Best of the West
8 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:
From Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat by plane
Day 3:
Free day in Ilulissat - Evening iceberg sailing
Day 4:
By ferry from Ilulissat to Qeqertarsuaq
Day 5:
Free day in Qeqertarsuaq
Day 6:
Back to Ilulissat by ferry
Day 7:
Boat tour to Eqi Glacier
Day 8:
Departure from Ilulissat
Prices and dates
Price per person from:
| Package based on: | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel | 1770 | 1995 |
| 3* hotel | 2285 | 2865 |
| 4* hotel | 2410 | 2915 |
Dates:
daily departures, June 05, 2018 – September 08, 2018 (available)
Further details
Price includes:
- sightseeing tour to the Greenland Ice Cap in Kangerlussuaq
- 1 night in Kangerlussuaq
- domestic flight from Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat
- 2 hour walk at Ilulissat Icefjord and Sermermiut incl. transfer
- 2.5 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
- 4 nights in Ilulissat
- Breakfast included when staying in hotel category
- airport transfers in Ilulissat (not included when staying at hostel category)
Options:
Ilulissat: Boat tour Ilimanaq (Jun-Sep, 5h, 185€)
You will sail from Ilulissat to the small settlement of Ilimanaq. On the way you will pass by the great Kangia Icefjord. The view of the fjord is absolutely stunning. You will visit the small settlement of Ilimanaq and learn how people live in such a remote part of the world. In the afternoon you will sail back to Ilulissat, passing by the breathtaking Icefjord once more.
Ilulissat: Evening kayaking (Jun- 15 Sep, 3h, 220€)
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).
Oqaatsut: Meeting the Inuit - a cultural experience (Jun-15 Sep, 7h, 265€)
We leave from the harbour in Ilulissat by boat heading north towards Oqaatsut, a small Inuit village where 37 people live all year round. Once in the settlement our guide will show you around Oqaatsut and tell you about the old and modern life of the Inuit and how these two worlds are merging. With the assistance of the locals we introduce you to some of their traditions. The tradition introduced is dependent on the season. These activities include learning how to cook and smoke fish, how to cut and dry it for storage, collecting wild plants and flowers to make tea, feeding the sled dogs with their musher, repairing a fishing net or building a sled. Our local English speaking guide will translate and help you to engage in a conversation with the locals.
We conclude this cultural experience with a visit to an Inuit family and a traditional lunch made with local ingredients. After a lovely meal, we sail back to Ilulissat
Minimum age:
10
Bring along:
Warm and waterproof outdoor clothing
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 830 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: From Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat by plane
In the morning you head further north by plane to visit famous Disko Bay for another big day. 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.
Day 3: Free day in Ilulissat
A free day 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.
During sundown 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 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: 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 8: 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.
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.