Kayaking expedition to western Greenland

DISKO Bay – a UNESCO world Heritage site

 

Due to the great interest shown in the 2018 Greenland expeditions, I am delighted to announce that I will be running 2 trips in Summer 2019!

You have a rare opportunity to spend 10 days kayaking and exploring this amazing area, led by myself and ably assisted by either Mike Devlin (July) or Myles Farnbank (August). We are all World Class, highly trained and qualified, Arctic and Antarctic guides so you will be in safe and experienced hands! *

We will be wild camping each evening, totally self-sufficient, with our boats filled to the gunwales with everything we need for this exciting adventure!

This trip is not for the ‘die hard’ expedition sea kayaker (they can organize that themselves!) but for the average, recreational/club paddler who would be about British Canoeing 3 Star sea standard on departure and wishes to experience the Arctic environment with the comfort and security of highly experienced and qualified leaders.

There are only 6 places available on each trip, so register your interest early so as not to be disappointed!

Dates, inclusive of 4 travel days, are:

Wednesday 3rd to Tuesday 16th July

Wednesday 7th August to Tuesday 20th August

Price, exclusive of flights, accommodation** and sundries is £2,850 to include:

2 UK weekends training

10 days coaching & guiding in Greenland

Kayak hire (incl. BA and spraydeck)

All meals (except lunches and personal snacks) and non-alcoholic drinks during the expedition

Communal tent

Emergency satellite communication equipment

Wilderness trained First-aiders and specialist equipment

On-call Doctor

To book your place, you will need to pay a £500 refundable deposit. The balance will be payable by 30th March 2019. (The deposit will be refunded only if both expeditions are full and a replacement can be found).
You will also need to budget for additional expenses including any gear not already owned (4 piece paddle, tent, sleeping may and bag, personal clothing etc.)***, flights (approx. £1,000 return from LGW to CPH to Ilulissat), UK transfers, 2 nights hotel accommodation in Denmark (approx. £100), 3 nights hostel accommodation in Ilulissat (approx. £120), travel insurance (to include emergency evacuation) , expedition lunches and snacks, and some sundries.

Dates and locations for the UK training weekends are yet to be confirmed but will be in the Spring of 2019. Accommodation and travel for these weekends is not included but will be co-ordinated between the participants and myself. It is desirable to have your own kayak and equipment for the training weekends but, if you are stuck, we will most likely be able to assist (there may be a hire charge).

If desired/required a longer training trip may be organised which will take place in Scotland in 2019 and will be at extra cost and agreed between those wanting/needing to attend and myself.

Skills will need to be assessed for the safety of the whole group aswell as the individual, so, if you want to join the expedition but are NOT of 3* standard then please ask and we can arrange additional training.

The Expedition

We will spend our first night in Greenland in a hostel in Ilulissat before setting off North the next day after packing up our boats. The exact route will be determined by the weather and ice conditions as we progress up along the West Coast. At some point we will make our return trip, hopefully varying the route slightly to explore different bays and glaciers and possibly walking up to the Greenland Ice Cap. As well as having the largest icebergs in Greenland, the area is home to plenty of wildlife on the land and in the sea. Due to the 24hour daylight we will have many hours in which to enjoy it all!

Although the intention is to paddle most days, clearly, we will also want to spend some time exploring the interior to visit old settlements and view the ice cap close up.

As a rule, the climate in summer is very settled and the sea calm, however, the weather and conditions will be monitored daily to maximise our experience of this amazing environment.

On our return to Ilulissat, we will unpack the boats and enjoy a farewell meal and last night in the hostel, before heading off home or onwards (for those who may choose to extend their visit to the island) the next day.

Notes

*             Howard Jeffs holds the Mountaineering Instructors Certificate, is a British Canoeing Level 5 Sea Coach and ISKGA Advanced Guide

Mike Devlin is a British Canoeing Level 5 Coach and a Chief Leader for British Exploring

Myles Farnbank is a British Canoeing Level 4 Sea Coach, ISKGA Advanced Guide, Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor, Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society and a Master Educator of Leave No Trace

**           Guidance and assistance will be given with choosing and booking both Ilulissat and Copenhagen accommodation and flights, but as I am not ABTA or ATOL registered I am unable to offer an inclusive package

***        Guidance will be given on what kit to bring/buy at the training weekends. Some items may be able to be borrowed or discounts obtained on bulk orders.