Spring feelings in Greenland

8 days in three towns and on the coastal ship

This memorable journey offers you a unique combination of traveling by both domestic flight and coastal vessel along the west coast of Greenland, as well as experiencing the most popular locations and towns in Greenland. A tour guide accompanies with you, and we have selected the best experiences; the Greenland Ice Sheet in Kangerlussuaq, the capital city of Nuuk and, not least, Ilulissat in the Disco Bay area at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the world-famous Ilulissat Ice Fjord.

Greenlandic Spring with Sunny Nights

Traveling in May, you will experience spring in Greenland with temperatures that may not inspire you to wear short-sleeved T-shirts but will feel pleasantly fresh, due to the dry air. The midnight sun rules north of the Polar Circle from mid-May, causing long, sunny nights. A wonderful and unforgettable holiday full of great impressions – and natural attractions aplenty.

We have composed the journey in a way that allows you to explore Greenland by yourself, but the tour guide will be with you all the way, providing information, stories, guided tours, and practical help.

Highlights

  • Walk ON the Greenland Ice Sheet
  • See the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ilulissat Ice Fjord up close
  • Go in search of Arctic wildlife by boat and on foot
  • Experience the capital of Nuuk
  • Sail along the dramatic coastline
  • Enjoy the midnight sun
  • Sail among gigantic icebergs

Included

  • Return flight Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland
  • Flight Kangerlussuaq – Nuuk with Air Greenland
  • Flight Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland
  • Coastal ship Nuuk – Ilulissat with MS Sarfaq Ittuk (Arctic Umiaq Line)
  • Transfers
  • 2 nights in a cabin on the coastal ship (private bath/toilet)
  • 1 night at Hotel Kangerlussuaq (private bath/toilet)
  • 4 nights at Hotel Arctic (private bath/toilet)
  • NOTE: On the May 2 departure, accommodation and farewell dinner in Ilulissat is at Hotel Icefiord and not Hotel Arctic
  • Breakfast
  • Full board on the coastal ship from Saturday morning to Sunday lunch (excl. beverages)
  • Farewell dinner at the hotel (excl. beverages)
  • 1 dinner in Kangerlussuaq (excl. beverages)
  • Food and beverages onboard the Air Greenland flight Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq b/w
  • Guided sightseeing tours in Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat
  • Guided hike to the old settlement Sermermiut by the Icefjord
  • The Ice Fjord Centre
  • Tour leader
  • All flight/transportation taxes and fees known to Greenland Travel at the time of publishing
  • 20 kg of checked baggage and 8 kg of cabin baggage

Not included

  • Meals not listed above
  • Travel Insurance
  • Excursions (we recommend pre-booking our excursion package)

Day program

Ellen Fjellanger Schmidt
Day 1:
Flight Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq and optional excursion to the Ice Sheet

We fly from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland’s Airbus. The first sight of Greenland is truly special, and will set the scene for your holiday. Eight days of excitement await you. In Kangerlussuaq, we check in at the Hotel Kangerlussuaq.

After being welcomed by the tour guide, you get the chance to visit the impressive Ice Sheet.

Excursion to the Ice Sheet, Point 660 (optional)

The Greenland Ice Sheet is the second largest ice sheet in the world and covers 80 percent of Greenland and has, at all times, attracted expeditions and researchers. And with good reason; it is a truly unique experience to look at the enormous field of ice and feel the forces of nature. Along the way, we pass the spectacular Russell Glacier – another breath-taking sight with its vertical ice wall of up to 60 meters.

Keld Ravn
Day 2:
Flight to Nuuk. Sightseeing tour and accommodation on the coastal vessel

After breakfast, we fly from Kangerlussuaq to Nuuk. Then it is time for sightseeing.

The landmark of Nuuk, the Sermitsiaq mountain, gives you an almost majestic welcome and the fantastic fjord system reflects the wild nature, which provides the most incredible setting for the small metropolis. Nuuk’s more than 17,500 inhabitants benefit from more than 100 kilometers of asphalt roads. Although the town is busy, nature is not far away, and most citizens use nature actively all year round.

The Greenland National Museum with its famous mummies and the colonial harbor

During the tour, you will be introduced to the largest attractions, including the Greenland National Museum, the beautiful arts center Katauaq – whose façade is shaped like the northern light – and the equally beautiful old district with the statue of Hans Egede looking across the old colonial harbor, the fjord, and the mountain range in the distance.

Use the rest of the afternoon to explore the town on your own. If you are looking for local arts and crafts, a wide selection can be found in the souvenir shops of the city, selling everything from small, delicate earrings to sealskin fur coats.

Heading north with the coasting vessel, together with the Greenlanders

At night, we go on board the ship Sarfaq Ittuk and ahead lie two days aboard, heading towards Ilulissat. The coastal vessel sails up and down along the west coast and is also used by Greenlanders themselves. As the vessel lands in the coastal towns, there is a wonderful atmosphere of activity and joyful reunion.

During the voyage, the trip and the passing scenery can be taken in from the indoor panoramic lounge located at the back of the vessel or from the many outdoor areas in which you can enjoy the clean air from a deck chair.

Sailing in Greenland can be a chilly affair, but it is incredibly beautiful! Remember warm clothes – as well as your camera and binoculars. The speed is nice and slow, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy the changing scenery.

Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
Day 3:
At sea, stop at Sisimiut with guided town walk

During the morning we will dock in both Maniitsoq and Kangaamiut, and whilst we cannot disembark, it is always exciting to stand and watch life on the harbor and in the village from the deck.

A visit in Greenland’s second largest town, Sisimiut

We will arrive at Sisimiut at around 6:00 PM. Sisimiut is the second largest town in Greenland with slightly more than 5,500 inhabitants. The atmosphere in the welcoming city is warm and intense, oozing of authentic Greenland. The colour palette of the houses provides a stunning contrast to the undulating rocky area.

In Sisimiut, we visit the local museum. Along the way, we walk through the old, lovely district with the original colonial buildings, which also the museum is part of. At the museum, you get an insight into life in the town through the ages.

This is a wonderful break on the sailing trip. We re-embark the coastal vessel and continue northwards.

Day 4:
Arrival at Ilulissat – the town by the Ice Fjord, guided sightseeing tour

As we approach Ilulissat, there is every reason to enjoy the sight of the icebergs. Some are just large-scale lumps of ice while others are towering above you. What a welcome and introduction to the magnificent Disko Bay.

Check in at Hotel Arctic, followed by a sightseeing tour in Ilulissat (on the trip with departure on May 2, accommodation is at Hotel Icefiord)

We check in at Hotel Arctic on the seafront to the phenomenal Ice Fjord, which in 2004 was inducted to the UNESCO World Heritage List. At the following briefing, you can hear more about the town and the many excursions into the interesting area.

Lead by the guide, we tour the town, allowing you to get more familiar with Ilulissat. You will be given an introduction to the history and culture of the place and will pass the museum, the old colonial houses, the beautiful and simple Zion’s Church, and the lively harbor.

Ilulissat means icebergs, which is rather self-explanatory 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.

Day 5:
Ilulissat, hike to the Ice Fjord and optional evening sailing among icebergs

Enjoy Ilulissat on your own. There is a reason why this beautiful town is one of the most visited places in Greenland: The impressive Ice Fjord. The icebergs can be experienced by sea, by land, and from the air.

Hike to the settlement at the Ice Fjord, and walks in the town

Consider joining a hike to Sermermiut, an old settlement right at the mouth of the Ice Fjord where giant icebergs have stranded on an old moraine. We will also visit the beautiful Ice Fjord Centre.

Alternatively, wander about on your own, drink a caffé latte at a cozy café, and find a quiet place where you can enjoy the view.

Sailing among the icebergs (optional)

In the evening, you can take a lovely cruise between the icebergs that – regardless of the weather – are guaranteed to take your breath away. The midnight sun is low on the horizon, and it can be difficult to tell night from day. Reflections from the soft, warm light give the icebergs and mountain tops an orange tinge, and the water becomes almost purple.

Beate Ulich
Day 6:
Explore Ilulissat on your own or with a guide and optional daytrip to Ilimanaq

You can spend the day on your own, or you can go on a daytrip to Ilimanaq if you have purchased the excursion package.

Daytrip to Ilimanaq

Only one generation back, most Greenlanders lived in small settlements, dotted like pearls on a string along the rugged  coastline. Today you will find that most live in towns, though Ilulissat still has four thriving settlements. One of these is Ilimanaq located just south of the Icefjord.

Ilimanaq, which means “The place for expectations” in Danish, was once a traditional hunting community. Today it is a unique mix of tourism, nature, fishing, culture and sustainability. This development is thanks to Ilimanaq’s location south of the Ilulissat Icefjord, and the restorations of the beautiful, old colonial buildings and of course Ilimanaq Lodge being build. Ilimanaq is now a big source of inspiration for the development of Greenlandic settlements, despite its size.

We sail through the Icefjord to Ilimanaq, which is almost 15 kilometres south of Ilulissat. When we get there the guide will take you on a tour of the settlement, with stories of life here both in the present and in the past. The trip is about 5 hours, where 2-3 hours will be in Ilimanaq, before we go back to Ilulissat. while there you will be served coffee and tea.

Day 7:
Explore Ilulissat on your own or with a guide and optional daytrip to Ilimanaq

You can spend the day on your own, or you can go explore on a daytrip to Ilimanaq if you have purchased the excursion package. Find the details in the program for day 6.

At night, you will have a lovely farewell dinner in the hotel’s amazing restaurant (drinks not included)

Day 8:
Return flights Ilulissat-Kangerlussuaq-Copenhagen

Bringing home a wealth of experiences from this amazing land, we fly to Copenhagen via Kangerlussuaq, arriving at Copenhagen Airport 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.

Map

Kangerlussuaq

Nuuk

Sisimiut

Ilulissat

Kangerlussuaq

Hotels on this tour

Excursions (Optional purchases)

Practical information

Flight schedule (local times)

  • Departure from Copenhagen at 10:00 AM
  • Upon return, arrival in Copenhagen at 9:00 PM

Please note that departure times are subject to change by the airline.

Guaranteed departures

  • The tours departing on May 2 and 23, 2024 are guaranteed departures.

Guide language

  • English and Danish-speaking tour leader on the departure on May 2, 2024.
  • English, Danish, and German-speaking tour leader on departure May 23, 2024.

Packing List

Find the packing list for your trip here.

Baggage included

20 kilos of checked baggage and 8 kilos of cabin baggage (max. dimensions of cabin baggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm).

Travelers with reduced mobility and wheelchair users

We do not recommend this tour for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. Greenland Travel’s advice regarding difficulty levels on our excursions is intended for travelers who are not disabled. We are always happy to provide you with information on the suitability of the trip, taking into account the specific needs you may have. Please note that our advice is not based on medical knowledge, and ultimately it is YOUR responsibility to decide if a tour is right for you.

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Spring feelings in Greenland

8 days in three towns and on the coastal ship

Great spring trip with the best highlights: The Ice Sheet in Kangerlussuaq, the capital of Nuuk and the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ilulissat Ice Fjord in Disko Bay. The coastal sailing trip included.

From
per person in double room
May 2 days  | 1 nights Travel id: 9042 Departure from Copenhagen
Optional experiences
Ice SheetIcebergsCulture

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You are always welcome to contact us if you have any questions regarding your trip or if you need advice or guidance.

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You can call us at: +45 3313 1011