The Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon take place at Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. It is very unlikely been before. It is the epitome of a once in a lifetime trip. The endless ice and arctic tundra of this vast country make up the backdrop of this unusual race, which is surely the coolest race around. During your run you will pass glacier tongues, moraine landscapes and experience the soundless arctic desert. Part of the route takes place on the 100,000-year-old ice sheet, but most of the mil…
The Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon take place at Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. It is very unlikely been before. It is the epitome of a once in a lifetime trip. The endless ice and arctic tundra of this vast country make up the backdrop of this unusual race, which is surely the coolest race around.
During your run you will pass glacier tongues, moraine landscapes and experience the soundless arctic desert. Part of the route takes place on the 100,000-year-old ice sheet, but most of the miles are run on gravel road, often covered in snow, that connects the inland ice with the small township of Kangerlussuaq, just north of the Polar Circle.
The limitation for numbers at the Polar Circle Marathon is the availability of snow adapted vehicles to transfer runners to the Ice cap for the start - this has been eased by changing the event so that the Marathon will now be held on the Saturday and the Half Marathon on the Sunday - runners can run one or other of the races, or run them both in the Polar Bear Challenge. However, as there are only 140 seats in the all-terrain vehicles there is a maximum of 140 runners in each race.Â
There are two accommodation options on our trip the Kangerlussuaq Hotel and the Old Camp. The Old Camp is hostel-style accommodation we will be usuing the Tuukkaq Wing which has standard beds rather than bunk beds. The Old Camp is located 2km from the Kangerlussuaq Hotel - transportation is included to move you to and from all activities.
Please be aware that due to the likely weather and underfoot conditions prevalent during the Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon, there are minimum kit requirements for all runners. For full details go to the race website www.polar-circle-marathon.com
Please note: Due to shortage of space this tour is only available on a twin room or twin to share room basis only. The extension tour can be taken on a single basis.
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OLD CAMP - TUUKKAQ WING
The Old camp is a hostel-style accommodation and is located 2km from the Kangerlussuaq Hotel. The rooms are in three separate buildings and bathrooms are in the hall ways. We are using the Tuukkaq wings that have standard beds.
KANGERLUSSUAQ HOTEL****
Adjoined to the airport the Kangerlussuaq Hotel offers 3 to 4-star accommodation in warm rooms that are a good size and have private bathrooms. The hotel cafeteria serves a full breakfast buffet and the supermarket is across the street. Wi-fi in rooms can be purchased.
Wed 25th October: Fly to Copenhagen from your regional airport (not included) and transfer by rapid rail from the Airport to central Copenhagen (not included), for your overnight stay at the Hotel Hebron (included) approx 5-mins walk from Copenhagen Central Station. For those arriving early you can book a special 8km Running Copenhagen Tour starting at 4.30pm. Run at an easy pace, your tour guide will show the best of Copenhagen. Overnight at Hotel Hebron.
Thu 26th October: Make your way back to Copenhagen Airport. All participants meet at Terminal 2 at Copenhagen Airport for the 4.5 hour flight to Kangerlussuaq departing at 9.15am and arriving at 9.40am (local time). On arrival check into your accommodation, Old Camp or Kanggerlussuaq Hotel. Runners staying at the Kangerlussuaq Hotel will join the guides for the route visit and inspection today. Runners staying at the Old Camp can join the optional tour to the Russell Glacier (£80), this tour also runs on Sunday, or perhaps the Tundra Safari tour (£60) which takes 3 hours  and offers beautiful views from the fjord to the inland ice as you rise above Kangerlussuaq. Dinner in the Restaurant Roklubben.Â
Breakfast, meal on flight, dinner.
Fri 27th October: Runners at the Old Camp will take the route inspection out to the Ice Cap today. Runners at the Kangerlussuaq Hotel can join one of the optional excursions. In the afternoon there will be a race briefing at the Kangerlussuq Hotel. Following the briefing there will be a pasta party in the hotel. If the weather is clear enough, tonight there is an optional excursion (£40) out to see the Northern Lights, the tour involves a bus journey from you accommodation and usually lasts two hours. If it is cloudy or overcast the tour will not take place. Â
Breakfast, sandwich lunch, pasta dinner.
Sat 28th October: Marathon Race Day.
At 8.00am runners in the marathon and Polar Bear challenge depart for the start. The start is at 8.30am and takes runners onto the Ice Cap then down the gravel road towards Kangerlussuaq finishing in front of the Polar Lodge - the race has a 7 hour cut off. It is not possible for those in the half marathon to go to the marathon start due to limited space. In the evening enjoy a 'semi' pasta carbo dinner at the Kangerlussuaq Hotel.
Breakfast, BBQ lunch, semi-pasta dinner.
Sunday 29th October: Half Marathon Race day.
Half Marathon runners and Polar Bear Challenge runners depart at 7am for the start of the Half Marathon at 8.30am. The runners will run up onto the Ice Cap and then on the gravel road back towards Kangerlussuaq with the finish line on the route back at 21.1km. Time limit is 4 hours. A light lunch will be available at the finish area. There are some optional additional exursions available in the morning for those not running the half such as the tour to the Russell Glacier .
In the evening we transfer to the Restaurant Roklubben for the celebration dinner and prize giving. Buses will shuttle runners back to their accommodation at various times during the evening.Â
Breakfast, Celebration Dinner, light lunch for half marathon runners.
Mon 30th October: Departure Day.
After breakfast check out of your room. The return flight departs at 11.40am so there is time for a last stroll or jog in Kangerlussuaq. Arrival in Copenhagen at 8pm. On arrival take the rapid train to Central Copenhagen (not included) and check-in to the Hotel Hebron for 1 night (included).
Breakfast.
Tue 31st October: After breakfast today check out and make your way to Copenhagen Airport (not included) for your return flight home.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON PACKAGE
Extend your stay and visit Ilulissat - one of Greenland’s most picturesque towns and see one of nature's true wonders - the Ice Fjord.
Mon 30th October: Check-in for the Air Greenland flight to Ilulissat in the morning. The flight takes you over the marathon route and you can see the Ice Fjord as you come in to land. On arrival transfer and check-in to the Hotel Hvide Falk (White Falcon) - newly modernised and one of the best hotels in Greenland, located on the waterfront with views of the Ice Fjord and Disco Bay.
Ilulissat is situated in the heart of the famed Disco Bay an area of outstanding natural beauty. The town itself is picturesque, lively and inviting. Your tour leader will guide you on a walking tour, giving an overall view of the town and the possibilities to explore the area.
Breakfast.
Tue 31st October : Ilulissat is rightly called the capital of icebergs. In Disco Bay, just off the coast from Illulissat, the gigantic icebergs linger. South of the town the enormous Ice Fjord cuts its way through the country. It starts 32km further inland, where the huge Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, with a front more than 5km wide and several hundred metres high, is creating icebergs at the rate of 25 metres per day, equivalent to 20 million tons of ice or more than 10% of all icebergs in Greenland.
After breakfast walk to the harbour for a 2 1/2hr boat trip on the Ice Fjord to see the floating mountains.
Breakfast.
Wed 1st November: After breakfast walk the 2km to Sermeruit Valley. Semermiut means 'The People of the Ice' and the place was inhabited from 1400BC to 1737. In 1727 when the first Danish commercial expedition arrived at the ice fjord and discovered Sermermuit, some 250 people were living there. Today the area reveals a number of grass grown square craters marking the foundation of the tuft houses. Kitchen middens show large numbers of bones from seals, birds, fish and whales. From the valley and small bay you continue the walk along the fjord and up onto the hills with a grand view of the ice fjord.
Breakfast
Thu 2nd November: Transfer to the airport for the flight to Kangerlussuaq at 9.10am, arriving at 9.55am and transfer to the onward flight to Copenhagen departing at 1.10pm and arriving at 9.30pm. On arrival make your way by rapid rail (not included)Â to the city centre for the overnight in Copenhagen (included).
Breakfast and meal on flight to Copenhagen.
Fri 3rd November: After breakfast check-out of the hotel and make your way to the airport (not included)Â for your flight home.
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| PRICES PER PERSON | TWIN BEDDED ROOM |
| OLD CAMP - TUUKKAQ WING* | £2149 |
| KANGERSLUSSUAQ HOTEL* | £2499 |
| Â | Â |
| ILLULISSAT EXTENSION - STANDARD DOUBLE** | £1049 |
 Due to the limited accommodation at Kangerslussuaq single occupancy of a room is not possible. For the Old Camp the single supplement is £175.
* Hotel Henron in Copenhagen included the night before and night after the Polar Circle package - flights to Copenhagen to join the tour should take acount of these days. Single supplement at Copengaen hotel is possible - supplement of £110 (for 2 nights)Â
** Single supplement for Extension only: £179 (unless booking as a pair it may not be possible to put single travellers together as a twin booking on the extension)
RACE ENTRY FEES
Full or Half Marathons £260
Polar Bear Challenge £349
Prices are per person on a twin share of a room that has two beds. If you are travelling alone we can match you with another runner of the same gender.
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
Tundra Safari and City Tour: 3 1/2 hr tour through the landscape and town looking for musk ox and other birds and animals also includes a visit to the sled dog kennel. £60
Russell Glacier: 4hr tour to the mighty Russell Glacier £82
Northern Lights: 2 hour excursion to a secluded spot to see the natural light show £40
Running Copenhagen Tour: Easy guided run around the best of Copenhagen £40
TOUR DEPOSITS
A deposit is payable at the time of booking:
Standard Tour £750
Standard tour + Ilulissat Extension £1000
Final balance is due 10 weeks before travel
Included in the basic package:
Not included:
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For further information email 2:09 Events on info@209events.com
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