Dream Trip in Disko Bay

Then the journey continues by plane to Aasiaat. On arrival in Aasiaat, you will be picked up at the airport immediately after arrival, after which we will drive to Hotel SØMA, located by the harbour. Today we are going on a city tour of Aasiaat, and you can also go in search of art in the city with a brochure in hand. Many people enjoy it. If you have purchased the excursion package, the day offers a whale watching trip. Whale safari among the icebergs (optional) “Whale ahead.” Suddenly the sea is filled with tail fins and glistening bodies, which rise towards the sky. It makes you jump the first time one of these magnificent mammals tumble forward, greeting you with a spout of water. Many different species of whale can be seen along Greenland’s coasts. It is unmistakable when a whale is in the vicinity, as they make their presence known by coming up to the surface to breathe and consequently send spouts of water into the air at a speed of several hundred kilometers per hour; it’s quite an astounding sight! At night, we have dinner at Hotel SØMA.

Today, you continue to the harbor and by boat to Diskoøen. As you get closer to the island, you will see the majestic mountains, which rise a thousand meters from the surface of the ocean. At the top of the mountain, the giant glacier, Sermersuaq, is located, and it covers all of the west sides of Disko Island. After arriving in the small town of Qeqertarsuaq around noon, you will be accommodated at the local hotel. After arrival, there is an information meeting to give you an introduction to this rugged, yet stunning island. Qeqertarsuaq is the main town of Disko Island. With its various colored houses, it has a very idyllic setting with the harbor and the mountains on one side and the coast and sea on the other. It is not uncommon to spot whales directly from your breakfast table or when strolling along the coast. In the morning, it is time for a guided town walk, where you get an insight into the town’s old as well as more recent history. Along the way, you will encounter a lot of beautiful sights for your travel photography.

The first part of today day is at your disposal, and in the afternoon, you can enjoy a guided walk to Kuannit. We hike from the hotel in town and pass the Red River at the bridge and continue along the coast. At Kuannit, we can see how the lava has sprung up millions of years ago and then, during rapid cooling, has contracted and cracked into spectacular lava sculptures in the shape of 6-sided basalt columns. The fauna at Kuannit is very lush with a variety of flowers and tasty Angelica plants. On the coastline, you will find a basalt stone shaped like an elephant drinking directly from the sea.

Today, we continue by boat to Ilulissat. Upon arrival in Ilulissat, you will be picked up by Hotel Arctic’s bus, and as you approach the hotel, you can enjoy the hotel’s location at the edge of the town, overlooking the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Ice Fjord. At the following information meeting, a guide from World of Greenland will tell you about the area and the many excursions available, you can literally explore on walking, sailing and flying! Before sitting down for welcome dinner at Hotel Arctic’s splendid restaurant, take some time to relax on the hotel’s balcony and dwell on the spectacular views of the Ice Fjord and the seemingly never-ending horizon. City of Icebergs Ilulissat is a great mix of modern life and traditional Greenlandic living. Kayaks and dry fish are placed on racks side by side with the laundry, and thousands of sled dogs add character to the town, providing a unique atmosphere with their howls. The beautiful UNESCO recognised Ice Fjord is the workplace of local fishermen and, at the same time, the biggest visitor attraction in Greenland. What makes the Ice Fjord so special are the huge icebergs that are stranded at the mouth of the fjord and, not least, the light that constantly changes the colors of the ice. The Ice Fjord became a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2004 and it is truly an unforgettable and very impressive sight. If you have purchased the excursion package, you can look forward to a city walk: Cultural, historical guided tour (optional) Some people might think: “we can just take a walk around the town on our own.” And yes, you probably could, but with our guided tour you will get an enhanced understanding of the Greenlandic culture and history, which will add an extra level to all your other experiences in Greenland. Ilulissat was founded in 1741 and, today, it is the third-largest town in Greenland with more than 4,500 inhabitants. The guide will tell you about the history of the town, the Greenlandic culture, and contemporary life almost 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 also show you the church and the birthplace of the famous Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen. Hiking trip to Sermermiut (optional) Beautiful icebergs provide the setting for the former 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 sparse ruins which indicate their presence. Hear 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, amazing facts about the omnipresent ice. To round off the day, you will have a lovely welcome dinner in the hotel’s amazing restaurant.

The day is planned for activities on your own or experiences on the water. If you have purchased the excursion package, you can look forward to an unforgettable experience in the evening. Sailing among icebergs (optional) 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 May 21st to July 24th. Sailing during the night with the sun still shining is a fantastic and unusual experience. Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to go on this boat trip among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million tons of ice flow out into the fjord. The floating icebergs are gigantic, sometimes 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 very beautiful when it is cloudy, and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the icebergs during the night. Taking the boat trip on a bright night is an extraordinary experience. You should not miss out on this exceptional experience when visiting Ilulissat.

Today, you have the chance to explore Ilulissat at your own pace. Ilulissat is a lovely and very Greenlandic town with a modern atmosphere and a more traditional lifestyle. Hunting and fishing are paramount for survival, and fishing boats jostle for space with industrial trawlers. Sled dogs and houses in almost all colors adorn the rocky landscape. Adventure day in Oqaatsut (additional purchase in addition to the Excursion Package) Today, you can go to Oqaatsut, where you can have a completely adventurous, active day with a boat trip, hiking, and kayaking. You start by boat from Ilulissat and go to Oqaatsut, where the kayak guide gives thorough safety instructions and introduces you to the equipment. You get into a kayak dry suit before you venture out on the water in the kayaks. Now you paddle around the bay, after which we stop, and it’s time for a hike in the backcountry. Here we walk by meltwater lakes and small creeks and have the greatest view of the bay of Oqaatsut with its beautiful icebergs. After a coffee break, we paddle back to Oqaatsut and enjoy a wonderful lunch of local Greenlandic produce in Restaurant H8 Explorer. Afterward, we explore the old whaling settlement, after which it is time to sail back to Ilulissat. This tour is not recommended if you have severe neck or back problems, and participants must be at least 12 years old.

Early in the morning, we will travel north by boat to the fascinating Eqi Glacier, one of Greenland’s unique natural wonders. Only a few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi Glacier, which ends in 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. After a good lunch in front of the Eqi Glacier, the boat anchors at Glacier Lodge Eqi, where you will stay in cabins facing the glacier. The untamed nature is just outside the door and from the terrace you can take in the overwhelming silence, which is only broken by the crashing sound from ice calving. The cabins at Glacier Lodge Eqi are cozy and offer great views from both the Standard and Comfort Cabins. If you haven’t already sensed the calm, it will come to you right here. Only the natural roar of the glacier, when it calves breaks the silence. Please note: Standard cabins will be booked on this trip, but you can upgrade your cabin to a Comfort Cabin, a Comfort Deluxe Cabin, or a wilderness glamping tent. Read more about Glacier Lodge Eqi here.

Today is free to enjoy as you see fit. The area has abundant wildlife and geology. Polar foxes, hares, grouse, and sea eagles are often seen on land while seals swim near the camp. When you are on your own in the wild and desolate landscape, you will undoubtedly get a sense of walking in the footsteps of famous Arctic explorers! Hike to the Eqi Glacier From the cabins, we 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 cracks in the glacier a few meters away from us. From here, we will also get an overview of the glacier-front, and we will see hopefully see some impressive calvings from the glacier.

You will wake up to a fantastic glacier view yet again. You have the morning to explore the area a little more. After lunch, the boat will take you back to Ilulissat, where you will arrive in the early evening. Once again, you will check into Hotel Arctic.

On your last day in Ilulissat, you have the opportunity to spend time shopping at the local souvenir shops, or maybe take a last hike to the Ice Fjord. There is also the option of an exciting extra excursion. Ilimanaq Glacier Adventure (additional purchase in addition to the Excursion Package) On this exciting trip, you will sail in a speedboat, drive off-road with ATVs, and trek on a glacier! We start by boat from Ilulissat to Ilimanaq. We then sail from Ilimanaq south to Itilliup Ilua. Here we are set off on a very wide sandy beach, and from here, we drive off-road in all-terrain ATVs to the Tasiusaq Fjord. We now sail deeper into the fjord until we reach a place with two glaciers, and the Greenland Ice Sheet can be seen. We go ashore and enjoy a packed lunch and the great view. After this, we trek a bit and finally climb onto the huge ice sheet. This tour is not recommended if you have severe neck or back problems, and participants must be at least 12 years old.

You fly from Ilulissat to Kangerlussuaq and from there on to Copenhagen where you will arrive in the evening.