10-day Boat supported trek in East Greenland
Join IFMGA certified mountain guide Matt on this unforgettable experience exploring 'Tunu', the east coastline of Greenland for an immersive adventure into the wild. Glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, traditional Inuit hunting methods and more!
Group
10 Days
Jul, Aug
Occasional
Beginner
Highlights
- Experience the fjords, glaciers and wild places of East Greenland
- Comfortable camps moved each day by boat
- Visit some of the least known corners of the world and see their beauty
- Join the most experienced passionate & qualified Greenland guides & Inuit elders
- Small group size to maximise our experience of the wild
Description
With three-quarters of its landmass covered in ice, Greenland is more white this it is green. Nonetheless, a short but powerful summer transforms the landscape into a unique place to explore.
With human habitation going back 4,500 years there are rich cultural traditions that sporadically settle this wilderness. The east coastline (Tunu in Inuit language) with its rich marine life and special land wildlife will be the destination for this trip.
You will have the chance to discover some of the least visited locations on the planet with ginormous glaciers, rugged mountains and iceberg filled fjords amongst them. Your discovery will be made easier by using light day packs whilst our boat will transport the heavier possessions and our camp.
We will meet in Reykjavik, Iceland and then fly together to Kulusuk Island, we will spend the night in this small village. Kulusuk is comprised of about 250 Inuits who continue to subsist with hunting.
Our trek will see us traverse fjords, visit rich tundra, observe the wild arctic fauna and pass nights camped overlooking stunning glaciers as they calve into the sea.
On occasions that we travel by boat we will glide between pristine icebergs and hopefully observe whales feeding.
The summer in Greenland brings with it a surprising quantity of flora including Arctic Poppies, Arctic Willow, Speedwells, Alpine Gentians and Saxifrage.
The coastal waters around us will be teeming with marine life such as Minke, Fin, Humpback, Narwhal, Orca, Seals and Walruses. On the land, arctic foxes will be on the lookout for easy camp food. Its possible polar bears could pass through but we take all the necessary safety measures.
Myself and my team are highly experienced and we know this coastline intimately. We will use all our local and expert knowledge to provide the most exhilarating yet safe trip possible.
There are no major ascents to tackle on this trip (400m the highest climb) but we will traverse rocky shorelines, boulder-filled hillsides and untracked land. For this reason you should have confidence on uneven and exposed terrain. We advise regular hiking practice to prepare for the trip.
This excursion into the wilderness of the Greenland arctic is not one to be missed, sign up now and I will be ready to lead you on this once in a lifetime experience!
If a shorter trip would suit your timetable then join me on this 8-day adventure on the spectacular eastern coastline of Greenland for the chance to witness a pristine and wild environment up close and personal.
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation included
- Transport during the trip
- Luggage transfer
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Price details
Pleas contact us about 2019 dates
What's Not Included:
International return flights from your home country to Iceland
Any accommodation required in Reykjavik, Iceland during transit
Expedition/travel insurance
Personal expedition equipment
Rental equipment costs
Any extra expenses due to unforeseen circumstances (eg. delayed flights)
For return flights to Iceland from the UK the total would start from
£2986 (GBP) including Iceland - Greenland return flights
* final cost dependant of current airfare costs
Itinerary
Day 1: Reykjavik - Kulusuk
Fly Reykjavik to Kulusuk – Air Iceland.
A spectacular flight of icebergs and Greenland’s mountainous glaciated coastline.
We will meet you at Greenland airport.
We often head for a spot above the fjord to watch the sunset.
We’ll overnight in a typical local wooden cabin.
Day 2: Kulusuk Island
A day exploring Kulusuk Island.
including: Bays, Inlets, Old hunting grounds and wild vistas.
Day 3: Kulusuk - Kuummiut
By boat from Kulusuk to Kuummiut, about 1.5 hours.
Coastal hike from Kuummiut covering 7-9km
Day 4: Camp - Ikateq
Today we will cover 11km of sandy delta, stream crossings, small ascents & descents until we reach Ikateq.
Day 5: Ikateq - Camp
Today we will cover 9km. Crossing streaming, observing Arctic Char.
Our camp will be positioned at the bottom of a pristine valley with waterfalls
Day 6: Camp - Camp near Sermiligaq Fjord
Either a short day covering difficult ground to our next camp or we will spend time exploring the valley behind last nights’ camp, before moving on to the next camp.
Distance: 5km (or more if we explore the valley above camp)
Day 7: Camp Sermiligaq - Coastal camp
Over about 9km we’ll follow the stream uphill where the views to the north open up, giving our first glimpse of the huge calving face of a nearby glacier.
Much more exploration will will culminate by us descending past some small lakes, we make it back to our shore-side campsite.
Day 8: Coastal camp - Glacier overlook camp
We’ll start with a short hop across the fjord to a small bay and head north from there.
We’ll set up camp looking out toward the calving face of a glacier, and spend our last night in the wild listening to the cracks and groans of the glacier as it grinds it’s way into the fjord.
Day 9: Glacier overlook camp - Kulusuk
After a relaxed start, we’ll pack up camp and take a short walk onto a morraine overlooking the glacier; the sheer scale only now becoming apparent.
Then we’ll make the journey back to Kulusuk, constantly on the look our for whales.
Day 10: Kulusuk - Reykjavik
Time to explore the village and its museum before flight.
Flight 1.50 hours
Details
Accommodation We will start the expedition in Nanoq Lodge in the village of Kulusuk. Built to withstand severe arctic conditions, the lodge has running water (a rare thing in the village!) and is set up as a comfortable and practical place to launch our expeditions from.
During the hike we will have a comfortable camp that is transported by boat each day and then assembled in our next spectacular location. |
More info Reykjavik is a great place to spend some days before or after your trip, with lots to do in the surrounding area and a big range of cafes, restaurants and bars to explore. There is a small but significant risk of meeting polar bears in East Greenland. We don’t leave it to chance: with the right equipment, experience and systems, we carefully manage this risk. |
About the guide
Tomas and his team of IFMGA/UIMLA-certified mountain guides & leaders and rock climbing instructors (Anna, Andrea, Elis, Enrico, Ivan, Julia, Lucia, Marika, and Oreste) are some of the top outdoor adventure professionals in Italy.
Whether you wish to climb the Gran Paradiso or go on an exciting via ferrata in the Dolomites, among other amazing options, they will be able to show you the top spots and the ropes to ensure you have an unforgettable and safe adventure.
Tomas will be your main point of contact during the booking process and will be able to help you with all the questions you have in order to make sure you receive the best possible guiding service.
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