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Ever wondered what true wilderness feels like? This 12-day hiking adventure across East Greenland will take us to the deepest end of the Ammassalik fjord system, where towering granite peaks meet massive glaciers that calve directly into the sea. We’ll navigate challenging terrain, from rocky moraines to glacial crossings, and ascend to breathtaking viewpoints that few have ever witnessed. Along our route, we’ll explore abandoned Cold War outposts, visit villages where dog sleds outnumber cars, and camp under skies so vast they’ll make you feel like a speck (but in a good way). Pack your gear and prepare for an adventure that will redefine your concept of “off the grid.”

Einar Torfi Finnsson
Einar Torfi Finnsson

Adventure highlights

  • Complete Arctic circuit
    Hike the full spectrum of Greenland’s terrain: from icy glaciers to green valleys, over towering peaks, and along winding rivers
  • Greenland past and present
    Encounter remnants of human activity and see how people survive in one of the world’s most challenging places
  • Five-billion-star accommodations
    Enjoy three square meals a day with views of Greenland's icy giants as you hop from tent to village to mountain hut

Itinerary

Get ready to explore East Greenland's wild side on this 12-day hiking tour. For 10 days, we'll hike through a world shaped by ice—big glaciers, deep valleys, and sharp mountains, all led by an expert guide. Most nights we'll camp under the Arctic sky, with a few stays in local houses and a mountain hut to mix things up. Don't sweat the details: accommodation, all meals and cooking gear, and boat and luggage transfers are all taken care of. If you’re ready for a real adventure in one of the most remote places on Earth, come prepared for a challenge and you'll go home with stories to tell.

  • Your adventure begins with a 5:30pm flight from Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik, Iceland, to Kulusuk Airport, where you’ll meet your guide. We’ll take a short 30-minute walk to Kulusuk village and have dinner. We’ll spend the night in a hut-style house in Kulusuk and recharge for tomorrow.

    Meals: Dinner
    Accommodation: Hut-style house in Kulusuk

    Colorful houses on a hill in Kulusuk
  • After breakfast, we’ll take an exciting boat trip north to Karale fjord, passing islands and icebergs before hitting the Ikatek strait and its snow-capped mountains. Our first camp is near the impressive Knud Rasmussen glacier. The view here is stunning—we’ll see the glacier front and high mountains reflected in the still water. We’ll put our camp here for two nights. The afternoon is reserved for a hike to a beautiful viewpoint before getting back to our equally stunning camp setting.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 4 hours

    Two green tents pitched near a lake in Greenland
  • Today we’ll hike towards the Karale glacier along the coast of the Karale fjord. We might cross a small glacier tongue to avoid meltwater rivers. The view to the other side of the fjord will be worth our while: we’ll see huge glaciers and mountains like the Rytterknægten towering over the fjord. After learning how climate change is shaping this unique landscape, we’ll return to our camp and spend another night there.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours

    Hikers walking along a shore in the mountainous Greenland landscape
  • We’ll leave our camp and walk east along the coast to the Nuuaartik point, where the Karale fjord opens to the outer fjord system. Once there, we’ll get a close-up view of the Knud Rasmussen glacier floating in the ocean and breaking off pieces of ice from time to time. Then we’ll turn south, climb to a small mountain pass, and make our way towards our next camping spot: a spot on the shore in an area full of boulders.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours

    Tents pitched on a rocky shore overlooking a glacier-filled fjord
  • Today’s hike takes us through varied terrain. We’ll follow the coastline into the Ikatek strait, sometimes climbing higher to avoid steep areas. Our path leads us past inlets, along rivers, and across a lake outflow. Finally, we’ll reach Ikatek and Bluie East Two, an abandoned WWII airport and small military base full of old machines, cars, equipment, and fuel drums. We’ll set up camp near the old docks, surrounded by history and wilderness.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours

    Remains of the abandoned air base at Ikatek
  • We’ll start our hike by walking along an old runway to the small peninsula of Suunigajik. From there, we’ll turn towards Tunu (Dunu), a breathtaking fjord surrounded by mountains. We might spot some local wildlife like common ringed plovers, Arctic foxes or ptarmigans. After crossing a couple of rivers, we arrive at our next camping spot and settle between tiny Arctic willow bushes.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 6 hours

    Purple flowers blooming on a rocky outcrop overlooking a lake
  • A week into our adventure, it’s time to fill up our supplies. We’ll visit Kuummiit, a small hunting village situated at the Ammassalik fjord, a location where water never freezes. Surrounded by high peaks, Kuummiit is home to about 250 people who depend on fishing in the nearby fjords. It’s an interesting chance to see how people live in this remote part of Greenland. In the afternoon, we’ll make our way back to our camping spot.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 6 hours

    Hikers walking through a valley surrounded by mountains in Greenland
  • We’ll cross the Tunu fjord to the Tasiilaq fjord through the narrow Tunup Kuua valley. After passing a few lakes, we’ll reach a glacier that crawls into the valley from the north. We might need to use crampons to cross the glacier. The view in Tasiilaq fjord is truly breathtaking, with high granite peaks sheltering the narrow fjord on each side. We’ll set up camp at the sea of the north bank of a river.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 7 hours

    Three green tents pitched on a rocky shore
  • Today’s hike takes us along the Tasiilaq fjord coastline, with some incredible views of the bottom of the fjord, the valley, and Greenland’s most outstanding mountains—”The Triplets”. It’s a shorter walking day, so we’ll be back at our camp in the middle of the afternoon.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tents
    Hiking time: 5 hours

    Glacier-filled fjord surrounded by snow-capped mountains
  • Our tenth day in the rugged Greenland landscape will be challenging, but truly rewarding. We’ll hike past a glacier and up some steep sections until we reach Tasiilaq Mountain Hut, sitting at about 800 m / 2,625 ft altitude. Apart from some spectacular views, we’ll truly enjoy the silence and calmness of the mountains. No camping today—the hut is our home for the night.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tasiilaq Mountain Hut
    Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours

    Houses in front of a mountainous backdrop in Tasiilaq
  • It’s time to slowly get back to Kulusuk. We’ll make our way down the moraine and past some beautiful boulders. In mid-afternoon, we’ll be back in the fjord, and a boat will bring us back to Kulusuk. We’ll spend our last night in a house in Kulusuk.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: Tasiilaq Mountain Hut
    Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours

    Kulusuk village in Greenland
  • We’ll have a relaxed morning in Kulusuk, with time for a short walk to a nearby viewpoint and a visit to a small local museum. At around 3:30pm local time, it’s time to leave for the airport to catch our 6pm flight to Keflavik. We arrive in Keflavik around 9:45 local time, with all the memories of an incredible Greenland adventure.

    Meals: Breakfast and lunch

    Silhouette of Kulusuk
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Meet your guides

Arctic Hiking and Expeditions
5.00
Arctic Hiking and Expeditions
Arctic Hiking and Expeditions
Arctic Hiking and Expeditions has been founded by two childhood friends sharing the same passion for the outdoors. Einar and Kristinn, both originally from Iceland, now offer tours in one of the most remote areas on Earth—Greenland. You can trust them to take you on an adventure of a lifetime either hiking, trekking, or skiing in the Arctic.
Kristinn Gardarsson
5.00
Kristinn Gardarsson
Originally from Iceland, Kristinn studied geography, during which time he worked as a National Park Ranger in one of Iceland’s national parks. Although he spent most of his life working as a graphic designer, Kristinn’s passion has always been travel and the outdoors. Recently he decided to take his professional life in a new direction—he became a guide and started working with his childhood friend Einar. Kristinn loves spending his time hiking, cycling, skiing, fishing, mountain biking, and cross country skiing.
Einar Torfi Finnsson
5.00
Einar Torfi Finnsson
Einar Torfi Finnsson
Having been raised by nature-loving parents, Einar has been an outdoor addict since a very early age. In 1989, at the age of 24, he started working full-time as a guide. Since Einar founded one of Iceland’s top outdoor travel companies, he is well-versed in trip planning and guiding—and he also has more certifications than we can count. He has been leading trekking tours, backpacking, glacier travel, avalanche training, mountaineering, and many other winter skills courses.
5.00 (1 reviews)
Lara (source: Guide’s website)

We loved the trek from Karale to Tasiilaq fjord. It was challenging but deeply rewarding, and we came away feeling changed. “Greenland showed me things about my life,” I now say and my husband agrees. He credits the trip for helping him make a long overdue decision to go back to university.

Things to know

  • What you get on this adventure:

      • An experienced hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • 12-day Greenland hiking tour from Karale to Tasiilaq (10 days of hiking)
      • Boat transfer from Kulusuk to the start of the trek
      • Boat transfer from Tasiilaq Fjord to Kulusuk at the end of the trek
      • All luggage transport from camp to camp
      • All meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 12
      • Accommodation for 11 nights in tents, local houses, and a mountain hut (detailed in the itinerary)
      • Tents
      • Mess tent
      • Camping and cooking gear
      • Safety equipment (satellite phone, first aid kit, etc.)

    What’s not included:

      • Flight to and from Greenland (a flight from Reykjavik (Keflavik) to Kulusuk can be arranged for an additional fee, please let us know at checkout)
      • Sleeping bags (can be rented for an additional fee)
      • Alcoholic beverages
      • Personal expenses
      • Guide gratuities — optional
      • Travel and medical insurance — mandatory
  • This East Greenland hiking tour from Karale to Tasiilaq is suitable for experienced hikers with great physical fitness. The terrain is often uneven, rocky, and steep, with some days spent completely off the beaten track. You should feel comfortable navigating exposed or stony ground and walking for extended periods.

    Most hiking days involve 5-7 hours of active walking through challenging landscapes, including coastal paths, glaciers, and boulder-filled valleys. Due to the nature of the terrain and the duration of the hikes, it is important to be in good physical shape.

  • Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

      • Duffle bag for all your belongings (max 15 kg / 33 lbs)
      • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 30-40L bag)
      • Hiking poles — optional
        Sleeping bag of comfort level 0° C to – 5° C (32 to 21°F) — can be rented upon checkout
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
      • Trekking boots
      • Comfortable hiking clothes
      • Warm and waterproof jacket
      • Fleece shirt
      • Trekking trousers
      • Rain gear
      • Spare clothes for layering
      • Functional underwear
      • Glasses
      • Hat
      • Gloves
      • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
      • Headlamp or flashlight
      • Sunglasses
      • Camera — optional (but recommended)

    Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

  • Your guides will provide the majority of the equipment needed, including all camping and cooking gear, tents, a mess tent, and safety equipment (satellite phone, first aid kit, etc.). You should only bring your own sleeping bag. A sleeping bag rated for comfort between 0°C to -5°C (32 to 21°F) is recommended to ensure a comfortable night’s rest. If you don’t have a suitable sleeping bag, you can rent one—please let us know upon booking.

  • Group sizes and pricing

      • For this Greenland hiking tour from Karale to Tasiilaq, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 12:1.
      • It takes a minimum of 5 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.

    A Greenland hiking tour from Karale to Tasiilaq can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

    Min. age requirements

      • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
      • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

    If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  • The starting point of your Greenland hiking tour from Karale to Tasiilaq is Kulusuk. To get there, you’ll fly into Kulusuk Airport (KUS) from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavik, Iceland. You will meet your guide at the airport at 5:15pm local time (GMT -1), and you will take a 40-minute walk to the village together. A quad-bike with a trailer will take your larger luggage to your first accommodation.

  • Medical and travel protection is mandatory. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

    Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

    Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

  • Full payment is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If the Client cancels the tour…

      • More than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the trip departure date, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of eighty-five percent (85%) of the total trip amount.
      • Forty-two (42) to sixty (60) calendar days prior to the trip departure date, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total trip amount.
      • Sixteen (16) to forty-two (42) calendar days prior to the trip departure date, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total trip amount.
      • Within fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the departure date, Client is entitled to no refund.
  • 57hours partners with Redpoint Travel Protection, offering you a fully integrated program with a single point of contact for all your needs, from emergency services to travel assistance and protection claims. We highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive protection policy from Redpoint, which will protect you both before and during your travels. Before your departure, your investment is protected by the trip cancellation benefit. Once you depart, your policy provides coverage for trip interruption, medical assistance and rescue, baggage loss, trip delay, and more. Once you complete booking with 57hours, we'll create bespoke quote for you (and your group), making sure you're fully protected for the adventure ahead.
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