Colourful houses in Qeqertarsuaq
Request a quote Disko Island Exploration

5 days in Disko Bay incl. a visit to Disko Island

 from 600.00 €
Request a quote Disko Island Exploration

5 days in Disko Bay incl. a visit to Disko Island

 from 600.00 €

How many people are you?

Adults Children < 12 years

The trip you chose is offered from June to September. Within this given time, when can you travel?

Start
End

What accommodation level do you prefer?

Should we include international flights?

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From what airport do you want to fly?

We can customise this trip for you. What activities would you like to add?

On a 2,5 hour boat trip you will sail among the gigantic icebergs in Disko Bay in the evening sun. These frozen giants calved from the most productive glacier of the Northern Hemisphere, the Sermeq Kujalleq. It annually calves 45km³ of ice into the UNESCO Icefjord. Sailing around the gigantic icebergs in the evening sun is a fantastic experience. Remember to bring warm clothes.

In the evening, you go for an impressive kayaking trip among the gigantic icebergs in Disko Bay. The activity consists in kayaking along the coast of Ilulissat, from where you can see big icebergs coming from the Ilulissat Icefjord. You experience this breathtaking scenery in the most natural and traditional way. Just you and your kayak, paddling as Inuits used to so and some still do. Nonetheless all the safety measures are included: the best equipment in the market (clothing that enables you to swim in freezing waters and the most safe and stable kayaks) and if that were not enough, our kayak instructors have the highest qualifications and lots of experience kayaking in Arctic regions (to participate in this trip max height is 2m and weight is 110kg).

It is a big day today. You came here to see glaciers and icebergs. And you do not mean the small ones, you mean the massive ones. Well, we promise - this is what you are going to see. Standing in front of the enormous Ilulissat Icefjord will make you feel small and humble. An endless amount of ice pushing down from the glacier Sermeq Kujalleq towards the sea, where ice is calving constantly creating those majestic icebergs floating in Disko Bay. Here, at the Ilulissat Icefjord World Heritage Site, we also stop at Sermermiut, an abandoned Inuit settlement, which had been used by Saqqaq, Early Dorset and Thule cultures. Our guide will give you insights of the Inuit culture and will answer your questions.

Dressed in floating suit and life west you head out in the morning by open boat (RIB - rigid-inflatable boat) to have a taste of Greenlandic nature just north of Ilulissat. After a guided tour around the small settlement Oqaatsut you will leave towards a wilderness hut and on the way collect mussels, Greenlandic herbs and mushrooms - just like the Inuit that had to complement their diet that mainly consisted of meat and fish with further vitamins. The hut is much alike a local hunters hut with no electricity or running water and serves as a shelter if needed. Besides gathering food you will also do a short hike by the shore where old Inuit graves and tent rings can be found. Afterwards a delicious lunch will be prepared with the ingredients found in the nature. In the afternoon you head back to Ilulissat.

You will visit a local handcrafts woman at her house where she is revealing glimpse into her traditional skills. In the past the Inuit only wore clothes made from animal skin or fur since these were warm and hard-wearing and ideally adapted for Arctic climate. The Inuit saying “A man is what his wife makes him” shows the great deal of responsibility the women carried by carefully choosing the skins and perfectly processing them into clothes that protected people in the harsh arctic winter. You will come to know how these skilled and talented artists were creating the traditional Inuit clothing as well as the festive national dress and also enjoy coffee and cake together. By joining this tour you support the local women community and contribute to the preservation of Greenlandic handcraft.

Further information

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Colourful houses in Qeqertarsuaq
Equipment list Disko Island Exploration

5 days in Disko Bay incl. a visit to Disko Island
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Copy Link Download / Print
Equipment list Disko Island Exploration

5 days in Disko Bay incl. a visit to Disko Island

Below is an equipment list with items we highly recommend you bring on the journey. To enjoy the trip to the fullest, comfortable and good equipment is essential. So be a bit picky about what you bring on our trip, make sure it is adequate for arctic conditions.

Clothing & Footwear

  • Non-cotton, wool long sleeves and tights (base layer)

    Base layers are designed to keep you warm despite they might be wet from sweating, for example - therefore they must not be cotton but instead a lightweight wool or other fast-drying fiber. Base layers will also keep you warm if, for example, your outer layers are not entirely windproof or waterproof. If there is one thing to stress, it is that having several light layers to choose from, or use in combination with each other, is far more valuable for regulating body temperature than having one or two heavy layers that might make you too cold or too hot, but never just right. It is recommended to bring a selection of long-sleeve shirts and pants for lightweight base layers, so you have a few extras.

  • Wool sweater, fleece or PrimaLoft jacket (mid layer)

    A wool layer is always nice to have as additional warmth. It should not be your heaviest winter sweater, but just something you feel could make you warm and cosy if you had a persistent chill. It is recommended to bring a light- to medium-weight wool sweater or a fleece or prima loft jacket.

  • All-purpose or fleece pants (mid layer)

    When you are on land, and if it’s dry, the waterproof pants (outer layer) layer won’t be necessary, but you’ll need more than a base layer. It is recommended to bring a pair of light, loose breathable pants as a sort of all-purpose pants. Fleece pants can be useful if you easily feel cold. Jeans are strongly discouraged.

  • breathable light jacket (outer layer)

    When you’re on land, and if it’s dry, the waterproof jacket layer won’t be necessary, but you’ll need more than a base layer. It is recommended to bring a light jacket, or even a vest. Lightweight puffy jackets work well.

  • windproof & waterproof jacket and pants (outer layer)

    Whether it’s to protect you from wind and rain on land or from ocean spray while sailing, having good outer layers to protect against the elements will make the difference between a pleasant and unpleasant trip. It is recommended to bring both a windproof/waterproof jacket and a pair of windproof/waterproof rain pants. Gore-Tex is a leading manufacturer of breathable and waterproof layers.

  • warm hat and light (fleece) gloves

    A bit of wind, a mammoth iceberg nearby, and even fog can have more effect on the air temperature than you might imagine, and it can be magnified when sailing or standing a few hundred meters above sea level. Even though it is summer and there is not a single patch of snow to be found, you still need to be prepared with a few of the more ‘wintery’ items. It is recommended to bring a warm hat and gloves. As a light version, a buff to wear around the head or neck is also useful.

  • hiking boots

    Footwear is of the utmost importance in Greenland. It must be comfortable yet supportive, as it is what protects your feet and will keep you going all day long. So bring your favourite hiking boots, that you will likely use across all sailing and hiking activities, on all days. Good hiking boots have high ankles support, are waterproof or water-resistant and are non-skid / have a sole with good traction (good for both rocky terrain and wet boat decks). It is good if they are worn-in as it is not ideal to break in brand new shoes and have blisters on the first day.

  • comfort footwear

    We recommend supportive sneakers/running shoes, that you will use on arrival and departure day, as well as for the evenings.

Other gear

  • 60-80 litre backpack or duffle bag

    It is recommended to pack your gear in a backpack. Many of the towns have simple dirt- or rocky roads which are not exactly ideal for pulling luggage with wheels. If you do not own a backpack, prefer a duffle bag over a hard shell suitcase.

  • 20-30 litre daypack

    For maximum versatility, it is recommended to bring a small daypack to hold an extra layer or two and your water bottle during short excursions.

  • sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, base-cap

    In summer in Greenland, the midnight sun is out 24 hours a day. Couple this never-ending daylight with the fact that there are no trees for shade - as well as with the reflection off the water and nearby icebergs - and you’ve got yourself the equation for some fierce sun exposure. It is recommended to bring sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses, and, if you like, a hat with a visor.

  • bug repellant, head net & after bite

    The Arctic summer is notorious for small pesky insects like mosquitos and flies. They will not be a problem when sailing, but once we hit land, they’ll surely find us soon enough. Only a light breeze will give natural respite from the bugs. It is recommended to bring bug repellent, after bite and a mosquito head net. Not very fashionable, but oh-so-functional. Please note: it should be possible to purchase bug repellent in the local Pisiffik grocery store, pending product availability, however it will be the strong, chemical, non- environment-friendly stuff. If you prefer a natural-based product, you should bring your own.

  • water bottle

    Make sure you stay hydrated. So it is recommended to bring your own water bottle or CamelBak to fill up with the freshest, cleanest, tastiest water you can find at convenient streams and waterfalls - or at the faucet, if you want to be like the rest of the world.

  • camera/binoculars

    There’s going to be no less than 10,000 amazing things to see and remember - icebergs that look different from every angle, diving whale flukes, flocks of birds gathering around a fishing boat for free giveaways, small colourful houses perched at the edge of the hill and the world and fantastic geological rock formations. It is recommended to bring whatever camera or looking device you wish, whether that’s a smartphone, snazzy camera, or selfie stick.

In case you have any further questions regarding the equipment to bring to the tour please do not hesitate to contact us.

Colourful houses in Qeqertarsuaq
FAQ Disko Island Exploration

5 days in Disko Bay incl. a visit to Disko Island
FAQ Disko Island Exploration

5 days in Disko Bay incl. a visit to Disko Island
Greenland Tours - Elli Thor Magnusson
Individual tour

Disko Island Exploration

5 days in Disko Bay incl. a visit to Disko Island

Difficulty level: Easy-Moderate from 600.00 €
Request a quote

Discover Disko Island, surrounded by the most impressive icebergs of the Arctic hemisphere! The trip starts in Ilulissat, “The Town of Icebergs”. From there you sail to Qeqertarsuaq. Disko Island is very rural, and not many people have the chance to come here and enjoy the incredible view of the stunning Disko Bay. On arrival, you have the option to go on a hiking tour in the Qeqertarsuaq area. You will explore the the beautiful nature around the settlement and the colourful settlement itself. The next day you hike up the valley to Lyngmark Glacier. At the top you have an incredible view out on the Disko Bay. On the following day, we recommend an easy stroll to wonderful Kuannit, and examine the special geology of Disko Island before sailing back to Ilulissat. This trip will be a true once in a lifetime experience.

Rough summary

Day 1:

Day at leisure in Ilulissat. Night in Ilulissat.

Day 2:

Sailing from Ilulissat to Qeqertarsuaq. Night in Qeqertarsuaq.

Day 3:

Option to hike to Lyngmark Glacier or relax in town. Night in Qeqertarsuaq.

Day 4:

Possibility of hiking to Kuannit. Sailing back to Ilulissat.

Day 5:

End of trip in Ilulissat.

Prices and dates

Price per person:

Package based on: Double Single
Hostel 600 685
Apartment 940 1405
3* hotel 905 1240
4* hotel 985 1295

Dates:

daily departures, June 15, 2019 – September 15, 2019 (available)

Further details

Price includes:

  • Transfers by boat Ilulissat - Qeqertarsuaq A/R
  • 2 nights in Qeqertarsuaq
  • 2 nights in Ilulissat
  • Breakfast when staying in hotel

Type of trip:

This pre-arranged adventure is an individual trip, meaning you are discovering Greenland on your own but joining selected guided group activities during your stay. You will receive comprehensive travel information such as where and when to meet for the activities.

Minimum age:

14

Options

If you are interested in adding one or more of our tour options to your request, just mark it with

On a 2,5 hour boat trip you will sail among the gigantic icebergs in Disko Bay in the evening sun. These frozen giants calved from the most productive glacier of the Northern Hemisphere, the Sermeq Kujalleq. It annually calves 45km³ of ice into the UNESCO Icefjord. Sailing around the gigantic icebergs in the evening sun is a fantastic experience. Remember to bring warm clothes.

In the evening, you go for an impressive kayaking trip among the gigantic icebergs in Disko Bay. The activity consists in kayaking along the coast of Ilulissat, from where you can see big icebergs coming from the Ilulissat Icefjord. You experience this breathtaking scenery in the most natural and traditional way. Just you and your kayak, paddling as Inuits used to so and some still do. Nonetheless all the safety measures are included: the best equipment in the market (clothing that enables you to swim in freezing waters and the most safe and stable kayaks) and if that were not enough, our kayak instructors have the highest qualifications and lots of experience kayaking in Arctic regions (to participate in this trip max height is 2m and weight is 110kg).

It is a big day today. You came here to see glaciers and icebergs. And you do not mean the small ones, you mean the massive ones. Well, we promise - this is what you are going to see. Standing in front of the enormous Ilulissat Icefjord will make you feel small and humble. An endless amount of ice pushing down from the glacier Sermeq Kujalleq towards the sea, where ice is calving constantly creating those majestic icebergs floating in Disko Bay. Here, at the Ilulissat Icefjord World Heritage Site, we also stop at Sermermiut, an abandoned Inuit settlement, which had been used by Saqqaq, Early Dorset and Thule cultures. Our guide will give you insights of the Inuit culture and will answer your questions.

Dressed in floating suit and life west you head out in the morning by open boat (RIB - rigid-inflatable boat) to have a taste of Greenlandic nature just north of Ilulissat. After a guided tour around the small settlement Oqaatsut you will leave towards a wilderness hut and on the way collect mussels, Greenlandic herbs and mushrooms - just like the Inuit that had to complement their diet that mainly consisted of meat and fish with further vitamins. The hut is much alike a local hunters hut with no electricity or running water and serves as a shelter if needed. Besides gathering food you will also do a short hike by the shore where old Inuit graves and tent rings can be found. Afterwards a delicious lunch will be prepared with the ingredients found in the nature. In the afternoon you head back to Ilulissat.

You will visit a local handcrafts woman at her house where she is revealing glimpse into her traditional skills. In the past the Inuit only wore clothes made from animal skin or fur since these were warm and hard-wearing and ideally adapted for Arctic climate. The Inuit saying “A man is what his wife makes him” shows the great deal of responsibility the women carried by carefully choosing the skins and perfectly processing them into clothes that protected people in the harsh arctic winter. You will come to know how these skilled and talented artists were creating the traditional Inuit clothing as well as the festive national dress and also enjoy coffee and cake together. By joining this tour you support the local women community and contribute to the preservation of Greenlandic handcraft.

Flight connections

Flights to Greenland are not included.
Fly to Ilulissat via Reykjavík/Iceland or Copenhagen/Denmark. Return flight from 1090 EUR per person can be added to your package.

Open map

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Day at leisure in Ilulissat

You will have today at leisure to visit Ilulissat or we can help you book excursions directly on the spot. You will spend the night in Ilulissat.

Day 2: Sailing from Ilulissat to Qeqertarsuaq - visit of Qeqertarsuaq

In the morning, you will sail across Disko Bay to Qeqertarsuaq, the main settlement of Disko Island. On the way, you will have a stunning view of all the giant iceberg formations floating in the sea. Upon arrival in Qeqertarsuaq, we will bring you to your accommodation. In the afternoon, you can explore the settlement on your own, or we can help you book a guided tour around Qeqertarsuaq. You will spend the night in Qeqertarsuaq.

Day 3: Hiking to Lyngmark Glacier - optional dog sledding

Today you can hike to the Lyngmark glacier on your own or you could book a guided excursion. You will need to leave Qeqertarsuaq early in the morning and head north out of the village and hike for about 4 hours up to the Lyngmark Glacier, which is situated on a plateau above the settlement. After the challenging hike (800 meter elevation gain) you will reach the hut situated next to the glacier. In the afternoon, and if the weather and ice conditions allow, you will have the opportunity to try out dog sledding on the glacier. Lyngmark glacier is the only place in Greenland where you can try this activity during summer (possible until the beginning of August). If dog sledding is not an option, you can take a walk around the hut and enjoy the amazing view of Disko Island and the bay. You will then hike back down to Qeqertarsuaq. You will spend the night in Qeqertarsuaq.

Day 4: Morning at leisure in Qeqertarsuaq - Ilulissat

On your last day, you will have the chance to enjoy the special atmosphere in Disko Island before returning to Ilulissat by boat in the late afternoon. There are only few tourists on Disko Island, thus the island still has a very special and authentic atmosphere. Here, you can truly see how the Greenlanders live and how they have adapted to the conditions of this remote part of the world. Our local contact could also offer you excursions, which you could book directly on the spot. The boat transfer back to Ilulissat in the afternoon, will give you the opportunity to enjoy the amazing view of the impressive icebergs in the beautiful afternoon light. You will spend the night in Ilulissat.

Day 5: End of the trip

Today you could fly back or combine this trip with a guided tour or another individual trip.

What our customers say

All adventure trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Greenland Tours does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to their own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realise that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.