Polar Circle Marathon

Post-Race Extension to Ilulissat | Three-Night Package: October 28 – 31, 2024

Make the three-night extension to Ilulissat part of your unforgettable Greenland experience.  The wild nature and the Inuit culture make Greenland a unique destination. Small colorful houses clinging to the mountainsides, icebergs, Inuit culture and architecture highlight this extension. With luck, we will be treated to amazing Northern lights on one or more evenings.

Greenlands third largest town, Ilulissat has just under 5000 residents and offers a variety of tour options including dog sled rides, and helicopter or small plane flights over the Icefjord which can be booked upon arrival to Ilulissat and can be dependent on weather and minimum participants.  Space on this extension is limited. 

Monday, October 28​ – Following our flight to Ilulissat, you will be transported to Hotel Hvide Falk where restaurants, museums, shops and the picturesque harbor are all within walking distance. Following is a guided walking tour of the village to see iconic sights and learn about many activities the area has to offer. You will have the rest of the day to enjoy on your own.  (breakfast included)

Tuesday, October 29 – After breakfast today we will explore the beautiful area with a two-and-a-half-hour boat trip on the Ice Fjord where you will enjoy the impressive company of the ‘floating mountains”. The afternoon is free to explore on your own or to choose an optional tour. (breakfast included)

Wednesday, October 30 – After breakfast today we will explore the surrounding area of Ilulissat with a hike to the Sermermiut Valley. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Kangia (another name for the Ilulissat Icefjord and its massive icebergs), see stone ruins of old turf houses and learn the story of the cliff aptly name ‘the place to fall’. The rest of the day is on your own. Optional tours available, weather permitting. (breakfast included)

Thursday, October 31 – After breakfast, you will be transported to the airport for your return flight to Copenhagen. Due to the late arrival time back into Copenhagen, you may consider an overnight in Copenhagen at Hebron Hotel and book your return flight home on November 1.. (breakfast and flight meal included)

(activities subject to change)

Optional Tours

Running Copenhagen | October 23, 2024 (1.5 hours)

Stretch your legs in Copenhagen with fellow runners while seeing some of the City’s most famous sights. The tour meets at the H.C. Anderson statue in Radhuspladesen (City Hall Square). Departing at 1:30pm, we run along the canals and will pass the Queen’s castle, Parliament, Little Mermaid and many beautiful parks. Small groups allow plenty of time to ask questions during the tour. Pace is adjusted according to overall participant level but expect to run 3-3.75 miles per hour and approximately 5 miles.

Tundra & City Sightseeing Tour – October 24 & 26, 2024 (3.5 hours)

Learn about Primitive Kangerlussuaq and its transformation from an air base (Second World War – Cold War) into a small settlement with a modern international airport. Making use of Greenland’s longest road you will embark on a road trip to explore nature. At the harbor you will enjoy stunning views of the beautiful Kangerlussuaq Fjord before moving on to Kellyville, a small town centered on a research facility and old base. You will have the opportunity to meet and learn about Greenlandic sled dogs but, as it is not sledding season you will not be able to sled. Ample opportunity will be given to take in the gorgeous landscape and hopefully spot mush oxen along the way.

Please note: Participants will be placed on Thursday or Saturday according to where they are staying and what distance they are running. Your race pack will indicate the date/time of your excursion.

Northern Lights Tour | October 25, 2024 (2 hours)

Kangerlussuaq has roughly 300 clear nights per year and artificial light is used sparingly so the backcountry’s cloak of darkness lies just a short drive away. The bus will take you to see an ethereal light display (a result of gaseous protons and electrons from solar wind colliding with molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere). Shades of brilliant green bands with the possibility of red, blue, and violet make this trip a night to remember.

Please note: Northern Lights tour is weather dependent. In case of cloudy weather, the tour will be cancelled, and a full refund given. Because it is a natural phenomenon, the Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed. Dates may be changed to accommodate the weather.

Russel Glacier | October 24 & 27, 2024 (4 hours)

Board a tundra coach – a special 4WD vehicle designed to handle ice, rocks, and uneven ground- and then drive partially off-road on the fascinating route to the magnificent Russell Glacier. The drive will take approximately 1.5 hours, and you may see reindeer and musk oxen.  The glacier is an impressive sight, with vertical walls of ice that rise as high as 60 meters. You will have a chance to hike along the glacier’s edge to truly appreciate its immense power and get close enough for some great photo opportunities before heading back to Kangerlussuaq.

Please note: Participants will be placed on Thursday or Sunday tour according to where they are staying and what distance they are running.  Your race pack will indicate the date/time of your excursion.

Meet the Sled Dogs | October 29 & 30, 2024 (1.5 hours)

Visit the home of Flemming, a local musher, and meet his dogs.  You will learn about raising the pups, the expeditions he has been on, and mushing itself. Please remember that these are working animals and not pets – they are not meant for cuddling – observation only.  This excursion does not include dog sled riding, but will, unlike a dog sled riding tour, give a very thorough and interesting look into the history and life of dog sled mushers in Greenland.

Please note: The date and time of your tour will be determined according to the number of participants and other optional excursions you have chosen. This tour is non-refundable. 

Sail to the Oqaatsut Settlement | October 30, 2024 (5 hours)

Our tour begins with a 30-minute boat tour from Ilulissat to Oqaatsut.  We will sail among the gigantic icebergs from the Ilulissat Icefjord on their path north of Ilulissat. After we arrive in Oqaatsut you enjoy a guided tour of the settlement where you, among other things, will see the school, church, and fish factory of Oqaatsut. Learn about living in a small settlement-community and the history of Oqaatsut.

The settlement tour ends at Restaurant H8 Explorer where we will enjoy lunch made from local ingredients. Afterwards, explore, hike or simply enjoy a peaceful hour or two with a cup of coffee and unforgettable views before the boat sails us back to Ilulissat.

On the route back expect to see the 70-million-year-old volcanic Disko Island to the west and the green mainland to the east. We will pass Ilulissat Airport and the popular bay Bredebugt, which is surrounded by small cabins owned by locals.

Greenlandic Buffet | October 30, 2024

In the evening it is possible to book the traditional Greenlandic Buffet dinner at Hotel Hvide Falk. This is a feast of local specialties not to be missed. Eat as much as you can from land and sea.

Polar Circle Tour | Four-Night Package: October 24 – 28, 2024

Features:

• Roundtrip airfare from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq
• Four nights at selected property
• Meals as listed on the itinerary
• Sightseeing as listed on the itinerary
• All air and hotel taxes
• Pre-race briefing
• Celebration dinner
• Airport transfers (per itinerary)
• Services of Albatros Adventure Staff

Post-Race Extension to Ilulissat | Three-Night Package: October 28 – 31, 2024

• Flights from Kangerlussuaq – Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq
• Return flight to Copenhagen
• Airport transfers to hotel
• Three nights’ accommodations at Hotel Hvide Falk
• Daily breakfast
• Sightseeing as listed on the itinerary
• Hotel taxes
• Services of Albatros Adventure Staff

Not Included:

• Race entry ($415 for the Marathon or Half-Marathon, $535 for the Polar Bear Challenge)
• All activities listed as optional
• Gratuities and tips
• Incidentals
• Travel Insurance

Please Note:

• Single accommodations are limited.
• Luggage is restricted to 33 pounds per person on the Ilulissat extension.
• Additional nights in Copenhagen available upon request.

Airfare:

For this tour you should fly in and out of Copenhagen.  The airport code is CPH.

Flights Information:

2024 flight time are not confirmed.  The following are subject to change.

October 24, 2024 (Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq) 10:00 AM depart CPH – 11:40 AM arrive (SFJ) | GL781 

October 28, 2024 (Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen) 1:05 PM depart Kangerlussuaq – 8:25  PM arrive Copenhagen  

October 28, 2024 (Kangerlussuaq to Ilullissat) 8:25 AM depart SFJ – 9:10 AM arrive Ilulissat | GL502 

October 31, 2024 (Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq) 7:15 AM depart JAV – 8:05 AM arrive Kangerlussuaq | GL501 

October 31, 2024 (Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen) 1:40 PM depart SFJ – 9:00 PM arrive CPH | GL782 

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents

Travel Insurance for Canadian Residents

Rates (all prices are per person in US dollars)

Race Date:

• Marathon – October 26, 2024
• Half-Marathon – October 27, 2024

Race Time: 7:00 AM

Organizer: The race is organized by Albatros Adventure Marathons of Denmark and supported by the local community.

Course: The marathon and half-marathon take place on uneven gravel road and ice. You will run on the ice sheet, as well as roads. The ice sheet may be covered with a thick layer of snow, and the roads may be covered with ice. You will pass enormous glacier tongues and moraine plains and go through tundra and arctic deserts.

Temperature: The weather in Greenland is unpredictable. Expect temps to be -10 C (14 F) at the start, and “warm” to 10 C (50 F) by the finish. Snow and strong winds may occur, which can drop the temp below 0 and cause concern for frostbite.

Entry Fee: Entry to the marathon and half-marathon is $355 per entry. The Polar Bear Challenge is $470.

Time Limit: The course time limit for the marathon is seven (7) hours. The course time limit for the half-marathon is four (4) hours.

Number Pickup: Numbers will be provided at the race briefing the evening before the event or will be picked up on way to the tented camp-site.

Awards: Awards will be given for the top three overall males and females in both races. Prize money is only for runners who live in the community. Each runner will receive a medal and T-shirt.

Running Shoes: The Polar Circle can be run in a pair of normal running shoes or trail running shoes. Spikes are mandatory when running on the ice cap. Please bring a pair of running spikes with carbon steel points that can be fitted to your running shoes. This is a definite advantage on the ice sheet sections.

Difficulty: Challenging trail course in a remote area with extreme low temperatures and wind.

For more information click here