Summer, Sun and Icebergs in Greenland

Air Greenland flies from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, giving you 4½ hours to prepare yourself for your encounter with a truly unique world. During the flight, you can enjoy a meal, a movie as well as the first sight of nunataks and the Ice Sheet.

Upon arrival, a guide from our local partner will welcome you and assist with check in. You stay at centrally located Hotel Kangerlussuaq yet still on the door step of the fascinating Arctic nature. At the information meeting, the guide will tell you about the area and the excursions available.

Kangerlussuaq is beautifully situated between soft hills and close to the Ice Sheet and is therefore perfect the perfect place to see and step onto the legendary Ice Sheet, which covers more than 80 % of Greenland. If you have purchased any of our Excursion Packages, this afternoon’s trip is included.

Greenland Ice Sheet, Point 660 (included)

Powerful 4×4 vehicles will take us through an incredibly beautiful landscape, between mountains, plains, and semi-desert valleys. Near the Ice Sheet, we drive through a fantastic moraine landscape.

At the end of the road, we walk to the Ice Sheet and onto the enormous ice cap. We spend some time exploring the world of ice before returning to our vehicles. There are good chances of spotting reindeer, musk oxen and, depending on the season, many species of birds and flowers.

Overnight in Kangerlussuaq

The tour continues by plane to Ilulissat. 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.

Upon arrival, you will go to Hotel Arctic, beautifully situated with a view across the Disko Bay. Even the most experienced traveler is blown away by this unique sight. 

Ilulissat City Walk: History, Culture and Traditions (included)

Some people might think: “We can just take a walk around the town on our own.” And yes, you probably could but, with this guided cultural, historical tour, you will get an enhanced understanding of the Greenlandic culture and history, which will give all your other experiences in Greenland a greater perspective.

Ilulissat was founded in 1741, and today it is the third largest town in Greenland with more than 4,500 inhabitants and 2,500 sled dogs. The guide will tell you about the history of the town, Greenlandic culture and contemporary life 300 kilometers north of the Polar Circle. We will visit the fishermen at the harbor and the hunters at their trading post. We also see the church and the famous Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace.

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

Overnight in Ilulissat (B, D)

Ilulissat lies at the mouth of the 50-kilometer long and world-famous Ilulissat Ice Fjord, which in 2004 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ice is enthralling and can be experienced at sea, on land, and from the air.

Sermermiut: Hike to the Old Settlement by the Ice Fjord (included)

Beautiful icebergs provide the setting for the old settlement of Sermermiut 1.5 kilometers south of Ilulissat. For 4,000 years, different Inuit cultures lived in the settlement and, today, you can still see some of the remains, which indicate their presence.

Hear the story about the life of the Inuit people and their traditions before the Europeans came to Greenland. See the ruins and touch the permafrost with your own hands. On this hike, we pass “Kællingekløften” where you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Ice Fjord, before heading back again. During the hike, there will be time to talk about flora, fauna, geology, and not least, the story behind the omnipresent ice.

Sailing Among Icebergs (included)

The midnight sun makes the icebergs glow in a unique play of colors that people return to experience again and again. Midnight sun in Ilulissat lasts from late May to late July.

Sailing during the night with the sun still shining is a fantastic and unusual experience. Almost every visitor to Ilulissat ends up going on this leisurely iceberg cruise at least once. Every day, more than 40 million ton of ice flow out into the fjord. The floating icebergs are gigantic, sometimes measuring more than 100 meters wide and long – and with a height of up to 100 meters above the water surface as well. These giants gather at the end of the fjord, providing you with a great opportunity to sail among them.

The icebergs are a wonderful sight in every kind of weather; in the sunshine, the contrasts are very clear, the blue shades are strikingly beautiful when it is cloudy and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the ice during the night. Taking the boat trip on a bright night is an extraordinary experience.

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

Overnight in Ilulissat (B)

Whale Safari (included)

It is a great experience to get close to large animals like whales. There are 15 species of whale in Greenland. During the summer it is normally the humpback, the common minke whale and the fin whale, we see. The whales swim the entire Disko Bay during the summer; sometimes close to the town, sometimes in the ice fjord or up north by the island, Arveprinsens Ejland.

We are in constant radio contact with the fishermen and the hunters about the whales and their whereabouts. The humpback, with its characteristic fin, is the one we see most often. Today you also have the opportunity to try kayaking in the country that invented the kayaks.

Kayak Experience in Ilulissat (included)

Inuit have kayaked in Greenland waters for more than a thousand years, and you can do it too. As the kayak glides silently through the water, you see the huge icebergs rising around you. The midnight sun gives the ice a unique hue. In cloudy weather, the beautiful blue colors of the icebergs will be very clear. With a little luck, we may even meet whales. All tours take place in stable double kayaks, and a boat follows close by. The excursion takes about 3½-4 hours, and we will be at sea for at least two of those hours. 

Overnight in Ilulissat (B)

Day Trip to Eqi the Calving Glacier (included)

Only a few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi Glacier, which spills 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 ice crashing into the water is astonishing.

We sail in modern and convenient boats during the excursion to the 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. 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 two 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 in the ice-filled water.

Overnight at Glacier Lodge Eqi (comfort cabins with views)

A special experience awaits you: you will stay overnight in Glacier Lodge Eqi.

Please note that we cannot guarantee availability, so contact us directly to check available dates. Glacier Lodge Eqi is a very popular option and usually books out quickly, so the sooner you book, the better! Please note that you do NOT have to check out of your room in Ilulissat, even if you choose to book an overnight in Glacier Lodge Eqi.

At approximately 2:00 PM, the boat will arrive at Port Victor,  the ‘harbor’ at Glacier Lodge Eqi. On land, the camp guides will greet you and show you to your cabin. During an information meeting, coffee and cake will be served, after which the rest of the day is free for leisure.

All meals are served in Cafe Victor. The café also sells beverages such as soft drinks, beer, wine, and sweets.

Overnight in Glacier Lodge Eqi (B, L, D)

As you wake up in the middle of Arctic nature, you can look forward to a hearty breakfast before you have the option of joining a guided hike around the small lagoon at the southern end of the glacier. There are often large flocks of geese in the lagoon in the breeding season. The trip goes further up the moraine, where we can look down into the enormous glacier cracks only a few meters away. From here, we will also get an overview of the glacier front and hopefully see more impressive calvings from the glacier.

Departure from Port Victor is at approximately 2:15 PM. You will sail back to Ilulissat via the same route we took yesterday. Coffee/tea and cake will be served in the late afternoon. The estimated return to Ilulissat is around 7:00 PM. Seals and whales are often spotted during the trip.

Overnight in Ilulissat (B, L, D)

There is much to see and do in Ilulissat. Today you can take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the serene calmness of the views offered from the hotel. If you wish to explore further, you can join a day cruise to Oqaatsut.

Day cruise to Oqaatsut (optional)

We sail from Ilulissat and enjoy a 30-minute cruise on the iceberg-filled waters to Oqaatsut. Upon arrival, your guide will take you on an exploratory walk around the settlement, where we stop by the church, the primary school, and the small fish factory.

You will learn about everyday life in a tiny settlement, the local community, and Oqaatsut’s heritage as a former Dutch whaling station (Oqaatsut is also known as Rodebay, a name given to the place by the Dutch whalers).

We end our walk by the small Restaurant H8 Explorer, where we will enjoy lunch made with local ingredients. After lunch, you may wish to walk around the area some more or enjoy the peaceful quiet, which can only be found in small communities such as Oqaatsut. The surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful, and we return to Ilulissat with bellies full of local delicacies and our minds brimming with memories.

This option is available June-September only

Overnight in Ilulissat (B)

Offering one final view of the Ice Fjord and the captivating icebergs, the flight will take you back to Kangerlussuaq and onwards to Copenhagen where you will arrive in the evening.

We guarantee you that you will go home with a baggage 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.