The day is at your disposal, and the possibilities are many. For example, visit the sewing workshop, where they make souvenirs from sealskin or go shopping in the crafts shops for gifts made from tusks, bones, and antlers.
If you have bought the excursion package, you can look forward to a hike to the abandoned settlement of Sermermiut by the icefjord.
Hike to the abandoned settlement of Sermermiut (included in excursion package)
Ilulissat’s beautiful icebergs form a beautiful backdrop to the ancient settlement of Sermermiut, one and a half kilometers south of the town. For 4,000 years, successive Inuit cultures lived in the settlement as it was a great place for hunting. Hear the story of the lives and customs of the Greenlanders before the Europeans arrived. As the place is covered in snow, you will have to use your imagination to see the ruins. However, the view is amazing, so it’s well worth the trip.
On this short trip, we turn back after seeing the viewpoint at the Kællingekløft, a place where old people would throw themselves off the cliff in times of need.
Many people ask, “can’t I do this hike on my own?” The simple answer is “Yes, you can.” However, we find that many people feel comfortable with having a tour guide on their first hikes in the Greenlandic hills. Also, the guide will point to sites of historical interest, which may be difficult to find on your own. Finally, it’s nice to share the experiences with someone.
If you have purchased the excursion package, today is also the time for the most popular excursion in Greenland. You can go sailing and see the icefjord from different angles.
Sailing to the Ice Fjord (included in excursion package)
Almost every visitors to Ilulissat choose to go on this cruise between the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million tons of ice break off the glacier and fall into the Ice Fjord. This results in huge icebergs that can be hundreds of meters high with up to 70 meters of those visible above the waterline.
At the mouth of the Ice Fjord, these giants get stranded on the banks and here we have the opportunity to sail among them. It’s an amazing natural experience you will remember forever! Nothing less.
If you bought the outdoor package, you will go to Igloo Lode today or on Sunday. You won’t miss out on any of the other excursions described in the daily itinerary, although in some cases your departure times may be adjusted slightly to make the schedule work.
Igloo Lodge (part of the outdoor excursion package)
Friday or Sunday, you can experience a real igloo where you will spend the night and, from here, go on some unique excursions.
Our sister company in Ilulissat, World of Greenland, has been very successful with their summer lodges at the Eqi Glacier and in the settlement of Ilimanaq. Now, they also offer winter lodges in the shape of igloos.
Here, at the foot of the mountains, you will spend the night in an igloo (with the possibility of staying in a heated cabin, if you prefer). Igloo Lodge consists of five spacious igloos, each of which accommodates two people. Reindeer pelts and warm winter sleeping bags are covering the beds. There are also candles on the bedside table, which means that the temperature is around the freezing point inside the igloo. It is a stark contrast to the estimated minus 20 degrees Celsius outside. The wooden cabin by the lodge is where we will eat our meals. In the wooden cabin, there is also an outhouse type restroom.
The trip to Igloo Lodge itself is also exciting. You are driven in a snowcat for about an hour into the Ilulissat hinterland with amazing views along the way. You will be met at the cabin with coffee and lunch. Afterward, you will have afternoon coffee with cake, dinner, and evening coffee followed by a look outside to see if the northern lights are out. Then you can retire to your igloo, and, in the morning, breakfast is served and, finally, there’s the snowcat trip back to civilization around noon.
Please notice: If you’ve purchased the outdoor package, you’ll ride on a dog sled at Igloo Lodge instead of in town. It’s a bigger sled, so there are three of you on the sled instead of two. The dog sledding excursion is included in the Outdoor Package, but only available as an additional purchase if you haven’t bought the outdoor package.
Also please notice: If you are interested in our outdoor package, please contact us by phone or email, so we can check if there is availability when you want to go. As mentioned, the other excursions are also included in the outdoor package. However, if you choose the outdoor package, some of these other excursions will be moved to other days than mentioned in this day-to-day program.