Sailing among Northern Lights

We fly from Copenhagen to Nuuk. Ahead of us is a 4,5-hour flight and an 8-day adventure.

After you check in and unpack in your room at Hotel SØMA, the guide will hold an welcome meeting. After the meeting, it’s time to get to know Nuuk at your own pace and get ideas for what to do today.

Nuuk has only 20,000 inhabitants, but you’ll experience a vibrant “big city” as it is a government city with many cultural and educational institutions. Nuuk is growing constantly and is now about 10 kilometers from end to end. You’ll find concerts, theater, museums, and exhibitions. Sports are central to many, so you can go hiking, skiing, sailing, running, strength training, yoga, and even swimming.

You can read more about Nuuk here.

If you’ve purchased the excursion package, there’s also a boat trip on Nuuk Fjord.

Northern Lights by Boat (included in the package)

Seeing the northern lights from the water offers a completely different and unforgettable experience. It’s a natural phenomenon that fascinates us who live in the Arctic.
We depart from Nuuk and head toward Akia, known as the “North Land.” From here, we have a beautiful view of Nuuk’s skyline without any light pollution. We continue into the fjord, where only the boat provides artificial light.

Several times during the tour, we stop, turn off the engine, and enjoy the silence and the starry sky.

As with all natural phenomena, the aurora cannot be guaranteed. We seize the opportunity whenever the skies are clear and dark enough.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will explore the city.

City tour of Nuuk, Greenland National Museum

Nuuk has about 20,000 inhabitants, which is significantly more than just two decades ago. Entirely new neighborhoods have been added since the year 2000. Although Nuuk is a busy place in a Greenlandic context, nature is never far away. We go on a city tour in Nuuk’s old center, and the first stop is the National Museum.

Greenland’s National Museum houses many relics, but the most amazing are without comparison the famous mummies from Qilakitsoq. They were found in North Greenland outside the town of Uummannaq by two brothers who were out hunting. They found eight freeze-dried and unusually well-preserved mummies under a rocky outcrop. Four of the mummies are now at home at the National Museum and provide a fascinating insight into the ancient Inuit culture in Greenland.

We continue our round trip of the old town. We visit the statue of Hans Egede, overlooking the old colonial harbor, the fjord and the islands that separate Nuuk from the Davis Strait. Then we move on to the beautiful building of Katuaq, the Cultural Center of Greenland, whose facade is shaped like the northern lights.

Experience Nuuk on your own. Shopping and culture

The rest of the afternoon, you are on your own to explore Nuuk. There are cafés and restaurants and many shopping opportunities. You’ll find a great selection of shops offering Greenlandic handicrafts and Greenlandic design. Nuuk is the best place to look for original Greenlandic design since the selection here is greater than in the other towns in Greenland. However, you can also find unique and beautiful things in Ilulissat.

Departure by the coastal ship Sarfaq Ittuk and sailing northward

When the day draws to an end, we board the ship Sarfaq Ittuk. Departure is at 9 PM. Ahead of us are two days aboard the ship bound for Ilulissat. The coastal ship sails up and down the west coast and is very popular among the Greenlanders. When the ship docks in coastal towns, you will experience happy reunions when the locals pick up their long-awaited friends and family.

The northern lights on the starboard

We head out in the evening and, if it is a cloudless night, there is a good chance to see the northern lights from the deck. There is something special about Greenlandic nature. It’s rough and rugged, but also beautiful, and you will quickly feel like you are a part of it.

If it is too cold on the deck, you can also see the northern lights from the panoramic lounge. However, we can already reveal that it is not the same to see the northern lights from the inside. This time of the year, it is cold to be outside on a ship, but it’s also incredibly beautiful. Pack your warm clothes!

In the morning, we dock in Maniitsoq for 30 minutes and then we  continue with the ship further up the coast of Greenland.

Ashore in Greenland’s second largest town, Sisimiut

We now go on a guided town walk of Sisimiut. Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town has just over 5,500 inhabitants. There is a cozy atmosphere and an authenticity that is particular to Sisimiut. The town is surrounded by steep mountains, and the view is beautiful.

At this point, we have crossed into the Arctic Circle, and we are in ‘Dogsled Country’. This means you will hear a lot of howling dogs. It’s exciting, intense, and a bit like travelling back in time when we all relied on animals to transport us around.

We do not have not a lot of time in Sisimiut, but enough time to get an idea of the town in the hilly landscape. We will continue our journey north at 9 PM.

Aboard Sarfaq Ittuk, our journey north continues. Tonight, once again, we go on deck and gaze at the sky, hoping that the weather gods are with us and gives us lots of life-affirming northern lights. The name of our tour comes from this part of the journey; as we sail north along the west coast of Greenland, we hope to see lots of northern lights along the way.

As Sarfaq Ittuk approaches Ilulissat, there will be many more icebergs in the water. Very large icebergs. They are significantly larger in the Disko Bay, and in the coming days, icebergs are at the core of our activities. Along with northern lights, of course.

Accommodation at Hotel SØMA Ilulissat

Upon arrival in Ilulissat, we are picked up by bus and driven to Hotel SØMA. Hotel SØMA lies on the outskirts of Ilulissat with a view of the Ilulissat Ice Fjord. The Ice Fjord was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2004.

Today, Hotel SØMA is becoming a part of Ilulissat town. However, this has not always been the case. Until recently, it was located outside town, but as Ilulissat is one of Greenland’s four growth centers, the town has expanded and now includes the 4-star hotel. The other growth centers in Greenland are Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Qaqortoq.

Once you’ve got your room, we will have an information meeting to learn more about the town and the many excursions that are available in this exciting area. If you have purchased the excursion package, you have five excursions to look forward to. If you have not purchased the excursion package, there are still two exciting excursions included in the trip, and you can always go exploring on your own.

Cultural town walk 

After the information meeting with the tour guide, we go on a town walk where you get the opportunity to get to know Ilulissat. The tour guide gives you an introduction to the history and culture of the area. We also pass by the town’s museum which is housed in the world-famous polar explorer Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace. We see the old colonial houses, the almost 250 years old Zion Church and the city’s iconic and vibrant harbor.

Restaurants in Ilulissat

There are many restaurants in Ilulissat and, at nearby Hotel Arctic, there are two really good ones. They both come with excellent views of the ice fjord, and the food is of international standard, prepared with tasty Greenlandic ingredients. You’ll also find several restaurants in town.

In the evening, we recommend that you go out on the hotel’s terrace and look at the northern lights. You may use the hotel’s back door and walk down to the five aluminum igloos next to the hotel. They are situated on a small hill right above the water’s edge so, while watching the northern lights above you, you can also hear the waves below you, creating the perfect soundscape!

Ilulissat on your own

Today, you have the opportunity to see more of the town on your own. There are some crafts shops and also a workshop where the artists are busy with their artwork. You can also take a break at a café before you find a place to have dinner.

Boat tour to Ilulissat Ice Fjord (optional)

Sailing among the icebergs at the mouth of Ilulissat Icefjord is easily the most popular excursion in Greenland. On this excursion, we sail in a small boat towards the fjord where huge and beautiful masses of ice are stuck on a sandbar. They are stranded until they are melted enough and can move on or if a big wave will lift them and push them out of the fjord.

The boatmen know the area and are always sailing responsibly. They know the ice and know where the most impressive icebergs are found. At this time of year, the sun sits low in the sky so there will be some fine shading on the ice. Remember to bring your camera.

Today, you have the opportunity to explore Ilulissat on your own or join one or two excursions.

Hike to Sermermiut

Afterward, your tour leader will take you on a hike to Sermermiut – the site of an ancient settlement located right at the edge of the Icefjord. From here, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the massive icebergs that drift majestically at the mouth of the fjord.

Meet the sled dogs (part of the excursion package)

Today, we will visit the sled dogs and learn about their life here in Northern Greenland. Once again, we head toward the outskirts of town, where the dog yards are located. Here, you will attend an engaging presentation about the life of a sled dog – a very relevant topic in Ilulissat, where around 2,500 dogs are waiting for winter to arrive so they can head out on the sled trails.

The Greenlandic sled dog is known for its incredible strength and determination. These dogs are capable of pulling heavy sleds over long distances and live outdoors year-round in the harsh Arctic climate. The Greenland dog is an important part of Greenlandic culture.

On your last day in Ilulissat, you can enjoy the town and its surroundings. If you have purchased the excursion package, you will go on an excursion to the beautifully situated settlement Oqaatsut north of Ilulissat.

Discover the charm of Ilimanaq – a peaceful village by the Icefjord (additional excursion)

Join us for an unforgettable day trip to the picturesque settlement of Ilimanaq – a true gem on the southern side of the world-famous Icefjord. The tour begins with a scenic boat trip across the mouth of the Icefjord. Along the way, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of towering icebergs drifting silently through the Arctic waters.

Upon arrival in Ilimanaq, your guide will take you on a leisurely walk through the village, sharing stories about life in a remote Greenlandic settlement and Ilimanaq’s fascinating history – from pre-colonial times to the present day.

We’ll visit a local family who warmly welcomes us into their home, where we’ll enjoy a light lunch and a hot cup of coffee or tea – a moment of true Greenlandic hospitality. Finally, we board the boat once more and sail past the stunning Icefjord landscape on our return to Ilulissat.

At night, you will have a lovely farewell dinner at the nearby Hotel Arctic (drinks not included).

After dinner, and for one last time, we put on our warm outdoor clothes on and go out in the area outside the hotel to watch for the northern lights. Hopefully, the lights have been our lovely companions in the past week, and now it’s time to say goodbye. We whistle towards the sky, thus (according to tradition) encouraging the northern lights to flutter a little extra. It usually does.

With your minds filled with experiences from the land of the fantastic northern lights, we fly via Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen, where we arrive in the evening. We can guarantee you that you go home with your heart filled with memories that will stay with you longer than other holiday memories. At least, that’s what our other guests usually tell us afterward.

On the flight from Ilulissat to Nuuk, you will see Ilulissat Ice Fjord from above, and you can see parts of the route that you sailed earlier this week.