Traditional dog-sled travel.
Avanersuaq
The Avanersuaq (place of the farthest north) District is the most northerly in Greenland and lies between 70 and 80 degrees North, stretching from Melville Bay in the south up to Smith Sound. There is archaeological evidence that suggests that the first settlers of Avanersuaq arrived some 5000 years ago after crossing Smith Sound from Canada. The direct ancestors of today’s Inuit belonged to the ‘Thule’ culture and reached Avanersuaq soon after 1000 A.D. The Inuit of this remote area of Northwest Greenland have been known by a number of different names. The Scottish explorer John Ross, who on his ‘Voyage of Discovery’ in 1818 was the first European to encounter these Inuit, called them’Arctic Highlanders’ They have also been know af “Thule Eskimos” and “Polar Eskimo”. They call them selves “Inughuit” which means ‘Great People’
Today, hunting sea mammals like seals, walrus and polar bear is still important to the Inughuit both as a source of food and also as a way of preserving their culture.
Avanersuaq gives visitors the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the high arctic. You can experience traditional dog-sled travel or during the summer month, you can hike amongst beautiful arctic flowers or jus relax and enjoy the midnight sun. Temperatures in Avanerusaq vary from a low of -40C in winter to a high of +12C in summer.
Tours from Qaanaaq.
Between March and June its possible to arrange dog sled tours of a couple of hours out to the Icebergs in the fiord or longer trips can also be arranged. You will travel in the same traditional way that the Inughuit have for centuries. On overnight trips you will sleep in a canvas tent erected over a sled. You can rent suitable fur clothing in Qaanaaq, but remember to bring a warm sleeping bag.