From 2019, we have finally been able to present a comfortable lodge in the remote wilderness of Greenland. After running a very popular tent camp on the Erfalik River for ten years, it was time for change. With the opening of Erfalik Lodge, our guests can enjoy Greenland’s most productive Arctic char fishing while enjoying single occupancy rooms, 24-hour power, hot showers and three-course meals. The new lodge, overlooking the sea pool, is absolutely second to none in Greenland.

The lodge is built on the Erfalik river, at the same spot where we developed the famous foam fly fishing for char more than a decade ago. You can fish just outside the lodge: Where the river meets the fjord, there can be very good fishing for char, as well as in a couple of smaller pools of the river up to the lake, a few hundred meters from camp. The lake – and the next one – can be very productive, especially around inlets and outlets. A short hike from the lodge and you’re at perfect waters for skating foam flies.

The upcoming char season in Greenland is selling out fast, and we only have 5 spots left available at the lodge for 2020.

July 1-10, 2020: 4 spots left

July 26 – August 7, 2020: 1 spot left

Now is the time to act to secure your Summer Getaway in Greenland. Get in touch!

Who is best suited to this destination?
Anyone in reasonable shape, with some fly fishing experience and with a bit of self sufficiency. Though some days are always better than others, the fishing is rarely hard and there is no need to have a guide watch over your shoulder all day long. Once you have had an introduction to the fishery most anglers are fine about fishing with one or two other guests, and sometimes ask assistance from one of the young guides if they want an introduction to a new area. However, if you do prefer being guided at all times, do not tie your own knots, unhook your own fish etc, this is not for you.

The fishing is on walk-in basis, so to get the full benefit of the possibilities, anglers should be reasonable fit. The terrain is easy to hike in but you should be prepared to cover a total four to eight miles on most days. If you need a break during your week, you can fish the river mouth on an incoming tide, or get one of the guides to drop you off on the other side of the lake and fish the inlet and outlet.

What are the meals like?
While it’s not fine dining as such, meals are tasty and made with the “Swedish chef’s” dedication. Our Swedish chefs aren’t quite as entertaining as the one you might remember from the Muppet Show but they are all working much bigger venues for most of the year, they like fly fishing and a week or two in Greenland is part of their summer break.

Most nights, they will prepare a nice three course meals, though variations on the dessert theme are fairly limited. Most of our guests are well impressed with what they come up with, especially taken the remoteness of the location into consideration.

Breakfast will be eggs, bacon, bread, cereals etc. And for lunch, we put out bread and toppings so you can make a couple of sandwiches to keep you going throughout the day.

Is there internet and cell service?
At the moment there is no internet service. Cell phone reception is getting better, and now there are a couple of spots around camp where you can find reception.

How do they fish?
It’s typically either swinging streamers, skating foam flies or sometimes nymphing. While some methods are more productive than others, we encourage methods that are the most fun to fish. Nothing beats catching the chars on foam flies skated across the surface – but the fish aren’t always in the mood for that. Other times, you can sight fish them with smaller streamers. And when you really need a pull, swinging a weighted streamer or fishing a nymph can usually get it done.

How many fish will I catch?
Enough. While we have certainly seen our weeks of “silly numbers”, we are not at all into encouraging our anglers to hammer the water and land as many chars as humanly possible. And you will never see us advertise weekly catch rates to fill more spots.

Even if there are probably tens of thousands of chars running the Erfalik River, it is still a natural resource, and every fish landed – and released – is pressure on this resource. On good days, you can easily catch fifteen or twenty chars in a day, on methods that gives you a lot of fun and pleasure. There are ways to sometimes double that number, possibly even triple it. But why? You’re not in a competition.

What are the guides like?
They are young, helpful and English speaking – but not professional fly fishing guides (yet). Most of them are interns from one of the Scandinavian academies that combine high school with an education in outdoors, guiding etc.

Will we see other anglers?
No. The Erfalik River is under concession and it is not allowed for other anglers to visit.

Is there wade fishing?
There can be but usually not more than knee deep. We fish in breathable waders because it’s nice to be able to cross the river to reach all the spots but it’s super easy wading, and there is no need for a wading stick or special soles etc.

How far is it to the fishing grounds?
From two minutes to two hours. Most of the time, a five minute walk followed by a fifteen minute boat ride and another twenty minutes of hiking.

Does the lodge provide equipment?
No, you must bring your own.

What is your favorite rod(s) for the trip?
A nine foot six weight, preferably with a fight butt, is our go-to rod. A five weight with some back bone will do as well. Bring two rods, in case of breakage.

What are the top flies?
Foam flies and streamers. We provide a Pre Trip Planner with detailed information on flies.

Are there other activities?
Other than a bit of sight seeing in Sisimiut – no. However, there can be possibilities for another kind of fishing. Sometimes, we can find pretty good fly fishing for cod in the fjord. They are fun to catch and fantastic to eat!

Do I Need Trip Insurance
You need a standard travel insurance that will cover the costs of getting you out of camp (typically by boat, helicopter in emergencies) and back home safely.

Does this trip combine well with other trips?
You may consider spending a couple of days in Copenhagen – it’s never nicer than during the summer.

Are there special skills required?
No.

What are the physical demands?
You should at be able to hike four-five miles on a daily basis.

Dangers and annoyances?
There are probably no other dangers than falling over rocks. Some guests ask us about polar bears. They live on the ice, and to the best of our knowledge there has never even been a single sighting of a bear south of Sisimiut during the summer months.

There can be a lot of mosquitoes and especially small flies if the wind is down. We find that a Buff and some repellent takes care of it most of the time, but always carry a mosquito net to pull over our caps, should they become a real nuisance.

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