Welcome to Nuuk

We fly with Air Greenland from Copenhagen to Nuuk. The flight takes approximately 4½ hours, followed by an eight-day adventure.

Upon arrival, you’ll check in at Hotel Hans Egede Express. The guide will hold an information meeting to provide details about experiences in Nuuk, dining, and additional excursion options. You’ll also confirm the excursions you’ve already booked, with the possibility of booking more during the meeting.

After the meeting, take the opportunity to explore Nuuk on a city tour.

Our city tour begins with a visit to the Greenland National Museum, where you’ll explore artifacts from all periods and civilizations in Greenland. After about 30 minutes at the museum, we’ll continue to Kolonihavnen, an area featuring original houses from the 17th and 18th centuries. Along the way, we’ll pass Hans Egede’s house, the Mother of the Sea sculpture, and the controversial statue of Hans Egede at the Greenland Cathedral.

Next, we’ll visit ‘Kalaaliaraq,’ the traditional market, where locally caught fish, seals, and reindeer are sold.

We’ll then proceed to Greenland’s government buildings and the Greenland Cultural Center Katuaq. Following our visit to Katuaq, we’ll meet with a local family who will serve coffee and cake while sharing insights into life in Greenland's capital.

Finally, we’ll return to the city center, offering excellent shopping opportunities and various other exciting activities.

Exploring Nuuk and Qoornoq

Today, you have the freedom to explore the beautifully situated capital city at your own pace and going on a boat tour to the settlement of Qoornoq.

The Qoornoq tour is a 3-in-1 experience that includes visiting Qoornoq, sailing through the vast Nuuk Fjord, and viewing a stunning waterfall. Qoornoq, also known as Bear Island, is named because the island resembles a bear when seen from above, not due to an actual presence of polar bears.

Our journey begins as we sail out of Nuuk and venture deep into the Nuuk Fjord. Our first stop is the abandoned settlement of Qoornoq, now a popular cottage area for many Nuuk residents. We’ll disembark and explore the settlement, including an old fish factory with a small railway attached.

Next, we’ll sail past remnants of old Norse ruins before heading into one of the fjord system’s many other fjords to see the iconic waterfall at the back of Sermitsiaq Mountain, one of Nuuk’s most recognizable landmarks.

Remember to bring your warm clothes, as it gets cold out on the water.

Journey to Ilulissat

Today, we head towards Ilulissat on a beautiful 45-minute flight. This scenic journey offers breathtaking views of the landscape, the vast expanse, and the grandeur of the ice. As we approach Ilulissat, the town appears seemingly out of nowhere, with colorful houses standing out among the snow-covered peaks. Upon landing, get ready for a few days filled with ice, early signs of spring, and retired dog sleds, combined with cultural highlights from this traditional Greenlandic town.

We will check in at the cozy Hotel Arctic before attending an information meeting. The first adventure on our agenda is a guided tour of the town. Learn about the town’s history and see how life is lived north of the Polar Circle. Founded in 1741, Ilulissat is now the third-largest town in Greenland, with over 4,500 inhabitants.

You’ll encounter and hear the many thousands of sled dogs living here. Unless they are out on a trip, most of the dogs are kept outside the town in large dog areas.

Tonight, we invite you to dinner at the hotel (excluding drinks).

Sailing among icebergs

Another day in Ilulissat filled with opportunities! You can visit one of the traditional handicraft workshops and find unique souvenirs made from sealskin, tusk, and bone. Moreover, you are going on a sailing tour!

Almost every visitor to Ilulissat opts for 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 colossal, sometimes measuring over 100 meters in width and length, with heights reaching up to 100 meters above the water surface. These giants gather at the fjord's end, offering a spectacular opportunity to sail among them. This is an exceptional experience that you shouldn’t miss when visiting Ilulissat.

The icebergs are stunning in all types of weather. In the sunshine, the contrasts are vivid; the blue shades are mesmerizing on cloudy days, and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the ice sculptures at night. A boat trip on a bright night is an extraordinary experience. Remember to bring warm clothes, or you can rent a sealskin suit.

Exploring Ilulissat's Rich Heritage

Today, immerse yourself in history by visiting the museum that was Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace, where you can learn about the area's rich past. At the open market, fishers and hunters showcase a variety of exciting Greenlandic food products – the freshest you can find.

After taking in the many views and impressions, it’s time to enjoy lunch! In Ilulissat's restaurants, you can try local specialties such as Greenlandic sushi, deep-fried “ammassats” (small fish), whale, and seal. The cafés offer freshly baked cakes. This trip is sure to engage all your senses!

Day Trip to Oqaatsut

This excursion departs from the port of Ilulissat, and about half an hour later, you’ll arrive in Oqaatsut. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided walk through the settlement, followed by a delicious lunch at Restaurant H8. Afterward, you’ll have time to explore the village or the surrounding area at your own pace before returning home.

Spring has come to an end

Your Greenland adventure has come to an end, and we bid you farewell at Ilulissat Airport.  From Ilulissat you fly south, back to Nuuk, to catch the flight to Denmark.

Flights from Greenland are sometimes subject to delays due to bad weather. We, therefore, recommend that you do not book your flight departure to where you are heading next on the same night.