Outdoor Greenland

Kayaking

The word kayak was borrowed directly from the Greenlandic word "qajaq". For more than one thousand years, the traditional Greenlandic kayak has been a fishing, sealing and transport vessel in the Inuit (Eskimo) cultures. For contemporary travellers, Greenland offers inexhaustible possibilities for exploring deep fjord systems and unending skerries.

In Greenland, kayaking for tourists is done mainly in modern, western-manufactured sea kayaks rather than traditional Greenlandic qajaq. Truth-be-told, the traditional kayak almost disappeared in the early sixties, when the dinghy became popular among the hunters, but young Greenlanders brought back the kayak as a sport in the eighties. The traditional Greenlandic kayak culture has since experienced a renaissance, with kayak clubs in most major towns. Greenland championships are held in kayak disciplines such as long-distance paddling, harpoon-throwing and turning.

Head to Maniitsoq in Central Greenland if you really want to explore Greenland's kayaking culture. A new kayaking center has just opened there, housing the local kayak association, tour guides and a rental shop, and a workshop for making traditional Greenlandic kayaks.

Kayaks for hire are also available in Ammassalik, Nanortalik, Qaqortoq and Aasiaat, while Kangaatsiaq, Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq and Disko Bay should have kayak rentals soon, if not already.

Kayaking in Greenland is not for the novice. The weather can change very quickly, and powerful winds can make the steep coastlines unapproachable. In fjord estuaries and straits, there can be strong currents. Finding your bearings in dense fog in skerries and fjords can be particularly tricky, and even in the most unlikely places there may be hidden rocks. Icebergs can tumble, glaciers can calve. You should know what you're doing. Even experts hire guides.

Fishing

The mountain trout (or arctic char) is the predominant fish in Greenlandic fresh waters. There are two types of mountain trout in Greenland: smaller stocked trout that live their entire lives in fresh water, and sea-going mountain trout that feed in the ocean during the summer months.

Most anglers are primarily interested interested in sea-going mountain trout, which is found in virtually all rivers and water systems in Greenland. Sea trout migrate out to sea in springtime and return in late summer.

The return may extend over several months in the larger rivers to just a few days in the smaller ones.

Sea-fishing for saltwater fish, Greenland halibut, catfish, cod and rose fish (Norway haddock) is best in areas of open water, such as the around Paamiut, Nuuk, Maniitsoq on up to Sisimiut in the north. Fishers have also had good hauls in the south Greenland fjords and in Disko Bay.

Organized sea-fishing is only available to a limited extent. Ask at local tourist offices for more information.

Hiking

If you want isolation and solitude, you can't do much better than Greenland. Popular areas include Maniitsoq and Illoqqortoormiut. Greenland Tourism has published an excellent guide and map for hiking in South Greenland, Ammasssalik Island, Nuuk, Ilulissat, Nanortalik (Tasermiut Fjord), Kangerlussuag-Sisimiut and Ivittuut. We also recommend Trekking in Greenland by Torbjoern Ydegaard.

Some words to the wise: the climate is generally unstable, with most precipitation closest to the coast. The closer you approach the ice in the deep fjords, the warmer and more stable the climate becomes. But always be prepared for rapid changes in the weather. Leaving rain gear and warm fleece behind on a hike in Greenland is a recipe for disaster.

Much hiking in Greenland involves fording rivers or crossing waterlogged soil. A good set of hiking boots is indispensable as well as a strong wading stick. Since Greenland has almost no trees and very few shrubs, do yourself and the ecosystem a favor and bring one.

During a hike, it will often be necessary to ford rivers. It is difficult to make any general statement about fording, as the season and precipitation can cause the same river to fluctuate between a gentle brook and a small-sized river.

Snow Sports

You can't call it winter sports because it's possible to ski all year long in Greenland. Apussuit, in Central Greenland, is situated on a glacier: the season here runs from April to October, when it shuts down from the wild weather. In the wintertime, there is no shortage of snow anywhere in Greenland. In the northernmost and harshest regions, the high-season for skiing is in March, April and May, while further south it starts and finishes a month earlier. In Ammassalik, there is still snow on the ground at the beginning of June.

Cross-country skiing: For anyone who has dreamt of excursion skiing in virgin territory, there are inexhaustible possibilities throughout Greenland. Most Central and North Greenland towns have skiing clubs, which, in collaboration with the local authorities, prepare cross-country ski runs for both freestyle (skating technique) and classic cross-country.

Alpine skiing: Greenland is in no way an international alpine ski destination, but if you enjoy this type of skiing the island has some pleasant facilities to fit in on your trip. One real bonus is that you can ski in Greenland when European and North American facilities are closed for the summer. The largest alpine facility in Greenland is near Nuuk. Other towns with small lifts are Sisimiut, Qasigiannguit, Maniitsoq, Narsaq and Ammassalik.

Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island is another good snow sport destination. There you can participate in cross-country skiing, dog-sledding , and other traditional winter activities on the Sermersuaq Glacier, which can be reached on foot in 2-3 hours from town.

Wildlife Viewing

The richest plant growth is found in the sub-arctic belt, which includes only the very southernmost part of Greenland and the inner fjords. The greater part of Greenland, however, has diverse mountain vegetation, reminiscent of northern Scandinavia. In the driest inland areas, the vegetation is similar to that found in the alpine regions of central North America.

Among the many whale species found in the waters around Greenland are fin whales, blue whales, humpbacks, narwhal, white whales, lesser rorquals, sperm whales and pilot whales. On a whale watching trip, it isn't unusual to see two different species, and meeting a humpback with a tail up to 5 meters wide.

Mammals indigenous to Greenland include musk oxen, arctic foxes and hares, polar bears, walruses, arctic wolves, lemmings. Seabirds of the island include Peregrine falcons, Ravens, Thick-billed murres, Gyrfalcons, Glaucous gulls, and Dovekies.