Among Fjords and Glaciers
8 days of kayaking and glacier exploring in South Greenland
Lose touch with civilisation and join us on this remote kayak and glacier adventure in South Greenland. You will explore several fjords by kayak, discovering a labyrinthine system of islands and headlands. To top it all off, you will take a spectacular hike onto the ice sheet at the exact spot where all major crossings of the Greenland Ice Sheet from south to north begin.
Rough summary
Day 01:
Keflavik or Copenhagen – Narsarsuaq
Day 02:
Icebergs near Narsaq and Nuulussuaq peninsula
Day 03:
Naajaat Sermiat
Day 04:
Qaleraliq Glacier
Day 05:
Glacier hike
Day 06:
Qaleraliq and Ikerssuaq Fjords - Maniitsoq
Day 07:
Qingaarsup - Narsaq
Day 08:
Narsarsuaq and back to Keflavik or Copenhagen
Prices and dates
Price per person from:
2,595 Euro from Keflavik
2,695 Euro from Copenhagen
Dates:
June 2023 (from Keflavik and Copenhagen)
From 27 June to 04 of July
July 2023 (from Keflavik and Copenhagen)
From 01 to 08 of July (Keflavik only)
From 08 to 15 of July (Keflavik only)
From 18 to 25 of July
From 25 of July to 01 of August
August 2023 (from Keflavik and Copenhagen)
From 01 to 08 of August
From 08 to 15 of August fully booked)
From 15 to 22 of August
From 22 to 29 of August
September 2023 (from Keflavik only)
From 29 of August to 05 of September
From 09 to 16 of September (Northern Lights)
Further details
Price includes:
- Flight Keflavik/Copenhagen - Narsarsuaq, return
- English-speaking adventure guide
- RIP boat transfers Narsarsuaq - Narsaq - Narsarsuaq
- meals on full board basis (except dinner last day in Narsaq)
- rental of kayaks and navigation equipment
- accommodation in South Greenland as stated in detailed itinerary
- camping and RIB boat travel equipment
Price does not include:
- airport taxes and fees (230€ from Keflavik and 250€ from Copenhagen)
- lunch on flight days and last day dinner in Narsaq
- Accommodation, transfers and food in Keflavik or Copenhagen
Min / max participants:
4 / 12
Minimum age:
18
Flight connections
Flights to Greenland from Keflavik/Iceland or Copenhagen/Denmark are included.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Reykjavik or Copenhagen – Narsarsuaq
You arrive in Greenland and will be met by your guide at the airport. Afterwards you will depart by RIB boat to Narsaq, which is one of the largest towns in South Greenland with about 1,500 inhabitants. Here you will prep the equipment with your guide and discuss the days ahead. You will spend the night in the local hostel.
Day 2: Icebergs near Narsaq and Nuulussuaq peninsula
After a technical introduction by the guide, we will go by Zodiac to Qingaarsuup Nunaa, where we will start our kayak expedition. With our kayaks we will follow the coastline of the island, between large and small icebergs originating from the Eqalorutsit glacier. Along the way we will pass an area full of ringed seals. There is usually a lot of ice here as well, which slows down the paddling and even blocks our access in some places. On the way to the Nuulussuaq peninsula we get our first views of the ice sheet. Once we arrive in Nuulussuaq, we set up our camp. Night in the tent.
Day 3: Naajaat Sermiat
We dive into a labyrinthine system of islands and headlands. We enjoy the fantastic view of the inland ice and several glaciers. We paddle through a landscape of flat islands with waterfalls and green tundra, which stands in stark contrast to the blue and white of the icebergs. This magical landscape already attracted the Vikings, who established settlements here in various coastal areas.
Afterwards we paddle further through Maniitsup Tunua Fjord, surrounded by Maniitsop Island and Nuulussuaq Peninsula. We camp not far from Qaleraliq Fjord, one of the most spectacular places in South Greenland. Here we have time to enjoy the incredible view of one of the oldest ice masses in the world. Night in the tent.
Day 4: Qaleraliq Glacier
Today we paddle around Akuliaruseq Island to admire the fauna on the coast or visit the glacier front. Then we continue along Qaleraliq Fjord and reach Qaleraliq Glacier with its three glacier tongues, almost 10 km wide here - probably one of the most spectacular glacier landscapes in South Greenland.
Weather and time permitting, we will climb up to a viewpoint and, if we are lucky, we will be able to observe caribou, which feed here on the salt of the fjord. At night we enjoy the thunderous sound of the seracs breaking the magical silence of the area. Night in the tent.
Day 5: Glacier hike
We paddle directly to the ice. And at the very spot where the rare south-north expeditions across the ice cap begin, we hike across the glacier and discover a small part of its immensity. A unique experience. Back in the kayaks, we continue our journey along the glacier fronts, marveling at the beauty of the vertical ice walls and the numerous icebergs.
We will spend the night in the same camp as the day before. During the night we will be surprised by the thunderous roar of the ice breaking from the seracs. Night in the tent.
Day 6: Qaleraliq and Ikerssuaq Fjords - Maniitsoq
We kayak back to the Qaleraliq Fjord through the Ikerssuaq Fjord. Afterwards we will paddle to Maniitsoq Island, where we will spend the night. Night in the tent.
Day 7: Qingaarsup - Narsaq
We continue our way back to Qingaarsuup Nunaa Island and paddle through Ikerssuaq Fjord. In this area the chances of seeing whales are the best. Large icebergs adorn the Ikerssuaq Fjord. These huge ice blocks come from the Eqalorusit and Qorooq fjords. Sometimes a Greenlandic seal surprises us by getting in our way or resting on the icebergs. Our kayak tour ends in Qingaarsuup Nunaa. From here we will be transferred to Narsaq. We have free time to visit the town, the Inuit market, the hunter's harbor, the church, handicraft stores, the museum, etc. Night at the hostel.
Day 8: Narsarsuaq and back to Keflavik or Copenhagen
We will take you back to Narsarsuaq. You will have time to explore the town on foot and visit the local Bluie West Museum, which reflects the history of Narsarsuaq's origins and especially its role as a military base during World War II. Or you can ascend to "View Point," an easy hike of about an hour that starts near Hotel Narsarsuaq and offers views of the fjord and Kiattut Glacier. Afterwards, you will return by plane from Narsarsuaq to Reykjavík or Copenhagen.
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.