8 Days Of The Inland Ice Sheet, Midnight Sun & Icebergs | West Greenland & Disko Bay
Tour Type
Vacation Package
Available
June - August
Duration
8 days
Difficulty
Easy
Start town
Copenhagen Ilulissat Kangerlussuaq
Description
Daily itinerary
Included
Useful information
Terms of service
Witness the most breathtaking place in the world on this 8-day package trip to Greenland. See Greenland’s most beautiful attractions, including the Greenland Ice Sheet, Ilulissat Icefjord, and the calving glacier Eqi.
Your trip departs from Copenhagen, Denmark, and takes you to Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland, and Ilulissat in Disko Bay. Once you get to Greenland, all that’s left is to follow our handpicked itinerary of the best adventures north of the Arctic Circle.
First stop - The settlement by the Ice Cap
The first part of your trip brings you to the gateway to Greenland, also known as Kangerlussuaq. Kangerlussuaq is a settlement that was originally established as an American airbase. It is the only place in Greenland, from where you can reach the Greenland Ice Sheet by car. You will be taking advantage of this opportunity as you are ascending onto the ice cap for a glacier hike.
While staying in Kangerlussuaq, you will be accommodated in Old Camp, a traditional hostel that overlooks Kangerlussuaq Fjord.
Second stop - The town by the icebergs
The second part of your trip brings you to the city by the icebergs, Ilulissat, Disko Bay. Widely held to be one of the most beautiful places in Greenland, Ilulissat is a remarkable travel destination. Ilulissat town neighbours the UNESCO World Heritage, Ilulissat Icefjord - an otherworldly scenery of towering icebergs in blue and white nuances. While staying in Ilulissat, you will be accommodated in the two-story guest house, Petrine’s Guesthouse. The house is located in the heart of Ilulissat and holds two double rooms and one single.
Embark on the perfect Greenland adventure by booking this exploration of Greenland north of the Arctic Circle. Select your travel date, and press ‘Book Now’ to secure your place!
Activities
Boat Tour
City Tour
Glacier Hiking
Glacier Views
Iceberg Views
Midnight Sun
UNESCO Site
Whale Watching
Attractions
Disko Bay
Eqi Glacier
Ice Sheet
Ilulissat Icefjord
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Day 1
Adventure On The Ice Cap
Get ready for a day of travelling. Your flight to Greenland departs from Copenhagen, Denmark, and brings you to Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland. The estimated duration of the flight is 4 1/2 hours.
Flying into Kangerlussuaq on a clear sky day, you can see the fjords circle around the icecap, and the Arctic tundra spread over mountains and valleys.
After picking up your luggage, you meet us in the arrival hall to transfer to the hostel Old Camp, where you will be staying overnight.
We take you on your first tour on this package trip. This day tour takes you to Point 660 - a place by the Greenland Ice Sheet, from where you will ascend onto the Ice Cap. We take you through 37 kilometres of Arctic desert by car, where you can enjoy impressive views of Arctic tundra, mountains, and the Kangerlussuaq river. Kangerlussuaq is one of the best places in Greenland to spot wildlife, why we might encounter wild caribou (reindeer), musk oxen and polar foxes.
Day 2
Capital Of Icebergs
Your tour continues by flight to Ilulissat, the town by the icebergs.
Ilulissat means ‘iceberg’ in Greenlandic, and there is no doubt about where the city inherited its name from. Ilulissat neighbours the UNESCO World Heritage, Ilulissat Icefjord. From the world’s most active glacier, Isua, the ice retracts and voyages towards Disko Bay - creating the otherworldly and ever-changing scenery of stranded and travelling icebergs.
Pick up your luggage and meet us outside for transfer to Petrine’s Guest House. Here you will be accommodated for the next 6 nights. Check-in is followed by an information meeting with our guide, who will provide you with an overview of the tour’s program, as well as additional excursion options.
We kick off your Ilulissat Adventure with a cultural-historical town walk. You will get familiar with Ilulissat and its historical and cultural attractions, including the polar explorer Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace, the local fish market ‘Brættet’ and Zion’s church.
Day 3
Ilulissat Icefjord
This tours itinerary allows you to tailor the trip of your dreams. You have the third day in Greenland to plan, coordinate and choose what you want to do before tonight’s tour brings you to Ilulissat Icefjord. Purchase a trip to the nearby settlement Ilimanaq for an insight into Greenland culture or book a kayaking tour among icebergs.
As mentioned, your third night in Greenland brings you to Ilulissat Icefjord under the midnight sun. From May to July, you can experience the natural phenomenon, the midnight sun. In the rays of the midnight sun, the blue and white nuanced scenery of icebergs transforms into an orange and red-coloured Icefjord. The sun illuminating the icebergs with its orange colours is a phenomenal colour play that needs to be experienced.
If your trip begins in August, you will be experiencing the Icefjord covered in the orange glow of the Greenlandic sunset, an equally unique and beautiful sight.
Day 4
The Calving Glacier Eqi
By boat, you depart for your 3rd-day tour in Greenland. Today you will be heading north of Ilulissat to experience the calving glacier Eqi. The glacier is located by the sea, providing you with the perfect opportunity to see a glacier wall.
Upon arrival, the boat anchors by the glacier, where you will be enjoying your lunch while overlooking the 3.4-kilometre-long glacier wall. An extraordinary sight in itself, but even a more marvellous sight to see the glacier calve ice. The trip has a duration of 5 to 8 hours.
In addition to seeing the calving glacier, you will bear witness to the Greenlandic wilderness. Sailing to and from the glacier, you will be venturing through the wide bay of Brede Bugt, the fjord system Pakitsoq and Ataa Sound. Along the way, you can enjoy pristine views of fjord landscapes with mountains, waterfalls and marine animals, such as whales and seals.
Day 5
Sermermiut Valley Exploration
Prepare yourself for some amazing views. Your fifth day in Greenland brings you to Sermermiut Valley on a fully guided tour. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, the valley offers both natural and cultural attractions for you to enjoy. You will be exploring the remaining ruins of former Inuit settlements and see the Icefjord from a new perspective.
From Ilulissat, you will be transported to a wooden boardwalk outside of Ilulissat, which will lead you to the Sermermiut Settlement and a viewpoint by Nakkaavik, that overlooks the Icefjord.
While walking to the main attractions, your knowledgeable guide will tell you about the valley’s history and the flora and fauna we come across.
The Sermermiut settlement has been occupied by different migrations of Inuit, dating 4000 years back. After having explored the settlement, the tour continues towards the Icefjord, which can be seen from the ruins. We hike up to the viewpoint for a panoramic view of Ilulissat Icefjord.
Day 6
Whale Safari in Ilulissat
Jump on the boat with us and enjoy views of Disko Bay on a whale safari. Disko Bay’s cold and krill-rich sea creates ideal conditions for the different species of whales, which is why Disko Bay also is known as the capital of whales. In Disko Bay, we often meet humpback whales, minke whales and fin whales.
Day 7
Discover Ilulissat
Discover Ilulissat on your own. The town is full of both cultural and natural attractions.
Visit the newly established Icefjord Centre for a scientific insight into Ilulissat Icefjord, glaciers and icebergs. The centre is beautifully situated in Sermermiut Valley and is an elongation of the wooden boardwalk that you visited a couple of days earlier. The building in itself is an attraction, as its beautiful design is inspired by the wingspan of a flying snow owl. The center is open between 11.00 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center has an entrance fee of 150 DKK per person (100 DKK for children), which is paid on site.
Day 8
Returning to Copenhagen, Denmark
Your eighth day brings you on a flight back to Copenhagen, Denmark.
We transfer you to Ilulissat Airport. Today’s journey takes you from Ilulissat to Kangerlussuaq and from there back to Copenhagen.
Flights in Greenland are often subject to delays and bad weather, why we recommend that you do not book flights home the same evening or the day after arriving in Copenhagen.
Included
Flights Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq- Copenhagen
FlightKangerlussuaq - Ilulissat- Kangerlussuaq
20 kilos of checked luggage and 8 kilos of hand luggage
Food and drinks on Copenhagens flights
Airport transfers in Kangerlussuaq
Airport transfers in Ilulissat
1 night at the Old Camp hostel (shared bathroom/toilet)
1 x breakfast in Kangerlussuaq
6 nights in Guesthouse Petrine's house in Ilulissat (shared shower/toilet facilities)
Tour to the Greenland Ice Cap, Point 660 (5h)
Cultural-historical city walk in Ilulissat (2h)
Boat tour to Ilulissat Icefjord (2-2,5h)
Boat tour to Eqi glacier (6-12h depending on the boat)
Whale safari boat tour (3,5h)
Guided walk to Sermermiut (2h)
Not included
Airport taxes and fees
Travel insurance
Lunch on flight days
Optional excursions
Unexpected expenses as a result of weather conditions (including difficulties or cancellations due to ice or weather conditions) or flight or boat delays
Accommodation, transfers and food in Reykjavík or Copenhagen
What to bring
Warm hat, gloves, buff or scarf, gloves
Sturdy shoes (e.g. hiking boots)
Sunglasses, sunscreen & sun hat (depending on weather)
Day Pack
Camera with extra batteries
Water bottle
Additional Information
If traveling alone, you must choose the single room supplement when booking this tour.
Depending on the availability of flights to Greenland, a flight supplement may apply.
Trips to Greenland are always subject to weather conditions.
Delays and flight cancellations can happen. We therefore strongly recommend that you do not book onward international flights directly after your trip to Greenland. Give yourself at least one extra day to make an international connection.
We also recommend purchasing travel insurance that will cover any expenses should your flights be delayed or cancelled due to bad weather.
The airlines that fly to Greenland only allow 20 kg of checked-in baggage. If you go over this limit, there is a fee (often strictly enforced) for the extra weight.
It is important to bring cash in the form of Danish Krona to Greenland. While credit cards are accepted in larger locations (eg hotels, supermarkets), they may not be accepted elsewhere. Foreign currency is often not accepted.
There is a 4-hour time difference between Denmark and West Greenland.
Our customers are the foundation of Guide to Greenland so we make great efforts to provide you with the best possible service. We are located in Greenland and cooperate with everyone involved in the Greenlandic tourism industry. We are therefore perfectly placed to quickly react to changes or new wishes you may have to ensure you have the trip of a lifetime.
BOOK EARLY The earlier you book your trip, the better the prices will be, and the more likely you will be able to book the tour you want for the dates/times you want.
Package tours can be sold out more than half a year in advance (note that Guide to Greenland does not include international flights in packages, except where indicated from Iceland or Denmark). Day trips may sell out closer to your arrival date, but for popular destinations, certain dates/times can also sell out months in advance. We recommend that you secure all of your experiences by booking them well in advance of your trip.
CANCELLATIONS All cancellations must be made via e-mail.
Although Guide to Greenland is committed to ensuring the best protection and service for our customers in the event of a cancellation, we are obliged to charge cancellation fees. This is in accordance with Greenland travel industry business practices. Details can be found in our general cancellation policy
Note: Due to COVID-19, a temporary cancellation policy applies. You can find it in the footer of the website under the “Terms & Conditions”.
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