It's always been a dream of mine to visit the Arctic, especially in an active and sustainable way. For instance by traveling on foot or by boat with local people and scientists, versus passing through as a sightseer on a cruise. I want to travel deeper and more meaningfully. Hinoki brings this in spades, and our trip to East Greenland exceeded my expectations. We kayaked amongst icebergs in the company of humpback whales. We caught arctic cod and foraged mussels amongst the rocks to create our own 'sea to table' dinners. We trekked across glaciers and rugged mountains, and camped in surprising comfort each night in the wilderness. One night we were treated to the eerily beautiful display of the aurora borealis pulsating in vivid colours across the cold night sky. Another time we sheltered in a snug cabin as stormy weather rolled in, the contrast between the vast elemental landscape outside and the warm hygge feeling within reminiscent of Christmas as we ate and drank, told jokes and stories. This theme of being surrounded by dramatic wild nature, contrasted with warmth and coziness around camp or in the Kulusuk lodge was one of the highlights of my trip. Another unexpected highlight was the people and community. Our knowledgable guides Matt and Jukku were phenomenal, looking after us and keeping us safe throughout our journey. The opportunity to stay in Kulusuk village in Matt and Helen's welcoming home was also a treat. We ate great food and got to meet local people, while soaking up the unique atmosphere of a small, traditional Inuit village. This included the many Greenlandic dogs, and puppies, that are reared here to pull sleds for hunting and travel in the winter. And despite knowing only one person in our group on arrival, it soon felt like I was with old friends having some epic reunion of sorts. I appreciated the shared sense of camaraderie amongst our team, and how much fun we all had. I've left this trip with many memories and many new friends that I hope to see again, hopefully on another Hinoki trip soon!
Claim your business profile now and gain access to all features and respond to customer reviews.
Hinoki Travels offers restorative adventure travel for your well-being. Our trips explore themes of 'taking care' across the world, and emphasize cultural experiences in nature that help you reconnect to your senses. Uncommon access to spiritual practices, local food systems, community self-sufficiency, and climate adaptations all intersect in what we call "experiential well-being", where we learn new ways of being that we can take home and apply to our own lives.
Our small-group trips and private travel support remote & rural communities who seek to sustain their culture and livelihood through collaborative tourism projects.See more