"Life is short and the world is wide" - Simon Raven
Well said, Simon. And where does your next trip goes to? If you are considering going to Greenland. This tour is a great way to get to explore a part of the world's biggest Island.
With no more than 56.000 people - is Greenland the least populated place on earth. What does that say about Greenland? That you can go to so many, many places where you'll be in the middle of nowhere - far away from everything. This will give you the ultimate nature experience. Isn't that what we all dream of?
The keyword of this tour is without a doubt: Tasermiut Fjord.
Tasermiut Fjord is 70 km long and considered as one of the ten wonders of the Arctic by Lonely Planet. You will be paddling through the southwestern part of Greenland to reach the "big walls", Icebergs and sandy beaches.
You will start and end this tour in small villages. This will give you a clearer idea and understanding of the Greenlandic people. The days in between will be well spent in the pure nature. This will give you a clearer idea of what nature is able to create, and why this country is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
In 15 days we promise to show you all the gems in the southwestern part of Greenland. Click on the Itinerary tab to read more information about each day of the tour, and then reserve your place on this kayaking exploration of Tasermiut by clicking on Book Now. Just one departure available!
Activities
Camping & Lodge stay
Glacier Views
Hiking
Hot Spring Bathing
Iceberg Views
Kayaking & SUP
Settlement Visit
Attractions
Norse Ruins
Qooroq Icefjord
Sermilik Fjord
Uunartoq Hot Springs
Day 1
Arriving in Greenland
Your grand fjord kayaking adventure starts by you arriving in South Greenland. On your flight to Greenland, you can enjoy a birds-eye view of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the nunataks peaking up through the white glacial landscape (if the sky is clear).
Your flight brings you to Narsarsuaq, where you will meet your experienced guide at the airport reception. From Narsarsuaq, you will sail Narsaq town on a one-hour zodiac boat tour. We will do an overnight stopover in Narsaq, so you can settle into the time zone and stock up on everything you might have forgotten before leaving your start destination.
Narsaq is a small charming town with approx. 1500 inhabitants, located on the shores of Tunulliarfik Fjord. Stroll through the city, enjoy the picturesque surroundings or head to bed early.
Dinner will take place at Kayak Hostel, where you also will stay overnight.
Day 2
Fjord & City Sightseeing | Qaqortoq & Nanortalik
Your second day in Greenland brings you to the capital of South Greenland, Qaqortoq, and Greenland’s southern-most town, Nanortalik. On your way to the two destinations, you will be travelling through Erik The Reds Fjord and skerries on the outer coast.
South Greenland is renowned for its diverging climates, from the bare-rock surfaces and towering mountains of Tasermiut Fjord to the vegetated tundra, luscious green hills and agricultural friendly climate in Erik the Red’s Fjord. The journey of the next two days will be like travelling through two different worlds.
On your way to Qaqortoq, you will travel through the same routes as the Norse-Vikings, when they first arrived in the fjord approximately 1000 years ago. Here the Vikings established the first Greenlandic agriculture, that to this day dominates the fjord landscape. While travelling through these impressive landscapes of vegetated tundra, fields, mountains, waterfalls, you will also be travelling among voyaging icebergs, originating from the fjord’s several glaciers.
When arriving in Qaqortoq, you can stroll through town. Follow the stone carvings made by several artists of the north or visit the Qajaq club.
The tour continues by boat to Nanortalik. We will navigate along the outer coast through sets of archipelagoes, peninsulas and isthmuses. We will also do a midway stop to refuel in the small settlement, Alliutsup Paa.
Dinner will take place at the hostel in Nanortalik, where you will be sleeping. Dinner on your own.
Day 3
Entering Tasermiut Fjord | Day 3 to 6
Your kayaking adventure can finally begin. The next three days will be spent travelling through some the most pristine and unspoiled fjord landscapes, in the only presence of your co-travellers, guide and wildlife.
We leave Nanortalik by Zodiac boat and enter Tasermiut Fjord. The boat will drop us off by our camp near Kuusuaq River – one of the best places in South Greenland to fish for salmon and in some of Tasermiut’s most beautiful surroundings.
The camp is located not far from one of South Greenland’s only forests. From camp, you will set off, for the next few days, by kayak to explore Quingua Forest. Quingua forest is not of an impressive size, it is a small set of dwarf birch trees living in one of the toughest environments in the world. When we are not kayaking, you can explore the Kuusuaq area in-depth.
Night in tents by Kuusuaq river.
Day 4
Kayaking adventure
On this day, you are spending your day traveling through some of the most pristine and unspoiled fjord landscapes until day 7!
Day 5
Kayaking adventure
On this day, you are spending your day traveling through some of the most pristine and unspoiled fjord landscapes until day 7!
Day 6
Kayaking adventure
On this day, you are spending your day traveling through some of the most pristine and unspoiled fjord landscapes until day 7!
Day 7
Mountain Treks & Greenland Ice Sheet | Day 7 to 11
The routes that you will be paddling are flexible and are dependent on the overall strength of the group, stream and weather. Your kayaking voyage through Tasermiut starts on the eastern shores, where we travel along sandy beaches and towering mountain walls. We paddle to our camp by the large unglaciated mountain, Ketil.
Highlights of these four days include the big walls of the south - Mount Ulamertorsuaq, Nalumasortoq and Ketil – and a visit to a glacier branch of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Tasermiut Glacier.
These mountains tower all the way up, from 1830 meters to 2054 meters. To reach the mountains (not hike to the summit, but hike to a viewpoint) we will do treks. The treks are of an easy to modest difficulty and are each of about a two-hour duration. Each mountain has a characteristic shape. Mount. Ulamertorsuaq is often compared to be the Arctic version of Yosemite’s El Captain ( 1830 meters). Nalumasortoq is 2054 meters high and is shaped like an open book, each side of the book is 900 meters tall. Mount Ketil is shaped like a pyramid.
The treks do not only offer you a fantastic birds-eye view of the area but also an incredible walkthrough of Tasermiuts beautiful and diverging climate and ruins from the Norse Vikings – you will be exploring the ruins of the Norse-Viking’s monastery. Besides trekking, you will also be kayaking to a glacier branch of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Tasermiut Glacier. It is quite the sight to kayaking towards a massive glacier.
By the 11th day, we start making our way back to Nanortalik, paddling along the eastern shores.
Your diet these four days consist of Greenlandic commodities, in the form of fish, mussels, mushrooms, blueberries, crowberries and whatever the spectacular land can give.
Day 8
Exploring adventure
On this day, you are spending your day traveling through glaciers, mountains, and other breathtaking views until day 12!
Day 9
Exploring adventure
On this day, you are spending your day traveling through glaciers, mountains, and other breathtaking views until day 12!
Day 10
Exploring adventure
On this day, you are spending your day traveling through glaciers, mountains, and other breathtaking views until day 12!
Day 11
Exploring adventure
On this day, you are spending your day traveling through glaciers, mountains, and other breathtaking views until day 12!
Day 12
Returning to civilization
Depending on you and the group's energy and the weather, we start the day either by sailing by boat or paddling by kayak. The first destination on our way back to Nanortalik, is the Settlement Tasiusaq, from where we transfer by boat to Nanortalik.
After arriving in Nanortalik, the day is at your leisure. Enjoy the surroundings, bathe and visit the local museum, Museum of Inuit Culture.
Tonight’s dinner is not included in the tour, but dinner can be cooked at the hostel or enjoyed in Nanortalik’s restaurant. Overnight stay in hostel.
Day 13
Bathing in the thermal hotspring on Uunartoq Island
On your 13th day of this kayaking adventure, you will once again be making your way through South Greenland to Qaqortoq by boat.
En route, we will stop by Uunartoq Island to bathe in the soothing, natural hot springs. While soaking in the warm water, you can enjoy a spectacular view of voyaging icebergs and mountains – you won’t get better entertainment.
When arriving in Qaqortoq you can settle into the hostel and explore the town on your own.
Day 14
Hiking to Tasiusaq Bay
We transfer by helicopter to Narsarsuaq. From Narsarsuaq, we will travel across the fjord by boat to Qassiarsuk. Qassiarsuk is a small agricultural community with roads leading to several sheep farming stations. The beautifully located town was also favoured by the Norse-Vikings, as it was their capital.
From Qassiarsuk, we will hike on a dirt road to Tasiusaq Bay – a place only inhabited by three families who live of their farmland. The hike has a duration of 2 ½ hours at a comfortable pace and takes place in the most amazing surroundings. Arriving in the area, we will hike to a small summit from where we can overlook the iceberg-filled fjord, Sermilik.
It is possible to do an optional kayaking tour among icebergs for an additional fee. Tasiusaq has a small bay, with ideal conditions for kayaking among icebergs.
We stay overnight at Tasiusaq Hostel.
Day 15
Farewell
Before departing for your flight to either Iceland or Denmark, we make our way back to Qassiarsuk by foot and visit the Norse-Viking ruins of Brattahlid. We will do a walk-through of the open-air museum, displaying tales of the past and stories of the Norse-Vikings settlement in Qassiarsuk and South Greenland. The museum holds two reconstructions of a Norse-Viking and Inuit household, that both display the harsh and modest living conditions of the past.
We return to Narsarsuaq by boat and bid you farewell at the airport.
Included
Return flights between Keflavik International Airport - Narsarsuaq, Greenland
Narsarsusaq- Narsaq RIB boat transfer
Narsaq-Qaqortoq RIB boat transfer
City walk in Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq- Nanortalik RIB boat transfer
English-speaking expedition guide
Transfers in Greenland according to daily itinerary
Accommodation in tents during a kayaking expedition
Hostel overnight in Narsaq, Nanortalik
Full board (all meals during the tour, except dinner last day and lunch on flight days)
Kayaking tour 3-6 days in Tasermiut fjord
Easy hikes in Tasermiut fjord
Fishing, picking up mussels, berries etc.
Brattahlid reconstructions cultural visit - UNESCO area
Unartoq Hot Springs visit
Hike to Tasiusaq Bay
Kayak and equipment rental
Camping equipment
RIB boat travel equipment
Group size 6-12 people (plus guide)
Airport taxes and fees (approx. 280€)
Not included
Travel Insurance
Lunch on flight days and dinner last day
Unexpected expenses as a result of weather conditions (including difficulties or cancellations due to ice or weather conditions) or flight or boat delays.
Any other aspect not listed as "Included”
What to bring
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list:
Layered clothing. Ideally, you should pack a thermal underwear layer (top and bottom), activity layer (e.g. hiking pants and shirt), insulation layer (e.g. fleece or down jacket), and outer layer of windproof clothing (top and bottom). You may not need all of this on any particular day, but you should have it available. You should always bring a windproof jacket, regardless of the weather.
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
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate Since the Tasermiut fjord is very sheltered and has beaches all along its shores, embarkations and landings will be particularly easy at all times. This, together with the stability of our double kayaks, makes the previous experience in kayaking not essential, although desirable. However, skilled kayakers who know how to inuit roll may choose to use a single kayak on this trip.
From a physical point of view, the Exploration of the Tasermiut Fjord combines kayaking with fairly intense trekking, requiring some physical fitness or at least having a habit of countryside hiking to really enjoy the trip.
The tour will only be confirmed if there are between 6 and 12 participants.
Trips to Greenland are always subject to weather conditions. Delays and flight cancellations can happen. Therefore we strongly recommend you to buy travel insurance in the country of residence that would cover any additional travel expenses, should your flights be delayed or cancelled due to weather.
In Greenland the currency used is Danish Kroner (DKK), foreign currency is not widely accepted. It is recommended to bring Danish Kroner. Using credit and debit card, a PIN-code is required.
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.
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