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International Tour Packages
Basic Package
A marathon holiday
This tour is not just a marathon with a side trip, but a splendid tour that includes a fantastic marathon. The arrangement is organised as a normal holiday tour for the whole family to beautiful Greenland in the autumn - a long weekend break of the type that Albatros Travel arrange every autumn to Greenland. All participants have the opportunity to experience Greenlands magnificent nature and sights through planned outings and additional excursions.
The experiment to hold a marathon in the midst of Greenlands magnificent landscape and on the ice cap of Greenland begun in September 2001, where a large group of Danish athletes flew to Greenland to compete in the first marathon north of the polar circle. The runners were enjoying the marathon and the chance to experience Greenlands beauty and the general opinion from our runners since 2001 has been that this is a ‘world class run’.
Perhaps due to the far distance, The Polar Circle Marathon never had many participants, but the limited logistics in Kangerlussuaq also sets the maximum number of participants to 115.
So you should not expect a city marathon atmosphere, but instead, and for some much better, you will experience the silent remoteness of the Greenlandic nature and the battle is between you and nature.
In 2008 we saw an unexpected high interest for the race and had the highest number of 73 runners (all of them completing) in the marathon and half marathon since the first race in 2001. The interest was followed up in 2009 with runners from 12 different countries, so we hope to see many excited runners again this October.
Day 1, October 21st
Copenhagen-Kangerlussuaq
We leave Copenhagen in the morning. A 5 hour flight will bring us to Kangerlussuaq (previously known as Søndre Strømfjord) where we arrive in the morning, local time. Kangerlussuaq is at GMT –3 hours. Kangerlussuaq is the largest of Greenland’s two International airports for civilian air traffic. From here the domestic flights to the rest of Western and Northern Greenland originate. It is not a large town as such, actually Kangerlussuaq received town status as late as in 2001 and is part of the Sisimiut municipality. The permanent population is approximately 500 people, with most people employed at the airport. There is a supermarket, a post office, a restaurant (at the hotel), a few cafeterias and a bowling ally.
The airport was built by the Americans during the Second World War. Under the name Blue West Eight the air base was established along the more than 170km long fjord. The air base was of strategic importance, both during World War II and the Cold War. At this time more than 1400 soldiers were situated at the base. With increased technological developments, however, the importance of the base gradually declined and the Americans finally left and handed over the area to the Government of Greenland in 1992.
Upon arrival we check in at Polar Lodge or Hotel Kangerlussuaq. When everyone has checked in the race officials and tour leaders will give a brief welcome after which the rest of the afternoon is at your leisure with the opportunity to purchase a number of excursions.
In the evening we all meet in a large heated tent outside the Polar Lodge for a traditional barbeque with meat specialties from Greenland.
A meal onboard the flight and barbeque dinner are included this day.
Day 2, October 22nd
Route Inspection and Pasta Party
Today we start out with one of the highlights of the tour – inspecting the marathon route. We will be heading 35 kms east of the airport to the ice cap and en route members of staff will inform runners about the various aspects of the course. The route inspection is also an opportunity for participants who are not running to take part in the excursion to the ice cap. We drive in large all terrain vehicles, which will take us through the wide Sanddrift Valley along Watson River. Not far from Kangerlussuaq we pass by the golf course and the 400 metre high cone formed hill, Suger Loaf. We continue through the fantastic landscape of lakes, fertile moor and dense scrub. Once in a while it is replaced by large stretches of dunes and rock devoid of vegetation. Relative to the rest of Greenland it is fairly fertile landscape - there is rich flora in spring and summer and the altitude of the big, rounded hills do not exceed 700 metres.
A few kilometres from the inland ice edge, Russel Glacier winds through the terrain and we continue to point 660, one of the most beautiful ice landscapes in Greenland, with the inland ice dominating the background and a number of glaciers spreading out. At times the thunderous noise of the glaciers calving can be heard - it is fantastic to experience the sight of the rugged and winding ice cap with its crevasses, rapid meltwater rivers and wells.
Finally we arrive at the edge of the ice cap where we park the vehicles and take a tour on the ice cap itself. It is a great experience to feel the massive cold air from the ice, taste the pure crystal clear air and listen to the deafening silence. You suddenely realise that Greenland is in a category by itself.
The road from Kangerlussuaq to the ice cap was originally founded by Volkswagen who had a testing center on the ice and needed easy access from the harbour in Kangerlussuaq to the extreme conditions on the ice cap. The testing center, however, is now closed and the road is now under the supervision of Sisimiut Municipality. The condition of the road is therefore not as good as it has been, but more like an adventure marathon route. The access to the ice cap has also declined over the years, partly because of lesser maintainance and partly because of the global warming.
In the evening a traditional Marathon Pasta Party will take place. But an early bed time is to be recommended.
Breakfast, lunch pack and pasta dinner are included this day.
Day 3, October 23rd
The Polar Circle Marathon
We will rise fairly early and have breakfast. At 7:30 in the morning we drive to the starting point near the inland ice, once again using all terrain vehicles to get there. Both the half and full marathon will start at 9:30. Full marathon runners have 7 hours to complete, while half marathon runners have 4 hours. More information on the race can be found under “Practical Information”.
Half marathon participants will use the same start as the full marathon. They will follow the track on the ice cap and have their goal after the required 21.1 km. At the half marathon finish line the largest of the all-terrain vehicles is waiting to take all half marathon participants back to Kangerlussuaq when the last runner has passed the line.
The full marathon finishing line will be located in the parking area between Polar Lodge and Hotel Kangerlussuaq giving easy access for all marathon runners to their rooms and a hot shower.
The runners will be offered water and refreshments at stations posted along the route. At the finishing line a lunch package will be provided. The rest of the day and evening is at your own leisure.
Breakfast and a lunch pack are included this day.
Day 4, October 24th
Kangerlussuaq, walking tour and Gala Dinner
After yesterdays streneous efforts it is time to relax. The program for today offers a guided walk up to Mount Hassel - also known as ‘Kitchen Mountain’ because all the apartment blocks have their kitchen windows facing the hillside - just behind the airport. This tour takes about 3-4 hours. We start the tour from Polar Lodge and follow the ridge eastwards towards the inland ice. The higher we go the more beautiful it gets and, weather permitting, we will have a fantastic panoramic view from the fjord to the inland ice. If there is too much snow the tour leaders will try to find an alternative route at a lower level.
There is also opportunities to go on the excursions that were offered on arrival day.
In the evening we will celebrate the completion of The Polar Circle Marathon 2010 with a festive dinner at the restaurant of Hotel Kangerlussuaq.
Breakfast and Gala Dinner included this day.
Day 5, October 25th
Kangerlussuaq-Copenhagen
After an intense weekend we travel back to Copenhagen. The flight leaves just before noon so there is the oportunity to enjoy a last stroll or jog.
Arrival to Copenhagen in the evening (Danish time).
Breakfast and a meal onboard the flight are included this day.
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Optional Package
Extend your stay and visit Ilulissat, one of Greenland’s most picturesque towns, and see one of nature’s true wonders – the Ice fjord.
What makes Greenland a truly unique destination is the combination of wild nature and the inuit culture adapted to it through hundreds of generations. It is along the coast the people of Greenland live and it is in the towns and settlements that we find “the real Greenland”. Small colourful houses cling to mountainsides, culture and architecture enriched and limited by nature, and if you take just a few steps outside the town you’ll find yourself almost completely isolated, surrounded by one of the worlds last and biggest wildernesses.
Ilulissat offers a variety of tour possibilities. If we are lucky with the weather there might be snow enough for the dog sledges to operate otherwise a helicopter flight over the Ice fjord is a stunning experience. These extra excursions can be booked upon arrival to Ilulissat. Please note all optional tours are permitted by weather and/or number of participants and therefore cannot be guaranteed on beforehand.
Ilulissat and the Disko Bay
Day 1, October 25th
Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat
We check in for Air Greenland’s flight to Ilulissat in the morning. From the right side of the plane it is possible to get a glimpse of the ice cap and the marathon route, and - on a clear day - the unique Ice fjord approximately 5-10 minutes before landing.
We check in at Hotel Hvide Falk (White Falcon) – newly modernised and one of the best hotels in Greenland. The hotel i situated at the waterfront of the world famous Ice fjord with an impressive view over the Disko Bay. Restaurants, museums, shops and the harbour are all within walking distance.
Ilulissat is situated in the heart of the famed Disko Bay, an area of great natural beauty. The town itself is picturesque, lively and inviting. By Greenland standards it offers many cultural sights that - apart from the birthplace and museum of arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen - includes a Hunting and Fishing museum, and the fine collection of paintings of Emanuel A. Petersen. Since the foundation of Ilulissat more than 250 years ago, it has grown steadily and is today Greenland’s third largest city with more than 4,300 inhabitants. The main occupation is, as always, fishing.
The city is rightfully called the capital of icebergs. In the Disko Bay, just off the coast of Ilulissat, the gigantic icebergs linger. South of the city the enormous Ice fjord cuts its way through the country. It starts 32 kilometres further inland, where the huge Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, with a front more than 5 kilometres wide and several hundred meters high, is calving icebergs with a speed of 25 metres per day, equivalent to 20 million tons of ice or more than 10% of all icebergs in Greenland. This makes the glacier the most productive outside Antarctica. These facts and the stunning setting has put the Ice fjord on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
The day offers a walking tour of the town, so we have a better idea of the area and possibilities.
Breakfast is included this day.
Day 2, October 26th
Ilulissat and the Ice fjord
After breakfast we walk to the harbour and embark for a 2½ hours boat trip on the Ice fjord where we will see the spectacular icebergs. We will get really close to the impressive “floating mountains” and see their true greatness. A good chance to get some stunning photos and an experience you will never forget. Remember warm clothes.
The afternoon is free to shop or walk to one of the nearby hilltops overlooking the Ice fjord or go on some of the optional excursions if available.
Breakfast is included this day.
Day 3, October 27th
Ilulissat
We will go for a small walk down to the Sermermiut Valley, approximately 2 kilometres south of Ilulissat. Sermermiut means “The People by the Ice”, and the place has been inhabited from 1400 BC to 1737. In 1727 when the first Danish commercial expedition arrived at the Ice fjord and discovered Sermermiut, some 250 people were living there. Today the area reveals a number of grass grown square craters marking the foundation of tuft houses. Kitchen middens show large numbers of bones from seals, birds, fish and whales. From the valley and the small bay, we walk along the fjord and up onto the hills with a grand view of the Ice fjord.
The rest of the day is again at your own leisure unless you have booked one of the optional tours.
Breakfast is included this day.
Day 4, October 28th
Ilulissat - Kangerlussuaq - Copenhagen
We go by bus to the airport in the morning and fly via Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen. Arrival in the evening, Danish time.
Breakfast and a meal onboard the flight is included this day.
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ACCOMMODATION:
Polar Lodge
is a cosy hostel located in Kangerlussuaq about 200 metres from Hotel Kangerlussuaq and the airport arrival hall. The building was renovated, modernised and refurbished as a hostel in 2006. The total capacity is 14 rooms (all non smoking). Toilets and bathrooms are on shared basis in the hallway. The lodge has a dining room where breakfast is served, a small kitchen with a stove, refrigerator and kettle, a souvenir shop and a computer where internet time can be purchased.
Hotel Kangerlussuaq
The hotel is directly connected to the main building in the airport complex. It has nice and fairly large double rooms with private bathrooms. Breakfast is served in the cafeteria next to the reception and Kangerlussuaq’s most exclusive restaurant is situated in the main airport building. Wireless internet connection can be purchased.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN COPENHAGEN
Due to Air Greenland’s early departure from and late arrival to Copenhagen, same day connections from airports around the world may not be possible. In other words most runners have to arrive to Copenhagen the day before the Basic package starts and leave the day after it ends.
We offer the following accommodation in Copenhagen on October 20th and October 25th/28th:
Hotel Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers
Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers is a 4-star upscale hotel located close to Copenhagen Airport and only a short walk from the metro, which will take you to the centre of Copenhagen in 10 minutes. The hotel opened in November 2009 and offers modern designed rooms and comfort. The hotel is CO2 neutral and certified under the international “Green Key” standard. All rooms offer great views and WiFi internet. The hotel offers all its guests free pick up from and drop off to the airport.
See more at: http://www.crowneplaza.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/RKECP?hotelCode=RKECP
If you arrive earlier than October 20th or leave later than October 25th/28th you may request extra nights upon booking. Availability and rates on extra nights cannot be guaranteed.
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