Greenland offers something that more and more people are looking for, the ability to unplug and immerse themselves in unspoiled nature. If you are one of those seeking the uplift of uncrowded nature, this East Greenland guided trekking adventure is for you. Over the course of 12 days, you will have the time and occasion to enjoy the singular beauty that surrounds you, as you hike past mountain peaks, fjords, glaciers, icebergs and more. Transport for the tour is via powerboat, which adds even more depth to this tour as you glide past breathtaking icebergs floating on a calm ocean to your next hiking destination. Come let Greenland renew your sense of wonder! See full description below.

• Tour Description

  Highlights of the Tour

  • Unique trekking among Ice and Glaciers
  • The Famous Karale Icefjord
  • Space, Silence and Impressive Alpine Landscape.

  Boat assisted trek in East Greenland

  Uncover the most wild and remote places in Greenland on this extraordinary trek. Here the mountains are steeper, the icebergs more abundant. The local Inuit stay close to their origin, as their survival is still dependent on their fishing and hunting successes. Deep fjord systems and floating icebergs create the perfect arctic atmosphere for an unforgettable journey. On this amazing trekking tour we will enjoy the sights of this breathtaking landscape both from the valleys and at the top of small peaks. The tour includes the popular must see Karale fjord, as well as the remote but fantastic Tasiilaq fjord.

  This area is relatively easy to access yet still remote, giving you a great opportunity to experience Greenland's peaceful nature without an extremely difficult trek to reach such unique isolation.

  Although the area is isolated and unspoiled, the hike is not technically demanding. There are challenges here and there, but nothing an experienced hiker cannot do with the guidance of our experienced guide. Travel by boats and using them for luggage transport means that Greenland’s peaceful nature and unique isolation becomes accessible for real trekking without the labor of carrying heavy packs.

  Total walking distance: 140 kilometers (87 miles)

  Altitude: 0 - 850 meters

  Maximum ascent: 1000 meters (3280 feet)

  Included in price: Guide for 12 days, Food (breakfast (11), lunch (12), dinner (11)), boat transfers, boats for baggage transport, tent accommodation (7 nights), cooking gear, hut accommodation (2 nights) and hostel accommodation in Kulusuk (2 night).

  Not included: Flights to/from Kulusuk from Iceland (can be added on the first and last day of the trip - please choose when you book online), personal equipment, insurance and expenses.

  Flights for Reykjavik-Kulusuk-Reykjavik are around 585 Euros + taxes. The price depends on availability of the concerned date. 

  Accommodation in Reykjavík can be added before and/or after tour. Contact us if you want us to assist you with securing accommodations.

  Read about Lisa's Unplugged Wilderness experience with us in 2017 and check our her blog about the trek.

  Note: For this tour to be confirmed, the minimum number of passengers has to be met. If the tour is not confirmed you will get a full refund. Should a tour not be confirmed, we always try to have other similar tours running in the same period of time.

  Private groups & tailor-made tours
  Create the ultimate Greenlandic adventure for your group. You can choose to make one of our pre-existing intineraries a private tour or our travel experts can help you design a completely customized adventure from scratch to meet your group’s wants and needs. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides will ensure that your group has a fun and unique experience during your time in Greenland. Please send your group’s size, preferred dates and desired activities to [email protected]. We look forward to helping you create an adventure of a lifetime.

  If you have questions, please check our FAQs. If you do not find the answer please contact us: [email protected]

• Tour Itinerary

  Day 1 First Impressions and Tour Briefing 

  The tour starts with our flight to Kulusuk, a village named after the island of Kulusuk. Departure and arrival are at the same time, so it is some kind of time-travel: two hour´s flight and two hours’ time difference!  Kulusuk is a small village clinging to the rocky coast, surrounded by iceberg-filled water. We go to Kulusuk Hostel, a cabin accommodation where we sped the night. We explore this colorful village. In the evening we will go over the adventures ahead and go over our equipment so we are well prepared for the unplugged wilderness. Night in hostel.

  Day 2 Towards the Unplugged Wilderness and Warm-up Hike

  A boat picks us up in the morning and takes us to our first campsite in Karale fjord. We sail for about 2 hours to one of the most serene campsites in the world, surrounded by pointy peaks and dramatic glaciers. This beautiful place will be our camp for the next 2 nights. 

  Ones we have pitched our tents it is time for a little warm-up for the days to come. We march up a not to high peak above our campsite, still providing us with a breathtaking view over the fjord and a different sense of our size in the world. We spend the night in the Karale fjord camp.

  Sailing: Approx. 2 hours 

  Distance : 6 km / 3,7 milles
  Ascend / Descend : 500 m / 1640 feet
  Active duration : 4 hours 

  Day 3 Karale Glacier and glacier hike

  Although silence is omnipresent in East Greenland, most likely you will wake up to the thunder of ice calving from one of the three glaciers surrounding us. This is a pleasant noise to wake up to and it will fill you with energy for todays adventures.

  Our first hike includes less ascend and more focus on the vastness of the glacier. We walk into the fjord towards Karale glacier’s ice-wall, stretching four to five kilometers wide. Karale is the biggest glacier in the area, and enormous ice clumps regularly detach from it. As we follow the coast, we will need to ford a small river and hike on a glacier. If we have brought a bottle of whiskey, this is the ideal place to have a drink with ice that is over 600 years old! Feel free to bring some ancient ice back with you for tonight’s aperitif! At the end of our hike, we return to our fjord camp. 

  Distance : 15 km / 9 miles
  Ascend / Descend : 100 m / 350 feet
  Active duration : 6-7 hours

  Day 4 From Karale fjord to Nunartivaq

  Today we leave Karale fjord, but just wait, the next campsite is no less amazing. We walk along the coast and eventually cross over a pass on Nunartivaq mountain, passing colorful rock formations and enjoying yet another great view. We descend down into a small valley full of old stone blocks (boulders) not far from a beautiful beach. We put up camp for the night.

  Distance : 8.5 km / 5.2 miles
  Ascend / Descend : 520 m / 1700 feet
  Active duration : 6-7 hours

  Day 5 Abandoned Ikateq US Army Base

  Here is a tip: get up before everyone else does and take a dip in the ocean! You will need some extra kick as this will be one of the more demanding days. The trek includes following the slopes of the mountains that descend into the sea, towards the Southwest. This can be a challenge on the food, as there is considerable side slope in the morning. But the guide is there to hold your hand if needed. We walk into the Ikateq strait, a narrow passage between the mainland and the Qianarteq island. We arrive in a valley with an old, abandoned military airport from WWII. This place is a fountain of curiosities. We put up our camp here for the night.

  Distance : 10.5 km / 6.3 miles
  Ascend / Descend : 150 m / 500 feet
  Active duration : 6-7 hours

  Day 6 Tunu

  After we all find a WWII treasure, we continue through the Ikateq strait towards the Tunu fjord. Although, today is not as challenging as yesterday, we will still see some action. In Tunu we have to ford a large glacier river that flows in many branches towards the sea. Really refreshing! We continue to Tunup Kua valley, between high and steep granite mountains. There is something special about the energy here, and we will set camp in this magical place for the evening.

  Distance : 11 km / 7.2 miles
  Ascend / Descend : 92 m / 300 feet
  Active duration : 6-7 hours

  Day 7 Mountain pass and Glacier hike in Tunup Nua

  Today, we turn away from the coast for the first time and walk in the Tunup Kua valley. We go over a mountain pass to the Tasiilap Nua valley in the extremely narrow and deep Tasiilaq fjord. This fantastic valley is surrounded by up to 1500m high granite peaks on both sides. Today’s adventure includes crossing a glacier tongue, and we advise you to have your hiking sticks handy.

  Distance : 12 km / 7.5 miles
  Ascend / Descend : 275 m / 900 feet
  Active duration : 6-7 hours

  Day 8 Tasiilaq Kua 

  Following the coast, we walk north to the very bottom of the Tasiilaq fjord. On the way, we cross a couple of small streams, child’s play compared to the large river we crossed in Tunu on Day 6. We put up the camp close to a river flowing from the valley behind the Tasiilaq fjord, called Tasiilap kua. This is the last time we camp on this trip. Take it in!

  Distance : 13.5 km / 8.5 miles
  Ascend / Descend : 400 m / 1300 feet
  Active duration : 5 hours

  Day 9 Up, up, up we go to Tasiilaq Mountain Hut

  It is time to ascend out of the valley. We pack our bags for the next two nights, our sleeping bags and food for two days, and head up to Tasiilaq mountain hut. The hut is situated at around 700 m altitude in a mountain range rising above 2000 m. The day starts easy, but we must hike one steep hill along a glacier moraine before we arrive to the beautiful view in the valley where our hut is located. Tonight, we make ourselves comfortable in this cozy mountain hut.

  Distance : 7 km / 4.5 miles
  Ascend : 700 m / 2300 feet
  Active duration : 5 hours

  Day 10 Tasiilaq Mountain Summit

  The goal for today is to find a place where we can enjoy the fantastic alpine landscape around us. We head out from the hut to climb a summit rising above our accommodations. Today is the day for those with fear of heights to take a deep breath and go for it. The guide is by your side. After taking in so much beauty and splendor at the summit, we head back to our cozy mountain hut for the evening.

  Distance : 3 km / 1.6 miles
  Ascend / Descend : 400 m / 1300 feet
  Active duration : 6 hours

  Day 11 Down, down, down we go, and back to Kulusuk

  On our last day of hiking, we descend down to the Tasiilaq fjord again, the same way as we came up. A boat awaits us and a smiling chauffeur will sail us back to Kulusuk, where we spend our last night in sleeping bags accommodation at the Kulusuk Hostel. It is time for a cozy night on the sofa, a good meal and ... a shower... anyone? 

  Distance : 7 km / 4.5 miles
  Ascend : 700 m / 2300 feet
  Active duration : 4 hours

  Sailing : 2 hours

  Day 12 One last morning in Greenland

  Before we can say farewell to Greenland, we spend some time learning a bit about Inuit culture and history. On a guided tour of the Kulusuk Museum, a tiny and charming place run by a local family, we fill up on knowledge about Greenland’s native people and culture. Brimming with new knowledge and memories that will last a lifetime, we say goodbye to Greenland and fly back to Reykjavík, Iceland, late morning. We arrive in Reykjavík in the late afternoon.

• Equipment List

  Trekking Tours in Greenland

  - Equipment list for Trekking Tours / Assisted Treks in Greenland

  Boots and Clothing:

  • Sturdy Hiking Boots – preferably waterproof with ankle support. 
  • Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic. 
  • T-shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic. 
  • Light wool or fleece sweater (2nd layer).
  • Puffy jacket (e.g. Primaloft or down).
  • Trousers – Strong and light material that dries quickly e.g. soft-shell. 
  • Jacket or an Anorak with a good hood – windproof, waterproof and breathable. 
  • Rain trousers – windproof, waterproof and breathable. Please note that full raingear is mandatory on all our tours. 
  • Gloves – Wool or synthetic. 
  • Socks – Wool or synthetic. Two or three pairs. 
  • Warm hat – Wool or synthetic.

  Other gear:

  • A duffel bag for the transport of your overnight gear. Please avoid bringing a suitcase! 
  • Backpack for extra clothes and food during the day that can also be used when you go to the mountain hut. You need to be able to pack your sleepingbag, extra clothes, as well as the food (mostly dryfood) that will be devided beteween you and the other passengers before you hike up to the hut, A 50L pack should be enough. (3000 cu in)  
  • River shoes – Walking sandals or old running shoes with a good grip are a good choice, along with a pair of warm socks or neoprene socks. Open sandals or flip-flops will not do the job. 
  • Walking pole(s).
  • Sleeping bag – Comfort level 0 degree celtius to minus 5 degrees celtius
  • Camping mattress
  • Towel – light weight and packable. 
  • Sunglasses & sun protection. 
  • Water container – thermos flask or water bottle 0,5 – 1L.
  • A box/container for your daily lunchs 
  • Headlamp for reading and getting around the hut/tent. 
  • Change of clothes for wearing in the hut/camp.
  • Personal first aid kit – including blister care. 
  • Prescription medication and other personal health items.
  • Toiletries; Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap etc. 
  • Earplugs 
  • Protection against flies (mosquito's); such at nets, repellants, etc.

  Optional gear:

  • Gaiters
  • Neoprene socks – highly recommended for river crossings
  • Pen knife
  • Sun/rain Hat or a Cap
  • Thermal mat (for lunch breaks). 
  • Camera, spare batteries and a memory card or films.
  • Dry-bags for electronics and extra clothing. 
  • Aperitif or other heart-warming spirits.

  We provide

  • Tents
  • Cooking gear and cutlery, plates and cups.

  For your own wellbeing and safety we strongly suggest following the advice of our equipment list, this includes having good quality rain-gear, tops and bottoms! Also respect that cotton clothing is not appropriate for any strenuous outdoor activity – this includes jeans and t-shirts. Modern outdoor clothing is by far more comfortable and will greatly improve your experience. 
Gear transport in Greenland happens on boats with limited capacity – both in volume and weight – pleas limit your personal equipment to 15kg and pack it in a soft duffel bag or comparable.

  Should you have any questions regarding this equipment list or the equipment on our tours feel free to contact [email protected]

• Map
  
• Tour Dates Details

  2021 Departures	Availability
  06.07 - 17.07 2021	Available
  20.07 - 31.07 2021	Available
  06.08 - 17.08 2021	Available
  20.08 - 31.08 2021	Available

  * The 2021 dates are published with a notice that they might change slihgthly 
  based on the fligth schedule, published in October 2020.