Trekking in Schweizerland in Groenland

Still away from the touristic itineraries, unknown to the trekkers community, the Eastern coast of Greenland is a land of adventure like no other: a landscape composed of fjords, icebergs, high mountains, glacier tongues and ice sheets!

The Schweizerland (which can be freely translated to “Swiss Alps”, discovered and named by the Swiss expedition of Alfred de Quervain in 1912) is a vast massif located on the Arctic Circle. These 3360m high mountains with strong reliefs are covered by enormous glaciers with names that can sound familiar: Glacier France, Glacier Franche-Comté, Glacier Paris, Glacier Pourquoi-Pas? These names witness the passage of a certain Paul-Emile Victor (mid-20th century french explorer).

A remarkable trip by its aesthetics, variety of landscapes (depending on whether one is close to the ocean or deeply engaged in the massif), the progression to “universes” even more singular:

– The beginning of the trek is characterized by deep and branched fjords, a coastline with a complex drawing, the tangling of land and sea and a maritime-alpine geography;

– The “Dry” valleys, isolated, framed by a succession of chaotic glacier tongues, high walls and Patagon-looking peaks;

– The unique atmosphere of the bottom of the Sermilik fjord – Greenland as we imagine it -, its waters loaded with an impressive density of growlers and icebergs released by the giant emissary glaciers of the ice sheet (the very famous Greenland ice cap), felted atmospheres when the mist blends itself with all this ice in transit, glowing lights in the camps when the Sun tangents with the horizon of the cap…

– Finally the passage, at the beginning and end of the trek, through small villages of the Ammassalik region allows us to discover the most isolated Inuit communities in Greenland.

This trek can be qualified as moderately difficult simply because it takes place in isolated and mountainous territory, and in total autonomy (once started, it is not possible to go back – except in cases of absolute necessity). The crossing of the highest passes demands the ability to move forward with a “large” bag in a high mountain type environment.

– Bag weight: 20 kg

– Duration of each stage: 6-8 walking hours

Highlights of the trek are:

– Wild and wonderful beauty of the Eastern Greenland coast (if you are only to visit Greenland once in your life, go to this side of the island!); an itinerary along the edges of one of the most impressive massifs in Greenland.

– A journey with very interesting landscapes, linking very different environments: a complex network of fjords and islands, high mountains and countless glaciers, ice sheets, icebergs and drifting ice…

– A sector that has rarely been visited since it requires one to be autonomous.

– A beginning and end of itinerary in 2 hamlets characteristic of the Eastern coast.

– Assurance to be in good company: with a small group of people known to the guide…

I invite you to contact me if you are interested in this beautiful journey. I will give you all the details of this unique hike. Early registration allows you to be sure to get seats on the Reykajvik – Kulusuk flight, which has a great rate. It is best not to wait too long before deciding!