What’s included: Flights to/from Reykjavik – Ilulissat, whale watching tour, Eqi boat tour, boat transfer to/from Ilimanaq, hostel, guesthouse or hotel acc. in Ilulissat and hut in a glacier lodge (all in double occupancy) & roadbook
Departures: June: after 18th June Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat. July and August: Every day*
Duration: 8 days
Accommodation: Hostel, guesthouse or hotel in Ilulissat and luxury cabin in Ilimanaq.
Staying overnight at Ilimanaq Lodge, enjoying the evening sunset over the Icefjord on your terrace
Whale Watching near the icefjord
Discover a world of glaciers and icebergs on this self guided tour
Everything starts with your flight from from Reykjavík to Ilulissat. After you’ve settled in, the first afternoon begins with a visit to the town and a short walk to the the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Ilulissat Icefjord.
The next three days are devoted to the beautiful town Ilimanaq. Ilimanaq has in recent years been restoring their colonial history and showing pride rather than resentment over it. The heart of this project is the restoration of commander Paul Egede’s house from 1751 and construction of beautiful lodges by the icefjord. This is a perfect place to dive into the curious history of Greenland, while surrounded by the beautiful landscapes and whales that attracted the Europeans to begin with.
After returning to Ilulissat you’ll have a day to go on a whale watching tour and a day for hiking along the ice filled Kangia fjord (Ilulissat Icefjord). A free day in Ilulissat gives the opportunity to visit the very interesting museum of Ilulissat or to take on additional optional tours like a sightseeing by plane to see the UNESCO area from above, go on a guided town walk and learn more about the history and life in this charming town or visit a small Inuit village before flying back to Reykjavík – See more optional activities here .
This is a self guided tour allowing you to enjoy the freedom of travelling on your own while we take care of your hectic travel plans. We arranged transfers and accommodations just for you! Plus, you get a day-to-day itinerary, maps and a detailed road book where we’ll even throw in some great tips that only our certified professional guides know!
Included in tour: Flight from Reykjavík to Ilulissat and back to Reykjavík, accommodation in guesthouse/hotel/hostel in Ilulissat and in a hut at the Ilimanaq Lodge, full day boat tour to Eqi calving Glacier (lunch included), whale watching excursion, maps and itinerary.
Departures: In June (from 18th): Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. In July and August: Every day. Please contact our office for more information.
*The price depends on the flight rate and hotel availability on the date concerned.
Read about Dennis & Alexander’s epic experience on this tour in the summer of 2016.
Watch a video from the area – shot by an outdoor photographer documenting his first meeting with the UNESCO classified icefjord, the Eqi Glacier and the Greenland ice cap.
If you have more questions, please check our FAQs. If you do not find the answer please contact us: booking@greenland.is
Thanks for your interest in this tour! However, we need to verify flight availability on your selected dates. Please indicate your preferred dates below and we’ll contact you with verification within 48 hours.
Day 1: Flight from Reykjavík to Ilulissat. Arrival to Ilulissat in the beginning of afternoon. Walk to the Unesco classified Ilulissat/Kangia Icefjord. Night in Hostel or Hotel.
Day 2: Early departure by boat to Ilimanaq. it is just an hours’ ride, so you have the whole day to explore the village and the amazing newly renovated colonial buildings. You will be taken on a 2 hour guided walk around the village. The house is from the early colonial times in the 1750’s, it was commandant’s Paul Egede’s house. Today, the houses have a social function, a place wehre the locals gather to sell local produce and crafts… and just discuss the weather and hunting grounds! There is also an historic exhibit in the house. This is an example of how the old and the new can blossom together.
You will spend the night in Ilimanaq lodge, a newly opened cabin by the fjord with great views over the icefjord. Be prepared for a jaw dropping sunset from your very own terrace. An heartwarming spirit (from the duty free at Reykajvík Aiport) or a warm night cap will be appropriate!
Day 3: After breakfast, we suggest you ask for the best walk trails in the area. There should be not shortage. If you walk by the fjord, you might spot whales in the waters. Listen for the blow, they are the best way to spot them!
After lunch we suggest a kaffimik, which is what Greenlander’s call coffee invites. A kaffimik is the base for Greenlander’s social life. This means that you will be invited to a local family’s house for coffee and cake… and who knows, perhaps dry seal and blubber 😉 This is a great change to form a link between the locals and the travels, and a perfect change for you to ask the questions that have come up as you have travelled through the culture and landcapes.
In case you do not like the seal, there is a first class restaurant in one of the newly rennovated colonial houses. They prepare modern cousine from the fresh and local ingredients.
You will stay at Ilimanaq lodge again.
Day 4: You can enjoy a quit morning before the boat takes you back to Ilulissat. You have the day there to explore town, buy souvenirs from the local artists and … or… visit the old church of Ilulissat and the Knud Rasmusen museum. Night in guesthouse/hotel.
Day 5: Today you will go on a 4 hours whale watching excursion between the floating icebergs in the Disco Bay. Now you will see if you have adopdet the focused eye of the Inuit, from which nothing passes. Night in guesthouse/hotel.
Day 6: Free day in Ilulissat. If you enjoy hiking, we recommend exploring more in depth the famous UNESCO site on a walk along the Ilulissat/Kangia icefjord. The Kangia glacier is the fastest in the world and pushes an impressive number of huge icebergs into the sea. An unforgettable walk. 3 – 7 hrs walk. Night in guesthouse/hotel. Possibility to ad excursions to your itinerary.
Day 7: Today you have a full day boat tour to the calving glacier Eqi. Eqi is the only glacier in this area where you can get really close and experience the amazing thundering and calving of ice. While sailing to Eqi you can enjoy the amazing nature surrounding you, getting lost in thought and leave all worries behind. Once you are at the glacier the captain will stop the engine and you can enjoy the sight of the Eqi glacier in silence and hear the thunder-like noises it makes when moving. Lunch will either be served on board on the boat or at the abandoned settlement Ataa. Night in guesthouse/hotel.
Day 8: Time to do the last stroll in town. Afternoon flight back to Iceland.
There is no need to be bored in and around Ilulissat. There are so many interesting activities to choose from if you wish to add a day, fill a free day or just exchange one tour out for another. We have getherd our favorites that we believe could fit well. Contact us with your ideas: booking@greenland.is
BOAT TOURS
When visiting Disko Bay, a boat tour is a must! Cruising between the huge icebergs that have calved from the glacier in the area is an extraordinary experience. Choose your experience on your boating tour; visit a charming hunter’s village, go whale watching or spice up the experience on an icefjord cruise in the midnight sun.
Available from June to September.
2-8 hours
Price from 110 Euro per person
Contact us to set it up: booking@greenland.is
KAYAKING
Did you know that kayaking is an Inuit invention? It is! You will see why when you experience the tranquility and closeness to the icebergs when you navigate among the icebergs in the UNESCO Kangia Icefjord. A local guide will teach you the basic paddle techniques so that you can navigate and explore. You can paddle from 2 hours in the sunset, up to a full day… all after how much time and energy you have.
Available from Ilulissat and Ilimanaq in July and August.
Guided kayaking tour 2-8 hours
Price from: 215 Euros per person
Contact us to set it up: booking@greenland.is
OQAATUST VILLAGE LIFE
The settlement of Oqaatsut – the name means cormorants and it used to be a popular spot for cormorants and later on it was known as a whaling station – that’s where the Danish name – Rodebay – comes from: The Dutch whalers gave it its name, meaning “red bay”. This insightful tour includes a bit of every aspect of Inuit life; fishing, processing, eating and dogsledding.
Available from June to September
Sightseeing and culture tour (7 hours)
Price from: 300 Euros per person
Contact us to set it up: booking@greenland.is
DOG SLEDDING ON DISKO ISLAND
Photo: Mads Pihl, Visit Greenland
Even though dogsledding is a winter activity, there is a change to try it during the summer as well. You can visit Disko Island, hike up to the glacier (with our without a guide) and go on the sleds on the ice. Imagine it being -30°C cold, and you were an Inuit hunter, but enjoy the summer view from the top. If you are even more adventurous than this, you can stay at a cabin up in the mountains before going back to Ilulissat.
Available from Disko Island, Qeqertarsuaq, in June to August.
Dogsledding tour and more (2- 24 hours)
Price from: 175 Euros per person
Contact us to set it up: booking@greenland.is
HELICOPTER AND FLIGHT-SEEING
Get a birds eye view… and even land on the Greenland Ice Cap.
Available from Ilulissat from June to August
1-2 hours
Price from: 450 Euros per person
Contact us to set it up: booking@greenland.is
HIKING
There are endless hiking possibilities in and around Ilulissat. Most of them you can do by yourself, but if you prefer to have a guide, that is also a possibility.
Available from Ilulissat and Ilimanaq all summer.
Price from: 80 Euros per person
Contact us to set it up: booking@greenland.is
CITY WALK, MEET THE LOCALS, AND THEIR DOGS
Greenland is called Kalaallit Nunaat, the land of the people. While the majority of the activities in Greenland are based on the idea of going out into the sublime nature, but there is no reason to leave the people and the city out… nor the dogs. You can get a guided city walk, meet the locals at their homes or meet a dog musher and learn how they keep the sled dogs… or combine all three.
