Arctic Circle Trail

The Arctic Circle Trail runs roughly 165 kilometres from near the ice sheet at Kangerlussuaq west to the coastal town of Sisimiut, crossing tundra, lake systems and low hills without touching a single road. There is no resupply, no phone signal for most of it, and no rescue infrastructure beyond your own preparation - what there is, is a chain of simple unstaffed huts, spectacular emptiness, fishing in the lakes, and the near-certainty of not seeing another party for days outside peak weeks. Most walkers take eight to eleven days, carrying everything, and finish by walking into a working Greenlandic town.

What you actually see

• The tundra crossing - days of open country between the ice cap and the sea.
• The hut chain - basic unstaffed shelters spaced along the route.
• Lake fishing - Arctic char in the lakes along the way.
• Arrival in Sisimiut - the coastal town at the trail's western end.

When to go

The walking season runs from July to early September, after the snow clears and before autumn storms. July brings the worst mosquitoes and the most daylight; late August has fewer insects, autumn colour and colder nights. Outside this window the route becomes a serious winter expedition.

Honest expectations

This is genuinely unsupported wilderness: you carry all food for over a week, treat your own water, and there is no bail-out point in the middle. River crossings can rise after rain. Mosquitoes in midsummer are severe enough to define the trip - a head net is essential. Huts are first-come and can be full in peak weeks, so a tent is standard. Anyone without solid multi-day backcountry experience should hire a guide.

Nearby

Kangerlussuaq and the ice sheet at one end, Sisimiut and the coast at the other.