Northern Lights and Icebergs
You start the trip with an amazing northern light snowshoe tour along the famous Icefjord. We will see the incredible icebergs in the fjord which have calved from the great Greenlandic ice sheet. The following day, you go explore the beautiful icy scenery in the most authentic way possible - with the dog sled. You will have the last day at leisure in Ilulissat and can book a variety of exciting excursions on the spot. From November to mid March, chances are very high that you will be able to observe the spectacular Northern Lights dancing in the sky.
Rough summary
Day 1:
Northern lights snowshoe tour along the Icefjord
Day 2:
Dog sledding to the Icefjord. Night in Ilulissat
Day 3:
Day at leisure in Ilulissat. Night in Ilulissat
Day 4:
End of the trip
Prices and dates
Price per person:
| Package based on: | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse | 785 | 950 |
| B&B with locals | 970 | 970 |
| Apartment | 960 | 1280 |
| 3* hotel with sea view | 950 | 1150 |
| 4* hotel with sea view | 1080 | 1330 |
Dates:
daily departures, February 01, 2020 – April 15, 2020 (available)
Further details
Price includes:
- 1,5 hour guided northern lights snowshoe tour to the Icefjord
- 1 day dog sledding excursion to the Icefjord (2 person per sledge with a musher) incl. packed lunch
- 3 nights in Ilulissat
- Breakfast included when staying in hotel and B&B
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 years
Options
Iceberg Sailing
- Ilulissat
- Feb-Sep
- 2h
- €95
Today you will head out by boat into Disko Bay and visit the gigantic floating icebergs, so have your cameras locked and loaded. 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 we are lucky we might even spot a whale or two.
Inuit handcraft up close - traditional dress making
- Ilulissat
- Feb-Sep
- 2h
- €47
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.
Sermermiut hike
- Ilulissat
- Feb-Sep
- 2h
- €48
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.
Snowmobiling
- Ilulissat
- Feb-Apr
- 3h
- €200
Today, you will enjoy an amazing 3 hours snowmobiling ride from Ilulissat. We follow the old trail to the north, crossing lakes, frozen fjords and hills with breathtaking views of Disko Bay and Disko Island. Finally we cross the frozen sea to reach Oqaatsut where we have a break drinking coffee or tea, eat snacks and discover the traditional settlement. We ride back to Ilulissat taking a different route to explore the back country, visiting a spectacular frozen waterfall and the dramatic rock cliffs that dominate the scenery. Please note that the itinerary can be adjusted to weather & ice conditions. No previous experience is required. Minimum age is 18 years. We will provide all the equipment and teach all you need to know to ride completely safe with our experienced guide.
Snowmobiling & Snowshoeing Adventure
- Ilulissat
- Feb-Apr
- 5h
- €270
In the morning you will head out for a great winter adventure. After a short safety briefing we will gear up and start our way to a small hunter’s hut by snowmobile. The route takes around an hour and a half, where we will follow the dogs sled way. This same way is used by fishermen from Ilulissat to go fishing to the frozen fjord of Sikuiuitsoq (in Greenlandic: place that always has ice). Along the way we will stop at some viewpoints to see impressive panoramic views of the Ilulissat Icefjord and the ice cap. Arriving at the hunter ́s hut we will leave the snowmobiles, put our snowshoes on and continue walking inside the UNESCO area (where snowmobiles are not allowed). It is time to start our adventure over the frozen sea and the small mountain next to the hut. The guide will choose the best itinerary according to safety and physical condition of the group. This snowshoe hike will take around 1 hour. After the hike we will stop for having our lunch. Then we will ride back with our snowmobiles to Ilulissat, following the same route we came.
Flight connections
Flights to Greenland are not included.
Fly to Ilulissat via Reykjavík/Iceland or Copenhagen/Denmark.
Return flight from 990 EUR per person can be added to your package.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Northern Lights Snowshoeing tour along the Icefjord
At the old heliport we will put on snowshoes and a headlight before starting our northern lights. We will hike to Holms Bakke by the Icefjord where the people of Ilulissat welcome the sun every year on the 13th of January after a long dark winter. On our trip we hopefully be so lucky to see the spectacular northern lights dancing in the sky. We will enjoy the view of the beautiful winter landscape and the massive icebergs in the UNESCO Icefjord before we return back to Ilulissat. You will spend the night in Ilulissat.
Day 2: Dog sledding excursion to the Icefjord
Around 4000 years ago, the first settlers reached Greenland by dog sledges and today around 4600 people live in Ilulissat and around 3500 Greenland Dogs. Dogsleds are still a very important means of transportation. Our musher will equip you with warm clothes adopted to the Arctic winter temperatures and give you instructions on dogsledding. We start our adventure in Ilulissat and head in the direction of the Icefjord. This excursion is a great opportunity to experience Greenland in a very authentic way. We will ride up a hill in the direction of Sikuiuitsoq fjord, and enjoy the indefinite snowy and icy scenery. If the weather and ice conditions are good, we will try to reach the impressive Sermeq Avannerleq glacier, also called the “Dead Glacier”. You will spend the night in Ilulissat.
Day 3: Day at leisure in Ilulissat
You will have today at leisure. Depending on the weather conditions you could go sailing around the impressive icebergs, take a sightseeing flight over the Icefjord or meet some locals for a traditional Kaffe-mik. We will assist with the bookings. You could also use the day to relax and walk around town. You will spend the night in Ilulissat.
Day 4: End of trip
Today you could fly back or combine this trip with a guided tour or another individual trip.
Remark
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, thus we cannot guarantee that you will see them during your trip. However, if you are traveling in Greenland from end of August to end of March, chances are good that you will be able to observe them, but best deep in the winter (from mid November to mid March). If you travel in April it is unlikely to see the Northern Lights as days are already too bright.
What our customers say
they know their job
My stay was wonderful. And the tour was perfectly organised and very economical. The tour guide was amazing, the flights booked and the window seat was perfect for me to capture the views aptly booked. This was perhaps the smoothest excursions I have been on and I had absolutely nothing to worry about. I would strongly recommend Greenland Tours they know their job and they do it fantastically and professionally. This was a memory of a lifetime and I would take trip with Greenland Tours again. Thanking you very much for giving me memories to cherish forever.
Un voyage de noces merveilleux
Du fond du cœur un grand merci à vous. Vous avez su répondre exactement à nos souhaits. Un voyage de noces merveilleux, pas trop fatigant, et riches en découvertes. Vous aviez raison en me disant que nous serions « bichonnés » : partout des gens très patients avec notre anglais bredouillant, très serviables et souriants. Des gens si accueillants sur une terre si hostile… Jamais nous ne nous sommes sentis désemparés, tout était organisé à la lettre.
感謝您這將近一年時間的協助與幫忙.
您是我遇過最棒的旅行社人員. 感謝您這將近一年時間的協助與幫忙. 祝福您能事事順心.
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.