This exciting new program will expose its participants to the unique landscapes, culture and history of a land that very few of us get to experience. Based on the East Coast of Greenland 60 miles below the Arctic Circle and populated with remnants of the indigenous population who are adapting to modern times without giving up their past. The base camp offers fairly easy access to the Ice Cap, glacial tongues, ice bergs and hikes through tundra and even up on the glaciers.
You will be offered a rotation of activities:
Kayaking amidst the Ice Bergs of Sermilik Icefjord
Hiking to the Mittivakkat Glacier, roping up, gearing up and making a short
glacial traverse
Boating and hiking to explore an Ancient Inuit site and ruins followed by a trip to the Great Greenland Ice Sheet
The campsite is very well situated on a sand beach (with a volley ball net). Comfortable canp chairs, a mini-library, a few board games and nearby places to explore on your own give you much to do in any private time you want - Remember there’s no darkness at this latitude (until September, that is).
Day Tours from the Base Camp
Mittivakkat Glacier
The river emerging from the base of the Mittivakkat Glacier has for thousands of years carried the sand that today forms the beach and surrounding shallow water where base camp is located. Mittivakkat is an isolated glacier without any iceberg production. It's the largest on Ammassalik Island and has been monitored for the past 75 years, which makes it the longest-monitored glacier in Greenland. Once the glacier front stood where the beach is today, but since then it has receded by 2 km.
The hike to the Mittivakkat follows the river from the beach through the valley to its head at the glacier. Donning glacier equipment, the group steps onto the glacier for a short glacier traverse. The route on the glacier is both safe and easy, guests can relax and enjoy the singularly magnificent views over the Sermilik and out to the Atlantic Ocean. During lunch at the glacier, the guide explains what is known of this glacier, based upon many years of data collection. Our hike back to the camp takes another route where we see the valley from above.
Equipment for this “expedition” of crampons, harness, rope, helmets and ice axes will be provided; and before departing from the camp the group will be instructed in safety procedures and the proper use of glacier equipment. The group will consist of 10 and one guide.
Ajangitaq, The Ice Sheet
In the Ammassalik area 94 locations with a total of 229 Inuit ruins have been discovered and registered in the three large fjord systems - Sermiligaaq Fjord, Ammassalik Fjord, and the Sermilik Fjord. Not many generations ago, the East Greenlandic Inuits lived in small groups spread over the Ammassalik area. During winter, they lived in turf houses (a typical winter settlement consisted of one or two turf houses) and in the summertime they moved into tents on good fishing and hunting grounds. In the morning, a group will cross the Sermilik Fjord by motorboat to visit 'Ajangitaq,' a site with Inuit ruins and a tomb located on a small scenic peninsula. Once there your guide will describe the history, hunting culture, and old religion of the East Greenlandic Inuit. Later in the day it’s a short boat trip and hike to the beautiful Hidden Waterfall and Lake before visiting the large Ice Sheet in Johan Petersen's Fjord.
Lunch is eaten on the boat while motoring up the Sermilik Fjord to the Greenlandic Ice Sheet, passing through an area known for its many seals. In Johan Petersen's Fjord, only 15 kilometres north of Ajangitaq, you'll meet a very different arctic environment. Surrounded by big glaciers and the huge amount of ice in the water there is a cool - sometimes harsh - setting, completely different from the softer Ajangitaq area. The boat will be beached and a hike to a majestic glacier front is undertaken. Departure : 9 a.m. Visit at Ajangitaq ruin and area. Lunch in the boat. Visit the Ice Sheet in Johan Petersen's Fjord. Return to camp at about 7 p.m. Group: 10 persons one guide.
Navigation Among Giants
The Sermilik is one of Greenland's largest Icefjords with several active glaciers. Deep in the fjord is the highly active Helheim Glacier which alone produces 5% of all icebergs in Greenland. When an iceberg has broken off, it starts drifting down the fjord to the sea. Many of these bergs will pass near Base Camp before reaching the Atlantic Ocean and their long drift south past Cape Farewell, into the Davis Straits and, possibly past Labrador.
'Iceberg Parade' is fantastic - to sail among the giants is beyond words. The day starts with kayak instruction in the shallow water just outside the base camp. This familiarises the group with proper kayaking technique, navigating down the fjord. Safety procedures will be explained and everyone will have the time to get comfortable in this boat that is such a large part of the Inuit world. The class will paddle to a small island where hot soup and lunch are served. The afternoon is spent exploring the the waterways between the icebergs.
Equipment: 10 Very stable sea kayaks. Participants will get wet suits, spray skirts, life vests and paddles. In the morning there’s a kayak course, then lunch on a small rock island in the Ice fjord. In the afternoon it’s off -Among the giants. Paddling among huge icebergs is a once-in-a-life-time experience and you will be shown how to deal with them with the utmost respect. Your expert guides and safety boat oversee the entire paddling trip, and it is important that guests follow the guides' instructions during the outing to maintain a safe experience.
Daily Itinerary
Day 0
Leave the US for early morning arrival in Iceland.
Day 1
We include a voucher for the Flybus shuttle from Keflavik to Reykjavik airport, where you’ll catch your 2 hour flight to Greenland. The flight over the Denmark Straits, between Iceland and Greenland is a trip in itself as it is usually quite dense with icebergs. In Greenland you land in Kulusuk’s airport and take a short helicopter ride to Ammassaliik.
Day 2
Arrival in Tasiilaq. Over night accommodation at Hotel Ammassalik or Hotel Nansen, with a greeting and an introduction to Adventure Camp Greenland. Dinner to follow. Next morning breakfast starts at 7 a.m.
Day 3
Trekking from Tasiilaq to the campsite at Sermilik Fjord (15 kilometres). The last 3 km. are by boat. The route is strenuous but not technically difficult. Duration 5 7 hours. The chef is waiting with refreshments and is preparing the evening buffet. All your luggage is transported from Tasiilaq to the camp. Alternatively, transport by boat can be arranged.
Day 4 - 7
Day tours available include: (1) Hiking the Mittivakkat Glacier, (2) Visiting the Inuit Ruins at 'Ajangitaq' and the Ice Sheet, (3) Canoeing among the Icebergs on the Sermilik Ford
Day 8
Leave the camp on the beach and return to Tasiilaq by boat. Stopping on the way back to explore the abandoned settlement 'Ikateq'. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9
After breakfast and check out, you’ll transfer to the airport and head back to Reykjavik, arriving late afternoon. The departure to Iceland is by helicopter to Kulusuk, then Air Iceland flight to Reykjavik, Iceland.
We’ve included one more night in Reykjavik.
Day 10
Last Day in Reykjavik, Iceland Depending on your return flights, you may have some time for some more Reykjavik, or if you’ve set up some time in Iceland you’ll do some more exploring.-- we’ll let you know of options in Iceland. You have a Flybus voucher to get you to Keflavik in plenty of time for your homeward flight.
Adventure Camp Facilities
The private tents for guests are spacious Mountain Hardware Atrium 4's, each shared by two people. Individual guests can request to share a two-person tent with two individual 'rooms.'
Expert guides with extensive local knowledge guide the day trips and provide insightful scientific and cultural talks. They will maintain a safe environment, attend to guests' needs, they are also happy to take photographs.
With a fully equipped kitchen and a restaurant tent, the chef and staff offer breakfast from 7 – 10 a.m., lunch from 12 – 2 p.m, and a barbecue dinner buffet starting at 7 p.m. Lunchboxes are provided for day tours. Serving our guests good meals based on Greenlandic fish and meat is an important part of the Adventure Camp. There are bath and toilet facilities tents, and a kiosk with art and handicrafts selected from our shop in Tasiilaq and also wine, beer and chocolate.
The community tent – “The Orange” - is a Mountain Hardware Space Station tent. Open 24 hours and heated when needed, The Orange provides a relaxing environment where you’ll find comfortable chairs and phones. can enjoy good conversation, a book from the mini-library, or a game of chess.
The boat is passenger-approved motorboat, with first aid, safety equipment and a satellite phone
Situated in the heart of a breathtaking arctic wilderness, Adventure Camp Greenland is the perfect base for a truly unique Greenlandic experience. Adventure Camp Greenland sets a new standard for exclusive Greenlandic wilderness and cultural experiences. None of these day tours are extreme, but all of them are unique, well-tested, and of the highest quality. Adventure Camp Greenland is designed for people in normal physical condition, and welcomes families with children. Guests can look forward to an arctic holiday of a lifetime. With the guides and outfitter's superior knowledge of the Ammassalik area and extensive practical experience with the Basecamp. guests' highest expectations are usually met.
Lunch is available in two forms: a bag lunch is provided for folks taking the tours. Lunch in camp is served from 12 2 pm. for those who have elected to spend the day in camp. At 7 pm there’s a Greenlandic barbecue and buffet. Evenings there will be entertainment such as drum dance, story telling, lectures, beach games…
 There is a PDF of the Greenland Adventure Camp to download and print
Dates and Rates
The Adventure Camp East Greenland runs but twice in the summer of 2009. If you’re coming from the US, this means that you must leave there no later than Friday night before the tour starts, for an early Saturday morning arrival in Iceland, follwed by a flight to Greenland. The tour ends the following Saturday with your return to Iceland. You’ll have Saturday night in Iceland, with a return to the US on Sunday. We’ll be happy to add a day or two at the beginning or end if you’d like to see a bit more Iceland!
The program runs from Saturday to Saturday in East Greenland, July 11-18 and again July 18-25.
The price per person for the Adventure Camp East Greenland is $5180 per person, double occupancy.
This Price includes round trip airfare, including fuel surcharge & US departure taxes from Boston, New York, Minneapolis, transfers to and from Keflavik Airport, Air Iceland flights to and from Kulusuk, with Icelandic departure taxes, helicopter flight between Kulusuk and Ammassaliik, a first and last night in Greenland in double rooms at the Hotel Ammasaliik or the Hotel Nansen, in Ammassaliik, 4 nights in the camp at Sermiliik Fjord, in “private” tents for one or two, with nearby restaurant, community and bathing tent, all meals during the camp, day tours – hiking, kayaking, exploring glaciers and the ice cap, during the Camp. Also included are a last night in a double room at a 3 star hotel with private bath on your return to Iceland, with breafkast. Not included in the price are travel insurance, meals other than breakfast in Iceland, a cab from Reykjaviks domestic airport to your hotel in Iceland..
Flying is the only way to travel between communities in most of Greenland. The aircraft that serve Greenland fly from one remote area to another and any delays at one airport is telegraphed through the system. Because of this, we build some flexibility into any Greenland program.. Travel between Iceland and Greenland can be uncertain as well, so we never schedule a flight back to the US from Iceland on the same day as you return from Greenland. Most packages include a final night’s accommodations in Iceland - and if not, we’ll be happy to arrange that for you.
Please note: All bookings in Greenland are subject to Special Conditions, to which you must agree when booking! Special Conditions! Arctic weather and limited capacity in Greenland may cause traffic delays resulting in interruptions, limitations or changes in the itinerary. This may result in extra expenses to cover meals, hotel accommodation and/or transpor- tation not foreseen in the program. Such expenses have to be paid directly by travelers themselves. The tour operator cannot accept any responsibility, economic or otherwise for such changes. Average weather for July is: Hours of sunlight: 245. Day temperature: 51° F. Rainy days: 7 Highest Temperature 2005: 79°
There is also The Viking Challenge A muti-activity tour through some of Iceland's most interesting parts.
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