Is a Greenland Dogsled Expedition for You?

How many people do you know who’ve completed a Greenland Dogsled Expedition?

For most readers, that answer is a big goose egg. Because we limit the group size on this trek to just five explorers per trip, completing this once-in-a-lifetime expedition is a rare gem in anyone’s bucket list collection. If you hear the call of the wild in your soul, you could be one of the very few adventurers in the world to experience this thrilling journey uniting human and dog pack across the vast Arctic wilderness. But how will you know whether a Greenland Dogsled Expedition is right for you? We invite you to take today’s short quiz, and let the answers lead and potentially surprise you. We’ll be exploring everything you need to know before booking this unforgettable quest deep into the heart of snow and ice.

Quiz: Is a Dogsled In Greenland Right for You?

A Greenland Dogsled Expedition takes adventurers on a magical ride through the pristine, sparkling world of ice and snow in East Greenland over eight magnificent days. The extensive sea ice keeps this expansive, wild sanctuary mostly isolated from the outside world. Without roads or paths to trek, adventurers get around on sleds specifically honed for travel over snow and ice, pulled by dogs with long pedigrees of experience. So is this bucket list journey right for you? Answer these questions and keep track of your results:

1. Do You Enjoy Immersing Yourself in the Unique Traditions and Experiences of Ancient Cultures?

East Greenland is home to the Tunuumi community, one of the last traditional dog sledding communities on Earth. They continue the millennia-old tradition of Inuit dog sledding, an ancient and amazing way of life that has carried this community across the Arctic for generations. The Inuit’s deep perception of ice and their knowledge of seasonal weather conditions will be essential as you step into this truly unique experience. From the back of their traditional dog sleds, you’ll traverse ancient routes throughout the high north, across the frozen sea in this wild and dynamic Arctic environment far from the tourist trails. At the end of our journey, we always try to visit the local museum to see the impressive family collection of artifacts that offers further insight into the Tunuumi people.

2. Is Exploring the Awe-Inspiring Arctic Landscape On Your Bucket List?

Every year when the sea freezes over and the snowfall deepens across the Earth, we set out on this wild expedition of the glistening Arctic landscape. Climb on board with your traditional Inuit dog sledders, and you’ll see what adventure is in its purest form. We’ll spend many hours out on the ice, sometimes heading inland to cross islands by low passes that cut between alpine summits. Through our series of wild journeys, you’ll have the opportunity to traverse a heavily glaciated land dominated by majestic frozen fjords and banded by snow-covered mountains. Icebergs, frozen until their break-up in the spring, tower over our paths. The scale of this Arctic haven is genuinely humbling. You’ll gain an innate perspective of the frozen fjordlands -- between glaciers, icebergs, and spectacular fjords -- while moving in time with the deep rhythms of the icy season. After leaving the tiny, isolated village of Kulusuk, where our expedition begins, if you were a local, you could sled for months without reaching another village. Favorable ice conditions may allow us to visit the halibut fishing grounds, and in exceptional conditions, the village of Sermiligaq, the last outpost on this coast for 800km.  

3. Does the Thought of Becoming One with a Dog Sledding Pack Excite You?

Each Greenland Dog Sledding Expedition includes a dedicated dog sledding crew and support. Our dogsled teams and Innuit hunters will be with you for the entire expedition, so you’ll get to form deep and lasting bonds with them and the dog pack on day one. You’ll travel two to a sled with each local hunter. You’ll learn how to work with our dogs, from the fan traces we use (suited to wide expanses of sea ice) to the calls and steering of the sled. Reliance on each other is fundamental to life here, and the bond between hunter and pack, developed over many years, is powerful.

4. Do You Want To Be Enthralled By the Northern Lights at Least Once In Your Lifetime?

The Northern Lights occur when there’s a collision between gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere and charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere. The result is a spectacular show of bright, dancing lights above the Earth’s surface. The best places to experience this light show are above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. This phenomenon is known as Aurora Borealis in the north and Aurora Australis in the south. Auroral displays will take your breath away as they shine in pale green, yellow, and pink hues. Depending on conditions, they may appear as scattered clouds, arcs, rippling curtains, or even shooting rays lighting up the sky with an unforgettable glow. Isolated areas like Greenland’s wilderness are ideal for experiencing this feat of nature. The winter season is especially conducive to stunning auroral displays, as the long periods of darkness, low light pollution, and the frequency of clear nights provide picture-perfect viewing opportunities. Gazing up at the sky, you’ll feel ever-connected with the universe reflecting in the majestic Arctic landscape below. It’s a time for reflection and inward journeying.

6. With the Right Equipment, Do You Think You Can Master Cold-Weather Conditions?

We will be traveling in Arctic conditions lashed to our dogsleds. These can range from cold, still days of sun to icy blizzards. So you’ll need to prepare for chilly, clear days, but also hard winds and snowfall. Equipment choice makes all the difference to being comfortable here. That’s why we provide warm snowsuits, down jackets, mitts, thick sleeping bags, and mats for each adventurer. You will also receive a detailed kit list of additional equipment to help you better prepare. You don’t need cold-trekking experience to conquer this life-changing bucket list journey. We have worked hard to make this trip accessible to anyone looking for adventure and a new perspective of this Arctic coastline’s pristine wilderness and culture. If you have previous experience with cold-weather conditions and camping, it will help, but it’s not essential. Our mountain guides and Inuit dog sledders will give you many opportunities to learn and refine the skills you need to trek in this environment. A good level of fitness will allow you to get the most out of the trip, whether it’s helping pack the loads, maneuver the sleds, or set up camp. If you have any questions as to whether this trip is suitable for you, just give us a call:  +1.775.833.9700  •  1.800.231.1919

7. Is Reykjavik, Iceland, One Of Your New Must-See Destinations?

You’ll need to fly into Iceland before heading to Greenland for our Dog Sledding Expedition. That’s why many of our adventurers choose to spend an extra day or two in Reykjavik either before or after the expedition. They enjoy checking out the wonders of this fantastic  destination and have fun exploring this small northern capital’s geothermal pools and vibrant scene. Once you land in Iceland, you’ll fly from the snow strip to Kulusuk, Greenland, and make your way to our traditional lodge. While the lodge in East Greenland is extremely remote, Kulusuk is served by a regularly-scheduled turboprop plane. The flight is around 1 hr 40 mins. We can arrange your air tickets, and airport transfers and baggage transfers are included.

8. Would You Prefer Not To Stress About Your Lodging, Camping Equipment, and Food?

We start and end our Greenland Dogsled Expedition at the traditional Lodge Kulusuk. This wooden lodge built by our Greenland partners over the years is nestled in the tiny Inuit village of Kulusuk, home to just 200 people. A comfortable and practical base to explore East Greenland, the lodge provides cabin bedrooms, running water, hot showers, and flushing toilets, a rare thing in this cold climate. On the first day at the lodge… We check weather forecasts and pack bags for the journey ahead. We spend the afternoon exploring Kulusuk village and checking your gear before settling in for the night. In the morning, we’ll begin with a shorter journey to the calving face of our local glacier, which gives you the chance to fine-tune your clothing and begin to learn the patterns of ice travel. Then, with sleds loaded and packs of excited dogs eager to run, we leave the village by the ice of the frozen bay. Your meals at the lodge are fully catered and brimming with tasty local foods. Cut off by sea ice six months of the year, the stores and freezers at the lodge are well supplied to provide a plentiful and varied menu. Whenever possible, we feast on locally caught fish, including salmon, Arctic char, cod, and halibut. We’ll take care of all the energizing food and camping equipment out in the wild. We’ll spend six days and nights dogsledding and camping in the Arctic wilderness in huts or tents along the way. We’ll provide tent accommodation, expedition and camp equipment, and all the food you’ll need for the journey, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Each night we set up camp with robust tents and thick sleeping bags to keep us warm. We’ll melt snow to eat and drink while telling stories and enjoying life out on the ice. We will likely spend at least one night gathered around the big stove of our cabin, situated on a wild peninsula below a high glacier. After your expedition… Our journey takes us back to Kulusuk for hot showers and home-cooked meals. There’s a drying area for your gear, a sitting room heated by a stove, and a big table we all gather around each evening. After just one week of immersing yourself in the ways of this ancient culture and the other-worldly Arctic environment, the warmth of this tiny community takes on a special significance. We’ll spend our final night here at the lodge, then you’ll return to the snow strip and board the plane that flies us out over the Denmark Strait back to Iceland. Your feelings of accomplishment, confidence, and gratitude for the chance to experience this natural wonder will be palpable and hard to contain.

9. Do You Believe Expert Planning and Emergency Protocols Beat Just “Winging It” When You Adventure?

A dogsled expedition in Greenland requires careful planning and preparation to get right. When you’re out there in the isolated Arctic wilderness, this attention to detail may mean the difference between enjoying the journey and being miserable. And, in very rare situations, it could mean escaping an emergency situation with everyone unharmed. Our guides carry safety and communications equipment during the entire expedition. They’re also equipped with polar bear deterrents if the (very rare) need arises. Also included in the cost of your trip is an Emergency Evacuation Membership by RIPCORD, the world's premiere evacuation company. We’ll automatically enroll you for membership once you sign up for your Greenland Dogsled Expedition. Your membership covers medical and political emergencies as well as natural disasters. We have had decades of experience with emergency evacuations and have refined professional evacuation protocols with RIPCORD specifically for each trip we run.

So Are You Ready for a Dogsled In Greenland Expedition?

If you answered “yes” to most of the questions in this quiz, a Greenland Dog Sledding Expedition should definitely be on your bucket list. Traditional dog sledding in Greenland is a seasonal adventure with our trusty Inuit guides and expert dog packs that very few explorers ever get to experience. So if you’re ready to achieve your inner greatness out in the Arctic, book your spot now.  .  GET READY FOR GREATNESS