Icebergs in the Midnight Sun - 8 days

You fly directly from Keflavík International Airport to Ilulissat. You will be picked up at the airport, and go to Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat.

The flight is in itself quite an adventure as you cruise at low altitude over the Inland Ice Cap as you prepare for landing in Ilulissat. A bus will take you to Hotel Arctic.

At Hotel Arctic, we are available in the lobby, where you can ask our guide for advice about the area and available excursions. If you’re interested, you can also book local excursions at the Arctic Excursions booking stand, operated by our subsidiary company.

Cultural, historical guided tour (add-on)

Some people might think: “We can just take a walk around the town on our own.” And yes, you probably could, but with our guided tour, you will gain a deeper understanding of Greenlandic culture and history, which will add an extra layer to all your other experiences in Greenland.

Ilulissat was founded in 1741 and, today, it is the third-largest town in Greenland with more than 4,500 inhabitants. The guide will tell you about the history of the town, Greenlandic culture, and contemporary life in a town almost 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. We will visit the fishermen at the harbor and the hunters at their trading post, “Brættet.” We will also show you the church and the birthplace of the famous Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen.

To round off the day, you will have a lovely welcome dinner in the hotel’s amazing restaurant (excl. drinks).

You can have the day on your own, or you can go on one or more excursions.

You have the opportunity to try kayaking in the country that invented the kayak.

Oqaatsut and Kayak Tour (add-on)

Join us on an exciting excursion to the small settlement of Oqaatsut, where we combine sailing among icebergs, a kayaking adventure in stunning surroundings, and a delightful lunch at the historic Restaurant H8.

The tour begins in Ilulissat, where you will meet our experienced kayaking instructor. You will receive a thorough safety briefing and an introduction to the equipment. Dressed in high-quality drysuits, we are ready to paddle safely and comfortably.

From here, we set off by boat towards Oqaatsut. Along the way, we pass the magnificent icebergs of Disko Bay drifting gracefully along the coast – an unforgettable experience in itself.

Once in Oqaatsut, we receive the final instructions on land before launching the kayaks into the water. We paddle out in double kayaks across the beautiful bay where the village lies, surrounded by mountains and icebergs. Along the way, we can enjoy the peace, the natural surroundings, the views, and a sandwich brought along for lunch.

After the tour, we return to Oqaatsut and change back into our regular clothes. Following a guided village walk, we take our seats at Restaurant H8 Explorer, where we enjoy a two-course dinner prepared with local ingredients in charming, historic surroundings. Afterward, we return by boat to Ilulissat, filled with impressions from a day where sea, ice, and culture came together in perfect harmony.

This tour is not recommended if you have severe neck or back problems, and participants must be at least 12 years old.

Later, it is time to get ready for the next optional excursion. The midnight sun makes the days very long, and you will feel full of energy to explore and take advantage of the entire day.

Sunny nights can be experienced north of the Arctic Circle where the sun during summer never sets behind the horizon. In Ilulissat, the midnight sun is present from May 22 to July 24, but throughout August there will also be very light nights.

Sailing among the icebergs (add-on)

Almost every visitor in Ilulissat chooses to try this boat trip among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million tonnes of ice flow out into the fjord. The floating icebergs are gigantic, sometimes wider than 100 meters and with a height up to 100 meters above the water surface as well.

These giants pile up 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 a wonderful sight in every kind of weather; when the sun is out, the contrasts are very clear, whereas the blue shades are strikingly 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. Remember to bring warm clothes.

Today, a great option is the excursion below.

Boat Trip with Lunch at Restaurant H8 in the Settlement of Oqaatsut (Optional Excursion)

Join us on a day trip to the peaceful and unspoiled settlement of Oqaatsut, beautifully situated about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Ilulissat.

To get there, we sail from Ilulissat on a scenic 30-minute boat ride among the enormous icebergs that have drifted from the Ilulissat Icefjord. Although the Icefjord is located south of Ilulissat, many of its icebergs continue drifting north, creating a spectacular landscape along the way.

Upon arrival in Oqaatsut, your guide will introduce you to the settlement. You’ll visit the church, the school, and the small fish processing plant while learning about everyday life in a remote Greenlandic community. You’ll also hear the story of Oqaatsut’s past as a Dutch whaling settlement—hence its other name, Rodebay.

The guided walk ends at Restaurant H8 Explorer, where you’ll enjoy a lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients. After lunch, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the surrounding landscape on foot. Or, if you prefer, relax and enjoy the silence and the unforgettable Arctic scenery before the boat returns to Ilulissat.

Hike to the Ice Fjord and the abandoned settlement of Sermermiut (add-on)

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 remains, which indicate their former presence.

Hear the story about the life of the Inuit and their traditions before the Europeans came to Greenland. Visitors often ask if they can walk these treks themselves? The answer is yes. But it is our experience that most people prefer having a guide with them on their first hike in Greenlandic nature.

Furthermore, historic places will be pointed out on the way, and these can be difficult to find on your own.  You will have a coffee or tea break at “Kællingekløften” with a beautiful view of the Ice Fjord before you head back.

You can also experience a helicopter flight.

Ilulissat Icefjord and Glacier Seen From Above with Helicopter (add-on)

Ilulissat Ice Fjord and the Kangia Glacier are in focus on a 1½ hours helicopter ride that takes you right into the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No boat or hiking trail can get this close to the huge glacier – and you will see it all from above!

The helicopter takes off from Ilulissat Airport and flies as low as safety and laws allow over mountains, lakes, rivers, and the Icefjord until we reach a mountain at the ice sheet’s edge. Here we have about half an hour to enjoy the view. Then, we fly over the glacier front and follow the Icefjord for 70 kilometers on our way back.

Full-day trip to the calving Eqi Glacier (add-on)

Eqi Glacier runs 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 chunks of ice crashing into the water is astonishing.

We sail in modern, comfortable boats during the excursion to 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.

Lunchtime and watch the ice calve

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 2 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 through the ice-filled waters.

Remember to bring warm clothes.

Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Stroll through the colorful streets of Ilulissat, browse the local souvenir shops, or relax at a café while watching fishing boats and icebergs drift by. You could also go for a service at the church if there are seats available.

If you feel like stretching your legs, there are several beautiful hiking trails just outside town, offering spectacular views of the Icefjord. Or simply find a quiet spot and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this vibrant Arctic town under the endless summer daylight.

Whale Safari (optional add-on)

It is a great experience to get close to large animals like whales. There are 15 species of whale in Greenland. During the summer it is normally the humpback, the common minke whale and the fin whale, we see. The whales swim the entire Disko Bay during the summer; sometimes close to the town, sometimes in the ice fjord or up north by the island, Arveprinsens Ejland.

We are in constant radio contact with the fishermen and the hunters about the whales and their whereabouts. The humpback, with its characteristic fin, is the one we see most often.

After breakfast, it’s time to return to Iceland. Having spent some memorable days in this Arctic paradise, it is time for you to fly back to Keflavík International Airport. We guarantee that you will go home 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.

You will get a last impression of the huge icebergs in the Ilulissat Ice Fjord with a stunning view from the air above the entire area as you take off in the direction of Iceland.