Greenland by private camp

A dramatic one-off opportunity

We’ve got the special chance to set up a luxury basecamp in what is perhaps Greenland’s most picturesque fjordscape.

With seals and polar bears as your only neighbours, heated dome pods will incorporate the likes of private-chef dining rooms, saunas and massage setups. The spec will be entirely customised to your tastes.

It’s the launchpad to explore somewhere far from civilisation, taking helis out to giant ice sheets, diving under icebergs and participating in polar bear research.

After all, from running Antarctica’s first private submersible dives to setting up Iceland’s first floating glass igloos, we’ve got the expertise in both operating in polar climes and crafting bespoke camps. It’s the chance to open up a unique destination that few – if any – have seen before.

Solitude, copious natural attractions, and raw Arctic beauty have made Greenland a go-to destination for many off-grid adventurers, and Cookson is planning a voyage there that promises polar bears, musk oxen, wolves, and Arctic foxes, as well as heli-skiing, hiking along fjords, and visits to Inuit villages.

September, 2023

The camp

You can have any colour you want, but we’ve designed in white to blend in with the polar landscape. After all, the views of the iceberg-strewn sound will be invited in to your bedroom from giant picture windows. Then, outside of the accommodation, you can expect everything from wood-fired hot tub and sauna to dining rooms and multi-functional space for a gym, yoga studio or spa setup. It’s all realised in an ultra-durable construction, able to withstand a three-storey-high snowfall and winds of up to 130mph.

The location

Tucked away on a peninsula in Greenland’s southern tip, you’ll be far removed from busier fjords, able to enjoy the rare polar wildlife up close. Indeed, this is the first place in the world where polar bears have moved away from following the sea ice north come spring. Instead, they hunt and live off the icebergs in the surrounding fjords year-round. Given your remote setting, you’ll be able to explore in seclusion, whether kayaking past icebergs, climbing new routes or discovering hidden hot springs.

Conservation

This is an area of great ecological interest. Located at 60° north, the camp’s proposed location is relatively southern for such large glaciers to exist – meaning, you’ll have the chance to platform both glaciologists studying critical climate data and polar bear researchers looking into how the region’s population have adapted their behaviour in the face of climate change, to avoid migrating.

Aerial exploration

With a riven geography of fjords, iceberg-strewn waterways and glacial inland areas, helicopters will be the workhorses of this trip. Not only will you be able to reach your remote camp and gain an appreciation of this immense geography, but you’ll be able to project further, searching for wildlife and hiking in truly untouched locations. We can even see you explore by hot air balloon or paramotor.

Unique wildlife

From breaching whales and mighty walruses to rutting muskoxen and Arctic foxes on the hunt, our wildlife experts will showcase the best of Greenland’s unique fauna. It’s all enjoyed on the likes of tender rides or hikes and kayak paddles; travelling quietly affords the best chance of enjoying the wildlife’s natural behaviour. There’s even chance to spot polar-white Arctic hares or narwhals and their emblematic tusks.

Activities

See below for full detail, but expect everything from iceberg kayaking and ATV rides past Norse ruins to tender rides alongside acrobatic whales and hikes in search of walrus colonies.

Ice cap expedition

For those seeking to channel their inner explorer, we can organise a heli-based adventure onto Greenland’s monolithic ice-cap interior. Explore abandoned Cold-War-era radar stations, SUP on glacial rivers and tackle rope setups over great glacial holes, alongside enjoying private audiences with natural history film crews and climatologists studying glacier bores.

Polar bear research programme

We also have the opportunity to collaborate with the Greenland government in studying a previously unknown population that’s been identified as the most genetically distinct of the species. Living in glacial remotes that were previously thought unsuitable for habitation, these polar bears have adapted several unique behaviours, including hunting seals from freshwater ice instead of sea ice. We can see you work with an internationally acclaimed scientific team, participating in aerial surveys, helicopter biopsy dartings and ground sampling using hair-snare traps. It’s the rare chance to contribute to cutting-edge scientific research, directly impacting our conservational approach to this special species.

Here are a few of the experiences you can enjoy as part of the trip.

Aerial exploration – whether crossing fjords or heading out onto the ice cap, helicopters not only knit together Greenland’s riven geography, but showcase it unlike anything else.

Underwater world – freedive among stalagmites or even dive beneath icebergs to take in their ethereal blue.

On the water – paddle out among ice floes on kayaks or SUPs, keeping your eyes out for breaching whales. Or, dial things up on an e-foil – speeding through the fjord.

Epic hiking –looking out for everything from polar bears and reindeer to seal colonies and polar foxes, enjoy massive fjord overlooks as you wind through valleys and up peaks. You can even visit abandoned towns.

Climbing – whether ice or rock, expert or beginner, we can pioneer new routes to showcase stunning overviews.

Footage from a past Cookson kite-skiing trip

Horse riding & ATVs – navigate dirt tracks on quad bikes or Icelandic horses, pausing to discover historic ruins and enjoy remote lunch setups overlooking glaciers.

Experience Inuit culture – enjoy special invitations to meet members of this indigenous culture, landing at reindeer stations or spending time with Inuit families to learn how their traditional skills have carved out a way of life in this most inhospitable of environments.

Hidden hot springs – fly or hike out to remote natural hot springs to soak in geothermal waters.

Fishing – we know the best spots to fish for Arctic char in pristine river waters.

Remote drinks & dining setups – from abandoned radar stations to black-sand beaches, we’ll pick out special spots to enjoy private-chef lunches and mixologist drinks, made with ice from the nearby glacier.