A fabulous sea kayaking journey among the largest icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere
Highlights
- An exceptional itinerary
- A highly experienced kayak guide
- Navigating as close as possible to humpback whales
- A journey among the largest icebergs in the northern hemisphere
- A completely self-sufficient kayak expedition
- Maximum of 6 participants
Descriptif
Our expertise: sea kayaking and Greenland
We explore Greenland on skis in winter, but when summer comes, our passion for sea kayaking takes over. And we are convinced that there is no better way to explore the icy fjords than in the boat designed by the Greenlanders themselves over 4,000 years ago!
The shape of our “qajak” is directly inspired by Greenlandic designs. We have chosen to navigate exclusively in single-seater kayaks (two-seater kayaks do not exist in Greenlandic culture) in order to offer you the best possible experience, as well as maximum freedom and maneuverability.
Originally, Arctic kayaks were designed solely for hunting (with harpoons). Our modern kayaks are made of polyethylene and are extremely durable, with a comfortable cockpit and numerous adjustments for comfortable navigation. Several watertight compartments allow you to store food and equipment for several days.
This exceptional trip is organized and guided by Sébastien Royer. A kayaking professional (river and sea) for over 25 years, he has racked up thousands of kilometers in Greenland and is eager to share with you the “art of paddling” and his passion for Kalaallit Nunaat.
Jour par jour
DAY 1: FLIGHT TO COPENHAGEN
Day 1
We head to the Danish capital to spend the night, as the flight to Greenland is early the next day. We always like to arrive early so we can stroll through the streets and sit on the terraces by the water (Copenhagen was voted the most pleasant city in the world in 2025!) or visit the port's most famous resident: the Little Mermaid.
DAY 2: ILULISSAT
Day 2
We take off from Copenhagen for a 4 hour 45 minute flight to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland on the west coast. After a short stopover, we continue north for a 1 hour 20 minute flight to Ilulissat, where we usually arrive in the middle of the afternoon. The arrival is always spectacular, with icebergs drifting just outside the city.
A short taxi ride takes us to our accommodation in the city center, which will be our base camp for organizing the logistics of our trip. We meet up with our kayak fleet and sort through all the equipment before taking it to the seaside. Then we stock up on food and gas for the stoves in one of the city's two large supermarkets.
Once our equipment is ready for our departure the next day, we can go and try some local specialties in one of the restaurants near our accommodation: fresh cod, muskox, or seal, depending on what's available.
DAYS 3 TO 12: NAVIGATING DISKO BAY
Day 3
We leave our accommodation and head for the shore and our kayaks with all our equipment. An essential stage begins with loading the kayaks, which requires a great deal of organization. Most of the equipment is stored in the kayaks' waterproof boxes.
Then we launch our kayaks amid the often dense ice around the town and head north for the first stage of our journey.
Our kayaks are heavily loaded, but their design allows them to easily reach speeds of 4 km/h. Icebergs of all sizes surround us, and it is an indescribable pleasure to make our way through these drifting mountains of ice. The sound of cetaceans breathing carries far across the water, making them easy to spot. They feed regularly, and we can often get close enough to watch the whales swallow hundreds of pounds of fish in a matter of seconds.
At the end of the day, we start looking for a place to camp; we need a nice spot on the tundra to set up our tents and a river or lake nearby. We know the area extremely well and, of course, many camping sites, but the "exploratory" nature of this trip leads us to search for new sites, each time ever wilder and more beautiful.
Fishing enthusiasts (like us!)will have a blast getting back in their kayaks to catch some cod (we have all the necessary fishing gear), which we can then enjoy pan-fried or as carpaccio!
We will continue our journey north to the abandoned village of Ataa, and perhaps even further north to the immense Eqi Glacier. The intricate network of fjords offers endless possibilities for discovery and the assurance that we will encounter only a few fishermen.
Then, halfway through our journey, it will be time to head south towards Ilulissat.
One thing is certain: it will be an incredible adventure!
DAY 13: FLIGHT TO COPENHAGEN
Day 13
We leave Ilulissat in the morning to fly to Nuuk and Copenhagen, arriving late in the evening.
DAY 14: FLIGHT FROM COPENHAGEN
Day 14
Depending on our flight schedule, transfer to the airport and departure for our final destination.
FIN PROGRAMME
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Infos Techniques
Accompagnement
An officially-certified French guide will accompany you.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Niveau de difficulté
Level rated: challenging
This program is designed for participants who take part in a regular sports activity several times a week, including endurance activity.
On average, the stages are 20 to 35 kilometers per day, which represents 6 to 7 hours of kayaking per day. This distance may vary depending on possible bivouac sites and, of course, the weather, wind, and sea conditions, which can have a significant impact on our navigation. We will be using single-seater sea kayaks designed for long-distance travel and stability.
However, sea kayaking is an exciting discipline that requires training, and it is necessary to have some previous kayaking experience (at sea!) and/or to join us in Marseille for a 2-day course specifically designed to give you the skills you need for this great adventure in the Greenland ice.
NIVEAU DIFFICULTE TECHNIQUE
Kayaking level: intermediate
This program requires an "intermediate" technical level, i.e., it is aimed at participants who are no longer "beginners" and who can demonstrate a level equivalent to "yellow paddle" (French Canoe-Kayak Federation standard) or "BCU 2 stars" (British federation standard):
- Maintain correct hand position on the paddle
- Basic paddle control: forward/backward stroke or sculling/circular stroke/steering
- Know how to navigate in wind force 4-5 (less than 20 km/h and sea conditions with small waves), stay on course, steer accurately, and paddle efficiently
- Use the paddle for support to stabilize yourself and know how to tow a paddler in difficulty
Compagnies aériennes internationales
Program does not include international flights. You may fly with regular airlines such as Wow Air, Icelandair, etc.
It is important to arrive at the Reykjavik airport at the time specified when you register, as we only provide one transfer from Reykjavik Airport (Iceland) to Constable Point Airport (Greenland).
HÉBERGEMENT
Accommodation in an apartment in Ilulissat, in a two-person tent for the rest of the trip. A large tent is provided for meals or in case of bad weather.
REPAS
The meals are eaten at the inn at the start and at the end of the expedition (included in this package within the limit of 3 meals maximum). During the expedition meals are prepared in freeze-dried form. They give us all the daily calories needed during the expedition. You can check with your guide to adjust your diet. All meals in cities in Copenhagen or Reykjavik are not included.
TRANSFERT TRANSPORT
Transfers to/from the airport and to/from the expedition starting point are provided by vehicle, subject to local constraints.
COM GROUP SIZE
The group is composed of 4 to 6 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Équipement
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided to allow you to check that you are taking what is necessary.
All of the following navigation equipment is provided. You are responsible for it throughout your stay.
- Single-seater sea kayak
- Paddle
- Life jacket
- Spray skirt
- Wetsuit
We have no objection to your bringing your own equipment, as long as it is suitable for the environment and the program. The logistics (airfare, transfers, etc.) for your own equipment are not included in the price of this program. Please contact us to discuss this.
Your guide also has a satellite phone, a location beacon, a GPS, and all other equipment necessary to ensure your trip takes place in the safest conditions possible.
All collective logistics equipment is provided, including tents, cooking equipment, stoves, etc.
Nos engagements pour un développement durable
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
And in 2022, we have set ourselves a carbon reduction target that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. By 2030, we aim to not exceed 2,160 tons of CO2. In 2024, all Secret Planet journeys emitted 2,064 tons, well below our maximum limit of 2,940 tons. The ceiling for 2025 is 2,800 tons, and in 2026 it will be further reduced to 2,660 tons. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 0,62 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €19 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €5,500 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Dates et Prix
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
No date works for me!
I initiate a new dateLE PRIX COMPREND
- Return flights between Copenhagen and Ilulissat
- Taxi transfers in Ilulissat
- 2 nights' hotel accommodation in Ilulissat with breakfast (1 on arrival and 1 on departure)
- All expedition meals
- Single kayaks, paddles, life jackets, spray skirts, and wetsuits
- Two-person tents and one group tent
- Group cooking equipment (stoves, pots, etc.)
- Accompaniment by a guide specializing in sea kayaking and Greenland
LE PRIX NE COMPREND PAS
- Flights to Copenhagen and back
- Two nights in Copenhagen (1 on the way there and 1 on the way back)
- Meals in Ilulissat
- Waterproof bags
- Personal equipment
- Sleeping bag and mattress
Votre voyage rien que pour vous !
Customized journey
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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