The Kingdom of Ice
- Trekking & Hiking
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our UK team
Welcome to Greenland! We will greet you at the airport and escort you to your accommodation in the centre of Ilulissat. Located approximately 220 miles north of the Arctic Circle Ilulissat is an interesting place, it has as many sled dogs as people! Discover more about the local culture, history and traditions on a walking tour of this iconic Greenlandic city.
We will board a local ferry and sail across Disko Bay to the island of Disko (also called Qeqertarsuaq). Disko Bay is known as the sea of ice but it is said that during the summer months there are more whales than icebergs here! Keep your eyes open, particularly for humpback whales, as the ferry weaves between icebergs and heads towards the impressive 1000m cliffs of Qeqertarsuaq. We will spend two nights camping on this island exploring its range of landscapes and rich varieties of fauna and flora. We will set up a basecamp near to a picturesque fishing village in a sheltered spot surrounded by mountains, with views of the Bay, its icebergs and whales. We can enjoy guided hikes featuring some of this island’s most impressive features like Blaesedalen ‘the valley of the winds’, a superb U-shaped glacial valley with numerous waterfalls. We will cross beaches with icebergs which have run aground and discover Kuannit with its fields, hot springs and volcanic cliffs. We can even climb to Lyngmark Glacier to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the island!
From our base camp, we explore Disko Island, a paradise for geologists, biologists and other scientists for the diversity of its landscapes and the richness of its fauna and flora. It is also a vast playground for hikers. We climb to the foot of the impressive Lyngmark glacier which will offer us a superb panoramic view of the whole island. In the evening we all gather around the stove in the dinning tent to chat about the days adventures.
On our last day exploring Disko Island we will hike along iceberg covered beaches and discover cliff faces harboring vast numbers of sea birds. Every day allows us to discover a new facet of this Arctic landscape. We leave the camp and sail to Ilulissat in the evening, settling in at our accommodation.
Today we leave for three days of exploration at Eqip Sermia, 50km north of Ilulissat. The vast glacier here is particularly impressive and it is common to see gigantic seracs collapse into the sea, a dramatic spectacle. We set up our camp for three nights and hike in the region, near the glacier and the ice cap. Each hike leads us to discover new and varied areas of this immense wilderness. We hike on the delta of the river to observe the icebergs stranded on the sand and to the foot of the glacier, populated by seals. Finally, we hike up the trail traced by Paul Emile Victor To the ice sheet.
This great hike will undoubtably be a highlight of your trip! We will now go back in time to follow in the footsteps of polar expeditions. From the Victor cabin on the bay to the ice sheet where a former advanced research camp was located. We use the path that Paul Emile Victor's teams dug into the rock in 1947 to approach the ice cap. Every step brings us closer to this frozen vastness that we will explore, just like the great explorers of the past.The hike to the ice sheet lasts between 9 and 11 hours. Climbing on the ice sheet is therefore optional and dependent on weather conditions.
Today we say farewell to the wilderness that has been our home for the last three nights. We take a final walk before packing up our camp and returning to Ilulissat by boat, weaving our way through the floating ice. In Ilulissat we settle in at our guesthouse where we will spend the next two nights.
We finish our stay in Greenland with a hike to the flowery valley of Sermermiut not far south of llulissat. Little by little, the frozen fjord of Ilulissat is revealed to us, a striking spectacle as thousands of icebergs gather in the fjord before beginning their slow drift towards the open ocean. We spend most of the day exploring the valley before returning to our hostel.
Free morning in Ilulissat. Visit the Knud Rasmussen Museum (optional) which traces the history of the great polar expeditions and in particular the life of Knud Rasmussen. Transfer to the airport to start your journey home.
The
details in this programme are regularly updated but unforeseeable and
unpredictable circumstances may result in inaccuracies. In order to provide the
adventure which is best suited to your demands, the weather and the operational
conditions, changes to the itinerary may be made. For safety reasons, we
reserve the rights to interrupt your participation at any time if your
technical level or fitness is deemed unsuitable or if you are seen as a danger
to yourself or to those around you. Under no circumstances would this give rise
to a refund or compensation.
This adventure is rated as challenging. You
will be hiking in some of the most remote wilderness in the world, possibly in
very cold and windy conditions. We will
walk for up to 10 hours a day, sometimes off track on uneven and difficult
terrain. There may be height gains up to 1000m.
To ask about your suitability for this
trip and what you can do to prepare please feel free to give us a call.
This
trip includes full board apart from one evening meal - we are proud of the
varied, fresh and frankly delicious food we provide even when camping. Meals
are based on a selection of local products and you will have the opportunity to
try Greenlandic delicacies such as cod, arctic char and mussels.
Each
day will start with a hearty breakfast accompanied by plenty of tea and
coffee. You will prepare your own picnic lunch for the day from a buffet style
array of options - everyday there will definitely be sandwiches, hot drinks and
cakes among other ingredients. Each evening meal will be three courses- we try
to offer fresh fruit and vegetables everyday but this is not always possible in
Greenland!
Your
help in the kitchen is expected and much appreciated, particularly in
the evenings. Cooking is most enjoyable when the whole group work as a team to
prepare dinner, it creates a pleasant atmosphere as we reflect on the days
adventures together.
Please
let us know about any dietary requirements when you book the trip and we will
work with you to cater for your needs.
This adventure includes a mix of hostel accommodation and camping.
In hostels, we will stay in
dormitories of between 4 and 12 people with shared bathroom facilities and a
communal dinning area. Each hostel will have heating and hot showers available.
Whilst camping, we will provide a 3 man
tent for 2 people and an inflatable mattresses.
There will be a dinning tent with tables and stools for taking meals and
for use as a communal space. Toilets will be basic holes in the ground and
their will be no showers.
Your luggage will need to be divided into
two bags, a daypack of 30 - 40 litres and a larger 80 - 100 litre bag
for the bulk of your luggage (see equipment).
Whilst trekking you should carry
everything you need in your daypack. This will include lunch, water, spare
clothing and any personal medication. Your larger bag can be left at our
campsite or guesthouse while you are out hiking.
The currency is the Danish Krone (DKK).
In
the larger towns, you can withdraw money and pay using most common credit or
debit cards. We recommend carrying some cash to avoid disappointment when card
facilities are not available.
Please
budget for drinks, tips, personal expenses and any meals not included in your
trip. Expect to pay at least 200DKK / 25 Euro for a meal.
Although the custom is practised here, it
is not expected. If you are satisfied with the services of your guide and local
team, tipping is always appreciated. It
is not obligatory and should be left to the discretion of each individual.
No date is available at the moment
Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!
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