Groenland winter
Unieke winterreis naar West-Groenland
Hondensledetocht West-Groenland
E
en heel andere ervaring is een bezoek aan Groenland in de winter. Het verblijf in deze Arctische streek tijdens de lange poolnacht is onvergetelijk. Groenland is een reusachtig groot en magistraal mooi eiland. Het is opgebouwd uit het oudste gesteente ter wereld en grotendeels toegedekt met een kilometers dikke ijskap.
IJsbergen en Inuit cultuur
IJsbergenhoofdstad Ilulissat is voor Groenlandse begrippen groot, maar alles behalve mondain, met een kleine 5.000 inwoners en zonder stoplichten. Hier zien we enorme ijsschotsen die uit het Kangia fjord de Disko baai worden in geduwd. Aan het einde van het fjord stranden ze op een morene die op de zeebodem ligt op crice 300 meter diepte.
Hondensledetocht
Vanuit Ilulissat gaan we met de boot naar Ilimanaq. De hondensledetocht voert ons over bevroren fjorden en door sneeuwbedekte heuvels. Na een paar dagen met de hondenslede beseffen we wat een ultieme belevenis dit is: alleen het geluid van de slede door de sneeuw, de hondenzweep en het gehijg van de honden vergezeld ons. In de late winter (maart tot mei) komt de zon weer boven de horizon. 's Nachts is het vaak helder en koud en kunnen we met wat geluk genieten van een prachtige sterremhemel en het noorderlicht. Voor deze tocht dient u over een goede gezondheid en conditie te beschikken.
Uitgebreid dagprogramma
vlucht Kopenhagen – Ilulissatdag 1
vlucht Kopenhagen – Ilulissat, dag 1In Copenhagen we board Air Greenland’s Airbus and fly to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. Here we transfer to a Dash-7 and fly further north to Ilulissat in the Disko Bay. A beautiful flight where we on a clear day will have our first views of the renowned Ilulissat Icefjord, where giant icebergs from Indlandsisen (the Arctic ice sheet) calve into the bay. Soon we’ll experience the ice fjord up close - sailing among the icebergs and travelling by dog sledge to the edge of the ice sheet. In Ilulissat, we’ll transfer to the harbour and embark on a two-hour unforgettable sailing voyage to the village of Ilimanaq - passing along the way the enormous icebergs having stranded at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord. Upon arrival in Ilimanaq we’re accommodated in houses in the village before enjoying a dinner with the locals. -/-/D
start hondensledetochtdag 2
start hondensledetocht, dag 2We’ll spend the morning getting to know Ilimanaq and explore what life is like in a small village. The missionaries came here in the mid 1700´s and the 90 inhabitants Ilimanaq is the oldest registered village in Greenland. In those days, when Greenland was still a colony, Ilimanaq was known as "Claushavn" - named after a Dutch whaler). We’ll visit Ilimanaq´s tiny church and if the production of "Ræklinge" (air dried halibut - a delicacy in Greenland selling for about 60 euro a kilo!) is in process, we’ll take a closer look at this factory as well. Mid day, our dog mushers will arrive from the town of Qasigiannguit in the south and we’re about to embark on our 3-day dog sledding journey.
We leave behind most of our luggage until our return to Ilimanaq, as "travel light" is crucial on a dog sledge journey. While the sledges are being prepared and we put on the handed out sealskin clothes and Arctic boots, you clearly feel the tension among the dogs. They are very eager to get going. And off we go - with an incredible speed and lots of noise and scuffle in the beginning, but as the dogs find their rhythm and position in the pack, the sledge caravan soon calms down, and you’ll find yourself in the midst of a white winter wonderland, where the immense quietness is only interrupted by the squeaking sounds of the sledges and the constant breathing of the dogs.
We follow the ancient dog sledding tracks used by past as well as present fishermen from Ilimanaq to get to the long line fishing spots on the Icefjord. An hour into the journey we’ll reach the Tasiussaq fjord, and from here on we’ll have a couple of hours riding on the ice, before we arrive to the hunting cabin where we’ll overnight. While the dog mushers feed and chain the dogs, we’ll arrange ourselves in the cabin, which quickly becomes a warm and cosy place, as the heat and light from the kerosene lamps mix with the smell of fresh-brewed coffee. Sleeping tonight is, of course, an option - however, so far away from any city lights and at this time of the year, your chances to see the puzzling northern lights are at their best! And maybe the howling dogs will be accompanied by the characteristic barking of a polar fox. Slowly you’ll begin to understand, what life must have been like for the world’s great polar explorers. B/L/D.
hondensledetocht richting de ijskapdag 3
hondensledetocht richting de ijskap, dag 3After a hearty breakfast we once again pack the sledges. On the sledges, each item has its place and function - the hunting gear, snack for the dogs, thermos with hot coffee and tea and (what quickly becomes your favourite item) the thick, soft and warm reindeer skin you’re sitting on! From the cabin we start with a short, slightly bumpy, ride until we’re back on the Tasiussaq fjord’s flat and smooth ice - also referred to as the "dog sledding freeway." Here, with hardly any effort at all, the dogs can go very fast.
To the people of Ilimanaq, this fjord system is a true paradise. Here they fish halibut in the winter and trout in the summer. The trout is smoked over heather - making it another sought-after delicacy in Greenland. Also, at this time of the year, the ringed seal enjoys napping in the sun on the ice close to its blowhole - giving the hunters the possibility to sneak up on it hiding behind a white screen. And fresh seal meat spells happiness among both people and dogs - it is without doubt the sledge dogs´ favourite food. Finally, the hen-sized ptarmigans (another appreciated prey) usually hang out around the sea shore in search of food. All we need is a little bit of luck and we will not return "empty handed!"
However, our main purpose of today’s ride is to get to the edge of the Indlandsis. Still in safe distance, we go as close as possible to the front of the enormous glacier calving from the Indlandsis directly into the Tasiussaq fjord. We stop to enjoy the grandeur of this spectacle and the deafening silence around us. On our return to the cabins, we’ll swing by the Ilulissat Icefjord hoping to run into a few fishermen - fishing with long lines and pulling up rays and 30-40 kilo halibuts from the 750 meter deep fjord! A fascinating sight. We’ll be back at the cabin in the late afternoon - enjoying once again all the components (and comforts...) of being a free spirit in the grand Arctic wilderness. B/L/D.
hondensledetocht naar Qasigiannguitdag 4
hondensledetocht naar Qasigiannguit, dag 4It only takes a few days to get the hang of things and the routines on an expedition, so it doesn’t take us long to get ready for yet another day of dog sledding. A solid meal however is very important to meet the "hardships" of the day in the outdoors, and we’ll take our time to enjoy our breakfast. Today’s journey to the town of Qasigiannguit is primarily riding on land - it’s a very scenic trip where we’ll be surrounded by tall, snow-covered mountains, and if the ice is safe, we’ll cross the bay "Laksebugten" into town. We’ll leave the dog mushers and the dogs at their individual stations in town, and here where we’re picked up and transferred to our hotel Diskobay, located on the top of a rocky hill at the harbour entrance. With 1.200 inhabitants Qasigiannguit is a typical present-day town in Greenland and after we are checked into the hotel, we’ll take a walk around town and learn about its exciting past and present. B/L/-
Qasigiannguitdag 5
Qasigiannguit, dag 5After three days of dog sledding in the wilderness, most people have reached a state of total relaxation. Combined with the peaceful environment we’re in, the crisp, fresh air and the Greenlandic hospitality, it’s almost like being born anew! Today we’ll take a closer look at life in town, to understand how people adapt to the extreme Arctic conditions. We’ll also visit the town museum and its impressive collection of paleo-eskimo artefacts, representing the three main Inuit cultures in Greenland - Saqqaq, Dorset and Thule - dug out by archaeologists in the area around Qasigiannguit not that long ago. B/-/-
hondensledetocht terug naar Ilimanaq, varen naar Ilulissatdag 6
hondensledetocht terug naar Ilimanaq, varen naar Ilulissat, dag 6We enjoy our breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant with impressive views of the Disko Bay and (on a clear day) the Disko Island in the far horizon. Then we jump back on the sledges and embark on the last leg of our dog sledding journey - following the ancient dog sledding track between Qasigiannguit and Ilimanaq, and hereby completing the "loop." It’s a four-hour trip in a combination of riding on land, and frozen lakes and fjords. Along the way, we’ll have spectacular views of the Disko Bay to the left and the mountains inland on the right. In Ilimanaq we’re reunited with our luggage, and after a picnic lunch we’ll we bid our farewells to the dog mushers and the dogs before we embark the boat taking us back to Ilulissat. Once again, we’ll sail along the impressive Ilulissat Icefjord - included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites because of its "unique beauty" and "scientific importance." Over the past years, the Ilulissat Icefjord has been significantly exposed in the media - scientist flock to the area, a number of movies have been made here, and last but not least conspicuous politicians from all over the world come to experience the enormous icebergs and see with their own eyes the (so intensely discussed) effects of climate change and global warming. In Ilulissat we’ll check into our hotel beautifully located by the bay, and then go for a walk around town. Ilulissat is Greenland’s 3rd largest town, and the largest area for dog sledding with a population of more than 4000 sledge dogs! We enjoy the dinner at Hotel Arctic. B/L/D
Ilulissatdag 7
Ilulissat, dag 7We’ll start the day with a short walk to Sermermiut, the old settlement by the Icefjord. This is where the archaeologists in the 1950´s made some incredible findings, making it possible to date back the presence of the paleo-eskimo not only in this area but in Greenland in general. The afternoon is at your own disposal and we recommend a visit to one or both of Ilulissat´s interesting museums - the Ilulissat Town Museum (located in Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace) and the Ilulissat Art Museum (located in the old governor’s house facing the harbour). Finally, you may enjoy shopping for some Greenlandic handicraft, such as carved "tupilaks" or items in soapstone. Our adventure in Greenland is approaching the end, tomorrow we’ll depart Kalaallit Nunaat ("land of the people”) with our bags (and minds) loaded with great experiences. B/-/-
vlucht Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq – Kopenhagendag 8
vlucht Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq – Kopenhagen, dag 8Aboard the Dash-7 flying south from Ilulissat to Kangerlussuaq, we get (weather permitting...) the last glimpse of the Disko Bay, Qasigiannguit, Ilimanaq and the Tasiussaq fjord where we rode the dog sledges just a few days ago. In Kangerlussuaq we transfer to the airbus and about four hours later, we land in Copenhagen. Takuss Grønland – immaqa… (See you later Greenland - maybe...)
B/-/-
Duur:
8 dagen
Soort:
Groepsreis
- Ilulissat
- 3-daagse hondensledetocht
- 2 boottochten
vanaf
€ 2873
€ 2873
ZOEK IN ONS AANBOD
Dagprogramma
- 1vlucht Kopenhagen – Ilulissat
- 2start hondensledetocht
- 3hondensledetocht richting de ijskap
- 4hondensledetocht naar Qasigiannguit
- 5Qasigiannguit
- 6hondensledetocht terug naar Ilimanaq, varen naar Ilulissat
- 7Ilulissat
- 8vlucht Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq – Kopenhagen
elke reis kan aan uw wensen worden aangepast lees meer 
© 2012 Askja Reizen • Website by tweede golf • Design by The Ad Agency
Askja reisleiders zijn door ANVR gecertificeerd 
