One by one, the kayaks soared through the mirrored water of secluded bays, their wakes trailing through a galaxy of ice. There was not a breath of wind, and the subtle music of the Arctic could be heard across the ocean surface: the lapping of the tide against the icebergs, the chorus of crackling as ancient air bubbles released into the atmosphere.
Apart from the whispering ice, it would have been silent – if not for the stroke of the kayak paddles.
To experience Greenland by kayak is to delve into the heart of nature, immersing oneself in the wilderness with all one’s senses. In a land of polar bears and northern lights, awe-inspiring moments are in no short supply, but kayaking past glacier fronts and dramatic landscapes allows you to see the world's largest island from a new perspective.
Far from the noise of motorized watercraft, a kayaker is keenly aware of the gentle pull and flow of the current; the quiet ripples of sea animals, and the distant thunder of calving glaciers.
What’s more, it’s an ancient cultural tradition perfected over a thousand years by the Thule people, the ancestors of modern-day Greenlanders, or Inuit.
The History of Greenland Kayaking
When the Thule migrated across North America around 1200 AD, they brought kayaks with them, and thrived in Greenland more successfully than all who had come before. They migrated to locations along the north and west coast of Greenland, and later settled along the coast of South Greenland.
Kayaks allowed the Thule to navigate Southern Greenland waters with high densities of ice, traveling vast distances in pursuit of the animals they needed to survive.
Today, hunters on the northern and west coast of Greenland still hunt by kayak, passing on these traditional skills from generation to generation. It’s a sport perfectly designed for the Arctic environment, and the perfect way to experience the breathtaking beauty of this remote coastline.
In many Greenlandic communities, a local kayak club can be spotted near the shoreline. Greenlandic kayaking has recently undergone a revival as a competition sport, especially the impressive array of underwater rolls that mimic challenging scenarios that hunters once faced.
Watching a Greenlandic kayaker roll over with a hand behind his back, for example, you can imagine that his prey, attached to a harpoon line, has swum behind him and pulled him over. Awe-inspiringly, he surfaces time after time, squinting saltwater from his eyes with a smile.
Greenland Kayaking Tours
While traveling in Greenland with Quark Expeditions, the opportunity to go kayaking on one of the optional excursions was a highlight of our expedition. A small group of dedicated paddlers in the Sea Kayaking Program took to the water every day that conditions permitted, forming a close-knit community throughout the voyage.
The chance to kayak, however, was available to everyone: paddlers of all skill levels could join the Paddle Excursion Program offered on our cruise ships for a single, unforgettable adventure in inflatable, sit-on-top kayaks.
At water level, absorbed by the stillness of the landscape, all paddlers could marvel at the sculptural icebergs receding far below the surface: a refreshed awareness of how much more there is to Greenland than meets the eye.
Why Go Kayaking in Greenland
Our kayak guides, whose achievements set them apart as professional adventurers, brought a spirit of exploration to every excursion. Days before our voyage began, our sea kayak guide Tara Mulvany had finished a 3-month kayak expedition along the coast of Greenland.
In 2015, she completed the world’s first kayak circumnavigation of Svalbard.
Likewise, as guide Jane Whitney led the Paddle Excursion Program, she burst with stories from over 30 years of kayak expeditions in the Canadian High Arctic – some of which she undertook with her children when they were toddlers.
The jubilant, intrepid spirit of our leaders was infectious, changing perspectives about what is possible.
Kayaking in East Greenland
Over the course of the voyage, Tara explained, the kayak groups often morph into circles of newfound friends. Aside from the opportunity to soak up the silence, it’s also a great way to spend quality time with adventurous, like minded people.
“By the end of the trip, it’s not always as quiet,” she smiled. “There’s usually a lot of laughter.”
Feeling the weight of the water against our paddles, we watched musk oxen grazing by the shore, undisturbed by our quiet presence. Paddling together along the east coast, breathing in the clean air and gazing out over the ice cap, a deep sense of peace took hold.
It was easy, in those moments, to understand how kayaks were designed to explore Greenland: to feel connected to an ancient tradition, a community of exploration, and a true immersion in the Greenlandic wild.
Join One of Our Greenland Kayaking Trips
Plan an expedition trip to Greenland and explore its icy coastlines, glacier tongues, and sandy beach the way they’ve been explored for thousands of years – in a nimble sea kayak. Browse itineraries today.
