Aurora camp,Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is one of the best aurora sites on Earth, not because of the lights themselves but because of the sky. It is dry, it is dark and it sits under the auroral oval. We spend three nights out of town in a small wood-stove camp beside a frozen lake, and sleep in shifts if we need to.
- Region
- West Greenland
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Group
- 4 to 8, two guides
- Fitness
- 2 of 5, mostly standing still
- Season
- September to March
- Base
- Sondre Lodge and the camp
Itinerary
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Day 1
Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq
Over the Davis Strait
Your flight leaves Copenhagen mid-morning and lands in Kangerlussuaq about four and a half hours later, in a valley of 1950s airbase buildings. Sigrún meets you at the gate. Kit check, supper and an early night.
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Day 2
The edge of the ice sheet
Russell Glacier road
A 25 km gravel road leads to the edge of the Greenland ice sheet. We walk the last stretch onto the moraine, eat lunch at Point 660, and look for musk ox on the way back. The first aurora forecast gets discussed over dinner.
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Day 3
Out to the camp
Lake Ferguson
Snowmobiles tow our bags to the camp, six insulated tents with wood stoves around a log hut and a kitchen. We walk out. By evening the stoves are lit, soup is on and the first night shift begins at 22:00.
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Day 4
Quiet day, long night
Tundra around Lake Ferguson
Sleep late. In the afternoon, an easy snowshoe up to the ridge to watch the light go. Arjun runs an hour on night photography for anyone who wants it. Bring a flask. The best nights here begin after midnight.
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Day 5
Sled dogs and a second night
Camp and the fjord
A local musher, Aviaaja Kleist, brings a team of Greenland dogs for a half-day sled ride across the lake. The rest of the day is ours: ice fishing, chess, a nap. We stay out another night.
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Day 6
Back to the lodge
Kangerlussuaq
We break camp slowly. Back in town: showers, a long lunch of musk ox burgers at the old airport restaurant, a talk from a visiting glaciologist if there is one. A farewell dinner on the lodge deck, if it is clear.
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Day 7
Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen
Home
Breakfast, a last look at the valley, and the morning flight to Copenhagen, with connections to most of Europe that evening.
Route map
West Greenland ice sheet margin. Stops are overnight places or the walking days that matter.
What is included
Included
- Return flights Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq in economy, in a group block
- 3 nights at Sondre Lodge and 3 nights in the heated tent camp
- All meals from supper on day 1 to breakfast on day 7
- Camp setup, stoves, firewood, snowmobile bag transfers
- Two guides, including a trained aurora and night-photography leader
- Half-day dog sledding, ice sheet visit and all permits
Not included
- Travel to and from Copenhagen
- Drinks and snacks beyond the meal plan
- Travel and rescue insurance, which is compulsory
- Tips for the guides and for the musher, if you want to
- Anything for the camera, including a tripod
Gear and fitness
Level 2 of 5 Moderate
The walking days are short and slow, in deep cold. The hard part is standing outside at -20 °C at two in the morning. If you can stay out for an hour in a ski jacket without being miserable, you are fine.
For the camp
- Winter sleeping bag, comfort rating -20 °C or below (we hire them for €60)
- Insulated boots rated to -30 °C, wider than your usual
- Down parka that goes over everything else
- Wool base layers, two sets, and a fleece
For the night
- Mitten shells over warm liners
- Hand warmers, six pairs
- Headlamp with a red light setting
- Tripod, remote release, spare batteries kept inside your jacket
Small things
- Thermos, 1 litre, and a pee bottle (our guides insist)
- Lip balm and a face buff
- Ear plugs for the stove-room snorers
- Medicines in the original packaging
We supply
- Heated tents and wood stoves, a sleeping mat and a sheepskin
- Snowshoes and poles
- Emergency shelter and satellite phone
A full packing list with brands we trust is in Planning.
Weather and season
Dates and prices
| Dates | Length | Availability | Price per person | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 to 16 Feb 2027 | 7 days | 2 places left | €4,900 | Enquire about 10 to 16 Feb 2027 |
| 24 Feb to 2 Mar 2027 | 7 days | 4 places left | €4,900 | Enquire about 24 Feb to 2 Mar 2027 |
| 10 to 16 Mar 2027 | 7 days | 6 places left | €4,900 | Enquire about 10 to 16 Mar 2027 |
| 22 to 28 Sep 2027 | 7 days | 8 places left | €4,650 | Enquire about 22 to 28 Sep 2027 |
| 13 to 19 Oct 2027 | 7 days | 8 places left | €4,650 | Enquire about 13 to 19 Oct 2027 |
Prices are per person in a twin room or shared cabin, in euros. Single supplement €620. A 20% deposit secures your place; the balance falls due 60 days before departure. Groups run with 4 guests or more. Booking terms
Questions
How cold does it get?
In February the nights drop to -25 °C and, with wind, feel like -35. The tents hold 10 to 14 °C with a stove running, and the guides stoke them on a rota. Most guests are surprised how comfortable the camp is.
Will we see the aurora?
Over three nights in camp, 8 in 10 groups see it at least once. The sky here is clear around 250 nights a year. If the forecast is poor on a night, we stay in and sleep.
Are there animals to worry about?
Musk ox graze on the tundra and are bad-tempered when approached, so we keep 100 m away. There are no polar bears on this coast. The guides carry flares and a satellite phone as a matter of habit, and a team of sled dogs keeps the camp company.
Can I charge cameras and phones?
Yes, at the lodge. In the camp there is a solar-and-battery charging station in the log hut for two hours each evening.
Do I need a visa?
Citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada and Australia need only a valid passport for Greenland. Others should ask the Danish embassy; we can send a letter of invitation.
Photographs
Ask about
Aurora Camp, Kangerlussuaq
Sigrún DagsdóttirWinter camp leader, Ísafjörður, Iceland. Meet Sigrún
A guide, not a sales desk, will answer within two working days. Tell us when you can travel.
Enquire about this tripFrom the journal: The night the camp woke up