Hannibal and Amalies house - life in the small settlement Saqqaq

14 days with time to relax in the settlement Saqqaq and huge experiences in the Disco Bay and Ilulissat! The Diskobay is known for its beauty, sun and hundreds of floating icebergs. On this amazing trip you have the possibility of getting a very close encounter with the traditional culture and unique nature, when we for an entire week visit the wonderful Saqqaq. Ilulissat is famous for UNESCO site Ilulissat icefiord.

We start off in Kangerlussuaq which offers both musk oxen and a trip to the impressive ice cap and continue to the town by the ice fjord – the beautifully located Ilulissat town offering almost countless exciting excursions. From Ilulissat we sail to the idyllic settlement Saqqaq. A fantastic spot where the silence is only interrupted by calving icebergs. Its a unique pearl and a true paradise with rivers, cascading waterfalls and a never ending horizon. A world of its own!

A wonderful journey full of contrasts and moments of both meditation and action!

Day program
Day 1 Copenhagen-Kangerlussuaq-Ilulissat-Petrine’s house-hiking trip
Day 2-3 Ilulissat on your own
Day 4-10 Ilulissat-Saqqaq by boat-the house of Hannibal and Amalie-hiking trip
Day 11 Saqqaq-Ilulissat
Day 12 Ilulissat on your own
Day 13 Ilulissat-Kangerlussuaq
Day 14 Kangerlussuaq-Copenhagen

Day 1 Copenhagen-Kangerlussuaq-Ilulissat-Petrine’s house-hiking trip
We fly from Copenhagen to Ilulissat via Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland. There will only be a short stop over in Kangerlussuaq before going onwards to Ilulissat. The icy landscape with huge icebergs becomes more and more visible as we approach the beautiful town – and suddenly the name Ilulissat, meaning icebergs, makes sense. It is located approx. 5 kilometres north of the famous ice fjord. Between 20 and 40 million tonnes of ice sail majestically out into the Disko Bay from the ice fjord. A magnificent sight and so unique that the ice fjord in 2004 was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Upon arrival you will meet the tour guide and check in at Petrine’s lovely house perfectly located with a marvellous view over the town and the ice fjord. With the guide in the lead we will go on a nice hiking trip along the spectacular ice fjord to the former settlement Sermermiut at the mouth of the ice fjord. The fjord leads into the most productive glacier on the northern hemisphere. The icebergs fill up the fjord and some of them are 100 metres above sea level. Make sure that your camera is ready – the minute you think you have seen the most beautiful piece of ice, another comes by in another colour and shape.

Day 2 and 3 Ilulissat on your own or with guide
Ilulissat is a lovely and very Greenlandic town that holds both a modern atmosphere and a more traditional lifestyle. Hunting and fishing are paramount and fishing boats jostle for the space with industrial trawlers. Sled dogs and houses in almost all colours adorn the rocky landscape.

The beautiful ice fjord is both the local fishermen's workplace and one of the biggest attractions in Ilulissat. What makes the ice fjord so special is the icebergs and the light that constantly changes the colours of the ice.

But beyond the ice fjord, there are many other ways to experience Knud Rasmussen's hometown. Start for example with a cultural walk and come a little closer to the town in a historical perspective. A longer hike goes along the fjord and into the wild landscape full of visual impressions.

Or how about a sailing trip among icebergs during the day or evening. The summer is also a perfect time to go on a whale safari. The Disko Bay is a popular playground for the impressive marine mammals.
We can also recommend a helicopter trip that takes you close up to the 7 kilometre wide glacier. Imagine to fly across the huge mountains, lakes, rivers and icebergs – a stunning experience that gives you a super nice view over the protected UNESCO site.

Day 4-10 By boat from Ilulissat to Saqqaq
Saqqaq is about 5 hours sailing from Ilulissat. If the weather is fine the settlement can be spotted in the distant horizon. Saqqaq (the sun side) is inhabited by 173 people living from fishing and hunting. The colourful houses along the water, sled dogs puppies in different colours roam in the area and the silence is overwhelming.

We stay in Hannibal and Amalie Fencher’s famous house. A red cosy house with greenhouses and stunning views over the landscape. Hannibal Fencker was administrator of the settlement from 1942-1970. Together with his wife, Amalie, he bought the old Reverent Christian Rosing's house which he moved from Ilulissat to Saqqaq. Their garden was beaming with summer flowers and even subtropical plants such as dates and lemons, So it's a house full of history.

One week gives you a perfect opportunity to experience and be part of the everyday life in a small well functioning Greenlandic settlement.
The days in Saqqaq offer a wealth of options: The tour guide arranges various hiking trips in the area. For example, along the coast with the overwhelming view to thousands of icebergs or Saqqaq’s hinterland with lakes, thundering rivers and the local glacier. Or how about a hike to the preserved Inuit graves and the remains of turf houses? All hiking trips are adapted to the weather and to some extent to the participants' wishes and physics. However, there is always the possibility to stay in the settlement and enjoy the sun in the garden or maybe fishing for cods.

Day 11 Saqqaq-Ilulissat by boat
Today it is unfortunately time to leave Saqqaq. We leave the house – all cleaned up and ready for new guests and can now look forward to enjoying the sailing trip through the Disko Bay to Ilulissat. We arrive to Ilulissat and Petrine’s house late evening.

Day 12 Ilulissat on your own
Experience Ilulissat on your own! Maybe with a day trip to the calving glacier Eqi which runs out into the fjord 80 kilometres north of Ilulissat. The glacier front stretches over 3.4 kilometres and the average height from bottom to top is approx. 200 metres, of which 30 to 80 metres stretch above sea level. A very scenic area worth a visit.

If you don’t want to sail anymore, there is plenty of other things to do.On the cultural historical town walk you are presented to Ilulissat's culture and history spiced up with information about life today. On the walk you will also pass the legendary polar explorer Knud Rasmussen's birthplace and the dark brown Zion Church from 1782 beautifully located with a view over the ice fjord and the drifting icebergs. Another unique experience is the open fish and meat market where today’s catch is on sale. It doesn’t get any fresher!

There is also time to go shopping for the traditional Greenlandic handicraft – maybe a jewellery or a sealskin bag - or a tupilaq to keep away evil spirits.

Day 13 Ilulissat-Kangerlussuaq-Polar Lodge-Point 660
We fly from Ilulissat to Kangerlussuaq with arrival in the morning. Upon arrival we check in at Polar Lodge for one night. The Lodge is located right next to the airport surrounded by both flights and the amazing nature.

One of Kangerlussuaq’s attractions is the icecap and Point 660 at the edge of the ice zone. It is time to go in the footsteps of Fridtjof Nansen and all the other famous polar explorers. Together with an experienced ice guide we conquer the ice cap. Enroute we’ll pass lakes, rivers, glacier dwells and cracks – a unique world of ice. The guide takes us into the exciting story about the icecap, climate changes, the old expeditions and today’s research.

There are good chances of seeing musk oxen, reindeer, hares, ravens and arctic foxes. A day rich in fantastic experiences with a perfect ending at the restaurant ‘Roklubben’ beautifully situated by Lake Ferguson.

Day 14 Kangerlussuaq-Copenhagen
The Greenland adventure has come to an end and it is time to take a last look at this world so unique and different. We fly from Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen with arrival in the evening. Flight back to Copenhagen with arrival in the evening.

Further information about the tour (Click to udfold!)
- Suggested packing list
- Below is a suggested packing list for your summer tour to Greenland. Please contact us if you have any questions!
  
  Click to read and print the packing list