Icebergs and Hot Springs

From Keflavik, we fly to Qaqortoq, the largest town in South Greenland. Here, you will have your first encounter with one of Greenland’s most charming towns, beautifully situated between the mountains and the fjord. Colorful houses are scattered across the hillsides around the small town center and harbor, and from the moment you arrive, you will get a first sense of the special atmosphere of South Greenland.

As we arrive in the early evening, there is no further program planned for today.

This evening, you can have dinner at the hotel and enjoy a good night’s sleep – tomorrow, a long hike awaits!

If you still have some energy after the journey, you can take a short walk and enjoy your first impressions of the town and the views across the fjord. Otherwise, simply settle in and look forward to the experiences awaiting you over the coming days.

Today, you travel by boat to Igaliku.

Igaliku

The sheep-farming settlement of Igaliku is beautifully situated at the head of Igaliku Fjord, surrounded by green fields with steep, bare mountains rising in the background. Igaliku is a place that invites you to slow down and explore at an easy pace. You can stroll along the small paths winding through the settlement and admire its simple but beautifully constructed buildings. Enjoy the silence, broken only by birdsong and the gentle bleating of sheep.

Among the most impressive sights in the settlement are the ancient ruins of the Norse bishop’s residence and the small cathedral, scattered among Igaliku’s houses and gardens. It almost feels like stepping into another time, with the stones telling stories of a community that lived here more than 800 years ago. The stones themselves are also special: the characteristic Igaliku stone, a multicolored reddish sandstone, gives the entire area its unique historic character. It is difficult to imagine how the Norse craftsmen managed to move the massive blocks of stone that still stand today as reminders of a bygone age.

Today, you can also enjoy a beautiful hike.

Suggestion: Hike to the Igaliku Plateau

Igaliku and the surrounding area offer some of the best hiking opportunities in South Greenland. You can choose to hike up to the plateau, where you will be rewarded with fantastic views of Qoorooq Icefjord. The perspective is quite different from up here, and we may see icebergs stranded on the underwater moraine at the entrance to the fjord, as well as the enormous glacier at the head of the fjord. The hike is approximately 17 kilometers in total, but the views are spectacular, so we definitely recommend making the trip.

Alternatively, you can visit a sheep farm, where local farmers continue a tradition that has been an important part of life in Igaliku for many centuries. The settlement is surrounded by lush green fields, sheltered on one side by dramatic mountain slopes. It is an excellent opportunity to catch a glimpse of daily life in this remote part of Greenland, where the rhythm of the changing seasons is more noticeable than almost anywhere else.

After a relaxing and peaceful day in Igaliku or the longer hike to the plateau, it is time to return to the village hotel for dinner. As you take in the magnificent view from the hotel, with the mountains and fjord in the background, it is hard not to feel a sense of wonder at being in this remote and beautiful corner of the world.

There is something magical about Igaliku – a sense of peace that is rarely found in the modern world and that offers a very special opportunity to truly experience the presence of nature.

Please notice: We recommend purchasing the meal package in Igaliku in advance to ensure a table in the restaurant on both evenings of your stay.

The day begins, as always, with a good breakfast. Hopefully, the air is clear and crisp, and the quiet is only broken by the bleating of sheep and the calls of birds over the fjord. We leave Igaliku on foot and follow the historic King’s Road – a hiking trail that connects Igaliku with the stunning Tunulliarfik Fjord (also known as the Forest Fjord). The route leads through gently rolling terrain with ever-changing views. Along the way, we pass green valleys and small lakes while the mountains rise on the horizon.

Blue Ice in the Qooroq Icefjord

We then take to the water again, sailing across the fjord to a side fjord just south of Narsarsuaq – the Qooroq Icefjord. Here we get a close-up view of the magnificent icebergs in the area.

The ice in South Greenland is ancient, having traveled slowly from deep within the Ice Cap toward the coast. The vast weight of the Ice Cap pushes the ice outward, and when it calves along the southern coast, it is often more compressed than farther north. Because of this high pressure, the air bubbles are squeezed out, giving the ice its distinctive blue color. We will experience this phenomenon up close in the Qooroq Icefjord.

UNESCO World Heritage in Qassiarsuk

Our next stop is Qassiarsuk, also known as Brattahlid, where Erik the Red settled in 982. Here, we visit the famous Norse ruins, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The remains of the Norse settlement still stand after a thousand years. In 2000, reconstructions of Erik the Red’s longhouse and Tjodhildur’s church – the first Christian church on the North American continent – were built. Much of South Greenland is listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kujataa, in part because of its rich Norse history. There is also a striking monument to Leif Erikson, who set sail from Brattahlid and discovered the North American mainland nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

In Qassiarsuk, you will also see a traditional Inuit turf house, which was used in some areas as recently as 80–100 years ago. About 40 people live in Qassiarsuk today, most of whom are still engaged in sheep farming. The small, elongated settlement also has a school, a shop, and a church.

After our visit to Qassiarsuk, we continue our journey toward Narsaq, located about 50 kilometers farther out in the Tunulliarfik.

Narsaq – Town Between Fjords and Mountains

Narsaq is Greenland’s second-youngest town – a charming community of about 1,500 inhabitants. It is beautifully situated at the foot of Mount Qaqqarsuaq and along the Narsaq Sound, which is often filled with icebergs from nearby glaciers.

Behind the town, tall mountains rise, including the well-known Kvanefjeld/Kuannit, which contains more than 200 different minerals (including the beautiful pink gemstone tugtupite) – a true paradise for geology enthusiasts.

The local museum, housed in the historic colonial buildings by the old harbor, is well worth a visit.

We stay overnight at Hotel Narsaq, where we will spend two nights.

We start the day with breakfast at Hotel Narsaq. If you’ve purchased the excursion, we’ll head down to the harbor and set out toward the so-called Twin Glacier.

Boat Trip to the  Ice Sheet (add-on)

We set out through the wide Sermilik Fjord, navigating quietly among countless drifting icebergs that float like frozen sculptures in the water. The journey takes us to the Qalerallit Glacier – named after the Greenlandic word for halibut – an impressive sight where the immense glacier front stretches for several hundred metres across the fjord.

At the glacier, we cruise along the ice edge for about an hour, getting close enough to truly sense its scale and constant movement. It’s a place where you feel the raw power of nature – and how small you are beside it.

The boat trip to and from the small side fjord is also a beautiful experience in itself, offering views of mountains, ice and the serene fjord landscape. It’s also one of the places where you can clearly see on the newly exposed rocks how far the glaciers have retreated over the past decades. In the 1980s, the twin glaciers still calved large quantities of ice directly into the fjord. Today, the ice breaks off on land instead! It’s a breathtaking place where one truly feels small beside these immense ice masses.

After our visit, we return to Narsaq by boat.

If you haven’t purchased the excursion, there are many excellent hiking opportunities in and around Narsaq. Here are a few suggestions:

Hike to Narsaq Ilua/Dyrnæs. In Narsaq Ilua, you’ll find the Big Rock – an impressive stone split into four large pieces, allowing you to climb through and over it. Sheep and cows from nearby farms graze in the area.

Hike to the Point/Nuugarsuk. You can also walk in the opposite direction out of town. At the edge of Narsaq, there’s a fine view over the town, the old Norse ruins near the factory, and—on clear days—even as far as the Ice Cap. At the Point, you can see remnants of Greenland’s early infrastructure and an old telecommunications station, as well as ancient Inuit graves and a view down the fjord toward Ilua and Strygejernet.

Tasigaaq/Qaqqarsuaq. The two mountains just above Narsaq offer beautiful views. The smaller one is easy to climb, while the larger is steeper—but if you approach it from behind, the ascent is not too difficult. For those who reach the top, the reward is a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area.

Today, we continue our journey by boat to Qaqortoq. Upon arrival, you’ll make your way to Hotel Qaqortoq, beautifully situated on a rocky hillside overlooking the harbor.

Town walk of Qaqortoq (add-on)

Qaqortoq is the largest town in South Greenland, with a population of around 3,000. It serves as the region’s main educational center, home to a school for tourism and guide training.

The town also hosts several businesses, including Great Greenland, which operates a tannery and workshop producing beautiful sealskin clothing.

Qaqortoq is also known for the Stone and Man project – a collection of more than 30 sculptures carved directly into the granite bedrock by various artists. This permanent exhibition makes a walk around town a unique experience. The project was initiated by Qaqortoq’s own Aka Høegh, one of Greenland’s most prominent artists.

If you’re not joining the boat trip to Uunartoq, you might consider taking a walk around Tasersuaq, the large lake located just behind Qaqortoq. It’s a lovely hike and well worth doing.

Alternatively, you can go on a boat trip to one of the most remarkable places in South Greenland.

Boat Trip to Uunartoq (add-on)

Did we remember to tell you to pack your swimsuit for this trip? If not, we’ll do it now. Today you’ll visit Uunartoq, meaning “The Warm Place” in Greenlandic, where you can relax in one of nature’s true wonders.

On the island of Uunartoq, we walk about one kilometer inland from the shore to reach two natural hot pools, also named Uunartoq. Here, 38°C (100°F) warm water rises naturally from the ground. While large icebergs drift past in the fjord beside you, you can sit back and enjoy the view from the warm water.

The heat of the springs does not come from volcanic activity but from geothermal forces deep underground, where friction between rock layers warms the water before it rises to the surface.

The hot springs of Uunartoq have been known for thousands of years. During the Norse period, a Benedictine monastery stood in the fjord where Uunartoq is located. Legend has it that Leif Erikson, before sailing westward from Greenland over a thousand years ago in search of new lands, took a dip in Uunartoq with his companions before heading out to sea.

Today you can spend more time exploring Qaqortoq – a town that has been growing steadily in recent years – or join an optional excursion to the Hvalsey Church Ruins.

Excursion to Hvalsey Church Ruins (add-on)

At the head of the Hvalsey Fjord lie the remains of Hvalsey Church, beautifully situated on a fertile, green hillside. The Norse settlers arrived in Greenland in 982 and established farms and communities throughout South Greenland and as far north as the fjords behind Nuuk.

Christianity came to Greenland around the year 1000 when Leif Erikson – known as Leif the Lucky – brought a priest with him from abroad. Soon after, the Norse began building churches throughout South Greenland.

The Hvalsey Church Ruins are the best-preserved Norse ruins in Greenland and among the finest and best-preserved Norse and Viking ruins in the world. The Norse lived in Greenland for 400 to 500 years and are mentioned in the Icelandic Sagas. A written account of a wedding held at Hvalsey Church in September 1408 is considered the last recorded trace of the Norse in Greenland.

In the evening, you can enjoy dinner at one of Qaqortoq’s pleasant restaurants and take a final stroll – perhaps a last look over the fjord or a short walk through the charming town center.

After an unforgettable week in South Greenland, it is time to begin your journey home as you fly from Qaqortoq to Keflavík. Along the way, you can look back on a week filled with memorable experiences, beautiful scenery and encounters with warm Greenlandic hospitality.

Upon arrival in Keflavík, you say goodbye to your fellow travellers – hopefully taking home plenty of wonderful memories and inspiration for your next journey to Greenland.