DAY TO DAY PROGRAM
Day 1 – Monday: Arrival in Greenland – Ilulissat
When flying over Ilulissat, you know understand why the city got it’s name. Ilulissat means the city of icebergs.
After check-in at Ilulissat Guesthouse, you’ll get a welcoming and a short briefing from your local guide. It is now time for a city walk in one of the oldest towns in Greenland, Ilulissat, founded by Jacob Severinsen in 1741 as a Danish colony and port for whalers.
The city walk will end at the yellow track, where you will have a view over the ice fjord, and maybe, if we are lucky, we can spot whales. Bring a snack so you can stay a little bit longer just enjoying this amazing place.
In the evening it is time to get closer to the Arctic nature as we sail out to the icefjord to enjoy the midnight sun reflecting in the huge icebergs just outside town, where the UNESCO-area begins. If you are lucky, we will spot some of those beautiful creatures, whales.
Day 2 – Tuesday: UNESCO-hike to the waterfall by the ice fjord.
The day is devoted to a top hike in the back country of Ilulissat and a walk along the ice fjord and UNESCO site.
We start the day at the quarry, which is the back door to the ice fjord. Normally not too many people will be seen on these paths. From here we will start the ascent to get that beautiful top view over the ice fjord, Disko Island and Oqaatsut. Afterwards we continue down to the ice fjord, which we will hike along, until we reach the UNESCO-site, the Sermermiut Valley, where the ancient Inuit cultures settled for thousands of years. We still see vestiges of the Thule-culture. After a short break at The ”Kællinge” Gap we head back to the Guesthouse (today´s trail is approx. 15 km).
The rest of the day is on your own. You will have some time to take a look at the local souvenir shops and museums.
Day 3 – Wednesday: Two days hike with overnight in the settlement of Oqaatsut (-/L/D)
After breakfast it’s again time to head up north. Depending on weather conditions, we will sail for about 45 minuttes passing the settlement, Oqaatsut. Our luggage will be set off in Oqaatsut, so we don’t have to carry too much on today’s hike. Then the boat will take us further north, where we will be dropped off and start out our hike going south.
We will pass a waterfall and enjoy the view over the bay leading to the settlement. Today’s hike will be around 4-5 hours. The rest of the day we have to ourselves, relaxing in this quiet isolated place. During Summer time, the only way of getting to Oqaatsut is by boat, snow mobile, dog sledge or hiking. 27 people live here all year round. In the past Oqaatsut was the centre for whaling. Still today it’s possible to see hunters dragging a whale on shore, but it doesn’t happen too often anymore.
NB: Depending on group size, there is an option to stay the night in our wilderness cabin, which is situated just south of Oqaatsut. From the cabin you have the most amazing view over the Disko Bay with its icebergs and sometimes you can also spot whales.
Day 4 -Thursday: Hiking back to Ilulissat from Oqaatsut on the old mail route (B/L/-)
After spending a night in Oqaatsut, we will wake up to yet another day of hiking: The only sounds, you can hear, is the wind, the ocean and maybe the sound of the sled dogs.
On our hiking back to Ilulissat using the old mail route, we will pass lakes, streams, areas with Summer cabins and the view over the Disko Bay and the ice fjord, when we get closer to Ilulissat. Todays hike is around 7-8 hours depending on our pace. Total distance: 23 km
Back in Ilulissat, we will once again check in at Ilulissat Guesthouse.
Day 5, Friday: Hike to the ice cap – full day tour (-/L/-)
We start the day by sailing from Ilulissat up north, passing Oqaatsut and continue up in the Paakitsoq Fjord; this amazing fjord is a hidden gem with the most beautiful, isolated and pristine nature. After approximately 2 hours boat ride, we’ll start our hike towards the mountain peak, where we will have the most amazing view over the ice cap, waterfall and lagoon. It is a fantastic hike with great views.
We’ll find a nice picnic spot to eat our lunch before hiking back to the boat, sailing back towards Ilulissat. On the way back, we will of course go look for whales, and maybe we’ll be lucky to get close to (most likely) hump back whales. We set departure time according to the tide table.
Day 6: Saturday: Ilulissat – Kangerlussuaq – You will have the day to yourself
Departure from Ilulissat at 10:45 and arrival at 11:30 in Kangerlussuaq.
We will be accommodated at Polar Lodge hostel, and we will include a dinner at Restaurant Roklubben with a view over Lake Ferguson. Transfer to and from your accommodation is included.
You have the day to yourself to have a look at the settlement or mountain tops in the nearby surroundings, where you will have a beautiful view over the long fjord, settlement and tundra.
Today you are flying out of Ilulissat unless you have added some extra days and excursions. If you want inspiration, then can have a look at our catalogue with extra excursions with our local partner Ilulissat Adventure or ask us and we will help you out the best we can.
Day 7, Sunday: Hike on the ice cap
After breakfast we will head out for this very last adventure in Greenland. We are being picked up in 4wd-cars, which will take us to the ice cap after driving for about 1 hour through the Greenlandic Tundra, where we might be lucky to spot Mosk Ox, Reeindeer, Arctic rabbits, eagles and ravens in the sky.
Putting on crampons we are hiking on the ice cap amongst crevasses and moulins and rivers filled with melting water. We will be hiking for about 3-4 hours before returning to Kangerlussuaq.
Day 8: Monday: Goodbye Greenland
Today we will check out and check in for our return flight. We hope that you will have your rucksack filled with great memories from this Greenlandic adventure.
