Packing list for summer trips to Greenland
The right clothing is essential for getting the most out of a trip that takes place largely outdoors and in the world’s most beautiful nature. This is our suggested packing list, covering summer trips in Greenland both for those of you going on a voyage by ship and for those going on a trip with a fair number of day hikes.
If there is anything you are unsure about, you are always welcome to contact Greenland Travel. We would also be glad to hear if there is anything you think we ought to mention in this packing list.
About clothing in Greenland in general
Clothing in Greenland is practical and informal. You therefore do not need to pack your “smart clothes” in your suitcase for a trip to Greenland.
The range of outdoor clothing is large today, so you can find clothes that are practical, stylish and comfortable, and that can be worn both in the mountains and in town. On a trip in Greenland the right clothing matters a great deal, as on one and the same day you can experience intense heat but also cold, for example on an evening boat trip among icebergs, which give off a lot of cold.
Basically, we Danes are used to changeable weather, so most of us already have the right clothing, but it is still important that you pack the right things in your suitcase. As a starting point, it is always important to make sure you have the following:
- Good footwear
- Comfortable clothes for different weather conditions
- Wind- and waterproof outerwear
- A hat and gloves for chilly evenings (always pack them for a trip to Greenland)
- A wool base layer is always good to have in your suitcase.
It is an advantage to choose strong, eye-catching colours in the mountains, but it is also nice to be able to look “ordinary” when you are out and about in the towns. We recommend that, as a starting point, you use what you already have.
Daypack
It is always a good idea to bring a small daypack on a trip in Greenland. A daypack is a smaller rucksack of 20-30L. It can be used for everything from boat trips and shorter hikes to simply carrying with you as you get around. If you are going to hike on your trip, we recommend a rucksack of approx. 30L with a hip belt and chest strap. If you will mainly be walking in the towns, you do not need a hip belt and chest strap.
Suitcase or rucksack?
On the vast majority of our trips you will not have to carry your luggage far yourself. You will have to handle your suitcase at airports and hotels, but otherwise it is transported from place to place. You can therefore choose to pack in either a suitcase or a rucksack. If you are staying in smaller settlements, you should be prepared for your luggage to be transported on a lorry, a tractor or similar, so you should expect it to get a few “knocks” and some dust.
For travellers staying overnight at Glacier Lodge Eqi or Ilimanaq Lodge
If you are lucky enough to be staying at one of these wonderful lodges, please be aware that guests carry their own luggage from the boat to the cabins across hilly mountain terrain. Suitcases are not suitable, and you should also be aware that you must be able to carry your bag yourself, so do not pack too heavily. Travellers to Glacier Lodge Eqi can leave part of their luggage in storage at the hotel. We therefore recommend that you bring a smaller rucksack that you can use during your stay at Glacier Lodge Eqi.
On round trips with a stay at Ilimanaq Lodge, you will naturally have your luggage with you all the way. Here you can choose to pack in a rucksack or a larger soft bag, or a couple of smaller ones if you cannot carry all your luggage in one bag.
On escorted group tours there will of course be people who can help, but the general rule is that you should pack so that you or someone in your travel party can carry it – in smaller bags and not in suitcases.
The layering principle
When choosing clothing, you should keep the layering principle in mind. It allows you to regulate your temperature quickly and easily by taking a layer off or putting one on, creating an optimal climate under your clothes. When you move, your body produces heat that it needs to get rid of – and conversely, when you stand still, you can get cold if you are not protected from wind and weather.
The innermost layer
The purpose of the innermost layer is to keep your body dry. It is therefore good to have a layer of moisture-wicking material next to your skin. Especially on a longer day hike, it is worth avoiding a heavy cotton top next to your body. If you are wearing a small rucksack, your back can get very wet – and therefore cold when you stand or sit still.
The mid layer
The mid layers can consist of a shirt, T-shirt, fleece and/or a gilet. One of these mid layers can possibly be windproof, or at least protect against the wind.
The outer layer
The outer layer must protect the body against rain and wind while letting moisture from the body escape. The outer layer does not need to be thick – on the contrary, it is an advantage if it is simply wind- and waterproof.
The innermost layer
- Close-fitting trousers and top
You may know these clothes from your annual skiing holiday – long johns and a long-sleeved top – some call them “thermal underwear”. These clothes should wick moisture away from your skin and keep you dry. You will typically need the long johns on evening boat trips, when it can get cold – and the same goes for the top. You can also wear the top during the day, however, when you are hiking and out and about.
The choice of material is something of a matter of taste. Synthetics are good at wicking moisture away, but they quickly start to smell. Wool keeps you warm even when damp and often does not smell at all. Today you can get wool tops that are comfortable and also incredibly stylish – often you cannot tell at all that they are a “practical” item of clothing.
The outer layer
- Windproof jacket
It must be completely windproof and big enough for you to wear a sweater or similar underneath. It is an advantage if it is long enough to cover your lower body, and it should be possible to open and close it right up to the neck and ideally at the sleeves. This lets you regulate your temperature. Modern breathable materials make it possible to combine a windproof and a waterproof jacket in one. Be aware that many materials are water-repellent but not 100% waterproof. Some shop assistants sometimes forget to point out the difference.
- Wind- and waterproof trousers
It is always a good idea to bring a pair of thin wind- and waterproof trousers that you can use if it rains or if you are on an evening boat trip, when it can get cold. Some hiking trousers are so tightly woven that they are actually windproof and almost waterproof. You can use these on a summer trip in Greenland where you will not be staying in the mountains for several days.
- Hat, gloves and scarf
Remember them, even if you do not normally wear such things. Depending on the weather, 10 to 40% of body heat is lost through the scalp and neck if they are not covered. The weather in Greenland is very changeable, and even at the height of summer you may need a hat, gloves and a scarf. Especially on boat trips, it can be cold in the evening and morning.
The mid layer
- Sweater or fleece top
A thick pure-wool sweater, or even better: two thinner ones, so you can regulate the insulating layer more easily. A modern fleece or fibre pile is also an excellent solution; it is light and dries quickly.
- Gilet
A gilet is an excellent item of clothing when you want to use the layering principle. A gilet has the useful quality of warming the vital parts of your body while making it easy to let heat escape. Today there are some incredibly light fibre-filled gilets that take up no room under a jacket and weigh nothing – they are wonderful to have in your bag.
- Shirt or top
Wool, cotton or synthetic material. It must be able to absorb moisture without getting cold. Synthetic material dries quickly and is light. Wool, on the other hand, keeps you warm even when damp. Today you can get many hiking tops that are practical, comfortable and stylish.
- Trousers
Loose-fitting, sturdy trousers are best. Jeans do not give enough freedom of movement when you are hiking and are neither warm nor windproof. There are many so-called hiking trousers on the market, made of materials that combine many qualities.
- Shorts
It can get very warm in Greenland in summer. Most people probably prefer to wear long trousers because of mosquitoes or cool winds, but it can be very refreshing to get a little air to your legs. Some make do with rolling up their trousers. There are hiking trousers on the market – so-called zip-off trousers, where you can unzip the legs – and with a pair of those, you are never more than a few seconds from a pair of shorts.
Other items
- Footwear
Almost all hiking in Greenland takes place in the mountains, off paths. Modern hiking boots come in so many different fits that there is always a model that suits you. It is important that the boot is waterproof and that the shaft goes a little way up the ankle to give support and keep out twigs and mosquitoes. It is important not to buy boots that are too small: there must be room for at least one pair of thick socks. Remember to break in your boots before you leave. It is also a good idea to bring a pair of light shoes for town, for indoors or for crossing rivers. Never walk barefoot.
If you are going on a trip where you will not be hiking much in the mountains, you can make do with good footwear with a sturdy sole. We recommend that the shoes are water-repellent if you will be going into somewhat marshy areas. A pair of trainers is comfortable, but they easily get wet in damp terrain.
- Earplugs
If you are a light sleeper, it can be an advantage to bring earplugs to keep snoring fellow travellers out of your night’s sleep.
- Mat
On hut trips you do not need a sleeping mat, but it can be an advantage to bring a small mat to sit on.
- The rucksack
On most of our tours you will not have to carry your own luggage. This means that the demands on your rucksack or suitcase are not so great.
On the easier hikes you need a good daypack that holds approx. 30 litres. It is an advantage if the daypack has a hip belt and chest strap.
- Sun cream and mosquito repellent
You should use sun cream with a good protection factor. When you spend a lot of time outdoors, you will get plenty of a tan anyway. Mosquito repellent is not always enough in tundra areas; you may need to protect yourself further, for example with loose-fitting clothing. A fine-mesh mosquito net is highly recommended! It is a good idea to buy mosquito repellent in Greenland. Particularly effective is the product “OFF”, which cannot be bought in Denmark. It is undoubtedly harmful to health to use in the long term, but it keeps the mosquitoes at bay. You can also simply spray it on your clothes.
A little about safety in mountain areas
Never walk alone
All of us who spend time in the mountains sometimes need to be alone in nature. There should of course be room for that too, but stay close to the hut, the group, etc. You should tell at least one person in the group before you set off, and make sure not to change your plans along the way. If there are several of you together, the same still applies: let someone know.
Walking in the mountains is no more risky than many other leisure activities, but if an accident happens, it can have serious consequences if you are alone. In a few hours you can get to a place where it would take others days to find you if, for some reason, you cannot move under your own steam. If there are several of you and you behave sensibly, however, there is rarely any problem getting help.
If you “get lost”
If, despite every precaution, you have become separated from your group, stay where you are. The others will soon miss you. If you are in a hollow or a dip, go up onto a hill or a knoll where you are easy to see. If you have any brightly coloured clothing, get it out.
Fatigue
Anyone can get tired, however fit they are! This can be due to jet lag, lack of sleep, unfamiliar terrain, climate, food, etc. That does not matter, as long as you let the others in your group know how you are feeling. Do not try to be “brave” so as not to be a burden on the others; that is misguided consideration. When you are tired, you are less steady on your feet and generally less alert. There is therefore a greater risk of minor accidents, which can easily spoil the trip.
Take care of a fragile natural environment
The hikes in Greenland pass through undisturbed and remote landscapes. The water in the streams is drinkable, and in many places you are alone as far as the eye can see. It should stay that way, and everyone who visits and uses Greenland’s nature must help protect the fragile Arctic surroundings: Take all your rubbish back with you. Avoid camping right next to streams. “Deposit” food waste and toilet visits several hundred metres from streams. Visit and experience ruins and burial sites, but leave the sites as you found them. Do not walk on the ruins. Leave any archaeological finds for the museums.
The 9 mountain rules
1. Do not start on long trips without prior training
2. Let someone know where and when you are leaving and when you expect to be back
3. Respect the weather and the weather forecasts
4. Listen to experienced mountain hikers
5. Be prepared for bad weather and accidents – even on shorter trips
6. Remember a map and compass – and learn to use them
7. Never walk alone
8. Turn back in time – there is no shame in it
9. Save your strength and seek shelter while there is still time
Checklist
- Clothing
- Windproof jacket
- Sweater (wool or fleece)
- Sweater (thin)
- Shirt/Top
- Trousers
- Underwear
- Long johns
- Socks (thin)
- Socks (warm)
- Hat/Cap
- Gloves
- Neck scarf/Scarf
- Rainwear
- Jacket (if your windproof jacket is not waterproof)
- Trousers
- Change of clothes
- Shirt/Top
- Underwear
- Socks
- Footwear with a sturdy tread
- Boots (must be broken in)
- Light footwear/Trainers
- Rucksack
- Daypack
- Toiletries
- Soap, (shampoo)
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
- Brush/comb
- High-factor sun cream
- Lip balm
- Mosquito repellent
- Earplugs
- Personal
- Contact lenses/glasses
- Earplugs, if needed
- Personal medication (+ 10 extra days)*
- Small items
- Mosquito net (fine-mesh, for the face)
- Sunglasses (very important)
- Water bottle
- Coffee cup
- As you like…
- Notebook and pencil
- Fishing gear
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Books
- Guidebooks
- Money, tickets, photo ID
If you have any questions, you are very welcome to contact Greenland Travel.
*)
In Greenland we import many necessities, including medication. As the weather rules in Greenland, we sometimes find that guests are delayed and therefore do not have enough medication with them. To avoid putting extra pressure on our already stretched health service, please pack 10 days’ extra medication to be on the safe side. Delays typically last 1-2 days, but it is better to be safe than sorry.