Greenland on a Pearl String

We fly from Copenhagen to Nuuk. A 4½-hour flight and a 10-day adventure awaits.

After the practicalities of check-in and unpacking in your room at Hotel Hans Egede Express, the guide will have a welcome meeting. After the meeting, you’ll have time to get to know Nuuk better at your own pace and get ideas for what today and tomorrow can offer.

Nuuk has only 19,500 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, a theater, museums, and exhibitions. Sports are central to many people’s lives, so you can go hiking, skiing, sailing, running, strength training, yoga, and even swimming. You can read more about Nuuk here.

You will go on a city tour on your first day in Nuuk.

City walk in Nuuk

The city tour includes a visit to the Greenland National Museum. Here, you can see artifacts from all periods and civilizations in Greenland. After about 30 minutes at the museum, we continue around the area known as Colonial Harbor. This is where most of the original houses from the 17th and 18th centuries still stand. On the way, we pass Hans Egede’s house, the Mother of the Sea sculpture, and the controversial statue of Hans Egede at the Greenland Cathedral.

We then head to “Kalaaliaraq/Brættet,” the traditional market where locally caught fish, seals, and reindeer are sold fresh. We now head towards the Greenland Government Buildings and then towards the Greenland Cultural Center Katuaq, where our tour ends. You’re now as central as you can be, and there are great shopping opportunities here and many other exciting things to do.

Welcome dinner at the hotel at night (excluding drinks).

There are plenty of things to do in Nuuk, and you can go for walks both in the city and the beautiful terrain surrounding it. If you’ve purchased the excursion package, you’ll go on a boat trip this afternoon.

Boat trip to Qooqqut – catch your dinner (add-on)

At 3:30 PM, we will leave Nuuk on a boat trip to the excellent Qooqqut Nuan’ Restaurant. But this is no ordinary restaurant visit.

We sail through the huge fjord system behind Nuuk, the second-largest fjord system in the world. In the Qooqqut fjord, we stop the engine and fish for your dinner. Today, there will be no complaints about the fish not being fresh!

Qooqqut is located in a wonderful valley in the Qooqqut Fjord. The mountains surrounding the valley are up to 2,000 meters high. One of Nuuk’s most respected chefs stays here in the summer and serves amazing dishes. For dinner, we will eat our own freshly caught fish.

Unusually for this high up in Greenland, trees are beautifully scattered in the area behind the restaurant. Consider taking a little hike for a great photo opportunity while the chef prepares your fish.

After lunch, we hop back on the boat and turn the bow towards Nuuk, where we arrive around 9:00 PM.

Today, we fly to Sisimiut, Greenland’s second-largest city with approximately 5,500 inhabitants. The city is beautifully situated in the middle of a rocky landscape with picturesque wooden houses in bright colors. The flight lasts about an hour and is quite breathtaking. We fly along the coast, which opens up with a magnificent view of the water and the beautiful mountains that surround Sisimiut.

Accommodation and welcome meeting in Sisimiut

After check-in at the beautifully located Hotel Sisimiut, you’ll be welcomed by a knowledgeable local guide who will tell you about the town and the many excursion options.

Cultural and historical city tour in Sisimiut

Then it’s time for a guided cultural and historical tour of Sisimiut. The city tour provides a great insight and overview, as you get to know the city and hear about how it was founded and about life today.

Sisimiut is a very real Greenlandic town where you’ll experience dog sleds stacked up for the summer, dry fish stands, sled dogs licking the sun on the rocks and trendy clothing shops alongside the exciting museum area in the old town.

We pass by the “Kalaaliaraq/Brættet” (the local market) and the town hall and visit the old town where the original 18th-century colonial buildings now house the exciting and authentic museum.

Afterward, there is an optional visit to Sisimiut Fresh Farm.

Visit Sisimiut Fresh Farm (add-on)

Join us for a visit to Sisimiut’s local micro-vegetable farm, which is moving away from traditional farming towards a more sustainable, innovative approach. Not only does this benefit the local economy by reducing dependence on imported food, but it also promotes environmental concerns in a region hit hard by climate change. Finally, seeing how advanced some growth areas have come in the Arctic is fascinating.

Your guided tour begins with an overview of the farm’s technologies. Hydroponic systems, nutrient-rich water, and energy-efficient LED lighting are all part of this controlled agricultural environment. The experienced and trained staff explain how these systems work together to create optimal growing conditions so the farm can produce a steady supply of fresh microgreens throughout the year.

Finally, we come to the tasting, which is undoubtedly the highlight of the visit. This is an unconventional excursion in Greenland that really puts things into perspective.

The day is at your own disposal. Visit one of the town’s art and craft workshops, where local artists produce and sell jewelry and handicrafts made from soapstone, tooth, and bone.

The excursion package includes an exciting activity today.

Boat tour to an abandoned settlement (add-on)

If you’ve purchased the excursion package, you’ll sail to the Assaqutaq settlement and hopefully see whales along the way. The settlement of Assaqutaq is currently used as a summer camp for local schools. During the summer months, it is a popular destination for the residents of Sisimiut, who hunt for seals. On the walk through the settlement, we pass the old fish factory, the summer camp, and the beautiful old church. The sea around the settlement is also a favorite playground for whales (humpback, minke, and fin whales), so hopefully, one of these giants will want to say hello to us.

The evening is at leisure.

Today, you fly to Ilulissat. As you approach the hotel, you can enjoy its location on the edge of town, overlooking the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Ice Fjord.

Today, there are several options to get out to sea.

Kayak Experience in Ilulissat (add-on)

Inuit have been using kayaks in Greenlandic waters for over a thousand years, and you can do the same. The kayak glides silently through the water, and you experience the huge icebergs rising around you. The sun gives the ice a unique play of colors. In cloudy weather, the beautiful blue colors of the icebergs will stand out. With a bit of luck, we’ll also encounter whales. The tours take place in stable double kayaks with a support boat. The excursion lasts 3½-4 hours, and you’ll be on the water for at least two hours.

If you have purchased the excursion, you will go sailing in the evening.

Sailing among icebergs (add-on)

The rays of the midnight sun give the icebergs a unique colorful glow that people return to Ilulissat to experience again and again. Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to try this boat trip between icebergs at least once. More than 40 million tons of ice flows from the Ilulissat Ice Bridge into the Icefjord daily.

The result is enormous icebergs that can reach hundreds of meters each way and extend up to 100 meters above sea level. These giants are stranded at the mouth of the Icefjord, and we have the opportunity to sail among them. Bring warm clothes for the tour or rent a set of sealskin clothes because even in summer, it’s cold out here on the water between the icebergs. This tour takes place in the evening.

Today you can also enjoy the sight of ice – and learn more about its importance to Greenland.

Sermermiut former settlement by the Icefjord and the Icefjord Center

Ilulissat’s beautiful icebergs form the backdrop for the ancient settlement of Sermermiut, one and a half kilometers south of town. For 4,000 years, the various Inuit cultures lived at the settlement, and today, you can still see many remains that testify to their presence. Hear the story of Greenlandic life and customs before the arrival of Europeans, see ruins, and feel the permafrost with your own hands. On the short tour, we turn around at the viewpoint of Nakkaavik, also known as the Old Woman’s Gorge.
In the evening, you can also try kayaking in the homeland of kayaking if you’re so inclined.There is also another option where you might be able to see the whales from high up!

Whale watching (add-on)

It surprises most people how great an experience it is to get up close to animals as large as whales. Once you’ve experienced it, it’s a thrill and an experience you’ll never forget. In Greenlandic waters, you can encounter around 15 whale species.

During the summer months, we usually see humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales. The whales swim all over Disko Bay throughout the summer, sometimes close to the city, sometimes in the Icefjord, or up north at Arveprinsens Ejland.

We use the fast boat type Targa so we can go further afield. We are also in good contact with the fishermen, so we know where to find the whales.

Helicopter tour (add-on)

The Icefjord and Kangia Glacier are the focus of this helicopter tour, flying you into the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can’t get this close to the huge glacier by boat or on foot – and you’ll 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 edge of the glacier. Here we have about half an hour to enjoy the view. We then fly over the glacier front and follow the Icefjord for 70 kilometers on our way back.

Today is one of the highlights of the trip.

Sailing to Eqi Glacier and staying at Glacier Lodge Eqi

A unique experience is a boat trip to the calving Eqi glacier. The glacier flows into the fjord 80 kilometers north of Ilulissat, and by boat, it is possible to get close to the glacier’s edge and watch it calve large chunks of ice from a safe distance. Our ice-safe ship lies about two hours before the glacier, waiting for calving wings. A good lunch is also served here.

The length of the boat trip to and from Eqi Glacier can vary between two and five hours each way, depending on the type of boat used that day.

At around 2 PM, the boat arrives at Port Victor, the “harbor” at Glacier Lodge Eqi. On land, the camp guides will welcome you and show you to your wilderness tents. Coffee and cake will be served, and practical information will be provided.

Wake up to the silence and light of the wilderness – broken only by the distant rumble of the calving glacier. After breakfast in the café, where panoramic windows offer sweeping views of the fjord, the day is yours to enjoy this unique and remote location. From here, you have two very different ways to experience Eqi – and the choice is entirely yours.

Stay at the lodge and embrace the peace

If you’re seeking quiet and presence, you’re welcome to stay in camp and let the landscape speak to you in its own rhythm. Settle in on the terrace and breathe in the fresh air from the fjord. Perhaps you’ll photograph the many shades of blue in the ice, read a good book with the glacier as your backdrop, or simply enjoy a coffee in the café, where the large windows let you follow the glacier’s activity – even from the comfort of indoors.

There is no internet at Glacier Lodge Eqi – and that’s a gift. You’ll quickly notice how your body and mind begin to relax.

Hiking Opportunities at Eqi

During your stay at Glacier Lodge Eqi, the hike to the glacier moraine is included. This walk offers spectacular views of the Eqi Glacier and the area’s magnificent scenery and is suitable for most guests.

The Eqi area also offers a more demanding full-day hike to the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet for guests seeking an additional physical challenge. This activity is operated by World of Greenland and can be booked directly with the operator during your stay.

Local guides will be happy to advise during your stay whether the hike is suitable for your interests and fitness level. The hike to the Ice Sheet is recommended only for guests with excellent physical fitness and solid experience with longer hikes in challenging terrain.

Evening in the wilderness

No matter how you choose to spend the day, we’ll gather again in the café for dinner, where the kitchen serves warm dishes made from local Greenlandic ingredients. You might witness the sun painting the sky gold behind icebergs and mountains – or hear another deep rumble from the glacier, reminding you of just how close to nature you really are.

Hike to the delta

Not too far from Glacier Lodge Eqi is a river. We hike there to enjoy the view of the river delta and Eqi Glacier. Here, we can sit for a while and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.
Your stay at Glacier Lodge Eqi includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Café Victor. In the café it is also possible to buy drinks such as beer, water, wine and various spirits, as well as some sweets.

Then it’s time for your final night at Glacier Lodge Eqi.

Today we hike over to the moraine at Eqi Glacier.

Hike to the moraine of Eqi Glacier

You’ll wake up in the scenic area of the Eqi Glacier, and before heading home this afternoon, you’ll have breakfast and possibly a hike to the moraine.

From Glacier Lodge Eqi we hike around the small lagoon at the southern end of the glacier. There are often large flocks of geese in the lagoon during the breeding season. The hike continues up to the moraine where we can look down into the huge cracks in the glacier just a few meters from us. From here we also get an overview of the front of the glacier and we will see the impressive calving wings.

The boat departs back to Ilulissat at approximately 2:15 PM. The sail home is the same route as up, and coffee, tea, and cake are served along the way. Seals and whales are often seen along the way.

The day ends with a lovely farewell dinner at the hotel (excluding drinks).

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Ilulissat.

By now, you’ve probably discovered that you never quite finish experiencing Greenland. The landscapes are constantly changing, the light is never the same twice, and there’s always another place waiting to be explored.

You’ll fly directly back to Copenhagen with unforgettable memories of a week spent among towering icebergs, whales, and the magnificent landscapes of North Greenland.