The Golden Triangle of Greenland

Flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq. During the 4½-hour flight, you can enjoy a light meal and a movie. Catching the first glimpse of Greenland, however, will make you forget all about the movie: Nunataks pop up amid the huge expanse of ice. Stepping off the plane, the crisp air and the sight of the mountains that surround the airport in Kangerlussuaq are your first encounter with a place like no other.

A guide from our local partner welcomes you at the airport and helps you with the accommodation at Hotel Kangerlussuaq. After settling in your room, you can attend an information meeting where the guide will tell you about Kangerlussuaq and the many different excursions.

Excursion to the Greenland Ice Sheet, Point 660 

A bus will take you through beautiful scenery. Near the Ice Sheet, you will pass the Russell Glacier and a fantastic moraine landscape. At the end of your ride, you will walk to and on the Ice Sheet. It is an unforgettable experience to visit this enormous world of ice, which gives natural beauty a whole new meaning. No matter where you look, the Ice Sheet and the horizon seem boundless, and the cold from the ice below your feet offers an extra dimension to the experience.

During the tour, you will see large barren areas surrounded by hills wrapped in snow. Perhaps if you cross your fingers, you will be fortunate enough to see reindeers and musk oxen on your way.

Today we head to Sisimiut, Greenland’s second largest town with approx. 5,500 inhabitants. The town is beautifully set amid the rocky landscape with picturesque wooden houses in bright colors.

After checking in at the centrally located Hotel Sisimiut, an information meeting will be held by a guide from our local partner, who will tell you a little about the town and the many excursions. Due to the central location of the hotel, you are close to everything: the town center, the harbor, and the beautiful nature and mountains.

Sightseeing tour

A nice tour that will take you a bit closer to the town and its history. Hear how the town was founded and learn of the town life of today. We will pass the open fish and meat market (Brættet), the city hall and visit the old town where the original colonial buildings from the 17th century now house the fascinating and very authentic museum.

The day is at your disposal before we head north in the evening on board the coastal vessel Sarfaq Ittuk. Pay a visit, for instance, to one of the town’s arts and crafts workshops where the local artists produce and sell jewelry and crafts in soapstone, ivory, and bone.

Hike back in time 

Despite Greenland’s enormous size, people have chosen the same sites for their settlements throughout the island’s history. Tele Island, Sallinnguit, is one of those sites – where ancient meets contemporary. Several Inuit cultures have inhabited the site intermittently for the past 4,000 years. Even today, you can find artifacts from those ancient settlements side by side with modern telecommunications installations that have given the island its present, Danish name. Hear the story of the Inuit people before the arrival of the Europeans, and life in the early days of colonization. See the ruins from different periods and enjoy the beautiful views of the island and the historic hunting grounds.

The Assaqutaq settlement and whales

The Assaqutaq settlement is situated at the foot of Nasaasaaq’s south side. In summer, it is a venue for local schools and is a popular resort for the inhabitants of Sisimiut who fish for the local fish called ammassat. While strolling through the settlement, we will pass the old fish production factory, the summer camp, and the beautiful old church. The sea surrounding the settlement is also a playground for whales (humpback and fin whales). Hopefully, one of these giants will greet us with a spout.

Coastal vessel cruise

Later, you will go from Hotel Sisimiut to the harbor where you should check in ½ -1 hour before departure in the evening. The course is set for Ilulissat, further north of the west coast. Sailing in Greenland is a wonderful experience. You get to witness nature from the first-row seat and may even be lucky enough to see whales in their very own element. Do not forget your camera and binoculars – and remember to keep your ears and nose warm.

Breakfast can be enjoyed overlooking the stunning Disco Bay. Before arriving at Ilulissat, the coastal vessel will be calling at the beautiful town of Aasiaat, located in the southwest corner of the Disco Bay and known for its archipelago, kayaks, whales and – as everywhere else – the pretty colored houses scattered across the hilly landscape.

As the icebergs come closer and closer, we recommend that you get out on the deck. The arrival at Ilulissat is a breath-taking encounter with one of nature’s masterpieces; the floating icebergs. This is truly an unforgettable sight.

Upon arrival, you transfer to and check-in at the beautifully situated Hotel Arctic in the first row to the Ice Fjord. At the following information meeting, you will hear more about the town and the many excursion options. The rest of the day you can relax and explore the scenery right outside the hotel – and in particular, take in the view across the town and the renowned Ice Fjord. If you purchased the excursion package, it is time to enjoy a guided tour.

Cultural, historical guided tour

Some people might think: “We can just take a walk around the town on our own.” And yes, you probably could, but with the 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 new perspective. The guide will tell you about the history of the town, the Greenlandic culture, and contemporary life 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. We will visit the fishermen at the harbor and the hunters at their trading post, “Brættet.” We will show you the church and the birthplace of the famous Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen.

At night, we will enjoy a lovely welcome dinner at Hotel Arctic.

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 listed Ilulissat Ice Fjord. Ilulissat’s location 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle means that the midnight sun rules until mid-July. It never gets pitch dark – everything is shrouded in an orange, almost magical hue.

Hiking trip to the abandoned Sermermiut settlement 

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 the relics, 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 will 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.

Today you also get the chance to experience kayaking in the country that originated kayaks.

Kayak Experience in Ilulissat 

Inuit have kayaked in the Greenland waters for more than a thousand years, and you can do it, also. The kayak glides silently through the water, and 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 also 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.

This day is at your disposal. If you have bought the excursion package, you will go to the Eqi Glacier.

Day tour to the calving Eqi Glacier

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 ice crashing into the water is astonishing.

We sail in modern and convenient boats during the excursion to Eqi. 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 approved for sailing in icy waters, will remain in front of the glacier for approximately two hours and wait for the ice to calve. Meanwhile, 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.

Whale Safari – surrounded by icebergs in the Disco Bay 

It is a great experience to get close to large animals like whales. There are 15 species of whales in Greenland. During summer, we usually get to see the humpback, the common minke whale, and the fin whale. The whales swim in the entire Disco Bay during summer – sometimes close to the 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.

Enjoy the last look of the Ilulissat Icefjord from the aircraft to Kangerlussuaq, before flying onwards to Copenhagen with arrival in the evening.

We guarantee you that you will go home with your mental luggage 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.