Summer, Sun and Huge Icebergs in Greenland

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. At the subsequent information meeting, a guide will tell you about Ilulissat and the wide range of excursions available. You are now prepared for the next couple of days filled with adventures. Excursions and activities with a guide or on your own There are many options for excursions arranged by our partners or some you can do on your own. If you like to hike, there are many opportunities. However, we recommend that you join some of the guided boat tours where you will get to see the Disko Bay and experience the huge icebergs and the stunning surroundings of the bay. We offer 3 comprehensible excursion packages for this hoiday which includes the ideal tours for this tour. If you have purchased any of the excursion packages, it’s time for your first outing in Ilulissat. 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 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).

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. Hike to the old settlement by the Ice Fjord (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 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 (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 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. You should not miss out on this exceptional experience when visiting Ilulissat. Remember to bring warm clothes – otherwise, sealskin clothing is available for rent.

Whale Safari (optional) 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 (optional) 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. This excursion is not included in any of the Excursion Package but can be booked separately.

Today the program varies depending on which excursion package you have bought (if any). For those with the standard or Deluxe 1 excursion package (or no package at all) the day is at your disposal for great experiences in Ilulissat. There are plenty of options. If you have bought Deluxe 2 Excursion Package, you will enjoy a leisurely cruise to the Eqi Glacier. Day tour to Eqi Glacier – the calving glacier (optional with deluxe excursion package) 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. Please note: The length of the boat trip to and from the glacier may last between 2 – 5 hours in each direction. It depends on the boat used on the given day.

Day tour to Eqip Sermia – the calving glacier (standard package) If you have bought the standard excursion package, get ready for a great day tour to the Eqi Glacier. You find a description of the tour in detail on day 5. One night in Glacier Lodge Eqi (included in excursion package deluxe 1) You have the option of glamping for one night at Glacier Lodge Eqi by acquiring the excursion package deluxe 1. Please note, we cannot verify vacant tents until after you have placed your order. If you want to stay overnight, feel free to contact us beforehand to inquire about vacant dates. Glacier Lodge Eqi is very popular, and it is selling fast so the sooner you book, the bigger your chances of getting a tent. Please also note that you don’t have to check out of your hotel room in Ilulissat, even if you choose to stay overnight at Glacier Lodge Eqi. At approximately 2:00 PM, the boat will arrive at Port Victor. Port Victor is the ‘harbor’ at Glacier Lodge Eqi. Only the ones who are staying at Glacier Lodge Eqi will get off the boat; the rest remain on board. On land, the camp guides will greet you and show you to your tent. Coffee and cake will be served, and practical information about the area is presented. The rest of the day could be spent by joining the excursion “hike to the lagoon, the moraine and the glacier” or simply by enjoying the view from the huts. The price includes an overnight stay in a luxury tent, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Cafe Victor. The café also offers beverages such as soft drinks, beer, and wine, as well as sweets. One night in Ilimanaq Lodge (optional – excursion package deluxe 2) If you have purchased excursion package deluxe 2, today you will sail to Ilimanaq and get an overnight stay in the stunning cottages at Ilimanaq Lodge. We go there by boat in the morning, and we sail past the mouth of the Ice Fjord before we arrive at the port of Ilimanaq 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.”

Day at leisure in Ilulissat for those with the Standard Excursion Package (or no excursion package). You can take a stroll in around town and feel the atmosphere – or you can sit and take in the Ice Fjord; a view you will never forget! If you have purchased one of the deluxe excursion packages, you will still be in Eqi or Ilimanaq and return to Ilulissat later this afternoon. Hike to the Eqi Glacier and sailing to Ilulissat (excursion package deluxe 1) From Glacier Lodge Eqi, 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 the impressive calving from the glacier. Departure from Port Victor is approximately 2:15 PM. You will sail back to Ilulissat via the same route. Coffee/tea and cake will be served in the late afternoon. Seals and whales are often spotted during the trip. Return from Ilimanaq Lodge (excursion package deluxe 2) 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 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 if you did not purchase one of the luxury excursion packages. 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. This tour is not recommended if you have severe neck or back problems, and participants must be at least 12 years old.

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.