Icebergs and Hot Springs

From Copenhagen, we fly to Nuuk – a flight of about 4½ hours. From there, we take a shorter domestic flight to Qaqortoq, the main town in South Greenland. Afterward, we travel by passenger boat to Igaliku, a beautiful settlement located further inland.

The sheep-farming village of Igaliku is stunningly situated at the head of Igaliku Fjord, surrounded by green fields and steep, bare mountains. It’s a place that invites slow exploration and quiet walks. You can stroll along the small paths that wind through the village and admire the simple yet charming buildings. Feel the calm – interrupted only by birdsong and the gentle bleating of sheep.

One of the most impressive sights is the ruins of the Norse bishop’s residence and the small cathedral, scattered among the houses and gardens. It feels like stepping back in time, where the stones tell stories of a society that existed here more than 800 years ago. The distinctive Igaliku sandstone, a reddish multi-colored rock, gives the area its unique historical character. It’s almost impossible to imagine how Norse craftsmen managed to move the massive stone blocks that still stand as witnesses to a distant past.
We check in at Igaliku Village Hotel and can look forward to several days in extraordinary surroundings.

In the evening, you can enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant and a good night’s rest, as a long hike awaits tomorrow. We recommend purchasing the meal package in Igaliku in advance to ensure a table in the restaurant on both evenings of your stay.

Today you can relax – or join a beautiful hike.

The day begins, as usual, with a delicious breakfast at Igaliku Village Hotel, where the fresh air and calm atmosphere are truly tangible. It’s a good idea to recharge your energy, as you have the entire day to explore the settlement and its surroundings on your own.

You may also choose to visit a sheep farm, where locals still practice sheep farming – a livelihood that has been an important part of life in Igaliku for centuries. The settlement is surrounded by lush green fields, protected on one side by dramatic mountain cliffs. This is an excellent opportunity to get a glimpse of daily life in this remote part of Greenland, where the seasons’ rhythms are more pronounced than anywhere else.

If you wish to venture a bit farther, you can join a hike.

Suggestion: Hike to the Igaliku Plateau 

Today, Igaliku and its surroundings offer some of the best hiking opportunities in South Greenland. You can go on a hike to the plateau, where you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view over the Qooroq Icefjord, which we visited yesterday. The perspective from up here is different, and you may spot stranded icebergs resting on the underwater moraine at the fjord’s entrance and the vast glacier at its head.

The hike covers about 17 kilometers, but the scenery is absolutely breathtaking – we highly recommend going on this hike.

After a peaceful and relaxing day in Igaliku or a longer hike to the plateau, it’s time to return to the Village Hotel for dinner. As you look out over the magnificent landscape, with the mountains and fjord in the background, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of wonder at being part of this remote and beautiful corner of the world.

There is something magical about Igaliku – a rare sense of peace in today’s world and a unique feeling of closeness to nature that’s truly special.

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 package, we’ll head down to the harbor and set out toward the so-called Twin Glacier.

Boat Trip to the Twin Glacier (part of the excursion package)

We cross the wide Ikersuaq Fjord, navigating among drifting icebergs until we reach the Twin Glacier, as the locals call it. This is an extraordinary place where you can go ashore and quite literally touch the Greenland Ice Cap.

It’s also one of the few 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 package, 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.
After check-in and an information meeting, it’s time for a guided tour of the town.

Town walk of Qaqortoq

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 (part of the excursion package)

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 (optional 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’s time to head home. You’ll fly from Qaqortoq to Nuuk, where you’ll connect to the transatlantic flight bound for Copenhagen.

Upon arrival in Nuuk, your journey continues directly to Denmark. During the flight, you can reflect on a week filled with experiences, breathtaking scenery, and the warm hospitality of Greenland.

Once in Copenhagen, you’ll say goodbye to your fellow travelers – hopefully taking with you many fond memories and inspiration for your next trip to Greenland.