

Face to face with Russell Glacier
Published: 17/06/2020
Reading time: 3 minutes
“Why did you choose Greenland as a travel destination?” = “Simply because I want to enjoy the arctic nature in all its glory”
If this is what you would reply, then you must visit a glacier when coming Greenland. I had the opportunity to visit Kangerlussuaq and booked a flexible tour and the guide picked me up at the time I chose since I had no other chance to book it later.



When travelers are having a layover in Kangerlussuaq, this trip is the best they can get as a souvenir before leaving the settlement.
I was so lucky having Evald as a guide; he picked me up at my accommodation, drove through a monochromatic and frozen land, while talking about Kangerlussuaq and West Greenland. He speaks kalaallisut (Greenlandic), Danish, and English.



We had several stops in our way to the meeting with this giant, also took a look at the spot where people can find the remains of an American military plane which crashed during the 60’s between Kangerlussuaq and Russell Glacier.
Pilots survived fortunately and now visitors make a quick stop to see the wreckage, while admiring the landscape. Good to know you can still find the building of a Second World War American air base, here in Kangerlussuaq museum.



The facade of this spectacular glacier is located 25 km east of Kangerlussuaq, growing or moving 25 meters each year. This active glacier flows from the Greenland Ice cap in the western direction and we get there by car and a short hike in order to reach the edge of the glacier, where its wall can reach a height of 60 meters or even more!
During the hike pay attention to the scenery, because you can find more arctic friends on the road, such as reindeers, musk ox, ptarmigans, hares or foxes. If you were thinking about polar bears, discard the idea, because the chances to watch them in this area are really low.



So we reached the glacier… I just got speechless! So many facts and details to admire and be grateful for, an immense wall of ice greeting me, surrounded by a perfect silence and a cool wind hugging the special moment.
There are no pictures that could describe the feeling of standing in front of the glacier, catching the different shades of blue and white, and the sound o the waterfall coming from the glacier.



Evald brought coffee and cookies, so we had a cozy break in front of the glacier, trying to make this moment last longer. I will never forget this experience and I cannot wait to go back to Greenland!
Here is one of the videos I would like to share:
Read more travel blogs from Gabriela Zendejas Maldonado
-
Flights Included!
Wonders of Greenland | South Greenland
Tour startsFrom Copenhagen From IcelandDuration8 daysFrom 24500 DKKSee more -
Qorlortorsuaq Hike | Qeqertarsuaq | Disko Bay
Tour startsQeqertarsuaqDuration2 hoursFrom 595 DKKSee more -
Boat tour to Saattut Settlement | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration2 hoursFrom 1300 DKKSee more -
5.00(8)New tour!
Private Combined Boat & Kayaking tour by the Icefjord | Ilulissat
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 hoursFrom 1600 DKKSee more -
Snowmobile Adventure | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration4 hoursFrom 6000 DKKSee more -
Includes 1 to 7 Passengers!
Kangersuneq Fjord Safari | Private Charter | Qasigiannguit | Diskobay
Tour startsQasigiannguitDuration5 hoursFrom 6200 DKKSee more -
2026 dates!
East Greenland Adventure | 6 Days
Tour startsKulusukDuration6 daysFrom 15700 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
3-Day Wilderness Journey: Hiking, Kayaking & Camping | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 daysFrom 15200 DKKSee more -
1 to 6 PASSENGERS INCLUDED
Oqaatsut Settlement | Private Tour | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 hoursFrom 5850 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Afternoon Ilulissat Icefjord sailing | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration2 hoursFrom 700 DKKSee more -
New Tour!
Day Kayaking trough the Brede Bay | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration6 hoursFrom 2495 DKKSee more -
Kayaking tour from Tasiilaq | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration2.5 hoursFrom 900 DKKSee more -
5.00(3)Driver included!
Snowmobile tour to UNESCO viewpoint | Ilulissat
Tour startsIlulissatDuration2 hoursFrom 1500 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
UTV Glacier Expedition | Ilulissat – Ilimanaq | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration8 hoursFrom 3495 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Evening sailing with chance of Northern Lights | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration3 hoursFrom 950 DKKSee more -
4.75(8)
Qoornoq Island Adventure | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration4 hoursFrom 1450 DKKSee more -
Ice fishing | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration5 hoursFrom 2000 DKKSee more -
Dogsledding – 2 hours | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration2 hoursFrom 2400 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)
Discover Dogsledding | 2 hours | Sisimiut
Tour startsSisimiutDuration2 hoursFrom 1900 DKKSee more