---
title: "#37 Arctic Circle Trail – twice across the Greenland wilderness – Jiří Kalát"
description: "A wild long-distance trek 👣 across the Greenland tundra, where for almost 200 kilometers you won't meet any roads, shops or civilization. Play our podcast about this trek with Jirka Kalát."
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/arctic-circle-trail-jiri-kalat"
last_updated: "2025-03-03"
---

# #37 Arctic Circle Trail – twice across the Greenland wilderness – Jiří Kalát

Authors: David Czempka

Date: 2025-03-03

A wild long-distance trek 👣 across the Greenland tundra, where for almost 200 kilometers you won't meet any roads, shops or civilization. Play our podcast about this trek with Jirka Kalát.

In this episode of the podcast, we're heading north of the Arctic Circle again 🥶, this time to the **Arctic Circle Trail (ACT)** – a wild long-distance trek 👣 across the Greenland tundra. For almost 200 kilometers, you won't come across any roads, shops, or civilization – just endless plains, lakes 🛶, and reindeer 🦌.

Joining us to talk about the ACT is **Jiří Kalát** – a teacher, writer, and traveler who has set out on this trail twice, and in two different seasons, no less – in winter ❄️ and in summer ☀️. Together with his friends, he's one of only a handful of people in the world who have hiked the entire trail there and back again within a single year 🎉.

What route does the ACT take, and how hard is it to get to the start of the trail? Is it better to set out in summer or in winter? What gear can't you do without? Which animals pose the biggest danger on the ACT 🦟? And could you run into a polar bear 🐻‍❄ out there? You'll find the answers to these questions and much more in this episode of the podcast.

🎧 Tune in to Martin's conversation with Jirka, packed with fascinating facts about Greenland, practical tips 💡, and stories from the trail.

## 🎧 Where can you listen to us?

- YouTube – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOOEzaHqPDQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOOEzaHqPDQ)
- [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7yLeAWVmErzEtWkqG03UgE)
- Apple Podcasts – [https://apple.co/4igw7HT](https://apple.co/4igw7HT)

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOOEzaHqPDQ)

## 🟡 Guest

🧔‍♂️ Jiří Kalát – [https://www.cestujicipisalek.cz/](https://www.cestujicipisalek.cz/)

## 🟡 Host

🙎‍♂️ Martin Benc – [https://www.instagram.com/ztracenvlese/](https://www.instagram.com/ztracenvlese/)

## 📖 Chapters

- 00:00 – Intro
- 00:37 – Introductions
- 01:51 – Jirka's books
- 03:34 – Arctic Circle Trail (ACT)
- 05:47 – When to go?
- 07:41 – Which direction
- 11:08 – Getting to the trek
- 13:53 – The trail's popularity
- 15:40 – The ACT in winter vs. summer
- 17:57 – Planning and preparation
- 20:10 – About the people of Greenland
- 24:51 – Food and resupply
- 27:46 – How long the ACT takes
- 29:52 – The ACT in winter
- 30:43 – Trail markings and navigation
- 36:41 – Weather in Greenland
- 38:37 – Huts on the ACT
- 40:23 – Wildlife
- 46:17 – Gear
- 54:47 – Most powerful experiences
- 56:44 – Wrap-up

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This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/arctic-circle-trail-jiri-kalat).

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