Essence of Greenland

On the Edge of Infinity and Far from the Modern World

Greenland has two seasons. A long winter and a short summer. But summer in Greenland is a mad burst of excitement. As the snow slides away, suddenly the landscape is revealed in a brand new light. The mountains go from white to grey and green as waterfalls trickle down their sides to meet melting bodies of water.  Sea ice breaks up and the fjords are decorated with magnificent floating icebergs. Flowers bloom and more wildlife comes out to play – birds fill the sky and the seas become alive with whales and fish.

ROAM’s unique adventure to Western Greenland captures the essence of all of this and more… as we hike, boat, kayak, fish and paddle board through the newly exposed terrain and old historic sites. This trip will unearth the stories of Greenland’s raw wilderness in two secluded basecamp experiences. Strategically placed between towering mountains and shimmering shorelines, both Kiattua and Saqqaq at Disko Bay offer breathtaking vistas and maximum privacy. You’ll immerse yourself in Kiattua’s oldest mountains in the world and get lost in the ancient Inuit culture amidst towering icebergs at Disko Bay. Two unique journeys for the adventurous at heart.

A Tale of Two Secluded Arctic Retreats

Our handpicked locations provide maximum privacy and breathtaking vistas, each with rich stories waiting to be uncovered. Each journey is a bespoke adventure into some of the most remote places on earth. you’ll discover the raw and untouched beauty of Greenland while we provide the freedom just to be. Travel with us, and we’ll push your boundaries, excite your senses, involve you in Greenlandic culture and generally make the impossible possible.

Limited Time, Intimate Adventures

In a world filled with noise, ROAM will lead you into a secluded, Arctic wilderness. With only four months of operation, from June to September, and a maximum of 10 guests per trip, you’ll be among the select few to experience this truly exclusive journey. Our early September departure is designed to increase the chances of witnessing the aurora and allows people to dovetail our Iceland or Northern Norway experiences with this one of a kind Greenland immersion

ROAM provides an amazing doorway into Greenland’s ancient land and culture. In an environment that might, at first, seem hostile, we consider ourselves stewards of nature at its most pure and powerful. Unleash your sense of adventure and explore Greenland with us.

Itinerary at a Glance

• Arrive in Nuuk and tour Katuak, Greenland’s Cultural Center
• Travel by RIB boat to Kiattua Camp, situated deep in the world’s second largest fjord system
• Hike to a nearby waterfall or summit a local mountain
• Return to camp for your first of many delicious, gourmet meals and drinks beside the fire
• Boat to Uumannaq for a stunning hike
• Sea kayak among icebergs and tour a church built in 1733
• Explore abandoned villages and remote communities
• Don drysuits and experience paddleboarding between icebergs
• Try your hand at deep sea fishing and forage for mussels
• Enjoy a traditional Greenlandic BBQ
• Return to Nuuk then board a flight north of the Arctic Circle to Ilulissat and transfer to Saqqaq Camp in Disko Bay
• Explore the giant icebergs of Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Discover Greenland’s traditional fishing culture
• Meet the Greenlandic sledge dogs, one of the purest and most isolated dog breeds in the world
• Explore the fascinating history of Quillissat, an abandoned town with a troubled past
• Enter the Ata Strait to watch huge slabs of ice calving from Eqi glacier

What’s Included:

• Experienced professional guides
• Chartered transportation between destinations
• Expedition equipment
• All meals and accommodations
• Taxes and permits

What to Expect on the Essence of Greenland Adventure

Day One

We’ll pick you up at the airport in Nuuk, and transfer to Katuaq, Greenland’s Cultural Center, downtown Nuuk. A meeting point for many, Katuaq is an oasis of culture. ranging from local families to tourists, artists and musicians who come to perform or exhibit. Inspired by waving northern lights and the play of light on ice and snow, this remarkable structure fits in perfectly in the arctic landscape.

Leaving civilization, we will take you by boat through one of the oldest places on earth to Kiattua Camp. The cruise is about 80 km long, and brings you deep into the world’s second-largest fjord system. Along the way, we will scout for humpback whales, which often traverse these waters. This is where your adventure begins. Lean back, relax and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful sights.

Note: It is possible to upgrade to a closed boat or a helicopter at an additional cost.

Once we check into our luxurious accommodations, we’ll stretch our legs on a short hike to a nearby waterfall for a view of the Kiattua valley you won’t soon forget.

Returning to camp, we’ll indulge in the first of many delicious, gourmet meals that are inspired by local ingredients and crafted by some of the region’s best chefs before drinks around the bonfire and retiring for a dream-filled sleep in this magical land.

Accommodations: Kiattua Camp

Day Two

We’ll awake to a hearty breakfast of fresh bread, pancakes, homemade jams, cheese board, locally smoked fish, sausages, fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, and eggs with tea infusions made from handpicked local herbs, and coffee brewed to perfection.

This morning starts with a 15 minutes boat tour to the deserted island of Uumannaq. Our goal is to reach the top at an altitude of 420 meters, to enjoy the beautiful sight over the ice fjord with its craggy mountains and icebergs. Hiking in Greenland evokes an unparalleled sense of freedom as you roam through wildflower-strewn slopes, unaltered by humans for thousands of years.

At the end of the hike, we will stop at the restored church built back in 1733 and enjoy our lunch pack prepared by our skilled chef.

After lunch and a thorough introduction to kayaking, we’ll paddle among the sculpted ice formations of the fjord before returning to camp for another superb meal and drinks before tucking into our cozy beds.

Accommodations: Kiattua Camp

Day Three

Another fantastic breakfast charges us with the energy we’ll need for an active day as we spend the morning touring the fjord by RIB boat and stopping by the abandoned village of Qoornoq. From there, it’s a stunning 45-minute boat ride to the Icefjord of Nuuk where we’ll put on dry suits and life jackets and hop on paddleboards for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of stand-up paddleboarding amid icebergs.

Returning to Kiattua Camp, we’ll try our hand at deep sea fishing for flounder and cod—staples of the Greenlandic diet and tonight we’ll feast on our catch. Some of the fish will be smoked during the night and vacuum-packed so you can bring a piece of the Arctic back home as a souvenir.

Accommodations: Kiattua Camp

Day Four

This morning you may want a second helping of breakfast to fuel yourself for a full day of hiking. Traveling by boat up the fjord, we’ll explore various locations, crossing over the  mountains and undulations of this 3.9 billion-year-old landscape of rock and Arctic flowers. Afterwards, we’ll board our boat and return to camp for an exquisite and well-deserved dinner, Greeenland-style: cooked over open flame on flat rocks greased with a little seal or whale blubber. It is a age-old method used at traditional Inuit camps and perhaps the best way to savor pure Arctic flavors after an active day.

After this traditional feast, we’ll head out in kayaks to forage for blue mussels and fish in the traditional manner using hand-held lines.

As Day Four of your adventure draws to a close, you’ll feel yourself gaining a deeper appreciation of the life and culture of the traditional Greenlandic People.

Accommodations: Kiattua Camp

Day Five

Today we’ll enjoy a more relaxed schedule with a visit to the settlement of Kapisillit. Home to only 35 residents, Kapisillit has a kindergarten, a church, one grocery store, and everything one needs to live a peaceful and delightful life. As part of this excursion, we’ll get to experience a traditional “kaffemik”, a gathering where you will be warmly welcomed by local families who have been rooted in the area for many years. Share their customs and traditions as you enjoy delicious local specialties and homemade cakes over a cup of coffee.

This unique experience offers a window into the daily lives of the fascinating people who call this remote region home. It’s a chance to learn about their culture, customs, and stories that you can’t find in any guidebook.

After a leisurely afternoon, we’ll return to Kiattua Camp for one last fantastic meal, bonfire and perhaps a Greenlandic coffee before snuggling in to our cozy beds.

Accommodations: Kiattua Camp

Day Six

After breakfast we’ll say goodbye to Kiattua Camp and return by boat to Nuuk. From there, we’ll take an afternoon flight north above the Arctic Circle to Ilulissat where we’ll board a boat to Saqqaq passing the famous Ilulissat Icefjord.

Accommodations: Saqqaq Camp

Day Seven

After breakfast, we’ll take an immersive learning tour of an Inuit fishing community. We’ll meet a local fisherman and explore the sustainable fishing practices that have been passed down through the generations. Heading out to sea, we will help haul in the catch using traditional long lines for halibut and cod then return to the village to help with the cleaning and drying of the catch.

Next, join the local community in feeding their sled dogs, an essential part of life in the harsh Arctic climate. Observe and interact with the Greenlandic sled dogs, one of the purest and most isolated breeds in the world, and learn about their role in the community, as well as their history and current challenges.

Returning to camp for a locally-inspired lunch, we will have a short time to rest up before joining the locals to collect mussels along the rocky shores of Disko Bay. The mussels we gather will go into our next delightful meal.

A short one-hour trip will give you the chance to learn more about the sledge dogs in Greenland and help feed a team of up to 20 howling, hungry dogs. In North and East Greenland, there is only one type of sled dog, the Greenlandic Canis Lupus Familiaris – one of the purest and most isolated dog breeds in the world. We will do our very best to find some puppies as well, so you can cuddle with them and take some adorable photos.

Tonight we dine on fresh mussels and culinary treats before enjoying a nightcap by the fire and a deep, regenerative sleep.

Accommodations: Saqqaq Camp

Day Eight

Today’s adventure involves a visit to Qullissat, a remote and once-bustling community that now sits as a silent reminder of brighter days. Established in 1924 by the Danish state to provide amenities for a local coal mine, the community thrived  until after the Second World War when the mine was deemed unprofitable. By 1968, all public services had closed which forced the relocation of the inhabitants and left only ghosts.

Some could say this was a blessing because on November 21, 2000, Qullissat was hit by a tsunami caused by a large landslide at Paatuut on the Nuussuaq peninsula. The tsunami reached over 100 meters inland and would probably have caused many deaths if the city had still been inhabited.

Returning to our camp for our final dinner together, we’ll recount the tales of adventure from the last few days with new friends and old, knowing there will always be a place in our heart for this remarkable land and the people that call it home.

Accommodations: Saqqaq Camp

Day Nine

Today begins the long unwind as we pack up our gear and begin our return journey to civilization. It is not, however, without its perks as we pass Torssukátak and Eqi glaciers on the way back to Ilulissat.

Few places in the world can match the grandeur of this remote destination, where the ancient ice cap meets the sea. Journeying into the Ata Strait we come upon a sight of unparalleled majesty: The calving of Eqi glacier into the ocean. Here, the sounds are cacophonous, the scale is gargantuan and the drama, breathtaking.

We’ll spend approximately 2-hours in front of the glacier waiting for the ice to calve, while serving lunch onboard. This is a full sensory experience where ancient natural forces are shaping this unique landscape. It is a fitting conclusion to an epic adventure.

Next is a 2 hours cruise to Ilulissat for a little taste of civilization before return flights to Nuuk and home.

Accommodations

Kiattua & Saqqaq Camps

Although they may appear as traditional teepee tents from the outside, our accommodations feature modern Scandinavian-style decor and meticulous attention to detail on the inside. Guests can choose between king-size or twin beds, with the option to add extra beds for families. Other amenities include Arctic-grade bed linens, electricity, comfortable seating, and cozy Greenlandic reindeer and sheepskins. Private bathrooms with fully flushable toilets, hot showers, and on-demand hot water complete the luxurious experience.