A hiker along the shores of Sermilik Ice Fjord near Tiniteqilaaq in East Greenland

The Icefjord Trek

© Mads Pihl
Guided tour

The Icefjord Trek

8 days trekking along Sermilik Icefjord in East Greenland

from €2,595

On this spectacular trek in East Greenland, you will have the opportunity to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Arctic. During this 8-day hiking journey, we will explore the peaks around Sungate and the Qinertivaq fjord as well as visit “ice beaches” in Sermilik fjord along the way. We will also have the chance to experience an incredible Iceberg view from the Tiniteqilaaq ridge as well as explore Johan Petersen Fjord at the foot of the Greenland Icecap.

At the end of the trail, we will visit a small village of Inuit hunters who survive by hunting seals in the fjord's icebergs. Each of the day ends with the peaceful and serene atmosphere of the Arctic. This trek is definitely one of the most fascinating experiences one can have in Greenland.

Rough summary

Day 1:

Arrival in Kulusuk. Night in a house.

Day 2:

Sun Gate, Trout Lake and the Icefjord. Night in tent.

Day 3:

Along the Sermilik (Icefjord) coast. Night in tent.

Day 4:

Sapulik to the Lake. Night in tent.

Day 5:

The mountain ridge and Tiniteqilaaq. Night in tent.

Day 6:

The glaciers in Johan Petersen fjord. Night in tent.

Day 7:

Johan Petersen to Kulusuk. Night in a house.

Day 8:

Kulusuk - Keflavik International Airport

Prices and dates

Price per person:

€2,595

Dates:

July 11, 2023 – July 18, 2023 (guaranteed)
July 25, 2023 – August 1, 2023 (guaranteed)
August 12, 2023 – August 19, 2023 (guaranteed)
August 29, 2023 – September 5, 2023 (available)

Further details

Price includes:

  • English speaking guide for 8 days
  • full board from lunch day 1 to lunch day 8
  • boat transfers
  • boats for luggage transport
  • cooking gear
  • 5 nights in tent
  • 2 nights in a house in Kulusuk

Min / max participants:

5 / 14

Minimum age:

18

Hiking details:

Walking per day: 5-7 hours

Options

Feel free to add one or more of our tour options to make them part of your request.

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Single tent

  • EUR 50 / DKK 370 per tour
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Please book in advance with us, payment will be on location in Kulusuk.

Flight connections

Flights to Greenland are not included.
Best way to fly to Kulusuk is via Keflavik/Iceland.
Return flight from 950 EUR per person can be added to your package.

Open map

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Kulusuk

Upon arrival in Kulusuk, the guide will meet you at the airport and arrange luggage transport using a quad trailer while walking with the group to Kulusuk village. Following lunch at our house in Kulusuk, we will take a walk through the village and surrounding hills where you will learn about the story of Cap Dan's role in the Cold War and have the opportunity to appreciate the pristine nature of Kulusuk Island. We will visit the small museum and the local church in the village. In the afternoon, we will walk to the beautiful coast inlets located east of Kulusuk. Night in a local house, dormitory style.
Walking: 3 to 4 hours

Day 2: Sun Gate, Trout Lake and the Icefjord

In the morning, we will sail to Qinertivaq which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. It is a fjord surrounded by tall granite mountains. We will then walk to the Trout Lake located at the bottom of the fjord and below the Sun Gate pass. After reaching Trout Lake, we will head south-west and cross a glacier river that flows into the lake. While walking on the riverbanks, we will be able to see the Arctic River Beauty, also known as Dwarf Fireweed, which is the national flower of Greenland. As we continue our journey, the valley turns towards the west and we will pass a small lake and glacier before reaching the astonishing Icefjord that houses countless numbers of icebergs.

Studying the moraines of the glacier is a great way to understand how climate change is impacting Greenland. We will be setting up camp on a small peninsula located at the fjord's edge.
Walking: 6 to 7 hours

Day 3: Along the Sermilik (Icefjord) coast

We hike near the coastline towards the south, sometimes along the hills above the shore. We may hear cracking sounds of icebergs breaking the silence or occasional chirping of Ringed Plovers. Upon reaching a small bay, we might see many stranded icebergs, car-sized each. Our journey proceeds towards a bigger bay, where we need to wade across a river. Here we find ice-stranded in all sizes and shapes. In the afternoon, we reach Paarnakajiit peninsula, where we establish our camp nearby.
Walking: 6 hours

Day 4: Sapulik to the Lake

After breakfast, we will load our gear onto the luggage boat and hike towards Sapulik, a small bay. At the end of the bay, there's a river that flows into it, and we will follow it to a lake where we will have to cross the river. Once we've crossed the river, we'll walk along the lake shore towards the south, through a narrow valley until we reach Amitsivattiva, which is a very narrow fjord spanning over 4km and only a couple of hundred meters across. We'll set up our camp at the bottom of this fjord.
Walking: 6-7 hours walk

Day 5: The mountain ridge and Tiniteqilaaq

We will begin our day by trekking up the slopes near our campsite until we reach a vast ridge offering a spectacular view of the Sermilk fjord and its neighboring mountains. After enjoying the scenery, we will hike along the ridge and descend towards a small hunter's village known as Tiniteqilaaq (also called Tinit or Diilerilaar by the locals). This village is situated at the edge of the Sermilik fjord, where we can take a stroll and capture some photographs of the majestic icebergs.

We will sail to Johan Petersen Fjord in the late afternoon and set up a camp there for two nights.
Walking: 8 hours, 450m ascent and descent

Day 6: The glaciers in Johan Petersen Fjord

We will be taking a full-day walk through Johan Petersen Fjord to appreciate the stunning landscape at the base of the Innlandis (Ice Cap). We will hike up to a viewpoint to see the glaciers that originate from the second-largest Ice Cap on Earth and break off into the ocean in the fjord. Then, we will return to the same camp.
Walking: 6-7 hours, 500m ascent and descent

Day 7: Johan Petersen to Kulusuk

In the morning, we will take a walk along the coast to admire the icebergs and the magnificent landscape of Johan Petersen. Later in the day, we will sail back to Kulusuk, where our trip began, and have a final celebratory dinner together at our house.
Walking: 3-4 hours

Day 8: Kulusuk - Keflavik International Airport

Before heading to the airport, we pack our belongings and load them onto a luggage trailer. Once we arrive at the airport, we say our goodbyes.

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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.