Itinerary Details
Upon your arrival at the colorful Ilulissat airport (JAV), you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative who will accompany you to the hotel.
Ilulissat is a coastal town in western Greenland, and the third-largest city in the country. Its name is the Kalaallisut word for "Icebergs", since the town is known for the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord (a UNESCO Heritage Site) and several other enormous icebergs in Disko Bay, shed by the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the most productive glaciers in the northern hemisphere.
After relaxing a bit, you can stroll through the town, connecting with the locals, checking from afar the icebergs in the bay, and getting to know the city. In the evening, you will visit with a boat the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, sailing among the giant icebergs at Disko Bay. Since end of July is the peak of the whal- watching season, there is a good chance to spot these amazing marine mammals on your first day in Greenland.
Accommodation: Best Western hotel or similar.
After breakfast, you will head to Oqaatsut: a beautiful small and still authentic settlement, 20 kilometers north of Ilulissat. The place is also known as Rodebay: a trading post for Dutch whalers in the 18th century. Today, whales are not hunted anymore in the area, but visitors can still feel and see the remnants of the old glorious days everywhere.
The day will start with a boat trip along the amazing coastline from Ilulissat to Oqaatsut, sailing among huge icebergs. When in Oqaatsut, you will embark on a kayaking adventure. After a safety-briefing and a short training, you will gear up and head to the sea, where you will spend two hours exploring the icebergs and the small caves in the area with your kayak. If lucky, you might even spot a whale or two.
Mid-day, you will enjoy lunch while your experienced guide will share details and stories of life in Oqaatsut, explaining the history and culture of the area. After lunch, you will go for a short walk around the settlement to see for yourself how life unfolds in an isolated Greenlandic settlement with only 25 inhabitants.
At the end of the day, you will return to Ilulissat by boat.
Accommodation: Best Western hotel or similar
After breakfast, you will go on a guided tour to get better acquainted with Ilulissat and Greenland, in general. The guide will share stories of the city’s history and the Greenlandic culture, and details on modern life 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Among other things, you will stop by the fishermen at the harbor and the hunters at "brættet", and you will pass by the birthplace of Knud Rasmussen (the famous polar explorer) and the old wooden Zion Church.
Afterwards, you will visit the dog kennels. In Ilulissat, winter lasts for six months, during which, one can sled extensively. About 1800 dogs are used for sledding, both for work and recreation. The fishermen still use the dogs to transfer the Greenland halibut from Icefjord to Ilulissat. Even today, the modern snow scooters can’t compete with the 2000-year-old Greenlandic way of transportation: the dogsled. On this tour, you will join the feeding of the dogs, while seeing from up close the sled, the harness, and the whip, and learning details on the life of the sled-dogs in Greenland.
The day will end with a fishing trip in the Disko Bay area. You will meet your captain in the harbor of Ilulissat, and from there, you will embark on your new adventure. When at the best fishing spots, the captain will brief you on the inside-techniques of sea angling, so you are sure to get a fish on the hook. Disko Bay is rich in cod, halibut and Arctic char. While waiting for the fish to bite, enjoy the beautiful setting and the migrating icebergs. If you are lucky you might spot a few of the many whales that reside at Disko Bay in the summer.
Accommodation: Best Western hotel or similar
Today, you will enjoy a 5-hour hike in the UNESCO-protected area of Kangia: the Ilulissat Icefjord, along the “Blue Trail”.
You will wear your altimeter and hike up through the Qoororsuaq gorge: a quarry that works as a corridor through the protected site. At the top, you will enjoy panoramic views of the town and Disko Bay. You will descend from the other side, towards the Icefjord. On the way back to Ilulissat, you will continue hiking amidst one of the most fantastic and wildest ice landscapes in the world. You can also observe the interesting local flora, while your guide will point out old Inuit graves that are scattered around.
Hiking distance - 6.9kms / 5 hours
Accommodation: Best Western hotel or similar.
After breakfast, you will visit by boat the incredible Eqi Glacier (also known as Eqip Sermia in Greenlandic): one of the biggest calving glaciers in Greenland, located 70 kilometers north of Ilulissat. Approach the Eqi glacier is always breathtaking. The four-kilometer wide and 200-meter-tall wall of ice rises between the mountains on the beautiful Greenlandic coast. You can hear and see massive calving from afar, as huge chunks of ice break off and hit the water.
The tour will last around 6 hours, as you will travel fast with a Targa boat (2 hours to reach the glacier, 2 to explore it, and 2 to return). Also, you may make minor detours, if whales or other natural attractions are spotted nearby. During the expedition, your experienced guide will share details on the surrounding nature, the glacier itself and the cultural history of the area.
The Targa is built for offshore boating and has a limited number of seats. It is equipped with comfortable seats, a flybridge allowing great views of all sides, air conditioning and a toilet. Coffee, tea, water facilities are also available.
Once back to Ilulissat, enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace.
Accommodation: Best Western hotel or similar.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Ilulissat airport (JAV) for your international flight back home.
