Polar Expedition: A Greenland Adventure Beyond the Ice

We will meet in the afternoon in our accommodation in Kangerlussuaq and get to know each other by a nice dinner together. We will have a walk around the town and adapt to the weather. Take a rest after your long flight, because tomorrow we start exploring!

Get to know the wildlife of Kangerlussuaq, on this fascinating 1 1/2 hour wildlife safari around Kangerlussuaq! You will be looking for the astonishing Musk oxen as well as the huge reindeer that roam the area! Kangerlussuaq is well known for its vast numbers of large mammals, since the weather here is quite stable and large areas of land are untouched by the Inland ice sheet. The endless miles of Arctic tundra and stable weather makes it the perfect place to find and see these animals in their natural habitat. The muskoxen can weigh up to 400 kg, and have the wonderful Greenlandic name of Umimmak, meaning the 'long-bearded one'. The large bulls are a sight to see, especially with their families, but so are the reindeers. The muskoxen and reindeers are not the only animals in the area. Polar foxes, Arctic hares and lots of birds such as eagles and falcons live here as well.

CAMP ICE CAP DAY 1 The chance to overnight on the Greenlandic Ice Sheet is typically reserved for research and expedition purposes, but to join this special camping experience, one need not be a glaciologist! We will venture onto the Greenland Ice Sheet and walk in the footsteps of legendary explorers such as Fridtjof Nansen. Only two ice sheets exist in the world, namely in Antarctica and in Greenland, where the settlement of Kangerlussuaq is fortunate to enjoy a distinguishing feature – it is the only place in Greenland where you can literally drive to the Greenland Ice Sheet and it is situated only 37 km from Kangerlussuaq! Upon reaching our destination, our first priority will be setting up camp. With our night’s accommodations in order, it is time to relax with a warm beverage and enjoy the total silence that prevails only a few kilometers into the ice sheet. Dinner is warm, wholesome and simple, consisting of freeze-dried food that is easy to carry on such an expedition.

CAMP ICE CAP DAY 2 Following an adventurous night spent snuggled in our warm sleeping bags and an energy-packed breakfast, it is time to get going on our hike! Following a route across seemingly eternal fields of ice, we set our sights on the Greenlandic Icesheet. Crampons and trekking poles will be provided if needed. Depending on the weather conditions, we will enjoy our packed lunch while in route or back at base camp. As our adventure concludes, we will break camp, packing up our goods and leaving only footprints behind. We will return to civilization, feeling enriched and awakened by our winter camping adventure on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Today we will take a short flight to Ilulissat! We will explore the town and if we have enough time we will go to Icefjord Centre. This visitor center provides in-depth information about the Icefjord, climate change, and the surrounding environment through interactive exhibitions.

HIKING Hiking around the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the best ways to experience the stunning Arctic landscapes and the majesty of Greenland's icebergs up close. There are three main hiking trails, each offering different levels of difficulty and breathtaking views of the Icefjord - we can decide together which one to hike!

SAUNA What would be more seducing than sitting in a hot sauna and at the same time enjoying the view over the Disko Bay after many days of adventures? After heating up, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the cold tub to cool off. CULTURAL EXPERIENCE We will experience true Greenlandic hospitality with a traditional "kaffemik"! This cozy gathering is a great way to learn about the local culture and enjoy delicious Greenlandic delicacies. The kaffemik lasts 1,5h and takes place in a traditional Greenlandic home. While we enjoy some coffee and cake, the host will tell us more about Greenlandic culture and traditions

Boat or sailing trip among the Icebergs! The enormous icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord are impressive no matter which way you experience them. Some of their peaks stand more than 100m above the level of the water (remember this is only 7-10% of the total size!), but it is only by looking up at these skyscrapers of ice from the perspective of a boat that you get a true sense of their massive scale.

FREE DAY Today, it's up to you what to do! For example, you can go on a dog sledding tour, explore with snow mobile or go on another hike. Pack your bags in the evening, because we are flying back home tomorrow.

The next morning, we will have breakfast together and check out of our accommodation. You can continue your own journey or take your flight back home. Hopefully we will see each other on another trip!