From Reykjavik Domestic Airport we fly with Air Iceland to Narsarsuaq, which is beautifully situated in South Greenland’s oasis of rough mountains, green and verdant plains, icy fjords, glaciers, Viking ruins, and a highly developed agricultural community.

We stay at Hotel Narsarsuaq, which is located on the doorstep of the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage area and with the immense nature right outside your window . After check-in and dinner, those who up for a good walk can go along on a hiking trip towards Signal Hill. There is a breath-taking view of the airport area, Brattahlid, and the Ice Sheet. For those who don’t want to go all the way to the top, the view is still beautiful.

At night, you will have a lovely welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant (drinks not included).

Today we go on some great excursions.

Qassiarsuk/Brattahlid

In the morning, we transfer by boat into the area of Kujataa to Qassiarsuk located at the bottom of Tunulliarfik, at the exact place where Erik the Red settled when he discovered this green land in 985. We will visit the restored ruins of Erik the Red’s settlement, Brattahlid, and see reconstructions of his longhouse and his wife Thorhildur’s church. Both reconstructions were built in 2000 to mark the 1000th anniversary of Leif Eriksson’s discovery of America and the introduction of Christianity in Greenland. At the same time, they also built a reconstruction of a traditional Inuit peat house.

Thorhildur’s Church was the first Christian church on the American continents. You can see the horseshoe-shaped outline of the original church as well as the reconstruction of it.

On the guided tour, you get a great insight into life in South Greenland 1,000 years ago. There will be plenty of time to experience Qassiarsuk. We suggest that you enjoy your lunch in the small Café Brattahlid (not included).

Igaliku/Gardar

We continue by boat into the beautiful Qooroq Fjord to the landing site Itilleq from where we will walk on a gravel road for one hour to Igaliku, the old King’s Road (after Danish King Frederik IX’s visit in 1952). Igaliku is a beautiful sheep farming settlement at the head of the Igaliku Fjord, surrounded by a lush, green landscape and steep, barren hills in the background. Here, the Norsemen established their Gardar bishopric.

The remnants of the small cathedral are now visible between the colorful houses and vegetable gardens. Today, approximately forty people live in Igaliku, primarily working as sheep farmers . We will spend two nights in the quaint country hotel with a perfect view of the azure fjord.

The wonderful area invites us to take a guided hiking trip north of Igaliku to a fantastic vantage point with a view of the Qooroq glacier and the Greenland Ice Sheet in the background. The Qooroq glacier produces no less than 200,000 tons of ice every 24 hours! On the way, we pass a small lake where there are excellent opportunities to find moonstones. Other hiking routes are also possible – for example to the roaring waterfalls or Nuluk hill.

Like Qassiarsuk which we visited yesterday, Igaliku is a part of the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site . This is due to the many Norse ruins in the area, but also because, in the last century, the farmers have created a unique agricultural area in the Arctic.

Today, we sail to Qaqortoq, a wonderful trip through fantastic scenery with icebergs, cliffs and maybe a chance to spot sea eagles and seals. We make a stop at Hvalsey, which is yet another relic from Greenland’s past. The ruins of a Norse church and a vicarage with a hall are visible today. In addition to being the best-preserved Norse ruin, Hvalsey is also the last known testimony to the lives of the Norse in Greenland. In 1408, there was a wedding in the church, and this is the last written testimony of the Norse presence in Greenland. At that time, the climate had begun to get colder in the area, so more and more Norse people emigrated from the country, and their presence quietly died out.

Qaqortoq

We arrive at Qaqortoq early in the afternoon, and you will be staying at Hotel Qaqortoq. From the hotel, there is a nice view of the harbor, and inside the hotel, you can study fine pieces of artwork made by local artists.

After check-in at the hotel, we will take a walk around town. The picturesque town is located between the Qaqortoq Fjord and the great lake Tasersuaq. The town is characterized by colorful houses, gardens with flowers and herbs, a fountain from the 1930s and the modern stone sculpture project Stone and Man carved directly into the cliffs.

Today it is time to experience Qaqortoq on your own, and there is plenty to see and do. At the tourist office, you can get a map of the Stone and Man sculptures scattered around town. Take a walk over the river and visit the open fish and meat market and the charming museum, which is also the oldest house in town, built in 1804.

In the late afternoon, we board the coastal ship Sarfaq Ittuk. You can now relax, enjoy the view of the coastline from a vantage point, looking for whales and seals. Along the way, we get an impression of life along the west coast of Greenland at a pleasant, leisurely pace.

Our evening meal is served on board the ship.

The coastline varies with desolate areas, rocky landscapes, icebergs of different sizes and colors with the beautiful reflections of the sunlight. There will be time to sit back and enjoy the view, a good book or maybe strike up a good conversation with some of the locals who also sail along the coast with the ship.

We arrive into Nuuk in the early morning at approximately 7:30 AM and transfer directly  to the 4-star Hotel Hans Egede. It has great views of the surrounding mountains. You will have breakfast at the hotel, and then it’s time to explore our Arctic capital.

Sightseeing tour with the Greenland National Museum and the old colonial harbor

On the tour, you will be introduced to the major attractions such as the Greenland National Museum, which houses an outstanding ethnographic collection from all Inuit cultures and the world-famous mummies from Qilakitsoq. We visit the architectural highlight; Katuaq  Culture House with a facade shaped like the northern lights. We also walk through the charming old town with the statue of Hans Egede, which overlooks the old colonial harbor, the fjord, and the mountains in the background. We will also pass the local fish and meat market.

You can spend the afternoon on your own. If you are looking for Greenlandic handicrafts, there is a great selection in the city’s souvenir shops, ranging from delicate earrings to seal fur coats.

The hotel sits in the heart of Nuuk, and you have the opportunity to explore the nearby area on your own. Streetlights, buses, and lots of cars give off an immediate impression of a busy city, but the amazing scenery and endless horizon automatically put the bustling city life into perspective.

Like all other towns in Greenland, you live near nature, but with lots of imprints of modern life. With its approximately 17,500 inhabitants, Nuuk is a big city in comparison with other Greenlandic towns. Many new homes are built every year, and the commercial scene is vibrant.

Finally, Nuuk also boasts an excellent art museum, where the permanent exhibition contains many paintings by the famous Greenland painter Emanuel A. Petersen (1894-1948).

Boat trip to Qooqqut – catch your lunch (optional)

At 3:30 PM, we depart from Nuuk on a boat trip to the lovely Qooqqut Nuan’ Restaurant. However, this is no ordinary restaurant visit.

We sail through the vast fjord system behind Nuuk, which is the second largest fjord system in the world. In the Qooqqut Fjord, we stop the engine and try to catch our lunch. Today, there will be no complaints that the fish is not fresh!

Qooqqut lies 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 moves here in the summer and serves the most amazing dishes. For lunch, we get to eat our own freshly caught fish.

As something rather unique in Greenland, trees are scattered beautifully in the area behind the restaurant. Consider taking a small hike for a good photo opportunity while the chef is at work with your fish.

After lunch, we go back to the boat and return to Nuuk, where we arrive around 9:00 PM.

The trip to Qooqqut has to be booked before going to Greenland.

We fly from Nuuk to Ilulissat where we will be staying at Hotel Arctic which offers a delightful view of the fjord.

Ilulissat is the Greenlandic word for icebergs and is Greenland’s third largest town. Approximately 4,500 inhabitants and about 2,500 sled dogs are fortunate enough to live in this amazing town at the mouth of the 45 kilometer-long, and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Ice Fjord. Ilulissat’s location almost 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle means that the midnight sun rules until mid-July. It never gets completely dark – everything is shrouded in an orange, almost magical hue.

Town walk

In the afternoon, we go on a guided tour where the guide will introduce you to modern life in contrast to the traditional hunting life that is still thriving in the town.

Sermermiut

Today’s program also offers a hike to the former Sermermiut settlement located beautifully at the mouth of the Ice Fjord. Due to its excellent fishing conditions, this has been the preferred settlement in the area for several thousand years. The last residents did not move from Sermermiut to Ilulissat until the 1850s when Ilulissat had already existed for more than 100 years. It is a beautiful walk along the fjord with a view of icebergs of all shapes and sizes.

This day is at your disposal. A whale safari among icebergs is one of many optional excursions on offer.

Whale Safari – surrounded by icebergs in the Disco Bay (optional)

It is a great experience to get close to large animals like whales. There are 15 species of whales in the waters around Greenland. During the summer, we usually see humpback, common minke whale, and fin whale. The whales swim in the entire Disko Bay during summer – sometimes close to town, sometimes in the Ice Fjord or up north by the island called Arveprinsens Ejland. We are in constant radio contact with fishers and hunters, who are our source of information about the whales and their whereabouts. The humpback whale, with its characteristic fin, is the most commonly sighted whale on these safaris.

You depart in the morning from Ilulissat by boat towards Ilimanaq, which is located 15 kilometers south of Ilulissat.

In summer, the area is home to a great number of humpback whales, and we will keep an eye out for them. When a boat passes a school of whales, it is called having “contact.” The skipper will often slow down when there is “contact” giving you time to enjoy the sight without stressing the whales.

Ilimanaq Lodge – room with a view of whales and icebergs

Ilimanaq is one of Greenland’s smallest villages. The contrast to Ilulissat is evident as the few, scattered houses appear as we approach. From the boat, we can also see the recently built Ilimanaq Lodges, which are situated on the rocks of the coast. It consists of 15 smaller lodges, all overlooking the Disko Bay. Each lodge is approximately 40 square meters, and includes shower, toilet and modern furniture with a rustic, Nordic look. Moreover, each lodge is equipped with a terrace where you can enjoy stunning views to the sound of waves washing against the rocks.

The lodges opened in the summer of 2017. The two listed buildings in town – the manager’s house and the former grocery store – have also been restored and now function as reception and restaurant to the lodges as well as doubling as a museum and conference venue.

You will be staying in a private lodge. If you are traveling alone, you will get your own lodge, and if you are travelling with someone, you will share a lodge.

When you have checked in, we recommend that you enjoy the splendid views from the terrace.

Ilimanaq means expectation – Tour of Ilimanaq

Ilimanaq is Greenlandic for “expectation” or “likelihood.” And you can expect some unique experiences during your stay in Ilimanaq.

The village’s former Danish name is Claushavn, named after the Dutch whaling skipper Klaes Pietersz Thorp, who worked in the whaling industry here 1719-1732. Back then, the area was the most densely populated in Greenland, and small settlements were spread along the coasts.

Today, Ilimanaq is one of the smallest settlements in Greenland with approximately 50 residents. The many village houses in bright colors, sled dogs, dogsleds, and skin kayaks reveal that life is still lived here according to old traditions passed down through generations.

Ilimanaq is home to some of the oldest colonial buildings from the 18th century. As well as the church, which is from 1908. You will also find a fishing cabin, former coal storage, warehouses, and a former train-oil factory.

During the morning tour of the village, you will get an insight into the settlement history and the many interesting buildings and their historical function. You will also get a sense of how everyday life works in a small settlement in Greenland.

Hike to the Ilulissat Ice Fjord and the old burial site

If you are traveling with a tour guide, the guide will take you on this hike. If you are travelling on your own, you will go with a local guide. We will have lunch after the settlement tour and pack the backpack before putting on our hiking shoes.

Northern Houses (Nordre Huse) is located about six kilometers from Ilimanaq and is the destination for today’s hike. The excursion begins with a spectacular view from one of the hilltops north of the village. You can look across the Disko Bay and see the large icebergs in Ilulissat Ice Fjord.

Along the way, we look for traces after early immigration, the so-called Thule culture, and we get close to one of the many hidden burial sites. After this, we will get another glimpse of the large icebergs in Ilulissat Ice Fjord from another hilltop. In clear weather, you can see the edge of the Ice Sheet 65 kilometers away.

From here, the edge of the Ice Sheet resembles a wall of ice, unlike in Kangerlussuaq at Point 660 where the ice is flatter and spills out across the landscape.

At this point, the gigantic icebergs lie right in front of you. Silence is only broken by the sound of icebergs that calve and move.

Today, you will wake up to a view of icebergs. Enjoy it from your bed or take a seat in the living room sofa and watch the small fishing boats sail by. Step out onto the terrace and breathe in the crisp morning air, feel the heat from the sun and perhaps spot a whale.

After breakfast in the restaurant, you can choose to join the full-day excursion to the secret fjord, including a glacier hike. This excursion is not included in the price of the tour and needs to be purchased separately.

Excursion to the secret Tasiusaq Fjord (optional)

ATV, fjord sailing and glacier hike

On this full-day tour, you will visit the glacier at the top of the Tasiusaq Fjord. Using off-road vehicles and a boat trip up the fjord, you will experience the spectacular nature of the area up to the Sarqardliup Glacier – part of Greenland’s enormous inland ice sheet. An action-packed multifaceted tour, in which you, for a whole day, will experience the many sides of Greenland’s environment. We will bring a pre-packed lunch and snacks.

Today, we will sail northwards from Ilimanaq to the calving Eqi Glacier. Look out for seals and whales. As we reach Eqi, the boat sails close to the impressive glacier front, where you may be lucky enough to witness small calvings.

Glacier Lodge Eqi

Afterwards, we go ashore at Glacier Lodge Eqi, located in the middle of the Arctic wilderness with beautiful direct views of the glacier. We will spend the next two nights in small cozy one-room wooden cabins for one or two persons.

The standard cabins have no running water or sewerage facilities. This is part of the concept! The cabins are equipped with a gas stove for heating and candles as a light source. All meals are served in Café Victor.

If you wish you can upgrade to Comfort cabins, which have private facilities and electricity – ask when you book your holiday!

Your guide organizes hiking trips in the area, including trips to the lagoon and the moraine, which offers a spectacular view of the Eqi Glacier. The area provides numerous hiking opportunities, and it is up to you whether to join a hiking trip or perhaps relax amid the harsh and desolate, yet beautiful landscape – perhaps out on the cabin’s terrace.

The morning is free at leisure. At noon, we will sail back to Ilulissat with arrival late in the afternoon. Enjoy the passing scenery while looking out for whales. Fin whales and humpback whales, among other species are often spotted in this area. In Ilulissat, Hotel Arctic welcomes you once again.

Sailing on the Ice Fjord (optional)

Our local excursion office, World of Greenland, located in the heart of Ilulissat, offers a wide range of excursions. A boat trip on the fjord during the day or in the evening under the midnight sun is a wonderful experience. Ilulissat Ice Fjord is the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere and seeing it from a boat is the perfect way to get a true impression of the size of these giants of ice. It is often also possible to book a helicopter ride to the glacier – a breathtaking experience. Or maybe you wish to visit one of the nearby settlements on a boat trip, which offers unique insight into everyday life in small, isolated communities? Our guide can help you organise the activities you want to do.

Today you have a day in Ilulissat at your disposal. You can plan excursions and activities of your choice.

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

It is time to say goodbye to Greenland. We fly from Ilulissat back to Reykjavik Domestic Airport in Iceland.