We fly with Air Greenland from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq. The flight is approximately 4½ hours and followed by an eight-day adventure.

A guide from the local tour office welcomes you upon arrival and assists you with check in at Hotel Kangerlussuaq. The hotel is situated in the airport building, so all you have to do is take your baggage and carry it to the reception.

From the hotel, there is a direct view of the landing strip where several smaller planes and helicopters connect Greenland’s towns and settlements with the rest of the world. Dut look carefully and you may well spot a little hare hiding in the gray-brown rocks. After an information meeting, where the guide will give you practical advice about the area and the excursions, you have the option of buying a guided sightseeing tour of Kangerlussuaq.

Sightseeing in Kangerlussuaq

The area around Kangerlussuaq has Greenland’s longest road, and here we will see several interesting places and encounter the great Greenlandic nature.

We will drive to the harbor to enjoy views of the beautiful fjord. The drive also takes us by Kellyville, a small research settlement, 12 kilometers from the airport and through the old base area. We will also visit the local kennel where you will get better acquainted with Greenlandic sled dogs. The scenic drive offers ample opportunity to take in the stunning nature.

If you bought the excursion package, it is now time for the tundra and wildlife tour.

Tundra and wildlife tour (optional)

Kangerlussuaq has incredibly beautiful nature and is home to the pre-historic looking musk oxen. We drive through the stunning tundra landscape in a 4×4 bus, as the guide tells us about the wildlife in this area. Maybe you’ll have the chance to spot musk oxen and learn more about these incredible creatures.

Musk oxen roam wildly in the area around Kangerlussuaq. Whether we can come close to these shy animals, or simply look at them from a distance, is not predictable. The guide always brings binoculars, so there is a very good chance of seeing these amazing animals and other wildlife in the area.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to explore the stunning nature and wildlife around Kangerlussuaq. Today, a part of the Kangerlussuaq area is UNESCO World Heritage.

Today is for exploring  the area, either at your own pace or perhaps join an excursion to the beautiful hinterland? If you bought the excursion package, you will go to the Greenland Ice Sheet at Point 660.

Greenland Ice Sheet, Point 660 (optional)

Kangerlussuaq is known as the gateway to the Inland Ice Cap, and this is a guided tour to the immense ice sheet the size of Western Europe. We drive in a 4×4 bus through stunning and varied Arctic terrain.

As the road comes to an end, we will approach the Ice Sheet itself by Point 660 on foot – a unique experience. We will spend some time in this enormous world of ice before returning to our vehicles. The trip also offers a chance to spot reindeer, musk oxen and, depending on the season, many different species of birds and, possibly, some hares. Go on this trip for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand on the Inland Ice Cap. It is quite a humbling experience to feel the extreme cold and let your eyes wander across the vast ice surface.

Today we head towards Ilulissat. It is a beautiful 45-minute flight, giving you a perfect chance to really enjoy the beautiful landscape, the desolate expanse and grandeur of  the ice. During the approach to Ilulissat, the town seemingly pops up in the middle of nowhere. The coloured houses vie for attention among the snow-covered peaks and as the small aircraft lands, you can look forward to the next few days full of ice, early welcome signs of spring and dog sleds which have been retired until next winter – combined with cultural highlights from a very traditional, Greenlandic town.

We check in at the cozy Hotel Arctic before an information meeting, where you will hear more about the town and the many optional excursions. The first adventure in the excursion package is a guided tour of the town. For those of you not joining the sightseeing, there are numerous possibilities. We recommend that you take a walk around the town and the area and breathe in the fresh air and atmosphere.

Cultural Town Walk (optional)

The best way to start your stay in Ilulissat. Learn about the town’s history and see how life is lived north of the Polar Circle. Ilulissat was founded in 1741 and, today, it is the third largest town in Greenland with more than 4,500 inhabitants.

Seeing and especially hearing some of the many thousands of sled dogs living here is unavoidable. Unless out on a trip, most of the dogs are kept outside town in large dog areas.

Tonight we invite you for dinner at the hotel.

The Disko Bay is one of Greenland’s most popular tourist destinations. First and foremost because of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Ice Fjord, but also because of its beauty, its many cultural attractions and the interaction between the traditional lifestyle and modern urban life.

If you bought the excursion package, it is time for an easy hike promising amazing views.

Hike to the deserted Sermermiut settlement (optional)

Beautiful icebergs provide the setting for the old settlement of Sermermiut 1.5 kilometers south of Ilulissat. For 4,000 years, different Inuit cultures lived in the settlement. Hear the story about the life of the Inuit people and their traditions before the Europeans came to Greenland. Depending on the time of the year you arrive, you may be able to see the ruins and touch the permafrost with your own hands.

Another day in Ilulissat filled with opportunities! You can visit one of the traditional handicraft workshops and look for souvenirs in sealskin, tusk and bone. If you have bought the excursion package, you can look forward to our most popular excursion tonight.

Sailing among the icebergs (optional)

Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to go on this boat trip among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million tons of ice flow out into the fjord. The floating icebergs are gigantic, sometimes measuring more than 100 meters wide and long – and with a height of up to 100 meters above the water surface as well. These giants gather at the end of the fjord, providing you with a great opportunity to sail among them. You should not miss out on this exceptional experience when visiting Ilulissat.

The icebergs are beautiful in every type of weather; in the sunshine, the contrasts are very clear, the blue shades stunning when it is cloudy, and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the ice sculptures during the night. The boat trip on a bright night is an extraordinary experience. Remember to bring warm clothes, or you can rent a suit of sealskin.

Today you may want to walk in the footsteps of history and learn about the rich past at the museum that was Knud Rasmussen’s place of birth. Fishers and hunters at the open market can show you a variety of exciting Greenlandic food products – it does not get any fresher than this.

Once your eyes have feasted on the many views and impressions, it is time to enjoy lunch! At the restaurants in Ilulissat, you can try local specialties such as Greenlandic sushi, deep-fried “ammassats” (small fish), whale and seal, and the cafés offer freshly-baked cakes. All your senses will get a work-out on this trip!

If you bought the excursion package, you will visit a small settlement today.

Daytrip to Ilimanaq

Only one generation back, most Greenlanders lived in small settlements, which were located like pearls on a string along the coast. Today you will find that most live in towns, though Ilulissat still has four thriving settlements. One of these is Ilimanaq located just south of the Icefjord.

Ilimanaq, which means “The place for expectations”, was once a traditional hunting settlement. Today it has a unique mix of nature, fishing, culture, tourism and sustainability. This development has happened thanks to Ilimanaqs location south of the Ilulissat Icefjord, combined with the restoration of the old colonial buildings and of course the construction of  Ilimanaq Lodge. Ilimanaq is today seen as a good example for future sustainable tourism developments in settlements all over Greenland.

We sail through the Icefjord to Ilimanaq, which is almost 15 kilometres south of Ilulissat. When we get there the guide will take you on a tour of the settlement, with stories of life throughout the centuries. The trip is about 5 hours, where 2-3 hours will be in Ilimanaq and includes refreshments.

Enjoy the last view of the Ilulissat Ice Fjord from the plane on the way to Kangerlussuaq, where the Airbus will fly you to Copenhagen with arrival in the evening.