Icefjord Midnight Marathon Four Night Package | May 30 - June 3, 2024
Icefjord Midnight Marathon Five Night Package | May 30 - June 4, 2024
Wednesday, May 28: Recommended Arrival in Copenhagen
Since the flight to Greenland departs in the morning on Thursday, May 30, we strongly recommend you arrive in Copenhagen at least one day in advance. Rooms can be reserved at the Comfort Hotel Vesterbro (or similar). In addition, you can join a running tour crafted specifically for Icefjord Midnight Marathon participants. This will give you the perfect opportunity for sightseeing some of the fantastic Copenhagen sights while running. The tour departs at 3:30 PM from City Hall Square (H.C. Andersen Statue) and will last approximately 1.5 hours. The distance will be about 8KM with a pace adjusted according to the overall level of the participants (approx. 5-6 km/hr or 3-3.75 miles/hr). The rest of the day is on your own. Please note that this hotel night is NOT included in your package price and is optional (although highly recommended).
Thursday, May 30: Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq – Ilulissat
Today, all participants will meet at Copenhagen Airport Terminal 2. An almost five-hour flight will bring us to Kangerlussuaq, where we arrive in the morning and will transfer to a domestic flight to Ilulissat. Due to the smaller size of domestic carriers and limited seat availability, the group will be divided into two flights. All flights will have landed by late afternoon, and in Ilulissat we will check into our hotels. After we have settled in, you are invited to join us for a tour of Ilulissat. We will walk around town with a local guide who will explain the history and highlight places of cultural significance. The tour will begin at the historical Hotel Hvide Falk, and wind its way past the Zion Church, the local fish market, and the colorful houses on our way toward the harbor. Along the way, enjoy interesting stories on a variety of topics, such as the origin of Ilulissat, how the city has developed over the years, and the importance of its fishing culture.
The walking tour is an excellent opportunity to get your first glimpse of the fascinating culture in Ilulissat, and your guide will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
In the evening, all participants will meet to enjoy a Greenlandic buffet. If you still have some energy left at the end of the day, you can join an evening kayak excursion among hundreds of icebergs. (Plane meal and dinner included)
Friday, May 31: Icefjord Boating, Sermermiut Hike, and Race Briefing
This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, you can shake off the travel stiffness with a light hike through one of the region's most acclaimed areas. We will hike to the Sermermiut Valley, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptionally beautiful nature and unique importance to glaciological science.
The hike is a must-do activity in the region and will take us approx. 2 KM south of Ilulissat, beginning at the Icefjord Visitor Center. From there, we enter the UNESCO-area on a wooden path toward the famous ruins of Sermermiut. Sermermiut is an ancient settlement that has been home to many different Inuit people for more than 4000 years. The stone ruins of old turf houses are scattered on various hilltops that we will be able to see as we walk. We continue through the old settlement to Nakkaavik, a cliff whose name means 'the place to fall.' You can ask your guide about the origin of this haunted name. From here, we are treated to a breathtaking view of the Kangia, the famous Ilulissat Icefjord with its many massive icebergs. While you explore the enchanting surroundings, your guide will prepare hot coffee and tea to keep you warm in the arctic wind. We will follow the same wooden path back to town.
In the afternoon and the evening, you have the chance to experience the Icefjord by boat. We will embark on a boat trip with experienced guides who will give us information as we wind our way through the icy giants. No matter the weather, the icebergs make an impressive sight - they shimmer and shine with the sun, while clouds highlight the extraordinary blue colors hidden in the ice. The experience is much more exciting in small boats, so we will be using two 12-participant boats. This means there will be four departure times for this trip: two before dinner and two after dinner.
In the evening, all participants will meet to enjoy a pasta dinner and get the race briefing. Please note that the race briefing will be your last chance to change distances.
Tonight, you can join an optional kayak excursion. (Breakfast and dinner included)
Saturday, June 1: Race Night!
You have the morning and afternoon to sleep, explore, and prepare yourself for the night to come.
Today, you might also choose to “meet the sled dogs” (only offered on June 1).
The marathon begins at 9:00 PM and the half-marathon will begin at 10:30 PM. All races will be done by 4:00 AM at the latest (Breakfast included)
Sunday, June 2: Ilulissat Day – Optional Excursions & Celebration Dinner
Today is a justified relaxation and recovery day. Most of us will likely sleep the morning away. You may also use the day to explore on your own or join one of the optional excursions. On this day we will run a sail excursion to Oqaatsut, a tiny, authentic village 20KM north of Ilulissat. Otherwise, we also offer a day trip by boat to the immense Eqi Glacier. It is also possible to join our Kayak among Icebergs Excursion after breakfast.
In the evening, all participants will gather for the celebration dinner. Together, we will revel in the prior night's victory, share stories, and enjoy a good meal together. (Breakfast and dinner included)
Monday, June 3: Departure Day or Day in Ilulissat (Five Night Package Clients Only)
We will say goodbye to those on the four-night package as make their way back to Copenhagen for their international flight home. Flights from Ilulissat/Kangerlussuaq will arrive in Copenhagen around 9:30 PM with a meal served on the flight. Guests are responsible for their own flights home from Copenhagen. Please keep in mind that you will need time to collect your bags and check in for your flight home. We recommend that you don’t book flights within three hours of our 9:30 PM arrival. We strongly recommend staying the night in Copenhagen and flying out the next day.
If you are on the five-night package you will have one final day to enjoy the charm of Ilulissat and its surroundings. Again, you may choose to explore on your own, or if you haven't been kayaking yet, we highly recommend it! Today there is one final optional excursion to sail from Ilulissat to the Oqaatsut settlement or the Eqi Glacier, in case you haven't been able to join the previous day. (Breakfast included)
Tuesday, June 4: Farewell Greenland (Five Night Package Clients Only)
Sadly, it is time to say farewell to Ilulissat. We will fly first to Kangerlussuaq in the morning. Once in Kangerlussuaq, we will board a flight back to Copenhagen that will arrive around 9:00 PM. There will be a meal served aboard the flight. Guests are responsible for their own flights home from Copenhagen. Keep in mind that you will need time to collect your bags and check in for your new flights, and thus we don't recommend booking flights within three hours of arrival. Given the late time of our arrival, we strongly recommend booking a night in a hotel in Copenhagen and flying out the next day. (Breakfast and plane meal included)
