From Baltimore by Air Greenland in 5 hours direct flight!
Deep into the wilderness of Greenland lies Kangerlussuaq within reasonable distance of the enormous ice cap. We experience the ice, the musk oxen, the reindeer and the beginning of summer with light 24 hours a day. After four days here we fly to Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest city, which lies in a beautiful valley overlooking the ocean. We experience this thriving Greenlandic city and after one night here at the local hotel, we return to Kangerlussuaq on the coastal ship Sarpik Ittuk.
For many people Greenland is synonymous with the ice cap, which covers more than 81% of the great country. The area covered with ice is alone corresponds to the size of Mexico, or 7 times larger than the area of Great Britain, 5 times the size of Germany. With a thickness of over 3 km. the ice presses towards the sea where it can be seen in many places along the Greenlandic coast. But on this trip we will experience it more than 170 km. inland. More than 3 kilometers thick, the ice pushes towards the ocean where it can be seen in many places along the Greenlandic coast. However, on this trip we will also experience it at close range in Kangerlussuaq - more than 170 kilometers into the arctic country.
In no other place in Greenland is it possible to get this far into the Greenlandic inland where enormous glaciers fronts plough into the dramatic tundra landscape. In this impressive landscape between the fiord and the ice cap where Greenland’s largest populations of musk oxen, reindeer and polar fox live, one gets so close that one can actually walk on the impressive ice cap.
In the midsummer months of June, July and August, the midnight sun supplies the special lighting and makes the morning coffee a question of definition: When is it morning when the sun never sets?
The summer weather is stable with very little precipitation and wind so hopefully one can have lovely sunny days in the great nature. A good jacket and hiking shoes or boots are the most essential pieces of equipment.
It takes only one taste of the completely clean, crystal clean air and one time experiencing the silence to realize that Greenland is in a league of it’s own.
 

Day 1 Fri BALTIMORE - KANGERLUSSUAQ

Departure from Baltimore 2:15 p.m. After an approximately 5-hour flight, arrival in Kangerlussuaq
9:15 p.m., local time (EST plus 2 hours). In Kangerlussuaq your tour leader will join you.

Kangerlussuaq is one of Greenland’s two international airports for civilian air traffic. Planes fly from here to the rest of Greenland. Kangerlussuaq is not a town as such, but it was given the status of settlement in 2001 and is located in the municipality of Sisimiut. There are 400-500 permanent residents, most of whom work at the airport. There is a supermarket, a post office, a restaurant (at the hotel), as well as a couple of cafeterias, a discotheque (‘Klubben’), and a bowling alley and swimming pool that have been inherited from the Americans.

The Americans established the airport during World War II. A large air base called Bluie West Eight was established from 1941-42 at the end of the 170 km. long Søndre Strømfjord. The airbase was of strategic importance both during World War II and the Cold War. At its peak, more than 1400 men were based here. However, with the increased technological development, the base lost its military importance, and in 1992 the Americans left the base and handed over its facilities to the Greenland Home Rule.

Long before Europeans arrived in Kangerlussuaq, the area was a popular camp for Inuit. Here were good hunting possibilities, and summer camps have been excavated dating back to the Saqqaq culture of 4,000 years ago.

We will be accommodated at Polar Lodge (a small cozy hostel situated 100 m from the airport). A briefing will be held where we will give you practical information and tell about the various activities that will be offered during the following days.

Afterwards we will go sightseeing to gain a first impression of the area.

Day 2 & 3 Sat - Sun KANGERLUSSUAQ (B, D)

These days are at your own disposal. Kangerlussuaq offers many alternative excursions. The tour leader will be able to suggest hikes and other activities and excursions.
Some of the possible tours are:

Trip to the Ice Cap
A trip of approximately 50 km and 3 1/2 hours. The route follows the long valley, Sandflugtsdalen, with its equally long river of melting ice that cascades from the ice cap with its cloudy, sometimes milky-white water. First we pass Kangerlussuaq’s interim golf course, then the approximately 400 m high conical cliff, Sugar Loaf.

We continue through constantly changing and extremely beautiful countryside with lakes, mountain heath and dense thickets of willow, that are sometimes replaced by long distances with infertile sand dunes and mountains with no form of vegetation. By Greenlandic standards, this is a friendly landscape - here we find an area rich in flora and the height of the great rounded mountains does not exceed 700 meters. In spite of a very dry climate, there are numerous lakes here because permafrost prevents the water from seeping into the ground. At the same time, the dry climate and the resulting evaporation cause the individual lakes to resemble salty desert lakes.

A few kilometers from the furthest outpost of the Ice Cap, Russel Glacier, we turn up into the terrain and continue to Point 660 on one of the most beautiful rims of the glacier in Greenland, with the ice cap rising in the background and a number of glaciers strewn throughout the landscape. Sometimes one can hear the thundering or roaring of calving glaciers - it is fantastic to stand and enjoy the great sight of the uneven and winding edge of the ice with its wells, portals and rushing rivers of melted ice water.
Finally, we will park at the edge of the ice cap and walk on it. It is a great to experience the massive cold from the mighty ice cap, to taste the completely pure crystal clear air and to listen to the deafening silence. One realizes that Greenland is in a category of its own.
Duration: 4 ½ hours. USD 90.-
This and following tours are optional and not included in the package.

Musk Ox Safari
The musk oxen originally came from the northern and northeastern parts of Greenland but in 1962 and 1965, musk oxen were transferred to Kangerlussuaq. The living conditions here proved to be ideal, and today there are more than 5,000 animals in the area.
Short excursion, 1 ½ hour: USD 35.-
Long excursion, 3 ½ hours: USD 55.-

Russel Glacier
Driving partially over rough terrain we take the exciting route to the spectacular Russel Glacier. With its vertical ice walls as high as 60 meters, it is an imposing sight. In summer we may be lucky enough to see the glacier calving – a sight you will never forget.
Duration: 4 hours: USD 90.-

Day 4 Mon DEPARTURE KANGERLUSSUAQ (B)

Now it is time to say goodbye - or maybe “see you again” – to Greenland. Board your Air Greenland flight to Baltimore at 10.35 a.m. with arrival in Baltimore at 1:00 p.m. local time.

 

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Departure Dates

Departures: June 08, 22 / July 06, 13, 20, 27, 2007

Difficulty: Grade 2

Grading system

Prices in US Dollars

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