East Greenland
Icefjord Trek 2027

Yes. You should arrive in good physical condition and prepared to hike for several hours over rugged terrain over 5 days. This is not a walk in the park—but you also do not need to be an elite athlete or an experienced mountaineer. The hiking is not technical, but it is a commitment in a wild and remote setting.

Once we begin hiking each day, participants need to be able to travel from Point A to Point B at the pace set by the guide. We have plenty of opportunities to stop, catch our breath, take photos, eat snacks, and enjoy the incredible landscape along the way. Expect hiking days of approximately 6–10 miles (10–16 km). You may be active for 6–8 hours, with the total day lasting 7–9 hours including breaks. Some hikes may be shorter, around 3–5 hours, depending on the day, conditions, and route. The greatest elevation gain on a hiking day is approximately 1,900 feet, and most of the adventure takes place relatively close to sea level. The longest hiking day is 13 miles with 1200 feet elevation gain.

What makes this trek challenging is the terrain rather than extreme elevation or technical climbing. Trails can be uneven, rocky, steep, wet, snowy, or icy. Sometimes there is a well-worn path beneath your feet; other times we may be completely off trail. Moving across this kind of terrain requires more time, energy, balance, and concentration than walking the same distance on a maintained trail. Over days, you will feel the cumulative effects of tired muscles, sore fee, and general fatigue, especially if you do not prepare your body for this expedition.

You must also be comfortable carrying a daypack for the duration of each hike. Your pack will contain your water, picnic lunch, extra layers, rain gear, and personal essentials and should be expected to weigh at least 15 pounds. During our camping days, your personal luggage and camping equipment are transported separately by boat, so you will not be carrying your full travel gear while hiking.

The good news is that this adventure is very achievable for active women who prepare for it. Training beforehand with regular walking and hiking—especially on hills, stairs, and uneven terrain—can make an enormous difference. Building leg strength, cardiovascular endurance, balance, and experience carrying a loaded backpack will help you enjoy the experience rather than simply get through it.

If you are unable to complete a hiking section, it may be possible to arrange a boat transfer between camps, depending on weather and sea conditions. Boat transfers are not included in the tour price and currently start at approximately $700 USD per boat. The cost may be shared if more than one participant uses the same transfer.

We want you to feel challenged, accomplished, and amazed by what you can do. You do not have to be the fastest person on the trail. You do need to arrive prepared, understand the physical commitment, and be able to keep moving safely with the group.

If you are unsure whether this adventure is a good match for your current fitness level, please contact us. We are happy to talk honestly about the terrain, daily hiking expectations, and how you can prepare.

A detailed packing list will be provided. Participants will need to bring or invest in essential outdoor gear and clothing. Sleeping bags can be rented.

Essential Gear:

Sleeping bag (0-5 degrees C), sleeping pad. Trekking poles. Water resistant duffle bag (70-100 liters),  and a 35-45L backpack.

Clothing

• Sturdy Hiking Boots – waterproof with ankle support.
• Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic.
• T-shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic.
• Light wool or fleece sweater (2nd layer).
• Puffy jacket (e.g. Primaloft or down).
• Trousers – Strong and light material that dries quickly with at least two layers (quick dry and hard for mosquitoes to sting through)
• Rain jacket with a good hood – windproof, waterproof and breathable.
• Rain trousers – windproof, waterproof and breathable. Please note that full raingearis mandatory on all our tours.
• Gloves – Wool or synthetic.
• Socks – Wool or synthetic. Two or three pairs.
• Warm hat – Wool or synthetic.
• Bug head net
• Closed-toe River shoes (walking sandals or old running shoes) with neoprene socks for river crossings.
• Clothing for camp

The luggage restrictions for the trip are 15 kg (33 lbs) per person + 6 kg (13 lbs) hand luggage. We strongly recommend that you travel with a duffel bag and a 30-40 liter daypack.

We recommend taking the most important equipment with you as cabin luggage during your flight or carry the respective clothes/shoes on your body, notably trekking boots and trousers, fleece shirt, warm and waterproof jacket, rain gear, functional underwear, glasses, hat, gloves, and everything else you consider important. In case of baggage loss, you are thus at least able to start the tour.

The average age range of hikers is 45-55 years. Our groups tend to be multi-generational, so there may be participants ranging from their 30s to their 70s. This trip is open to any woman who is healthy, active, and resonates with the itinerary.

No. Solo travelers are paired with other solo travelers. There are no forced single supplements. There are single room upgrades  may be available at an extra cost.

All participants must have a passport valid for travel 6 months beyond the date of departure. US travelers can visit the U.S. State Department Website for the most current requirements. Most destinations require your passport to be valid 6 months beyond your planned departure date. Check your passport now to avoid last minute stress and hassle. 

Yes! Pay a small deposit to secure your spot. Then, pay the balance in interest-free installments using a credit card or checking account. There is no bank transaction fees when you use your checking account. If you want the convenience of using a credit card, the bank will charge 3%. You can switch between two payment options at any time.

It is possible that your flight to Greenland or back to Iceland could be delayed or canceled due to inclement weather. For this reason, our team suggest that you arrive one night early to acclimate and to give yourself time in case of delays getting to Iceland.

If the flight from Iceland to Greenland is canceled, Icelandair will likely put everyone up in a hotel room and re-book the flight for the next available date. Your team will be working closely with Icelandair and will re-arrange tours and excursions to the best of their ability with the resources available.

We recommend you book your flight from USA to Iceland using Icelandair in case any leg of your journey is canceled or if you have lost or delayed luggage. The flight from Iceland to Greenland is on Icelandair and having your booking with Icelandair will expedite rebookings and retrieving lost luggage.

Travel insurance is highly recommended to protect your travel investment should your flights from home or to/from Greenland cause interruptions in your travel plans and additional expenses or loss of pre-paid activities and lodging.

The trip will need critical mass within 90 days of departure. In the unlikely event we don’t reach this minimum, a full refund will be issued.

We ask all participants to understand and acknowledge that certain foods are limited in this part of the world and there might not be many options. If you have a restricted diet (such as gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, etc), we recommend bringing some of your preferred snacks. If you have a strict diet with zero flexibility or experience traveling in places where certain foods may not be available or are limited, East Greenland is not the destination for you.

Our guide makes sure we buy as much as possible locally, and when available this includes fresh fish. Our aim is to have the food as fresh and nutritious as possible.

For breakfast we might make porridge, the Nordic breakfast classic, which gives fullness and long-lasting energy. We also bring muesli, bread, butter, cheese, and jam. And of course, tea and coffee.

In the morning, group members make their lunch-packs: bread, spreads, hams and cheeses. And nobody should go on a trek without biscuits. We will also provide some nuts and chocolate snacks but those who have special preferences might want to bring a few of their favorite energy bars or snacks.

The guide prepares dinner at the end of the day (help with chopping and preparing is appreciated). Each meal has three courses, starter, main and dessert. We try to have the menu diverse and keep a good balance. To give you an idea, you could have soup to start with, then fried fish and rice, and a piece of cake for dessert.

Download the brochure for details. 2 nights in a hotel in Kulusuk, and 5 nights camping in tents. Single rooms and tens may be available for an extra fee. Please inquire.

The general rule is that two people share a three people’s tent, just so that there is enough space for everyone. Additionally, to the individual tents, the group has a mess tent, where you will prepare dinner and eat. The mess tent is also where you can hang out in the evening.

Each pair of people puts up their own personal tent and everyone helps out with putting up the mess (kitchen) tent.

The package price covers group flight from Keflavik, Iceland (KEF) to Kulusuk, Greenland. Participants need to book their own flights to Iceland. We can offer guidance, and once we have confirmed the tour, we will provide travel parameters for booking your flight.

Your safety is of paramount concern to us. Toward that end, we provide highly competent guides with extensive experience in the polar regions, and the very best equipment. Our trip leaders are trained in emergency wilderness first-aid techniques. Additionally, we will have the following security equipment (first aid kit, satellite device for communication, firearm).

We will be traveling in polar bear country. Although unlikely for us to encounter a polar bear during our hiking activities, for your safety and other group members, your guide will carry a firearm for protection..

Yes. You are encouraged to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

Green Edventures does not provide medical or travel insurance in the package price. Due to the remote nature of our tours, we require that all participants have, at minimum, $250,0000 medical evacuation coverage for this program.  A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover medical evacuation.

https://greenedventures.com/travel-insurance/