Adventure in Greenland: from Schiphol to Kulusuk

Arrival in Greenland: an Adventurous Start

Let’s start with the good news: we have arrived in Greenland! As you have already seen in the photo at the top of this blog, this is the beginning of our adventure. A lot has happened today. This morning, Ronnie, Michiel, David, and I, Henk-Jan, arrived at Schiphol Airport. At ten past two, our Icelandair flight departed for Reykjavik. The journey went smoothly, partly because most of the luggage had already been sent ahead to Tasiilaq, where we are now staying.

Meeting Susana and the Journey to Kulusuk

In Reykjavik, we met Susana from America, our fifth teammate. We had a layover of two and a half hours, which we spent having coffee and getting to know each other. Our next flight to Kulusuk went without a hitch. It was a small propeller plane, filled with adventurers in hiking boots and outdoor clothing. The flight to Kulusuk was exciting due to the dense fog. Brecht, a guide and colleague of mine who has worked here all summer, kept me updated via messages. Fortunately, we departed from Keflavik on time and eventually landed in Kulusuk with only a twenty-minute delay.

An Unforgettable Arrival in Kulusuk

Landing in Kulusuk was an experience in itself. Unlike Schiphol, the runway here is covered with gravel instead of asphalt, which made for a bumpy landing. The airport itself is small and busy; there is no baggage carousel, and you pick up your belongings directly from a forklift. Upon arrival, I had to go to the airport manager to pick up a rifle that had been left behind by a previous expedition. It was a special experience to arrange something like that at an airport.

On the Way to Tasiilaq

After collecting our luggage, we went to the harbor for the next leg of our journey. A fishing boat from Tasiilaq Tours took us to Tasiilaq. Along the way, we saw impressive icebergs, some as high as 40 to 50 meters. In Tasiilaq, we called The Red House, where we would be spending the night. Robert Peroni, the owner, arranged transport for our luggage and welcomed us warmly. We were told that we would be sleeping in the Expedition Lodge.

A Warm Welcome in the Red House

Although there was initially some confusion about our dinner, a delicious meal was eventually served. We sat comfortably at the table with other adventurers. Upon arrival at the lodge, we discovered that our sleeping bags had not yet arrived due to a delay with the pallet in the harbor. Fortunately, Robert quickly arranged five sleeping bags for us.

Ready for the Adventure

We have eaten well and can now sleep comfortably thanks to the help of Robert and his team. Tomorrow, we will receive our pallet and check the weather forecast to determine how our adventure will proceed. It is now gray and rainy outside, but we are full of optimism for what is to come.