Best of the West
9 days exploring Disko Bay incl. Disko Island and visit to the Greenland Ice Cap
Be awed by stunning icebergs, enjoy sweeping views across the endless Greenland Ice Cap and experience massive, shimmering glaciers on this individual journey through the western parts of Greenland. Soak up the tranquility of beautiful Disko Island, experience Inuit culture, and simply let Greenland take your breath away. Hands down, this trip covers the best of the west and beyond!
Rough summary
Day 1:
Arrival in Kangerlussuaq - Ice Cap
Day 2:
To Ilulissat by plane - Evening iceberg sailing
Day 3:
Ilulissat Icefjord and Sermermiut
Day 4:
By ferry from Ilulissat to Qeqertarsuaq
Day 5:
Free day in Qeqertarsuaq
Day 6:
Back to Ilulissat by ferry
Day 7:
Free day in Ilulissat
Day 8:
Boat tour to Eqi Glacier
Day 9:
Departure from Ilulissat
Prices and dates
Price per person from:
| Package based on: | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| 3* hotel | 2735 | 3645 |
| 4* hotel | 2925 | 4150 |
Dates:
daily departures, June 10, 2023 – September 04, 2023 (available)
Further details
Price includes:
- 5 hour sightseeing tour to the Greenland Ice Cap in Kangerlussuaq
- 1 night in Kangerlussuaq
- domestic flight from Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat
- 2 hour walk at UNESCO Ilulissat Icefjord and Sermermiut
- 2 hour evening iceberg sightseeing tour by boat
- Transfers by boat Ilulissat - Qeqertarsuaq return
- 2 nights in Qeqertarsuaq
- 10-12 hour boat tour to Eqi Glacier
- 5 nights in Ilulissat incl. breakfast
- airport transfers in Ilulissat
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:
12
Options
Flight connections
International flight to Greenland is not included. Domestic flight from Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat included. Fly to Kangerlussuaq best via Copenhagen/Denmark.
Return flight from 1150 EUR per person can be added to your package.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kangerlussuaq - Ice Cap
Arriving here in Kangerlussuaq at this old U.S. Air Force base smells a lot like adventure. This day is no different as our plan is to take you to one of the true wonders of the world - the vast Greenland Ice Cap. A powerful 4WD-vehicle will take you along a rough and dusty track all the way to the edge of the ice. Passing through breathtaking scenery featuring wide plains, semi-desert valleys and a fantastic moraine landscape you start realising how massive Greenland really is. And you have only just started this trip. After a bumpy ride it is time to set your foot onto the massive Greenland Ice Cap. This will be one of your most memorable moments of your trip in Greenland. It is hard to believe that only a few decades ago the Greenland Ice Cap was inaccessible to most people. Like a mysterious, looming beast the Ice Cap sent cool winds rolling down from its highest peak into Kangerlussuaq. We spend some more time exploring this endless world of ice before returning to Kangerlussuaq. By the way, the area provides best access to witness some of Greenland's fauna. With a bit of luck on our side we might spot reindeer, musk oxen or arctic hare. Overnight in Kangerlussuaq.
Day 2: To Ilulissat by plane - Evening iceberg sailing
Today you head further north by plane to visit famous Disko Bay. In the evening you will head out by boat and visit the gigantic floating icebergs, so have your cameras locked and loaded. One of our experienced captains will take you out into Disko Bay, getting you as close as safe to the fascinating icebergs. These frozen giants have calved from the most productive glacier of the Northern Hemisphere, the Sermeq Kujalleq. It annually calves 35 km³ of ice into the UNESCO Icefjord - a sheer unimaginable amount. If you are lucky you might even spot a whale or two. Overnight in Ilulissat.
Day 3: UNESCO Ilulissat Icefjord and Sermermiut
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 is 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. Overnight in Ilulissat.
A free evening in Ilulissat allows for relaxing or adding further exciting activities and experiences that suit you. Make this trip your very own adventure and find some suggested options below in the trip details.
Day 4: By ferry from Ilulissat to Qeqertarsuaq
From the harbour the local ferry will take you across to exceptional Qeqertarsuaq, a settlement standing alone on the great Disko Island away from Greenland’s west coast. We love the place for its authentic vibe. Our recommendation is to take a walk through the settlement observing the old colorful houses and the not-so-busy life style. There are also a few benches along its coastline inviting for great views out into the iceberg-spotted bay. So wrap-up warm, take a book, maybe a camera, and try to hear the sounds of the whales feeding out in the bay. Overnight in Qeqertarsuaq.
Day 5: Free day in Qeqertarsuaq
Enjoy your free day in tranquil Qeqertarsuaq. Various hiking trails lead you into the island’s lush hills to experience volcanic rock formations. We highly recommend to hike along the coastline to Kuannit. It roughly takes 4-6 hours return, it is easy to find and you do not need a guide for this trip. This hike is also some sort of free whale watching trip, since next to the big icebergs bowhead and humpback whales can often be spotted along the shoreline all the way to Kuannit. Overnight in Qeqertarsuaq.
Day 6: Back to Ilulissat by ferry
It is hard to leave Qeqertarsuaq behind but great adventures are heading our way. First we get back to Ilulissat, the town of icebergs, a name holding its truth as we soon start to witness approaching the town. From the occasional iceberg here and there the captain of our ferry will soon have to pay more attention to the countless icebergs enlacing Ilulissat. Did we mention that the ferry is also great way to meet locals, as it is the common form of transport getting from A to B during summer - sort of like our bus system - just with better views. Overnight in Ilulissat.
Day 7: Free day in Ilulissat
This day serves as a buffer day in case there is any delay caused by weather returning from Disko Island. Great, if you arrive without any delay. Use that chance to stroll through Ilulissat or arrange another activity upon arrival in Ilulissat. Overnight in Ilulissat.
Day 8: Boat tour to Eqi Glacier
One of the biggest highlights of this trip still remains - Eqi Glacier, a massive glacier wall of ancient ice constantly calving and breaking. To get there we head north from Ilulissat by boat for a few hours. Having reached Eqi we will sail as close as safe to the giant wall, turn off the engines for about an hour, enjoy lunch but foremost the breathtaking view of the calving glacier. To hear the sound of the ice cracking and crushing is sheer amazing. Now is also the time to get out your camera to take the perfect photo memory before we are heading back down to Ilulissat. Overnight in Ilulissat.
Day 9: Departure from Ilulissat
All great adventures come to an end and so is this. Still feeling like you want to use an extra day here or there? No problem, contact us and we will refine this trip and make it yours.
What our customers say
Danke für ein unvergessliches Erlebnis!
Danke euch! Es war super organisiert! :-) Genau die richtige Mischung zwischen geplanten Aktivitäten und freier Zeit! Danke für ein unvergessliches Erlebnis!
nicht zu viel versprochen
zurück aus Grönland wollte ich mich für alles bedanken. Es war eine außergewöhnliche Tour mit atemberaubenden Erlebnissen. Es hat alles perfekt geklappt und es war nicht zu viel versprochen. Dank auch an Edward, dessen Offenheit und Humor sehr angenehm war. Ich hatte sehr viel Spaß und Freude! Vielen Dank dafür.
exzellente Organisation
Lieber Henry, wir möchten uns sehr herzlich für die exzellente Organisation dieser wunderschönen Reise bedanken, die wir niemals vergessen werden.
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.