Close to the ice with a sightseeing boat from Ilulissat
Request a quote Across the Icefjord

3 days in the settlement Ilimanaq

 from 770.00 €
Request a quote Across the Icefjord

3 days in the settlement Ilimanaq

 from 770.00 €

How many people are you?

Adults Children < 12 years

The trip you chose is offered from June to September. Within this given time, when can you travel?

Start
End

Should we include international flights?

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From what airport do you want to fly?

We can customise this trip for you. What activities would you like to add?

On a 2,5 hour boat trip you will sail among the gigantic icebergs in Disko Bay in the evening sun. These frozen giants calved from the most productive glacier of the Northern Hemisphere, the Sermeq Kujalleq. It annually calves 45km³ of ice into the UNESCO Icefjord. Sailing around the gigantic icebergs in the evening sun is a fantastic experience. Remember to bring warm clothes.

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.

We leave Ilulissat early in the morning and sail north in the direction of Eqi Glacier. Very few places in Greenland are as breathtaking as Eqi. On the way we will sail around the most impressive icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere. We will sail close the massive glacier wall, turn off the engines for about an hour, enjoy some lunch as well as the breathtaking view of the calving glacier. In the afternoon we make our way back to Ilulissat.

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).

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.

On a city walk through Ilulissat your guide will show you the most important sites of this charming little town located next to the UNESCO Icefjord for instance the old part of town where the houses of the first Danish settlers are situated at the harbour as well as the Knud Rasmussen Museum and the old wooden church Zion. He will provide us with valuable insight into the history of Ilulissat and the Greenlandic culture.

Further information

Contact Information

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Close to the ice with a sightseeing boat from Ilulissat
Equipment list Across the Icefjord

3 days in the settlement Ilimanaq
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Copy Link Download / Print
Equipment list Across the Icefjord

3 days in the settlement Ilimanaq

Below is an equipment list with items we highly recommend you bring on the journey. To enjoy the trip to the fullest, comfortable and good equipment is essential. So be a bit picky about what you bring on our trip, make sure it is adequate for arctic conditions.

Clothing & Footwear

  • Non-cotton, wool long sleeves and tights (base layer)

    Base layers are designed to keep you warm despite they might be wet from sweating, for example - therefore they must not be cotton but instead a lightweight wool or other fast-drying fiber. Base layers will also keep you warm if, for example, your outer layers are not entirely windproof or waterproof. If there is one thing to stress, it is that having several light layers to choose from, or use in combination with each other, is far more valuable for regulating body temperature than having one or two heavy layers that might make you too cold or too hot, but never just right. It is recommended to bring a selection of long-sleeve shirts and pants for lightweight base layers, so you have a few extras.

  • Wool sweater, fleece or PrimaLoft jacket (mid layer)

    A wool layer is always nice to have as additional warmth. It should not be your heaviest winter sweater, but just something you feel could make you warm and cosy if you had a persistent chill. It is recommended to bring a light- to medium-weight wool sweater or a fleece or prima loft jacket.

  • All-purpose or fleece pants (mid layer)

    When you are on land, and if it’s dry, the waterproof pants (outer layer) layer won’t be necessary, but you’ll need more than a base layer. It is recommended to bring a pair of light, loose breathable pants as a sort of all-purpose pants. Fleece pants can be useful if you easily feel cold. Jeans are strongly discouraged.

  • breathable light jacket (outer layer)

    When you’re on land, and if it’s dry, the waterproof jacket layer won’t be necessary, but you’ll need more than a base layer. It is recommended to bring a light jacket, or even a vest. Lightweight puffy jackets work well.

  • windproof & waterproof jacket and pants (outer layer)

    Whether it’s to protect you from wind and rain on land or from ocean spray while sailing, having good outer layers to protect against the elements will make the difference between a pleasant and unpleasant trip. It is recommended to bring both a windproof/waterproof jacket and a pair of windproof/waterproof rain pants. Gore-Tex is a leading manufacturer of breathable and waterproof layers.

  • warm hat and light (fleece) gloves

    A bit of wind, a mammoth iceberg nearby, and even fog can have more effect on the air temperature than you might imagine, and it can be magnified when sailing or standing a few hundred meters above sea level. Even though it is summer and there is not a single patch of snow to be found, you still need to be prepared with a few of the more ‘wintery’ items. It is recommended to bring a warm hat and gloves. As a light version, a buff to wear around the head or neck is also useful.

  • hiking boots

    Footwear is of the utmost importance in Greenland. It must be comfortable yet supportive, as it is what protects your feet and will keep you going all day long. So bring your favourite hiking boots, that you will likely use across all sailing and hiking activities, on all days. Good hiking boots have high ankles support, are waterproof or water-resistant and are non-skid / have a sole with good traction (good for both rocky terrain and wet boat decks). It is good if they are worn-in as it is not ideal to break in brand new shoes and have blisters on the first day.

  • comfort footwear

    We recommend supportive sneakers/running shoes, that you will use on arrival and departure day, as well as for the evenings.

Other gear

  • 60-80 litre backpack or duffle bag

    It is recommended to pack your gear in a backpack. Many of the towns have simple dirt- or rocky roads which are not exactly ideal for pulling luggage with wheels. If you do not own a backpack, prefer a duffle bag over a hard shell suitcase.

  • 20-30 litre daypack

    For maximum versatility, it is recommended to bring a small daypack to hold an extra layer or two and your water bottle during short excursions.

  • sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, base-cap

    In summer in Greenland, the midnight sun is out 24 hours a day. Couple this never-ending daylight with the fact that there are no trees for shade - as well as with the reflection off the water and nearby icebergs - and you’ve got yourself the equation for some fierce sun exposure. It is recommended to bring sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses, and, if you like, a hat with a visor.

  • bug repellant, head net & after bite

    The Arctic summer is notorious for small pesky insects like mosquitos and flies. They will not be a problem when sailing, but once we hit land, they’ll surely find us soon enough. Only a light breeze will give natural respite from the bugs. It is recommended to bring bug repellent, after bite and a mosquito head net. Not very fashionable, but oh-so-functional. Please note: it should be possible to purchase bug repellent in the local Pisiffik grocery store, pending product availability, however it will be the strong, chemical, non- environment-friendly stuff. If you prefer a natural-based product, you should bring your own.

  • water bottle

    Make sure you stay hydrated. So it is recommended to bring your own water bottle or CamelBak to fill up with the freshest, cleanest, tastiest water you can find at convenient streams and waterfalls - or at the faucet, if you want to be like the rest of the world.

  • camera/binoculars

    There’s going to be no less than 10,000 amazing things to see and remember - icebergs that look different from every angle, diving whale flukes, flocks of birds gathering around a fishing boat for free giveaways, small colourful houses perched at the edge of the hill and the world and fantastic geological rock formations. It is recommended to bring whatever camera or looking device you wish, whether that’s a smartphone, snazzy camera, or selfie stick.

In case you have any further questions regarding the equipment to bring to the tour please do not hesitate to contact us.

Close to the ice with a sightseeing boat from Ilulissat
FAQ Across the Icefjord

3 days in the settlement Ilimanaq
FAQ Across the Icefjord

3 days in the settlement Ilimanaq

General questions

When best to travel

  • What is the best time to travel to Greenland?
  • What is not a good time for travelling in Greenland?
  • How is the climate in Greenland?
  • What are typical activities in summer or in winter?
  • Where and when can I best witness the midnight sun?
  • Where and when can I best witness the northern lights?
  • How is the daylight during winter in Greenland?

Entering Greenland

  • Which entry requirements apply to Greenland?
  • What are the customs regulations entering Greenland?

Getting there and around

  • How can I get to Greenland?
  • Do I need to stopover in Copenhagen or Reykjavik before or after travelling to Greenland?
  • How long are flight durations to Greenland?
  • What is the baggage allowance on flights to Greenland?
  • How can I get around in Greenland?

Booking your adventure

  • How do I book a tour with Greenland Tours?
  • How far in advance do you recommend to book?
  • Should I book activities in advance or can I book them on the spot?
  • When and in what format do I receive my travel documents?
  • What if I have to cancel my trip?

Being safe and sound

  • Do I need travel insurance?
  • Are vaccinations required when travelling to Greenland?
  • Do I need to meet certain requirements when taking part in your tours?
  • What about medical care in Greenland?
  • Can I travel with children in Greenland?

Money matters

  • What is the currency in Greenland?
  • How much Danish krone (DKK) in cash should I bring to Greenland?
  • Where can I withdraw money in Greenland?
  • How is the acceptance for credit cards in Greenland?
  • What are the approximate costs for meals?
  • Is tipping common in Greenland?

Having a chat

  • What is the official language in Greenland?
  • Can I get by with English in Greenland?

Staying connected

  • How is mobile phone reception in Greenland?
  • How is internet and mobile internet connection in Greenland?
  • How will Greenland Tours contact you once in Greenland?
  • Do I need a power plug adapter or voltage converter?

Sleeping and eating

  • What types of accommodation are there in Greenland?
  • What is the Greenlandic cuisine like?
  • What choice of restaurants is there in Greenland?
  • How can I cater for myself in Greenland?
  • Is there vegetarian or vegan food in Greenland?
  • What are the approximate costs for meals?

Facts and figures

  • How many people live in Greenland?
  • What is the capital city of Greenland?
  • What religions are there in Greenland?
  • Are there UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greenland?

Traditions and culture

  • How to immerse into Greenlandic culture?
  • What is a kaffemik?
  • What is a Tupilak?
  • How does the traditional dress in Greenland look like?

Encountering wildlife

  • Which animals are there in Greenland?
  • How likely is it to encounter a polar bear in Greenland?
  • How are the chances for whale watching?
  • Are there mosquitoes in Greenland?
  • Beware of sled dogs!

Being stuck in Greenland

  • How about the risk of flight delays and cancellations in Greenland?
  • What happens when my flight is delayed or cancelled?
  • How can I best use my extra time when being stuck?
  • How can I best use a stopover in Kangerlussuaq?
  • What if an individual activity is cancelled by the local provider due to bad weather?

What’s more...

  • Are the trips you are offering group or individual trips?
  • Can you send us a printed brochure or catalogue?
  • Where can I find good maps and city maps?
  • Where can I find literature about Greenland?
Visit Greenland - Mads Pihl
Individual tour

Across the Icefjord

3 days in the settlement Ilimanaq

Difficulty level: Easy from 770.00 €
Request a quote

Discover the small settlement Ilimanaq in Disko Bay and experience how the Greenlandic people live in such a remote place. You start from Ilulissat with an evening boat transfer across the amazing Icefjord, where the most impressive icebergs of the Arctic hemisphere are calving. In the evening you will stay at the Ilimanaq Lodge.

Next day, enjoy a guided hike through the settlement and spend the rest of the day to relax at Ilimanaq Lodge or discover Ilimanaq and its surroundings further. Enjoy a Greenlandic dinner served in the local restaurant offering great views across Disko Bay. On the last day, you sail back to Ilulissat crossing once more the famous Icefjord with its beautiful icebergs.

Rough summary

Day 1:

Evening boat transfer to Ilimanaq. Overnight at Ilimanaq Lodge.

Day 2:

Guided sightseeing in Ilimanaq. Free afternoon. Overnight & dinner at Ilimanaq Lodge.

Day 3:

Morning boat transfer back to Ilulissat.

Prices and dates

Price per person:

Package based on: Double Single
Ilimanaq Lodge 770 1220

Dates:

June 20, 2020 – September 14, 2020 (available)

Further details

Price includes:

  • Boat transfer Ilulissat/Ilimanaq/Ilulissat
  • 2 nights in a luxury hut at Ilimanaq Lodge incl. breakfast
  • 1 dinner at the local restaurant in Ilimanaq
  • 2h Ilimanaq settlement sightseeing

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:

10

Options

If you are interested in adding one or more of our tour options to your request, just mark it with

On a 2,5 hour boat trip you will sail among the gigantic icebergs in Disko Bay in the evening sun. These frozen giants calved from the most productive glacier of the Northern Hemisphere, the Sermeq Kujalleq. It annually calves 45km³ of ice into the UNESCO Icefjord. Sailing around the gigantic icebergs in the evening sun is a fantastic experience. Remember to bring warm clothes.

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.

We leave Ilulissat early in the morning and sail north in the direction of Eqi Glacier. Very few places in Greenland are as breathtaking as Eqi. On the way we will sail around the most impressive icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere. We will sail close the massive glacier wall, turn off the engines for about an hour, enjoy some lunch as well as the breathtaking view of the calving glacier. In the afternoon we make our way back to Ilulissat.

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).

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.

On a city walk through Ilulissat your guide will show you the most important sites of this charming little town located next to the UNESCO Icefjord for instance the old part of town where the houses of the first Danish settlers are situated at the harbour as well as the Knud Rasmussen Museum and the old wooden church Zion. He will provide us with valuable insight into the history of Ilulissat and the Greenlandic culture.

Flight connections

Flights to Greenland are not included.
Fly to Ilulissat via Reykjavík/Iceland or Copenhagen/Denmark. Return flight from 1090 EUR per person can be added to your package.

Open map

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Boat transfer to Ilimanaq

In the evening you will sail from Ilulissat to Ilimanaq, passing by the stunning Ilulissat Icefjord. This is your chance to get up close with gigantic icebergs bathing in the evening sun. These frozen giants calved from the most productive glacier of the Northern Hemisphere, the Sermeq Kujalleq. This glacier is one of the most productive glaciers in the world. It annually calves 35km³ of ice into the UNESCO Icefjord. Sailing around the gigantic icebergs in the evening sun is a fantastic experience. Remember to bring warm clothes.

After about 1 hour sailing you will reach the small settlement of Ilimanaq. You will stay overnight at the Ilimanaq Lodge (luxury cabin incl. linen and towels, electricity, private bathroom, running water).

Day 2: Ilimanaq settlement sightseeing & dinner in Ilimanaq

Today you will head out to explore the settlement Ilimanaq. Ilimanaq means ‘the area of expectations’ since you would expect to get a good catch in the mid 1800s. At that time you would find hundreds of families living on the coast near Ilimanaq. Today, the settlement is home to only 53 inhabitants.

Your guide will tell you all about the culture and history, the way of life, and show you the main attractions in the settlement. The church, the school, the dog area, and the old log houses, and many other point of interests in the settlement. This excursion will provide your with a deeper understanding of Ilimanaq.

Spend the rest of the day to explore the settlement further, relax with a book at your Ilimanaq Lodge with great views across the bay or join one of the optional activities taking you into the wild backlands of Ilimanaq. In the evening enjoy Greenlandic food at the local restaurant offering views over Disko Bay. You will spend another night at the Ilimanaq Lodge.

Day 3: Boat transfer back to Ilulissat

In the morning you will return to Ilulissat by boat passing once more the spectacular Icefjord with its mesmerizing icebergs. With a bit of luck you might even see some whales during transfer. After roughly one hour you are back in Ilulissat. You could fly back home today or you could combine this trip with one of our amazing guided trips or individual packages.

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.