Experience Ilulissat Icefjord with tours beyond the ordinary

By Verified Expert

Published: 08/01/2026

Reading time: 7 minutes

At the edge of Disko Bay lies the Ilulissat Icefjord – a place where time slows down, and nature sets the pace. Stretching more than 60 kilometres inland, the fjord is continuously fed by the fast-moving Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, sending vast icebergs drifting silently toward the open sea.

These tours in this article are for those who want more than the classic highlights of the Ilulissat Icefjord. For those who want to experience a UNESCO World Heritage landscape from new angles, at different speeds, and in close connection with the surroundings – whether from the air, on the water, or along the edge of the ice.

See Ilulissat Icefjord unfold from above

Seeing the Ilulissat Icefjord from the air reveals the landscape in its full scale. Deep blue crevasses, winding glacier arms, and vast fields of drifting ice unfold beneath you, offering a quiet and powerful sense of the icefjord’s scale and movement.

A flight tour provides a rare overview of how the icefjord connects the inland ice with the open sea, and why this place holds UNESCO World Heritage status. Details emerge that are impossible to grasp from the ground or the water — the flow of ice, the shifting patterns, and the ever-changing shapes that make each flight different.

Sailing, kayaking, and SUP among the ice

During the summer months, the icefjord opens up from the water. Boat tours in Ilulissat Icefjord move calmly between towering icebergs, where cracking ice and seabirds set the atmosphere. Some trips focus on wildlife and whale watching, while others invite you to slow down and enjoy the journey with food and drinks on board.

Kayaking and SUP offer a more intimate way to explore the fjord, gliding close to the surface where light, reflections, and movement constantly shift. With the midnight sun stretching the days, summer is the season for experiencing the icefjord at a gentle pace — shaped by water, weather, and the rhythm of the ice.

Exploring Ilulissat Icefjord on foot

During the summer months, hiking offers a calm and immersive way to experience the icefjord. Trails lead to viewpoints overlooking the ice, while guided walks take you further into the surrounding landscape, where scale and silence become part of the journey.

In winter, snowshoeing opens quieter routes across frozen ground. With snow underfoot and the icefjord framed by the Arctic winter landscape, the experience becomes more graphic and elemental — shaped by light, contrast, and stillness.

Dog sledding and snowmobiling in winter

In winter, dog sledding offers a traditional way of travelling through the snowy landscape around the Ilulissat Icefjord. The pace is calm and steady, shaped by the dogs and the terrain, with time to take in the silence, the light, and the frozen surroundings. It is a form of movement that has long been part of everyday life in the region and remains closely connected to the winter landscape.

Snowmobiling provides a more mobile way to experience the same season. Covering longer distances, it allows you to move efficiently through open terrain and gain broader views of the winter scenery. The experience is defined by speed and space, offering a different perspective on the Arctic environment while still being shaped by weather, light, and the vastness of the landscape.

Vacation packages around Ilulissat Icefjord

For those who prefer everything brought together, vacation packages around the Ilulissat Icefjord combine guided tours, transport, and accommodation into a single, well-paced journey. These stays often include a mix of experiences such as boat trips, hikes, or flightseeing, making it easy to explore the icefjord from different angles without planning each detail yourself.

Accommodation is chosen with care and plays an active role in the overall experience. From small hotels with views over the icefjord to more secluded lodges close to the surrounding nature, many stays are designed to let you slow down. Here, the rhythm is set by drifting ice, changing light, and quiet moments that frame your time at the icefjord in a calm and cohesive way.

See all vacation packages here.

Quick facts to get to know Ilulissat Icefjord

Before exploring the details, it helps to understand what makes the Ilulissat Icefjord such a distinctive place. From the glacier that feeds it to the way ice moves through the fjord, the questions below give a clear and grounded overview of how the icefjord works – and why it holds a special place in Greenland’s landscape and history.

The Ilulissat Icefjord, also known as Kangia, is one of the most well-known and visited natural attractions in Greenland. The fjord is famous for its vast quantities of icebergs and its close connection to one of the most active glaciers in the world.

The fjord is fed by the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier, one of the fastest-moving and most productive glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere. It continuously calves icebergs into the fjord, creating the dramatic and ever-changing ice-filled landscape.

The Ilulissat Icefjord stretches approximately 61 kilometres from the glacier front to its mouth in Disko Bay. In some places, the fjord reaches depths of more than 1000 metres, allowing enormous icebergs to drift through the channel.

It typically takes 12 to 15 months for an iceberg to move through the full length of the Icefjord. The journey is slowed by winter sea ice and by the high density of icebergs within the fjord itself.

At the mouth of the Icefjord lies an underwater iceberg bank known as Isfjeldsbanken. This natural barrier traps the largest icebergs and prevents them from drifting freely into Disko Bay.

Icebergs that extend 200–300 metres below the surface often become grounded here until they melt enough to pass over the bank, or until pressure from behind forces them forward.

Yes. The entire World Heritage area is protected, with clearly defined boundaries. According to GEUS, the red line on official maps marks the limit of the protected zone, ensuring that both natural processes and scientific research can continue undisturbed.

The Ilulissat Icefjord Centre is the main gateway to understanding the Icefjord. Located just outside Ilulissat, the centre offers exhibitions on glaciers, climate, and life in the Arctic – all closely connected to the surrounding landscape.

Designed to blend into its natural setting, the building itself follows the terrain and invites visitors to move seamlessly between indoor exhibitions and outdoor viewpoints overlooking the Icefjord.

The Icefjord was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 due to its exceptional scientific value. It is considered “an outstanding example of a stage in the Earth’s history” from the last Ice Age of the Quaternary Period.

Its accessibility has allowed scientists to study the area for more than 250 years, contributing significantly to our understanding of ice-cap glaciology, climate change, and landscape-forming processes.

Ilulissat in september, iceberg, icefjord, Sermermiut - picture by Inesa Matuliauskaite

See you at the icefjord!

Thank you for reading along. We hope this article has given you a clearer sense of what makes the Ilulissat Icefjord such a remarkable place to experience – across seasons, from different perspectives, and at your own pace.

If you are ready to explore further, you can browse more tours in Ilulissat and find experiences that match the way you want to travel. And if you would like help designing your journey, our tour planner is there to help you – making it easier to put together a trip that fits your interests, timing, and travel style.

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