In Copenhagen, we board Air Greenland’s airplane Norsaq, flying us to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, a journey of 4½ hours. After landing, we transfer to a smaller plane taking us to Ilulissat. Along the way, you can look down on Greenland’s beautiful coastline, and we also fly over the world-famous Ilulissat Ice Fjord just before reaching the airport in Ilulissat.

You will be picked up by Hotel Arctic’s bus and driven to the cozy hotel, located on the waterfront in llulissat town. Our guide gives an information meeting, and you will hear about the town, the surrounding area, and the excursion opportunities. Note that there may be changes to the days each excursion is operated as daylight is limited as is the availability of tour boats.

After the information meeting, it is time for a guided town walk for all visitors.

Guided sightseeing

Ilulissat is Greenland’s third largest town and is considered one of the four main cities in Greenland, together with Nuuk, Qaqortoq, and Sisimiut. People have lived in the Ilulissat area for 4,500 years, but the town itself was only founded in 1741. You will see many buildings from colonial times.

Look forward to an exciting town walk where you will get lots of information which will be handy in the coming days. Enjoy the twilight in the town; at this time of the year, there is no sun in Ilulissat. The sun does not rise until January 13, but do not worry: You will experience still have a dusk-like light in the daytime because of the glare of the snow from the stars and street lights.

Knud Rasmussen, the world-famous polar explorer, grew up in the building, which is now the Museum of Cultural History in Ilulissat and you should make time to pay a visit.

In the evening, since Greenland is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, there are probably some who would like to go to bed early. Others can enjoy a small walk in the streets of Ilulissat and count the orange Christmas stars. If your count is under 100, you didn’t walk far enough for almost all houses, and apartments have a star in the window.

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

There is plenty to do on your own in Ilulissat so today, you can immerse yourself in these experiences.

Hiking to the Former Inuit Settlement of Sermermiut at the Ice Fjord

Today you are going to the former settlement of Sermermiut, which has been inhabited for millennia because of its great location on the Ice Fjord. Even though the view is astonishing, this was not the reason why the Inuit settled here. There are excellent hunting opportunities in the area as the lce Fjord still provides food for both fish and seals, which in turn has created the basis for human dwellings.

It is December in Greenland, so on this trip, it is likely that there will be snow everywhere. We drive from the World of Greenland office to the outskirts of the town. From here, we now have to walk towards the Ice Fjord. This walk is approximately one kilometer, along a path likely to be covered in snow. Since it is winter, you cannot see the remains of the settlement, as it is also covered by snow, but the guide will tell you about life in a Greenlandic settlement in the old days. On this hike, you also get a fantastic view of the Ice Fjord.

If you bought the excursion package, you are also going sailing today. Let it be a wonderful Christmas gift to yourself!

Sailing on the lce Fjord (optional)

This may very well be one of the highlights of your life! A boat trip to the Ice Fjord is unforgettable. You will sail among the huge icebergs stranded here at the mouth of the fjord. Here, the huge icebergs have created an underwater sandbank where the largest icebergs get stuck. When the pressure becomes too high from ice in the fjord or because of melting, the larger icebergs can finally get unstuck and proceed into the Disco Bay.

We recommended that you bring sea sickness tablets if you already know that you are at risk of getting seasick.

Making Christmas Ornaments

Before dinner, we will have fun, making traditional Christmas ornaments. Of course, it’s not mandatory to participate in this, but it is a great way to get to know your travel companions and also get into the Christmas spirit, even if your ornaments may look a bit dishevelled!

Christmas closing hours and alcohol

Greenland has a very restrictive alcohol legislation, which means that alcohol must not be served in public places on December 25. Also, most cafes, restaurants, and bars are closed during the Christmas days from December 24 to December 26, so buying supplies for the next few days may be a good idea. In the local supermarkets, you can buy candy, cookies, or alcoholic beverages. It is also possible to buy tax-free sweets and alcohol on arrival in Kangerlussuaq before flying on to Ilulissat.

Christmas is here! There are Christmas church services several times during the coming days (in Greenlandic of course), so feel free to see if there is room for you in the church. Church is very important to many Greenlanders so don’t be surprised if several services are a bit crowded!

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Eve is approaching, and tonight you will be served a traditional Scandinavian Christmas dinner at Hotel Arctic. We will enjoy the traditional duck and pork and, of course, a healthy serving of the indispensable red cabbage. Perhaps you can persuade the guide to dance with you around the Christmas tree, another local Christmas tradition.

After dinner, it’s up to you how to enjoy Christmas Eve. You may want to go for a walk to see if children are singing Christmas carols outside the houses. They often do this on Christmas Eve, and then they get a little candy for their efforts (please note that Christmas in Greenland is celebrated as the Scandinavians and Germans do. Our main event is the dinner on Christmas Eve and not on Christmas Morning the 25th  – but feel free to also celebrate on the morning of the 25th if that is how you do it).

On December 25th and 26th, you can relax and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere of the town. If you have bought the excursion package, you will go on a dog sled trip today or tomorrow and a Northern Lights tour tonight.

1½-hour dog sledding trip (optional)

The dog sled is one of the most famous Greenlandic icons and a thousand-year-old tradition for the Inuit. Not many vehicles have survived such a long period without changes in appearance and technology: a pack of happy dogs in harnesses tied to a simply constructed wooden sled. The experience can not be explained – it must be tried.

This trip usually takes place in flat terrain on a plain near Ilulissat. In addition to the sled driver, you are two participants on each of the sleds, so if you have booked the excursion on your own, you may share a sled with another person. However, all dogs are different, so if you are out with family and friends, we can not guarantee that you will be riding together on the entire trip as some dogs are fast, and others are not. This trip is recommended for those with neck or back problems or if you are immobile. Participants must be 12 years and older.

Northern lights excursion (optional)

After dinner, we go for an evening walk, where we hope to see the northern lights. On evenings with clear winter skies, you can experience the beautiful northern lights above Ilulissat. We will drive away from the lights of the town and start walking. Your guide will tell you about the phenomenon and also about the Greenlandic legends about the northern light.  If we seem to be bragging about these things it is because we have never met anyone who has not been impressed by both. When you go outside on a frosty evening and watch the amazing northern lights move across the sky with the big icebergs bathed in the night light, you will be close to tears from the beauty.

Be aware that northern lights can only be seen on clear winter evenings and not when it’s overcast. There is a risk that we will look for the northern lights on one of the other evenings instead.

On December 25th and 26th, you can relax and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere of the town. If you have bought the excursion package, you will go on a dog sled trip today or yesterday.

Two-hour dog sledding trip (optional)

You should look forward to trying a two-hour dog sledding trip. The Ice Fjord is an impressive sight all year round, and we will experience it again on today’s dog sledding trip. We drive across the small hill Akinnaq and, seven kilometers later, we reach a spectacular viewpoint of the area. The trip goes through hilly terrain, and you will experience the dogs both in front of and behind the sled. This is because the dogs act as brakes when you go down. You will be two people on the sled in addition to the sled driver.

On the sixth day, you fly back to Kangerlussuaq and later on to Denmark. With Air Greenland’s Dash 8, we leave Ilulissat Airport behind and head for Kangerlussuaq.

From Kangerlussuaq, you fly on to Copenhagen where you will arrive in the evening.