Adventure North and South of Ilulissat Icefjord

Your journey continues to Ilulissat and the Ice fjord by plane. The fact that Ilulissat means icebergs in Greenlandic is undeniably linked to the beautiful Ice fjord and the number of icebergs floating around at their own pace.

Arrival and accommodation in Ilulissat. Upon arrival in Ilulissat, you will be transferred to Hotel Arctic, with the most beautiful views of Disko Bay.

Approximately one hour after check-in at the hotel, you can attend an information meeting where a guide will tell you a little about the town and the many excursion options. After this, you’ll be prepared for a fantastic stay in this amazing area.

Suggestions for excursions and activities with a guide or on your own
You will find our subsidiary, Arctic Excursions, in the hotel lobby in Ilulissat. They offer many excursions that will give you an impression of the town’s ideal mix of authentic culture in a modern, thriving society – and its strong connection to fascinating nature. Please ask your guide if you have any questions about excursions and activities.

Cultural-historical town tour of Ilulissat (included in excursion package)
On our cultural-historical city walk, we go a step deeper than if you walk alone with a map in your hand. Here you can start your experiences by gaining a deeper understanding of Greenland’s culture and history, giving all your other experiences in Greenland more perspective.

Ilulissat was founded as a trading post in 1741, and today, it is Greenland’s third-largest town, with over 4,500 inhabitants. On the walking tour, your guide will tell you about the history of the place, Greenlandic culture, and modern life 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Along the way, we pass the harbor, meet the vendors at the local food market, and pass Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace and the old wooden Zion Church.

Meet the Greenlandic Sled Dogs – A Living Arctic Tradition (included in excursion package)
Step into the world of Greenland’s iconic sled dogs on this guided tour that brings you closer to one of the Arctic’s most enduring symbols. Learn about their deep cultural roots, their role in traditional life, and how they continue to adapt in a changing world. Led by a knowledgeable guide, you’ll hear stories and insights about how these resilient dogs have helped shape life in the Arctic, from transportation and hunting to their continued relevance in today’s remote communities. You’ll gain a meaningful understanding of the special bond between humans and sled dogs in Greenland.

The tour takes place outdoors, where the dogs thrive in their natural habitat. Their thick coats protect them against the harsh cold, making them well-suited for the open environment – not as indoor pets, but as strong, working companions. With the owner’s permission, you may approach selected dogs and experience the individual dog up close. We always prioritize your safety and the well-being of the animals, so any interaction is guided and respectful. You’ll also get a chance to explore traditional sledding gear and learn how it connects past and present practices in dog sledding culture.

This tour is ideal for families and curious travelers of all ages looking for an authentic, educational experience focused on Greenlandic wildlife and tradition. It’s an encounter that will stay with you long after your journey ends.

Please note: For the safety and comfort of guests and dogs, approaching the animals without the owner’s permission is prohibited.

In the evening, a lovely welcome dinner is served in the hotel restaurant (drinks not included).

Hotel/Other Details: Hotel Arctic

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

As mentioned, Ilulissat is the Greenlandic word for icebergs. The town is beautifully situated at the mouth of the long and world-famous Ilulissat Ice fjord, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. The ice is stunning; you can experience it from water, land, and air.

Hike to the former Sermermiut settlement at the Ice fjord (included in excursion package)
The beautiful icebergs of the Ilulissat Ice fjord form the backdrop for the ancient settlement of Sermermiut, one and a half kilometers south of the town. For 4,000 years, the different Inuit cultures lived at the settlement, and today you can still see many remains that testify to their presence.

You’ll hear the story of Greenlanders’ life and customs before the arrival of Europeans, see ruins and old kitchen middens, and feel the permafrost with your hands. On the short hike, we turn around at the viewpoint at Kællingekløften, which was made famous in the Danish TV show Borgen.

Many people find having a guide on their first hikes in the Greenlandic hills mountains reassuring.

At night you get to see the icebergs from the sea.

Sailing among Icebergs (included in excursion package)
The rays of the midnight sun give the icebergs a unique color that some people return to Ilulissat to experience again and again. Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to try this iceberg cruise at least once. More than 40 million tons of ice flow daily from the Ilulissat Glacier into the Ice fjord.

The result is enormous icebergs that can be hundreds of meters on each side and extend up to 70 meters above sea level. These giants are stranded at the mouth of the Ice fjord, and here you have the opportunity to sail among them. Bring warm clothes for the trip or rent a sealskin suit because even in summer, it’s cold out here on the water between the icebergs.

Hotel/Other Details: Hotel Arctic

Meal Plan: Breakfast

In the morning, there is an early departure from Ilimanaq. Enjoy your last day in Ilulissat: shopping, lounging in a cafe, and enjoying the magnificent views. You can also choose to take a boat trip to Eqi Glacier.

Day trip to Eqi Glacier (optional excursion)
We set out in the morning from Ilulissat. The Eqi Glacier flows into the fjord 80 kilometers north of Ilulissat. By boat, getting relatively close to the glacier’s edge and watching it calve large chunks of ice from a safe distance is possible. Our ice-safe ship lies in the water near the glacier for about two hours, waiting for the ice to calve. A good lunch is also served here.

The length of the trip to and from Eqi Glacier can vary between two and five hours each way, depending on the type of boat used that day. At 2:00 PM, the ship arrives at Port Victor, the ‘port’ of Glacier Lodge Eqi, where some passengers disembark and others board. Then it’s time to go back to Ilulissat.

Hotel/Other Details: Hotel Arctic

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Today, we sail south of the Ice fjord to Ilimanaq, where you will stay two nights in the fantastic cabins at Ilimanaq Lodge.

Ilimanaq Lodge
We depart in the morning and sail past the mouth of the Ice fjord before docking at the harbor in Ilimanaq about 45 minutes later.

The cabins at Ilimanaq Lodge are amazing: They have two floors with sleeping spaces upstairs. When you wake up in the morning, you can step down to the living room, sit on the sofa and watch the small fishing boats chug by on the crystal clear water. You may enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace and wave to a passing whale, blowing you a “good morning water” with water from its blowhole. Ilimanaq Lodge combines magnificent nature experiences with luxurious comfort.

Once you’ve checked into your cabin, you’ll learn more about the village and go on a short tour.

Village walk
Ilimanaq is located 15 kilometers south of Ilulissat and has about 50 inhabitants. Ilimanaq offers the entire color palette, from the brightly colored village houses to the landscape’s seasonal changing shades. Ilimanaq is a traditional Greenlandic settlement where the main industries are still hunting and fishing.

Afterward, you can relax, enjoy life in a quiet village, and perhaps laze on the terrace.

In the evening, dinner is served in a restored colonial building.

Hotel/Other Details: Ilimanaq Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

This morning, there are more treats at the delicious breakfast.

Today, you have the day on your own in Ilimanaq and can enjoy a nice lunch and dinner (drinks excluded). You can spend more time in the village, or alternatively, you can go hiking in the area.

You can also book the excursion describes below. It starts early in the morning – just after breakfast.

Ilimanaq Glacier Adventure (optional excursion)
On this exciting tour, you’ll go speedboating, off-road with ATVs, and trekking on a glacier! Then you sail from Ilimanaq south to Itilliup Ilua. Here, you get off the boat on a very wide sandy beach, and now we drive off-road in ATVs to Tasiusaq Fjord. We board another boat and sail deeper into the fjord between the icebergs until we see two glaciers and the ice sheet.

We go ashore and enjoy a packed lunch and the view. Then we hike a bit and finally climb onto the huge ice sheet.

This tour is not recommended if you have severe neck or back problems; participants must be 12 years old.

Hotel/Other Details: Ilimanaq Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Today you have the opportunity for more water adventures.

Whale watching (included in excursion package)
Most people are surprised by what a great experience it is to get close to animals as large as whales. Once you’ve experienced it, it’s a thrill of a lifetime and an experience you’ll never forget. In Greenlandic waters, you can encounter around 15 species of whales.

During the summer months, you’ll usually see humpback, minke, and fin whales. The whales swim around the entire Disko Bay in the summer, sometimes close to the towns, sometimes in the Ice fjord or up north at Arveprinsens Ejland.

We use the fast Targa boat type to cover a lot of ground. In addition, the skippers are in contact with the fishermen, so they know where to find the whales.

Today you can also try your hand at kayaking in the homeland of the kayak.

Kayak Experience in Ilulissat (optional excursion)
The Inuit have been kayaking in Greenlandic waters for over a thousand years, and you can try it, too. The kayak glides silently through the water, and you’ll experience paddling among ice floes and icebergs.

The sun gives the ice a unique play of colors, and the ice can range from chalky white to golden hues. In cloudy weather, the beautiful blue colors of the icebergs will stand out. With a bit of luck, you may also encounter whales. The tours take place in stable double kayaks, and you are accompanied by a support boat. The excursion lasts 3½-4 hours, and you’ll be on the water for at least two hours.

Hotel/Other Details: Hotel Artic

Meal Plan: Breakfast

With a view of the Ice fjord and your last view of the icebergs, you journey back home again after many eventful and intense days. Air Greenland brings you from Ilulissat via Nuuk to Copenhagen, where you arrive in the evening.

We guarantee you will return home with your mental luggage filled with memories that will linger with you longer than other vacation memories. At least, that’s what our visitors tell us.

Meal Plan: Breakfast