The Classic Tour: The Golden Triangle

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 (optional) 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. If you bought the excursion package, you will be taking a hike back in time. Hike back in time (optional) 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 day is at your disposal. 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. If you have bought the excursion package, you will go on a nice boat tour. The Assaqutaq settlement and whales (optional) 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.

This morning we fly up north, going from Sisimiut to Ilulissat. 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. 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. 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 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. Hiking trip to the abandoned Sermermiut settlement (optional) 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. At night, we will enjoy a lovely welcome dinner at Hotel Arctic.

In the early afternoon, you will sail to Ilimanaq and stay overnight at the fantastic cabins at Ilimanaq Lodge. The trip goes past the mouth of the Icefjord before we dock at the port of Ilimanaq approx. 45 minutes later. The cabins at Ilimanaq Lodge are amazing. They offer two floors with beds upstairs. When you wake up in the morning, you step down into the living room, sit on the couch, and watch the small fishing boats breaking the crystal-clear water. You may enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace and wave to a whale that blows water into the air as if to say good morning. Ilimanaq Lodge unites magnificent nature experiences with luxurious comfort. In 2023, the Ilimanaq Lodge Experience will give you 27 hours focused on gourmet food, nature, and life in a tiny settlement. You will dine in a historical building from 1751 at the world’s most remote Michelin star restaurant – and it is not only remote but a 2-star Michelin restaurant! Once you are checked into your cabin, you will hear more about the village. Ilimanaq lies 15 kilometers south of Ilulissat and has approximately 50 inhabitants. Ilimanaq’s houses are painted in many stark colors as a contrast to the surrounding landscape. Ilimanaq is a traditional Greenlandic village, where the main industries still are hunting and fishing. Afterward, you have the opportunity to relax completely and enjoy life in a quiet village and maybe relax on your terrace. At night, you get to experience the exquisite tasting menu of Restaurant KOKS (you can purchase the wine or juice menu separately on site). With two Michelin stars, we guarantee you something you have never tried before. Actually, in 2022, the Danish equivalent to Financial Times, Børsen, named it the “best eating experience in the Danish Realm.” Please note: We have booked standard cabins for this trip. It is possible to upgrade to Deluxe cabins, if available.

This morning, you will get more heavenly treats for your taste buds. There is an extended breakfast from 9-11 AM. Check out of your cabin is at 10, and you can leave your bags at the reception. Excursions start at 11.30 AM. We will return to Ilulissat by boat, arriving there at 4:30 PM, but your Ilimanaq Experience is far from over, and the next hours will be put to good use. You can choose from a guided walk around the settlement and hear more about Ilimanaq. Alternatively, you can go hiking in the area or participate in a cultural workshop. You can also book the excursion mentioned below since you are already in Ilimanaq. There is also the option of an exciting extra excursion. Ilimanaq Glacier Adventure 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. If you choose this excursion, you will return to Ilulissat on a later boat. This tour is not recommended if you have severe neck or back problems, and participants must be at least 12 years old.

This day is at your disposal. A whale safari among icebergs or a kayak tour are some of our recommendations. Whale Safari – surrounded by icebergs in the Disko Bay (optional) 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. Today you also get the chance to experience kayaking in the country that originated kayaks. Kayak Experience in Ilulissat (optional) 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.

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.