Puffins, Whales, Ice Sheet and Glacier

Guided Walking Tour of Historic Nuuk

Discover Greenland's vibrant capital on a guided walking tour through the historic heart of Nuuk. Accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, you'll gain fascinating insights into everyday life in Greenland, hear entertaining stories about Nuuk's remarkable transformation from a small colonial settlement into a modern Arctic capital, and learn about the country's history, culture, and traditions. Your walk begins near Greenland's Parliament, where you'll hear about the nation's path to self-government and the significance of the artwork and monuments displayed in the entrance hall. From there, continue to the Tuapannguit district and stroll along Nuuk's scenic waterfront boardwalk, which follows the coastline and offers beautiful views across the fjord toward Kangeq, the site where missionary Hans Egede established Greenland's first colonial settlement in 1728. The tour continues to the charming Colonial Harbor, home to colorful wooden buildings, historic landmarks, and one of the city's most picturesque neighborhoods. Finally, climb to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the old town, where you'll enjoy spectacular views of Nuuk's iconic red and yellow houses with Sermitsiaq Mountain rising majestically in the background—one of the city's most photographed scenes. Along the way, your guide will be happy to share recommendations for local restaurants, shopping, Greenlandic handicrafts, museums, and other attractions to help you make the most of your stay in Nuuk.

Puffin Watching Tour by Boat 

Join us on a scenic boat excursion to the beautiful islands south of Nuuk in search of one of Greenland's most beloved seabirds—the Atlantic puffin. During the summer months, thousands of puffins return from the open ocean to nest on small offshore islands, making this one of the best opportunities to observe these charming birds in their natural habitat. 
Recognizable by their colorful beaks and distinctive black-and-white plumage, puffins stand only about 12 inches (30 cm) tall. They spend most of the year far out at sea, coming ashore only during the breeding season to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. As you cruise through the scenic fjords surrounding Nuuk, your guide will share fascinating information about puffins, Greenland's coastal wildlife, and the area's spectacular natural landscapes. In addition to puffins, you may also spot other seabirds, seals, and, occasionally, whales. Because puffins are wild animals, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Weather conditions, natural behavior, and other environmental factors all influence where the birds may be found on any given day. Throughout the excursion, your captain follows strict guidelines for approaching the nesting colonies, ensuring the birds are observed responsibly while minimizing disturbance to their natural habitat. This relaxing boat trip offers wonderful opportunities for wildlife photography and unforgettable views of Greenland's rugged coastline.

• Breakfast
• Hotel Hans Egede 4*

Qooqqut Nuan Catch’n’eat also known as Fish’n’Dish

Qooqqut Nuan is a 3-in-1 tour. A Lovely boat tour through the fiords at Nuuk. Fun fishing after Greenlandic fresh fish such as cod or redfish. And finally dining in the cozy restaurant at the foot of a giant mountain in Qooqqut. The natural harvest of the seas can be served in so many ways - The sky's the limit.

We will sail about 50km ( 50 minutes) to the abandoned settlement Qooqqut, where there is a small restaurant. The place is owned and run by the locally renowned chef, Mads Bek and his wife. Together they have created a little piece of heaven in a rugged landscape, with a grand view. Even though it’s one of the world’s most remotely located restaurants, the kitchen has a nice blend of Far Eastern spices and European cuisine. The place has everything you need, and they even grow their own vegetables such as cabbage, and spices here. We will be fishing on the way, and at arrival, the chef will prepare our catch for us.

We point out that we do not give any guarantee to catch a fish. In that case, the restaurant has extra fish that they can cook. It is also an option to choose a regular dinner from the menu if you are not into fish, but we highly recommend the fish, as it doesn’t get fresher than this. A vegetarian dish is also possible

We have hand lines available on the boat. Fishing licenses can be acquired here: Fishing License.

• Breakfast / Dinner
• Hotel Hans Egede 4*

Check-out after breakfast, and transfer to the airport.

A 50-minute flight from Nuuk (GOH) to Kangerlussuaq (SFJ) is a short but scenic journey. If the weather is clear, you’ll get stunning aerial views of Greenland’s coastline, fjords, and inland ice cap.

Upon arrival transfer to the Polar Lodge or Old Camp (availability dependent).

With Mount Hassel in the background, Polar Lodge is a charming place to stay, situated 100m from the airport and with shopping facilities close by.  It is the ideal location for enjoying the area's many outdoor activities, as well as for hosting groups and conference events.

• Breakfast
• Polar Lodge 2*
• Transfers

The Greenland Ice Sheet is a natural formation developed over millions of years as layers of compacted snow and ice, gasses, dust, and water accumulated. Although the landscape appears to be a frozen mass, the Ice Sheet is active, just like any living, breathing, evolving organism. In fact, with an average thickness of 2- to 3 kilometers (1.25-1.75 miles), the immense weight continues to push the ice outward toward the sea, which is why this so-called inland ice sheet can also be seen along much of Greenland’s coast.
As the excursion to Point 660 begins, our 4WD vehicle or coach will pass Kangerlussuaq’s makeshift golf course, a miniature forest of conifers, and a roughly 400-meter-high cone-shaped rock called Sugarloaf.

As Kangerlussuaq fades in the distance, we enter a stunning landscape of mountains, plains, and semi-desert valleys. The route to the Greenland Ice Sheet winds along the beautiful valley of Sandflugtsdal and its equally long, milky turquoise meltwater river. The terrain alternates between fertile moor and dense scrub with sandy dunes and barren mountain slopes. By Greenlandic standards, this landscape is mild with rich flora and speckled with lakes, yet it is still relatively arid.
A few kilometers from the ice sheet’s outer periphery lies the Russel Glacier, an impressive sight with vertical ice walls rising as high as 60 meters. 

Our final destination, Point 660, is nearby at the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Its towering backdrop of glacial foothills stretches from north to south as far as the eye can see and is quite a remarkable sight to behold. You can explore the surrounding area on foot and breathe in the ice sheet’s one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

Duration: 5 hours

• Breakfast
• Polar Lodge 2*

Tundra Safari 

With a fjord on one side and the massive Greenland Ice Sheet bordering the other, Kangerlussuaq is surprisingly one of the most ice-free maps of land in Greenland. Its location is a paradise for both reindeer and musk oxen, who thrive in this environment due to the relatively mild, stable, and dry climate and the abundance of food.

The trip takes place by an off-road 4WD coach, outfitted to accommodate transport in the Arctic’s summer and winter terrain. We drive through the beautiful tundra landscape while the guide describes the surrounding flora and fauna.

With some luck, we will observe musk oxen roaming freely in their natural habitat around Kangerlussuaq and learn about these incredible creatures. We will also look for other wildlife in the area, such as reindeer, and learn about the tundra’s vegetation and flowering plants, including the dense scrub that grows on the south-facing rocky slopes and the wooded thickets of arctic willow that thrive along the rivers and streams.

On this excursion, we often drive up to the American-named mountain of Tacan. It is a mountain south of Kangerlussuaq that offers fantastic panoramic views of the valleys, rivers, Kangerlussuaq, and even parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet. We will take a few breaks during the excursion so you can stretch your legs while enjoying the peacefulness, fresh air, and views of the distant horizon. Duration: 2 hours

Flight to Ilulissat

In the afternoon we board a 50-minute flight to Ilulissat, one of the most scenic flights in Greenland, offering breathtaking views of the Arctic landscape. Transfer to the hotel on arrival.

Disko Bay Icefjord Cruise

When you're in Ilulissat, a boat tour amidst the renowned icebergs is an absolute must. Each year, over 48 cubic kilometers of ice cascade into the fjord, forming colossal icebergs that can span over 100 meters on every side and tower more than 100 meters above the water's surface. These mammoth structures rest at the fjord's end, creating a remarkable opportunity to navigate through them. Regardless of the weather, the icebergs exhibit stunning beauty. In sunlight, they sparkle in brilliant white hues; on cloudy days, their blue tones are most vivid, and during the midnight sun, they emit a unique, warm radiance.

These icebergs stand as Ilulissat's iconic feature, and cruising among them is an unparalleled nature experience that's not to be missed while exploring the area.

Dress warmly; the Icefjord remains chilly throughout both summer and winter. Enjoy complimentary coffee and tea served onboard during the tour.

• Breakfast
• Hotel Arctic 4*
• Transfers

Whale Safari
The whales swim the waters of Disko Bay throughout the summer, sometimes near Ilulissat, occasionally in the Icefjord, Ilimanaq, or further north at Arveprinsens Ejland. Through radio contact with Ilulissat's fishermen and tourist operators, we're almost always able to locate these magnificent creatures. 

It is an incredible experience to get up close to such majestic creatures like whales. During the summer, you will typically encounter the humpback whale, minke whale, and fin whale. Among these giants, the humpback whale stands out as an acrobat despite its massive size of up to 18 meters and 30 tons. It showcases remarkable agility, leaping out of the water and skillfully maneuvering its tail and flippers. Identifiable by its humped fin and distinctive white back when it dives, the humpback whale frequents the Disko Bay in pursuit of fish, squid, and krill, offering excellent viewing opportunities.

• Breakfast
• Hotel Arctic 4*

Only a few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi Glacier, which runs into the fjord 80 kilometers north of Ilulissat. It is possible to get very close to the glacier by boat and experience huge pieces of ice breaking off. The sounds are thunderous, and the sight of chunks of ice crashing into the water is astonishing.

We sail in modern, comfortable boats during the excursion to Eqi Glacier. The route takes us north along the coast, passing Bredebugt, the settlement of Oqaatsut and the big fjord system called Pakitsoq, where whales and seals are often spotted.

Lunchtime and watch the ice calve 

Further along the route, we pass through the Ataa Strait, which is surrounded by steep mountains with bird life and waterfalls. Our boats, which are reinforced for sailing in icy waters, will remain in front of the glacier for approximately 2 hours and wait for the ice to calve. Meanwhile, a delicious lunch will be served. This is an all-day excursion where you will have a good opportunity to immerse yourself in the experience and fully enjoy the boat trip through the ice-filled waters.

Remember to bring warm clothes – otherwise, sealskin clothing is available for rent.

• Breakfast
• Hotel Arctic 4*

In the morning, transfer to the airport, and flight to Reykjavik.

• Breakfast
• Transfers