Discover Greenland: The Natural Habitat Experience

Airport transfers on or before Day 1 (if you are staying at the Centrum Hotel) and final day of the itinerary, helicopter flight between Kulusuk and Tasiilaq, accommodations, including exclusive occupancy of Natural Habitat's Base Camp Greenland, meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on the final day, purified drinking water throughout the trip, soft drinks at meals and alcoholic beverages at dinner while at camp, services of NHA professional Expedition Leader(s), boat and camp crews, all boat transportation and excursions, optional sea kayaking and hiking excursions, gear including Mustang expedition suits for Zodiac excursions, waterproof overshoes, kayaking gloves and booties, mosquito head nets and dry bags, all kayaking equipment, most gratuities, all permits, entrance fees and taxes.

Round-trip transportation to and from the start and end points of the trip (Keflavik, Iceland), early arrival airport transfers (other than those described above), late departure airport transfers, round-trip air between Reykjavik and Kulusuk, alcoholic beverages (other than those mentioned above), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, Internet, etc.), some gratuities, airline baggage fees, required medical evacuation insurance and optional travel insurance.

Mandatory Insurance

Since the areas we travel to on this trip are remote and wild (that's why we go there!), we require medical evacuation insurance for our guests' safety. If you decline the medical evacuation insurance coverage offered by Natural Habitat, we request that you send us documentation of the independent coverage you have selected. We will add the cost of a medical evacuation policy to your tour invoice until you provide our office with proof of coverage including your insurance company's name, contact number and your individual policy number. Thank you for understanding that our policy exists exclusively in the interest of our guests' safety.

Moderate
Our Base Camp Greenland adventure is a genuine wilderness experience. Our deluxe safari-style camp, accessed via a scenic 4- to 5-hour boat transfer and/or short helicopter flight, is located in an exceptionally remote and rugged area. Guests must be prepared for typical activities that take place in such a setting and in unpredictable weather conditions. Good health and general physical fitness are a must, as we are far from medical facilities. Our walks and hikes require mobility and stability. Although all activities are optional, and alternate activities are usually available at varying levels of physical demand, all guests must be able to walk unassisted at least two miles over uneven and often rocky terrain without trails. We use open Zodiac boats to access the shore for exploration, and landings can be unstable. Landings may be either wet (requiring you to walk a short distance in shallow water) or dry (disembarking directly onto land), and may require walking over rocks or large boulders that can be slippery with seaweed. Our staff is available to assist for safety purposes, but guests need to be able to comfortably negotiate such uneven and unstable conditions.

While at Base Camp, daily activities include nature walks or hiking, kayaking and Zodiac excursions of varying durations. Zodiac outings in the nearby fjords can last up to 8 or 9 hours (including stops), with opportunities for hikes ashore to explore geological and historic sights. We expect to operate in generally calm seas, but conditions can change quickly, and we may be exposed in the open boats to cold, windy or rainy weather. Travelers who have health issues that could be exacerbated by such conditions should take this into consideration.

Guests who desire a higher level of activity may participate in longer hikes and sea kayaking excursions (weather, ice and local conditions permitting). These extended hikes will take place near sea level with some elevation gain, depending on the fitness level of those who opt to participate. Optional longer sea kayaking excursions are also offered, with varied itineraries for individual desires and capacities. Our intent is to paddle in largely calm seas, though again, the weather can change with little notice, and excursions can occur in windy or rainy conditions. Shifting ice may also force us to alter our kayaking itinerary. All kayaking activities, whether scheduled easy excursions or optional longer excursions, are accompanied by a guide and safety boat.

In Tasiilaq, our hotel is located atop a very steep hill high above town, and vehicle transportation is provided to and from our group activities for those who prefer to ride rather than walk. 

Please note that mosquitoes and tiny black flies can be quite prevalent and a real nuisance at camp and during outings ashore, particularly during several weeks at the height of the summer season (we cannot predict exactly when this will be). For our guests' comfort we provide head nets, but if you have allergies or are particularly sensitive to mosquito bites, please come prepared with proper clothing, adequate skin protection and anti-itch cream, if necessary.

Our journey to Basecamp Greenland offers the rare—in fact, only—opportunity to encounter one of the planet’s most isolated locations in camping “luxury." As we travel way off the grid into remote East Greenland, guests must be prepared for all the vagaries that come with travel to such an isolated destination. These include inclement weather, varying ice conditions and a scarcity of operational materials, all of which makes a journey to world-renowned Base Camp Greenland an “adventure” in the truest sense. At times flights may be canceled due to poor weather, routes may be closed due to changing ice conditions, and amenities may become unavailable until a new shipment arrives. But the adventure is part of the fun, and we will use our 25 years of Greenland operational experience to make the best of even substantial itinerary changes should they occur.

We ask that guests arrive at Keflavik International Airport (in Reykjavik), Iceland, on Day 1 no later than 7 am. We recommend arriving in Iceland 1-2 days prior to our trip departure date in case of unexpected travel delays which can easily happen in this region. Guests may depart from Keflavik anytime on Day 9.

We can best serve you if our Natural Habitat Adventures Travel Desk makes your reservations, as we are intimately familiar with the special requirements of this program and can arrange the most efficient travel. Please call us at 1-800-543-8917. Note that while we offer you the best possible rates available to us on additional nights' accommodations, you may find special last-minute web rates online if you are willing to risk not securing a room.