10 Days in Greenland

It's a town surrounded by icebergs! Here, the traditional Greenlandic lifestyle is lived to the full and dog sleds are a natural part of the transport network. There are many 

activities in and around the port, from which the dinghies sail out to fish around the formidable icebergs and back again. Other features of the town include a museum in Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace, shops selling Greenlandic handicrafts and sealskins in modern designs, and cafés and restaurants where you can indulge in the local specialties. 

Today you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Ilulissat Ice Fjord! More than 46 km3 of ice flows out to the Icefjord from the Ilulissat Glacier every year. The ice travels to the mouth of the Icefjord, where the largest icebergs run aground on the underwater moraine at a depth of just over 350 metres. Head out on a boat to experience the breathtaking natural phenomenon up close! 

The Icefjord is beautiful from land, but on this boat tour it is possible for us to get very close to the huge icy sculptures. These icebergs can be up to 100 meters high, and several hundred meters long and wide. Here you feel insignificantly small in the vast nature. 

The icebergs are beautiful in all kinds of weather and in all seasons. 

From May to September, the entire bay can be packed with small pieces of ice, while only the mightiest icebergs lie at the mouth of the fjord during the winter. In bright 

sunlight, the ice shines chalky white and has the strongest contrasts. In cloudy weather, you will see way more nuances of color and structure in the ice. And in the midnight sun, a rosy glow is cast over the enormous colossi. 

Today you will be taking in the magnificent Greenlandic scenery and mountain peaks with a birds eye view. 

Helicopter in and out between some of the world's largest icebergs until we reach Sermeq Kujalleq - the huge glacier. By helicopter, we can fly very close to this ice wall, which is the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere. 

Sermeq Kujalleq also plays a significant role in the mass loss of the Ice Sheet, and is therefore a favorite target for climate scientists from all around the world. 

You will land at the edge of the Ice Sheet and enjoy the breathtaking views of the glacial landscape. Here you will have a 30 minute stop, where we have time to learn more about the glacier and the ice sheet. After having enjoyed a glass of champagne, the trip goes back towards Ilulissat. 

Today you will continue your Greenland journey by flying onto Kangerlussuaq (50 min flight). 

With the World’s second-largest ice cap crouching on its doorstep and herds of arctic game roaming freely through its UNESCO World Heritage Listed hinterland, Kangerlussuaq is so much more than a simple transit stop on your way to somewhere else in Greenland. It is an opportunity to step into a different world! 

Very few places in Greenland offer such a phenomenal access and view of the Greenland Ice Sheet as Point 660, located at the Ice Sheet’s edge. You will visit here with a professional guide and marvel at the vast Greenlandic expanses. The Ice Sheet is a fantastic natural formation developed over millions of years as layers of compacted snow and ice, gasses, dust, and water accumulated. 

As the excursion to Point 660 begins, your 4WD-vehicle will take you through the landscape behind Kangerlussuaq. As Kangerlussuaq fades in the distance, we enter a stunning landscape of mountains, plains, and semi-desert valleys. The route to the Greenland Ice Sheet winds along the beautiful valley of Sandflugtsdalen and its equally long, milky turquoise meltwater river. Your destination, Point 660, is nearby the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Its towering backdrop of glacial foothills stretches from North to South as far as the eye can see and is quite a remarkable sight to behold. 

You will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area on foot and breathe in the Ice Sheet’s one-of a-kind atmosphere.  After an hour on the ice, we will have time to warm-up on the bus as we drive through Greenland’s beautiful tundra landscape on the return to Kangerlussuaq. There is a good chance that we will spot reindeer, muskox, and depending on the season, many species of birds and flowers.

With a fjord on one side and the massive Greenland Ice Sheet bordering the other, Kangerlussuaq is surprisingly one of the most ice-free tracks of land in all of Greenland. Its location is a paradise for both reindeer and musk oxen, who thrive in this environment due to relatively mild, stable, and dry climate and the abundance of food. With a bit of luck, you will be able to observe musk oxen roaming freely in their natural habitat around Kangerlussuaq and learn about these incredible creatures on your Tundra safari excursion! 

With wild animals, you never know how close we get to observe them. However, your guide always brings a pair of binoculars, ensuring you have a chance to watch these impressive animals. We will also be on the lookout for other wildlife in the area, such as reindeer, and learn about the tundra’s vegetation and flowering plants, including the dense scrub that grows on the south-facing rocky slopes and the wooded thickets of arctic willow that thrive along the rivers and streams. 

You will take a few breaks during the excursion, so you can stretch your legs while enjoying the peacefulness, the fresh air, and views of the distant horizon. Afterwards head out on the water and enjoy some kayaking on Lake Ferguson! 

Today you will fly to the capital of Greenland, Nuuk (55 mins). Welcome to Nuuk! 

The biggest city in Greenland, Nuuk is unlike any other capital in the world. It has a very small population , Nuuk has less than 20,000 people! From Nuuk’s centre, you can walk for just a couple of minutes to reach the shores of the Nuuk Fjord - one of the world’s largest fjord systems, or drive less than 10 minutes to the base of the tall mountains that mark the entrance to an extensive backcountry. The views are 

unobstructed and unparalleled. 

You can also learn more about the native Greenlander's ( Inuits) culture at the national museum! 

Continue your epic Greenland adventure down to Southern Greenland, home of the hot springs and luscious green landscapes! 

Fly from Nuuk to Narsarsuaq (1 hr 15 mins) today. 

South Greenland is a land of jagged mountains and green pastures where sheep farms directly border ice fjords, and Norse settlement history intersects with modern 

Greenlandic fishing and hunting communities. Fresh vegetables, natural hot springs on a remote island, big wall climbing, and fjord kayaking abound in South Greenland. The southernmost part of Greenland lives up to its name, Greenland. The “garden of Greenland” offers a contrasting and fertile climate, unique history, cities with exciting cultural offerings and cozy settlements. 

Today you can take a quick 30 minute boat transfer to Qassiarsuk, the home of the fascinating Brattahlid Viking ruins! 

It is an important place in Norse history: the first Viking settlement on Greenland, meaning it was technically the first town in America founded by Europeans.

After a short transfer by car from Narsarsuaq, you will walk through Flower Valley enjoying the spectacular view of a valley formed due to the retreat and the consequent glacial sedimentation. The first kilometers run easy, having the chance to see arctic hares, foxes, sea eagles and peregrine falcons.

Set sail from Narsarsuaq to the underwater moraine at the mouth of the Qooroq Ice Fjord. Many icebergs run aground here, forcing you to weave our way among these colossal pieces of ice until you reach the fjord, where you are rewarded with a 

breathtaking view of thousands of icebergs, sheer cliff faces and an enormous glacier. The glacier calves about 200,000 tons of ice at day into the fjord. Many of these icebergs have a rich turquoise colour. In the fjord, we have time to enjoy the panorama, turn off the engine and drift quietly with the current. The absolute silence is only interrupted by the sound of the distant icebergs as they break free from the glacier front and come crashing down into the fjord. 

On the trip, you will gather ice for your own cocktails and listen to the popping sounds as countless, tiny thousand-year-old compressed air bubbles escape from the ice cubes in our glasses!

Today the time has come to say farewell to Greenland!