Erfalik Lodge

Lodging Details
The first thought when you arrive at Erfalik Lodge is, “How did they build this amazing operation in such a remote, pristine, and hard-to-reach location?” Once you step off the transfer boat onto a floating dock, you then make your way up to main lodge building via an elevated boardwalk that winds its way up a hill. 

The main lodge has eight individual guestrooms and the adjacent side building has another four rooms. The entire lodge operation is completely off-the-grid and run via generator, but hot showers and interior incinerator toilets are located in separate rooms within the main lodge. The facilities are shared at the lodge (versus having private bathrooms and showers in each individual room) but with the small number of guests each week, this is never an issue. The lodge is incredibly warm and comfortable – even during the stormiest or coldest days in Greenland. All rooms are single occupancy and include bedding, heavy comforters, and towels. Inside the great room of the main lodge, there are couches and lounge areas, with plenty of open space and stunning views of the fjord and home pool on the Erfalik River. There is also a heated mud room near the toilet rooms and sinks where you can hang coats and wet gear to quickly dry. 

The lodge’s sauna house and hot tub is built directly on the banks of the river – perfect after a long day of hiking and fishing your way upriver. There are also outdoor deck and social areas for the warmer evenings – which can be enjoyed at any hour thanks to the constant daylight during the summer fishing season. The lodge is casual and comfortable, so clothing and lodge attire is always laid back and relaxed. Bring plenty of layers for fishing each day, but remember that it is easy to dry everything each evening in the heated mud and gear rooms.  

Food and Beverages
The food at the lodge is excellent, and Erfalik usually brings in a rotating cast of chefs throughout the course of the eight-week summer season. The nightly menu might include steaks, chicken, hot pasta dishes, and more, and smoked char is usually served as an appetizer. All meals are served family-style around the lodge’s large dining table. The table – located in the great room – overlooks the water and the mouth of the river. Breakfast each morning consists of hot bacon and eggs, along with endless amounts of hot coffee. There is usually a selection of European meats and cheeses as well. For lunch, anglers make their own sandwiches and pack them along for their day on the river. 

For alcohol, you will need to bring whatever you want to drink with you from Sisimiut or Copenhagen. The grocery store in Sisimiut has plenty of beer (Tuborg or Carlsberg) along with a decent selection of wines and basic liquors. Once you arrive in Sisimiut, you can buy and bring along as much as you want in the transfer boat. There is ice available at the lodge for cocktails, and you will want to be sure to bring any necessary mixers as well. We also recommend that you bring a variety of snacks, energy bars, beef jerky, or nuts to eat throughout the course of each day on the river. The hikes are long, and you end up burning a lot of calories – especially when things are cold or wet.

Typical Length of Stay
All Erfalik Lodge trips are seven nights with six fishing days on the river, with a set arrival and departure day once a week. There is also an overnight that is included in Sisimiut on both the front end and back end of the trip – something that allows for potential airline and weather delays.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
While Erfalik Lodge is first and foremost a fishing destination, the accommodations, amenities, and the overall setting are ideal for outdoor-loving non-anglers. There are endless scenic opportunities for photographers, as well as hiking trails that surround the lodge.  

Internet / Communications
The lodge has no Wi-Fi and no cell signal – Once you are at Erfalik, you will truly be off-line. There is good cell coverage and Wi-Fi available in Sisimiut and at the hotel in town.

How to Get There
Most anglers traveling to Greenland from the United States will pass through Copenhagen, Denmark. From Copenhagen, you then take the once-a-day Air Greenland flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq – the largest international airport in Greenland. As the Copenhagen-Kangerlussuaq flight is a morning flight, it is recommended that you arrive in Copenhagen the day before and overnight. For overnighting at the Copenhagen airport, the Clarion Hotel is the easiest and quickest to access from the main terminal. The following morning, you will fly Air Greenland from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq. From Kangerlussuaq, you will take a short 30-minute Air Greenland flight to Sisimiut, where you then overnight before being transferred the following day by boat to the lodge on the Erfalik River. The boat ride is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours in length depending on weather and conditions.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Once you arrive in Kangerlussuaq, you take a take a 30-minute flight to Sisimiut – the jumping off point for Camp North. It is not uncommon for the Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut flight to be delayed by weather or wind, so be prepared to wait. There is a great restaurant in the main Kangerlussuaq terminal, as well as a small bar and several waiting areas. If for some reason you end up stranded in Kangerlussuaq for the night, there is also a 67-room hotel that is actually attached to the terminal. (Kangerlussuaq is built on an old World War II landing strip, and until the late 1950’s, it was a US Air Force base with more than 1600 American service members.) Other than the small international airport, there is nothing else in the area. 

When you arrive in Sisimiut, you will overnight in the small town of 6000 people (which, interestingly enough, is the second-largest city in all of Greenland). This is designed to accommodate any delays or weather-related problems. Accommodations will be reserved for you at the Hotel Sisimiut, where you will find a great overall atmosphere as well as a fantastic restaurant and bar. Nights in Sisimiut on both the front end of the trip and the back end are included in all packages. The town of Sisimiut itself is well worth exploring, as it is one of the most picturesque and scenic towns in the entire country. Rooms in Sisimiut are double occupancy unless otherwise arranged. Keep in mind that the round-trip flights from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq and on to Sisimiut are included in Yellow Dog packages.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trip dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations and ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

About Greenland
Greenland is one of the biggest places in the world, and yet very little about this fascinating country is known to the outside world. Greenland is actually the world’s biggest island – by area – that is not a continent, with a total area of almost 835,000 square miles. More than 80 percent of the country’s land mass is covered by a year-round ice cap, with the ice-free coastal areas of Greenland definitely in the minority. Collectively, however, these smaller ice and snow-free areas are still around the size of Sweden. With a population of only 57,000 people, Greenland is one of the least-densely populated countries in the world. There are no roads or railway systems that connect the country’s few towns and to one another. While there are of course roads within the towns, they abruptly end at the outskirts. All travel between towns is done by plane, boat, helicopter, snowmobile, or dogsled.

Although Greenland is geographically a part of the North American continent, it has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for more than a millennium, and even today Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. While in 1979 Greenland was granted home rule and the opportunity to establish their own political system, the two countries remain extremely close and very much linked when it comes to trade, supplies, culture, and travel. Since most of Greenland is covered in ice, snow and glaciers, the Arctic nation is mostly white. It actually got its misleading name from Norse explorer Erik the Red – a famous Viking and notorious murderer who was exiled to the island from Iceland in the late 900s. He called it “Greenland” in the hopes that the name would attract future settlers. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
The Erfalik River is one of the prettiest – and by far most productive – coastal rivers in all of Greenland. The fact that the lodge is built on the banks of the river makes access to the lower section both easy and direct. The fishery itself features miles of river runs, riffles, pools, and braided channels, as well as lakes mouths, beach fishing, and productive in-flow areas where the river enters the upper section of each lake. Hiking and wade fishing is the name of the game at Erfalik, with a transfer boat that is available to shuttle guests back and forth across Lake #1 – the largest lake in the fishery. The sea-run char fishing on the Erfalik River is incredibly productive, with stunning colored-up fish being the primary target. The numbers are there, but the larger, electric orange and red fish are what most anglers are looking for throughout the course of a week. 

Each morning, angler's layer and wader-up, and pack their waterproof day pack to head out for a 10+ hour day on the water. There are two pools that are close to the lodge, including the main home pool (which is steps away from the lodge and usually fishes best early season) and the short creek and feeder section between Lakes #1 and #2. This feeder creek section does require the boat to shuttle you across Lake #1, but it is easy to access for those with more limited mobility. The upper Erfalik main areas, however, can offer the largest fish and certainly the most colorful. All of these sections – the Delta that feeds into Lake #2, the pools below Waterfall #1, and the Upper Waterfall section – are known for producing both sizes and numbers. The fun thing about all sections is that in typical conditions, most of the fish can easily be spotted in each run or pool. 

There is a camp manager as well as a camp assistant at the lodge that can help during your first couple of days in camp. After a couple of map sessions or even a day or two of hiking up-river with the manager or assistant, it is easy to learn the runs and the most productive areas of the Erfalik River, and the rest of the trip largely becomes a DIY experience. Landing nets are available at the lodge, and each angler can take one for each day on the river. 

As to who exactly is best suited to fish this destination, the answer is pretty much anyone who in reasonable shape, with some fly fishing experience and a degree of self-sufficiency. Though some days are naturally better than others when it comes to fish numbers and size, the fishing is rarely difficult and there is no need to have a guide constantly watching over your shoulder. After having been introduced to the fishery, most anglers are fine with fishing with one or two other guests, and only occasionally – when venturing into a new area – do they ask one of the young guides for assistance. The fishing is on a walk-in basis, so to get the full benefit of the possibilities, anglers should be reasonably fit. The terrain is easy to hike, but you should be prepared to cover a total of four to eight miles on most days. If you need a break during your week, or if you want some light days with less walking and hiking, you can fish the river mouth in front of the lodge on an incoming tide, or you can have one of the guides drop you off on the other side of Lake #1 to fish the highly-productive inlet area.

For techniques, the most effective char fishing is done by either swinging streamers across the current and downstream, or by skating large foam dry flies evenly across the surface. Bright flies are usually the name of the game, with pink, orange and purple being the most effective colors throughout the season. For the larger foam skating flies, these brighter colors are the ones you want to bring. It also makes sense to bring brightly colored streams, with the addition of white, tan, brown and black streamers as well. As a general rule, the brighter colors seem to be the most consistent throughout the course of the season. 

Equipment
You will definitely want to bring all equipment with you to Erfalik Lodge, as the operation has nothing in the way of loaner or demo gear. That said, if you would like to pre-order a selection of custom-tied flies, that can easily be arranged, and they will be waiting for you on arrival. The fly selection is usually 75-to-100 Euros and includes both skating dry fly patterns as well as streamers and a few smaller nymphs. For rods, a 9’ 6 wt. is ideal, and it is a good idea to bring at least two in the event that one breaks. Most of the time you will be fishing floating fly lines, and we always recommend a line with an aggressive front taper that is designed to throw heavy flies in windy conditions. Tippet and leaders are all based around 16 lb. test, and having a number of tapered 9’ 16-lb. leaders as well as a spool of 16 lb. mono is recommended. You can bring a very short-headed sink tip line, although sinking poly leaders are also a great option in the event you want to go deep. Floating lines are the go-to lines 98% of the time.

If you are tying your own patterns (both streamers and skating dry flies) the Ahrex NS 122 in size 4 and 6 are the hooks you want. The Ahrex FW 581 barbless is also a great fly. Big char are incredibly strong, and many standard trout hooks will easily straighten or break. All fishing on the river is 1005 barbless hook.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter.

Prices starting at 6,320 Euro per person.
*This price includes flights from Copenhagen, Denmark to Greenland*

What’s Included:

• Round-trip Air Greenland flights from Copenhagen, Denmark to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and on to Sisimiut. 
• Round-trip boat transportation from Sisimiut to Erfalik Lodge
• Single occupancy room accommodations at Erfalik Lodge with room upgrade to the larger Erfalik Cottage rooms for couples or friends traveling together (based on availability at time of booking)
• All meals at the lodge
• Coffee, juice and water
• Full access to waters on the Erfalik River with primarily self-guided fishing
• Use of lodge amenities to include sauna, hot tub, kayaks, etc.
• Two nights of accommodations at the Hotel Sisimiut on the front and back end of trip
• Single occupancy room upgrade at Hotel Sisimiut on both ends of trip
• Arrival dinner and departure dinner at Hotel Sisimiut
• Breakfast at Hotel Sisimiut
• Airport and ground transfers in Sisimiut
• River Concession Fees
• Fishing License

What’s Not Included:

• International airfare to Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH)
• Additional meals, bar tab, and gift shop purchases in Sisimiut
• Alcoholic drinks and bottled soft drinks at lodge (available for purchase in Sisimiut)
• Gratuities for lodge manager and staff
• Flies, terminal tackle and all equipment
• Optional add-on for an extra 7 pounds of luggage allowance on Greenland Air (EUR 105) 
• Optional upgrade to business class seats on the overseas Greenland Air flights between Copenhagen and Kangerlussuaq (EUR 600 – based on availability)

Erfalik Lodge (Sisimiut, Greenland)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
Deposits and final trip payments are non-refundable outside of 90 days before the planned trip dates. Because of the operator’s no refund and no credit policy, Yellow Dog absolutely recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance that provides full coverage for your trip. Additionally, the outfitter and Yellow Dog are not responsible for alternative travel arrangement costs including flights, hotels, meals, and any other expenses incurred due to travel or weather delays. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing outside of 90 days from the start of the trip, a $200 fee will be charged by the outfitter to change the names on the booking and airline tickets. Inside of 120 days, the total price of the trip package will be kept by the outfitter, as flight tickets will have already been issued. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for all Greenland packages, as this is the only recourse for full coverage and refund in the event of cancellation.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations. Final payment is due in full 90 days from start of trip.

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

Greenland looks huge – how many people live there?
Though Greenland is the world’s largest island, covering almost 850,000 square miles, almost 80% is always covered with ice. Only the areas along the coastal shores in the southern part of the country are inhabitable, and the population is around a mere 56.000 people, which gives the lowest population density in the world. 

What time zone is Greenland in?
The time zone in western Greenland, where we fish, is GMT -3.

What’s the weather like?
Temperatures may vary from a little below the freezing point warmer summer days in the 60s to 70s (Fahrenheit). The weather can and does change quickly, however, which means you need to be prepared for severe changes in temperature, wind, and precipitation during a day of fishing.

Is it light 24 hours a day?
The polar circle is close to Sisimiut, thus during most of the fishing season it will not be dark at night. It’s only during the latter part of August that there will be a few hours of darkness.

How do I get there?
To get to Sisimiut, you will need to fly to Copenhagen, Denmark (overnight in a hotel) and then to Sisimiut via Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. It’s approximately 4.5 hours from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, and then a short domestic flight of 30 minutes to Sisimiut. You arrive early in the afternoon, settle in at Hotel Sisimiut, and have the rest of the afternoon for sightseeing and relaxation. The next day you transfer to the lodge by boat (approximately 2.5 hours transfer time).

Do I need a Visa?
Most nationalities only need a valid passport to visit Denmark and Greenland. Check online to make sure.

When is the best time to go?
The peak season is during July and August. The arctic char start running the rivers in late June, and by early September they become so interested in spawning that they need to be left alone. Also, once you get well into September, the weather can turn kind of rough.

How safe is Greenland?
Very safe! Think “modern world” without hard crime, heavy traffic, or air pollution. There are also no animals or critters that are a threat in these parts of Greenland. 

Do I need trip insurance?
Highly recommended due to the volatile nature of Greenland’s weather and the constant potential for flight delays. You also need a standard medical evacuation insurance policy that will cover the costs of getting you out of camp (typically by boat or via helicopter for emergencies) and back home safely. 

What languages are spoken?
Unless you are already fluent in Greenlandic (Eskimo-Aleut) you can usually get by with English – or Danish. Greenlandic people are known for their welcoming and hospitable nature. Don’t be surprised if locals strike up a conversation with you in the street.

Additional Notes on Key Pieces of Equipment
You will definitely want to bring all equipment with you to Erfalik Lodge, as the operation has nothing in the way of loaner or demo gear. For rods, a 9’ 6 wt. is ideal, and it is a good idea to bring at least two in the event that one breaks. Most of the time you will be fishing floating fly lines, and we always recommend a line with an aggressive front taper that is designed to throw heavy flies in windy conditions. Tippet and leaders are all based around 16 lb. test, and having a number of tapered 9’ 16-lb. leaders as well as spools of 12 lb. and 16 lb. mono is recommended.  As for flies, if you would like to pre-order a selection of custom-tied flies, we can arrange to have them waiting for you on arrival. A pre-packaged fly selection is usually 75-to-100 Euros and includes both skating dry fly patterns as well as streamers and a few nymphs.

Other key pieces of equipment include good, breathable waders and rubber-soled wading boots. Staying dry is super important. Start each hike with few layers, as you will heat up quickly when walking long distances to each section. Pack numerous warmer layers to then add on once you arrive. You will be doing a lot of hiking with this program, so leave the felt-soled boots at home. Plan on bringing along the best raincoat you have, as well as numerous layers of fleece, Poly Capilene, a good puffy coat, under-wader layers, stocking hats, and more socks than you expect to use. There is a large amount of hiking that is required with this program, and dialing in the right layering system is important. If things are rainy and wet, it can be hard to dry clothing, so bring along more layer than you normally would pack for other destinations. 

Since spotting fish is a big part of the game on the Erfalik River, having really good, polarized glasses is essential. Both a copper lens for bright and semi-bright days, as well as a yellow lens for cloudy and low-light days are highly recommended. Other useful items for this program include waterproof luggage, a blister kit, lots of extra socks (wool socks are ideal), headlamp, and slippers or lightweight camp shoes for inside the lodge.

Notes on Physical Fitness
It is wise to physically prepare for this trip, as this is a very “active” fishery that requires a lot of walking and hiking. Being reasonably fit is recommended for fishing and hiking in Greenland. The terrain is easy to hike but you should be prepared to cover a total of four to eight miles on most days.