Arctic Villages

Flight from Keflavik airport in the late afternoon. Flight at 17:30 (5.30 pm).

Flight to Kulusuk in a small aircraft (35 to 65 seats) for about 1 h and 45 min. Landing in Kulusuk at about 17:15 local time. After the baggage has been picked up by a local, we walk to the village, to our accommodation (40m walk). Kulusuk is situated on an island surrounded in three directions by other islands and mountain peaks. It is home to about 250 people, many of them hunters and fishermen. Dinner and night in a hut-style accommodation in a traditional local house.

Morning departure to discover the beautiful landscape of Kulusuk Island. Walk up to a hill with an extraordinary view towards the West, with icebergs and drift ice in abundance on the ocean. We admire the green color of a mountain lake before heading to the coast to enjoy the cliffs and rock formations of the shore. 6 to 7 hours walk. Night in the same house as the night before.

Morning boat transfer (about 1 hour) to Kuummiit, the northernmost village in the Ammassalik region. Kuummiit stands at the foot of high and steep granite mountains in a very impressive setting. After settling down in a local hut-style accommodation we go for an afternoon walk in the village and along the shore. On a small peninsula we might meet a couple of local boys, fishing arctic char with a rod. Fabulous view across the fjord to the alpine-like peaks that surround the area. Night in a local house.

Climb of the Qeqqit Qaqqartivaat, the Kuummiit mountain. This almost 1100m high mountain is our goal today. We start the ascension by climbing the ridge just above the village with a fabulous view of what the locals call Dunu or Tunu, the backside which is a beautiful small fjord surrounded by steep mountains. We then turn left to climb a second ridge up to the edge of a hanging valley. From there another 200 m climb to the top. The view from this mountain is (just) breathtaking. Mountains, glaciers, fjords, and valleys as far as the eye can see. 6 to 7 hours walk. Ascent 1050 m. Night in the same house as the night before.

Beautiful sailing from Kuummiit to Tiniteqilaaq by the Ikaasatsivaq strait. The strait has towering granite peaks pointing to the sky on each side. Arriving in Tiniteqilaq we come to the edge of the Sermilik ice fjord. Tinit, as it is sometimes called, is a tiny hunter’s village at the edge of the Sermilik fjord. The Sermilik fjord has one of the most productive glacier systems in the world, moving over 30 meters per day and constantly calving icebergs. We bring our luggage to a comfortable house in the village and after a refreshment, go for a walk, enjoying the fantastic view. 3 hours sailing. 3 hours walk. Night in Tiniteqilaq.

We go for a day hike, doing a loop over to a small river where we are likely to find the national flower of Greenland the Niviarsiaq (young girl) in west Greenlandic. This beautiful purple flower is called Dwarf Fireweed or Arctic River Beauty in English. We then climb a long and broad ridge to a 420 m high point to get a view over the Sermilik fjord. The view is 360°, on the East side, pyramid-shaped mountains and endless number of mountain ridges and peaks, to the West, the enormous Greenland Ice Cap. Return to Tiniteqilaq in the afternoon. 6 to 7 hours walk. Ascent 420 m.

Early morning, we get a short boat transfer to a place sometimes called the Golden Beach. From the Golden Beach we follow the trail that climbs the hills to the east. We pass a small lake then a second and third until we arrive to a small mountain pass at about 350m. From there we hike along several much bigger lakes until we hit the Tasilaq fjord. Here the trail follows the coastline until we come into Tasilaq, the largest town of East Greenland with its 2000 inhabitants. Night in a guesthouse. 6 to 7 hours walk. Ascent 350 m.

ust behind the town the climb of the 679m high Sailors Mountain starts. We follow a steep ridge until we get to the lower summit of the mountain and what a view! We continue to the higher summit to enjoy more of the view of mountains and glaciers and icebergs, before descending into a valley on the north side. We walk along a lake to the Flower valley where we can see several arctic plants in bloom (July and early August). Return to Tasilaq and night in the same guesthouse. 5-6 hours walk. Ascent 650 m.

Morning walk over the hills above Tasilaq to one of the lakes nearby. Free afternoon in Tasilaq with a possibility to visit the local museum, the local handcraft store, or the heart of town which is the harbor. In the afternoon we get a boat transfer over to Kulusuk (1 hour) where we stay in the same house as at the beginning of the trip. 3h walk.

Morning walk along the coast and to the hills East of Kulusuk village. Lunch in our house and departure to the airport around 15.30. Flight back to Keflavik at 18.00 (6 pm) and arrival at 21:45 to Keflavik. Farewell after a great trip.