern Lights depend on safe local conditions.
- Confirm insurance, mobility, medical, cancellation, and equipment rules in writing before final payment.
Who this expedition fits best
The strongest fit is a traveler who values photography guidance, a very small ship, East Greenland scenery, and the flexibility of an expedition without a fixed daily port checklist. It may also suit someone who accepts a premium fare in exchange for a 12 guest group and a product designed around time in the field.
It is a weaker fit for a traveler who needs guaranteed Northern Lights, a predictable sequence of calls, generous airline style baggage, extensive onboard entertainment, or large ship accessibility. As of July 19, 2026, both departures are listed for booking, but the better choice depends on live cabin inventory and the full trip cost from home to Iceland and back.
When are the two Secret Atlas Northern Lights departures?
The current booking page lists September 21 to 29 and September 28 to October 6, 2026.
Which ship operates the tours?
Both departures use MV Vikingfjord, an ice strengthened expedition vessel limited to 12 guests.
How much do the tours cost?
Secret Atlas lists starting rates from £13,400, €15,700, or $18,100 per person, with higher prices for some cabins and currencies.
How do guests reach East Greenland?
The operator includes a private charter flight from Iceland to Nerlerit Inaat, followed by a Zodiac transfer to Vikingfjord.
Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?
No. Late September offers darker skies, but aurora activity, cloud cover, weather, and safe ship operations determine what guests can see and photograph.
