Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq, check-in at Old Camp and possibly excursion to the Ice Sheet (optional)
Air Greenland flies from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, allowing you 4½ hours to prepare yourself for your encounter with a truly unique part of the world. During the flight, you can enjoy a meal, a movie, as well as the first sight of nunataks and the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Upon arrival, a guide from our local partner will welcome you and help you check in at Old Camp, which offers cozy accommodation in the middle of the fascinating nature. At the following information meeting, the guide will tell you about the area and the many excursions available.
Kangerlussuaq is beautifully situated between soft hills and close to the Ice Sheet. It is the perfect place to see and step onto the legendary Ice Sheet, which covers more than 80 % of Greenland. Join us on a guided trip to the Ice Sheet and experience it for yourself.
Greenland Ice Sheet, Point 660 (optional)
Powerful 4×4 vehicles will take us through an incredibly beautiful landscape, between mountains, plains, and semi-desert valleys. Near the Ice Sheet, we will drive through the fantastic moraine landscape, and we will pass the Russell Glacier and an amazing moraine landscape.
At the end of the road, we walk to the Ice Sheet and onto the enormous ice cap. We spend some time exploring this world of ice before returning to our vehicles. There are good chances of spotting reindeer, musk oxen and, depending on the season, many species of birds and flowers.
Flight from Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat, welcome meeting and possibly sightseeing (optional)
The tour continues by plane to Ilulissat. Ilulissat means “icebergs,” which makes sense once you get to see the beautiful Ice Fjord and the numerous icebergs, majestically floating around in the fjord, lit up by an almost magical light caused by reflections of the sun.
Upon arrival, you will go to Petrine’s House, located in the town center close to everything. At the following information meeting, a guide from World of Greenland will inform you about Ilulissat and the wide range of excursions available. You are now prepared for the next couple of days filled with adventures.
The hometown of Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen offers many exciting experiences whether you want to go on hiking trips in the hills or merely enjoy the cozy atmosphere in town.
If you have bought the excursion package, it’s time to go sightseeing.
Cultural-historical town walk (optional)
If you are interested in history, you may want to join us on a cultural, historical walk, giving you an introduction to Greenland’s history from colonial time to today. The walk includes visits to the open market, Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace, which today is the town’s museum, and the beautiful wooden Zion Church, located right in front of the Ice Fjord.
Adventures in and around Ilulissat and possibly sailing among icebergs (optional)
Ilulissat lies at the mouth of the 50-kilometer long and world-famous Ilulissat Ice Fjord, which in 2004 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ice is enthralling and can be experienced at sea, on land, and from the air.
If you have purchased the excursion package, sailing among icebergs is included.
Sailing among icebergs (optional)
The midnight sun makes the icebergs glow in a unique play of colors that people return to experience again and again. Midnight sun in Ilulissat lasts from late May to late July.
Sailing during the night with the sun still shining is a fantastic and unusual experience. Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to go on this boat trip among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million ton 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.
The icebergs are a wonderful sight in every kind of weather; in the sunshine, the contrasts are very clear, the blue shades are very beautiful when it is cloudy and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the icebergs during the night. Taking the boat trip on a bright night is an extraordinary experience.
You should not miss out on this exceptional experience when visiting Ilulissat. Remember to bring warm clothes – otherwise, sealskin clothing is available to rent.
Adventures in and around Ilulissat or possibly boat trip to the Eqi Glacier (optional)
You can spend the day exploring Ilulissat on your own or go on yet another boat trip.
Boat trip to the calving Eqi Glacier (optional)
Only a few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi Glacier, which spills into the fjord 80 kilometers north of Ilulissat. It is possible to get very close to the glacier by boat and experience huge pieces of ice breaking off. The sounds are thunderous, and the sight of ice crashing into the water is astonishing.
We sail in modern and convenient boats during the excursion to the Eqi Glacier. The route takes us north along the coast passing Bredebugt, the settlement of Oqaatsut and the big fjord system called Pakitsoq, where whales and seals are often spotted. Further along the route, we pass through the Ataa Strait, which is surrounded by steep mountains with bird life and waterfalls. Our boats, which are reinforced for sailing in icy waters, will remain in front of the glacier for approximately two hours and wait for the ice to calve. Meanwhile, a delicious lunch will be served. This is an all-day excursion where you will have a good opportunity to immerse yourself in the experience and fully enjoy the boat trip in the ice-filled water.
Please note: The length of the boat trip to and from the glacier may last between 2 – 5 hours each direction. It depends on the boat used on the day.
Adventures in and around Ilulissat and possibly a hike to the Ice Fjord (optional)
Spend the day exploring Ilulissat on your own. If you have purchased the excursion package, it’s time for a hike.
Hike to the old settlement by the Ice Fjord (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 and, today, you can still see the relics, which indicate their presence.
Hear the story about the life of the Inuit people and their traditions before the Europeans came to Greenland. See the ruins and touch the permafrost with your own hands. On this hike, we will pass “Kællingekløften” where you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Ice Fjord, before heading back again. During the hike, there will be time to talk about flora, fauna, geology, and not least, the story behind the omnipresent ice.
Adventures in and around Ilulissat or possibly kayaking (optional) or a daytrip to Ilimanaq (optional)
Today is at your disposal. Maybe you want to walk around Ilulissat and see how life is lived in a Greenlandic town. Remember your camera, as there are always nice images to capture.
Today you also get the chance to experience kayaking in the country that invented the kayak.
Kayak Experience in Ilulissat (optional)
the Inuit have kayaked in Greenlandic waters for more than a thousand years, and you can do it, too. The kayak glides silently through the water, and you see the huge icebergs rising around you. The midnight sun gives the ice a unique hue. In cloudy weather, the beautiful blue colors of the icebergs will be very clear. With a little luck, we also meet whales. All tours take place in stable double kayaks, and a boat follows close by. The excursion takes about 3½-4 hours, and we will be at sea for at least two of those hours.
Day tour to Ilimanaq – lunch and settlement walk (optional)
NOTE: This excursion is available to book on all trips departing from Copenhagen from the 28th of June 2021 onwards.
Enjoy the boat trip to the small settlement of Ilimanaq, where you will have the opportunity to experience both impressive icebergs and majestic whales, so keep your eyes open!
When you arrive in Ilimanaq a guide will be there to take you on a guided tour of the settlement, where you will hear stories of the Greenlandic culture and history of the area. Listen to great stories of how the society has developed, the historic buildings and local life. Enjoy the beautiful views of nature in every direction.
It is now time for lunch in the historic houses. Enjoy a lovely meal of Greenlandic specialities in the restored building from the 18th century (the former occupant of the house was Poul Egede, son of Hans Egede).
The restaurant is located in a beautiful place in the small settlement, and is one of the the best places to eat in Greenland.
The boat trip to and from Ilimanaq takes around 30-45 minutes each way. The duration of the daytrip to Ilimanaq is 9 hours in total, so we return to Ilulissat in the late afternoon.
Adventures in and around Ilulissat and possibly a whale safari (optional)
Whale safari (optional)
It is a great experience to get close to large animals like whales.
There are 15 species of whale in Greenland. During summer, it is normally the humpback, the common minke whale, and the fin whale that can be seen in the area. The whales swim in the entire Disko Bay during summer – sometimes close to the town, sometimes in the Ice Fjord or further up north by the island called Arveprinsens Ejland.
We are in constant radio contact with fishers and hunters, who are our source of information about the whales and their whereabouts. The humpback with its characteristic fin is the most commonly witnessed on these safaris.
Flights from Ilulissat to Kangerlussuaq and Copenhagen
Offering one final view of the Ice Fjord and the captivating icebergs, the flight will take you back to Kangerlussuaq and onwards to Copenhagen where you will arrive in the evening.
We guarantee you that you will go home with a suitcase full of memories that will stay with you longer than any other holiday you have been on. At least that is what other travelers tell us.
