During our two-week trip, we will experience one of the most exciting countries in South America, Bolivia.
Read MoreGreenland hiking adventure: Arctic circle trail 2025
04.09 – 17.09.2025
We will hike 9 days along the Arctic Circle in Greenland
Greenland is the world’s largest island, located between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. Greenland is 80% covered in glaciers and permafrost, but its coastal areas are home to around 56,000 people, mostly Inuit. The island is known for its untouched nature, Arctic climate and rich natural resources, including minerals and fish.
Before we pack up, we’ll take a day trip from Kangerlussuaq to the Greenland ice sheet. In a special 4×4 off-road vehicle, we’ll travel through glacial areas and tundra to a point where cliffs and permafrost meet, offering panoramic views of the endless ice field.
Our trek begins at the edge of Greenland’s massive ice sheet and over the course of 9 days we’ll trek along the Arctic Circle to the coast on our own. With no civilization between the start and finish, this trek requires complete independence.
The beginning of September has been chosen as the time for the hike because there are no annoying mosquitoes, which can bring the mood to zero in the Greenland tundra. It is not too cold at night yet, but there is hope to see the northern lights during the hike due to the darker nights!
NB! The weather in Greenland is unpredictable – it can be as nice and sunny as it is rainy/snowy so that your boots won’t dry for a week.
After a 9-day hike, we will enjoy the coastal village of Sisimiut for 1-2 days and then board a ferry to travel to the capital of Greenland, Nuuk. During the approximately 12-15-hour ride, you can admire the charming fjords and arctic landscape. If we are lucky, we may also spot local animals, such as seals, whales and seabirds, on the way.
If you are looking for a challenge on a multi-day hiking trail that requires independence, then this hike is just for you!
Overview
Objective: to complete the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland
Dates: 04.-17.09.2025 (flight time will be added)
Adventure Guide: Tanel Tilk
Technical difficulty level: 1/5 (hike takes place on prepared trails, no special equipment required)
Physical difficulty level: 3/5 (heavy backpack, days 15-20 km)
Group size: min 4, max 8 (including guide)
Early registration (until 04.03.2025) — 1990 €
Registration round II (05.03.2025 – 04.06.2025) — 2190 €
Late registration (from 05.06.2025) — 2390 €
Cost of the tour
Price includes
- All trip arrangements and on-site guidance
- Experienced group leader
- All overnight stays in Greenland
- Local transport in Greenland and all necessary transfers
- Tour to the Greenland ice sheet with a local guide
- Ferry ride along the Greenland coast with accommodation
- Breakfast and dinner during the hiking days (high-quality Tactical Foodpack/MEKI hiking meals)
- Stylish Elamus+ sports shirt for each participant
- Group pharmacy
- Gas canisters for the burner for hiking days
Price does not include
- Flight tickets to Greenland and back (from ~ 1000 €)
- Insurance (travel insurance and mandatory remote area hiking insurance)
- Personal hiking equipment (can also be rented from Elamus+ if necessary)
- Tents and cooking equipment
- Drinks and lunch snacks on the hike
- Meals off the trail (Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut, Nuuk)
- Extra activities and transportation
- Personal toiletries and medication
- Internet and data packages
Registration for the tour
Before registering, please read the travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, you must pay an advance payment of €400 within 3 working days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email. If there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions and package tour information sheet.
PS! The tour is organised in collaboration with an adventure tour organizer Elamus Pluss, registered in Estonia.
Please register for the event by sending us an email to tanel@elamuspluss.ee. Don’t forget to state your full name and previous hiking experience regarding multi-day hikes.
Schedule and activities
Day 1: Arrival
The trip’s starting point is the settlement of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. Everyone can check the flights themselves, but since only 2 airlines fly to Greenland, the options are limited. Feel free to ask for advice from the adventure guide.
You must arrive in Kangerlussuaq no later than the evening of September 4th.
Accommodation: Hostel in Kangerlussuaq
Day 2: Exploring Greenland's Ice Sheet
Greenland is home to the world’s second-largest ice sheet after Antarctica. Today we have a great opportunity to explore this massive natural phenomenon. An off-road vehicle takes us to Point 660, named because it is located 660 meters above sea level. From there, it’s a short hike across a moraine field to reach a vast expanse of ice that stretches further than the eye can see. By the end of the day, we’re back in Kangerlussuaq.
Accommodation: Hostel in Kangerlussuaq
Day 3: Let's pack our bags and go hiking!
We pack our gear in the morning and begin our hiking adventure in the Greenland tundra. We will have a transfer to the beginning of the hiking trail. After the first short hiking day, we will arrive at the overnight stop early and get settled in.
Distance: 5 km
Overnight stay: Tent/hut
Days 4-11: Hiking, Hiking, Hiking...
The trail is named after its latitude and follows the Arctic Circle at 66.6° N. The trail consists of rolling arctic tundra that becomes increasingly mountainous as we approach Sisimiut and the coast. The landscape is pristine wilderness at its best, with abundant wildlife, fresh drinking water and a seemingly endless number of lakes.
The following itinerary is for reference and we will decide on shorter or longer days as needed. Each day can end at a hut meant for hikers. Depending on the hut, these simple constructions can accommodate from 3 to 10 people. Since there will likely also be other hikers on the trail, overnight stays in the huts are not guaranteed. We will decide on tent or cabin stays as we progress.
Day 2 – Hundesø to Katiffik – 20 km
Day 3 – Katiffik to Amitsorsuaq (Canoe Centre) – 20 km
Day 4 – Amitsorsuaq (Canoe Centre) to Ikkattooq – 22 km
Day 5 – Ikkattooq to Eqalugaarniarfik – 11 km
Day 6 – Eqalugaarniarfik to Innajuattoq – 19 km
Day 7 – Innajuattoq to Nerumaq – 17 km
Day 8 – Nerumaq to Kangerluarsuk Tulleq – 17 km
Day 9 – Kangerluarsuk Tulleq to Sisimiut – 20 km
The trail is mainly a narrow footpath and can be boggy and wet at times. You don’t have to worry about the altitude as the highest point is only 450 meters above sea level but the trail goes up and down from time to time.
There are no supply points along the route from the start of the trail to the end, so we carry the entire 9-10 days’ food supply with us from the beginning.
Days 12: Extra day / Sisimiut
Depending on the pace of the hike and the kindness of the weather, we have included one spare day at the end of the hike. If we reach the end at the planned time, there will be some time to enjoy the picturesque seaside town of Sisimiut.
Sisimiut, with its 5,500 inhabitants, is the second-largest settlement in Greenland. From here, you can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding nature – fjords, mountains and sea. Sisimiut is known for its fishing and traditional Inuit culture.
Days 13: Embarking the ferry
But to get to know Greenland also by sea, we board a ferry at 11 am that day. We sail south along the coast to the capital of Greenland, Nuuk. Seabirds follow the ship on the journey, and if we are lucky, we also have the opportunity to spot seals and whales on the way.
Cabins of 4 have been reserved for us on the ferry.
Days 14: Arrival in Nuuk and end of the tour
7 am on September 17th, our ferry will arrive in Nuuk. With a population of around 15,000, the largest city in Greenland is also the capital. Nuuk was once the site of a Viking settlement (10th-14th century).
Our itinerary will end in Nuuk and everyone can check their flights back home from there. A new international airport opened in Nuuk in 2024, so there are flights directly to Reykjavik or Copenhagen.
NB! The schedule and planned activities may be subject to minor changes depending on the traveler’s wishes or the weather.
Greenland
Capital: Nuuk
Currency: Danish krone (1 € = 7.46 DKK)
Traffic: Right-hand traffic (Greenland has a total of 150 km of roads, of which 60 km are paved)
National language: Greenlandic (Danish is widely spoken)
Population: 56,367
Area: 2,166,086 km2
Neighbors: Canada, Russia, Iceland
The main threats in Greenland are related to nature and extreme weather conditions.
Prices are relatively high. In a cheaper restaurant, you can get a meal for 15-20 euros. Most places accept card payments.
Tipping in restaurants is not customary but certainly welcome.
Traveling to Greenland
Schengen citizens can travel to Greenland visa-free for 90 days.
We recommend consulting with the Adventure Guide regarding flight tickets, but it is important to be in Kangerlussuaq no later than the evening of September 4th.
Travel documents and footnotes
The participant is responsible for the validity and condition of their travel documents. This trip requires:
- passport
- suitable insurance for hiking in remote areas (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable insurance policy must be carried with you and is a prerequisite for participation in the trip;
- travel insurance
- Everyone participates in the Greenland hiking trip at their own risk and is responsible for their own health and physical fitness.
Also, read the travel conditions or feel free to ask the Adventure Guide.
FAQ
I’ve never hiked this long before. Can I still do it?
This is a very isolated trail. There is no phone coverage for 8-10 days, no shops, accommodations, toilets or laundry facilities (except in cold lakes). Parts of the trail can be swampy, there are river crossings and there can be strong winds, cold rain and snow.
It is important that you have previous experience with multi-day hikes and know what it means to carry a heavy backpack for dozens of kilometres a day (we carry the entire hike’s food supplies with us from the start). There is no easy option to abandon this trail and the availability of emergency assistance is minimal.
However, if you have experience of multi-day independent hiking, then the Greenland hike can be another enjoyable challenge.
What kind of weather awaits us in Greenland?
The weather in the first half of September can be unpredictable. Probably 5-15 C during the day, and we have to be prepared for minus degrees at night. There may be rain or snow.
What clothes and equipment should I pack?
We must be completely independent during the entire hike. You must bring a tent for overnight stays, a mat and a sleeping bag suitable for the temperatures. Clothing in layers – warm underwear, easy-to-dry shirts, fleece or down jacket, rainproof clothing, hiking socks, hat, buff, gloves, sunglasses, waterproof hiking boots. For cooking, a water kettle, hiking stove, cutlery, a fire starter, hiking food packs (included in the trip price), and extra snacks.
In addition, bring personal medicine, travel documents, equipment and other things (such as repair kits, and garbage bags).
See a more detailed list of equipment HERE.
What happens after registration?
After filling out the registration form, we will send you an invoice for pre-payment. After paying it, you are registered for the trip. 30 days before the trip, we will send you an invoice for the total cost of the trip. We will create a common chat between the participants of the trip, where they can discuss everything they need.
Also read the frequently asked questions.
Contact
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