DAY TO DAY PROGRAM
Day 1: Departure from Copenhagen – Ilulissat
Departure with Air Greenland at 10.45 from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq (a 4 hour and 40 minutes flight), here we have a short stopover before continuing with a domestic flight to Ilulissat. In Ilulissat we check in at Ilulissat Guesthouse, which is situated with a beautiful view over the Disko Bay. Upon arrival, we will have a short briefing, where we will go through your programme and hereafter we will do a cultural and historical citywalk around Ilulissat together. You will hear about the history of Ilulissat, the Greenlandic Explorer, Knud Rasmussen, and the relationship to Denmark. Ilulissat is the third largest city in Greenland with a population around 5.000. Ilulissat has a beautiful old wooden church and colonial harbour and our guide has the best stories in store for you.
Day 2: Qasigiannguit – The Great Dogsled trip
At 09.00, we leave Ilulissat with the local “bus”, the helicopter. We fly over the huge icebergs coming out from Ilulissat icefjord and land in the small town, Qasigiannguit. The trip takes around 20 min. Here we will meet our guides and local mushers, who will drive the dog sled the next 3 days.
Just after arriving, we make preparation for our great dogsled trip. As soon as the sleds are properly packed, we will get dressed in warm clothing to avoid getting too cold on the trip. The first day takes us about 35km into the backcountry, where we will see beautiful sceneries as frozen fjords and valleys. The terrain in this area is perfect for dogsledding, which is important to get as comfortable ride as possible. We are staying the night in an old hunter’s cabin by the Tassiussaq Fjord. Here we often see seals, which are tanning by the breathing holes in the ice. We will have a cosy time in the cabin cooking dinner and share today’s adventure. Throughout the trip we will keep an eye on that northern light, which is rather common, when there is a clear sky.
Day 3: The Great Dogsled Trip – the ice cap
When we have had breakfast, we are ready for today’s sled trip. The goal is to reach the glacier, Saqqarliup Sermia, which is situated around 20 km from the cabin. It is an impressive sight, when you reach the place where the ice cap starts rising in the landscape in front of us. If conditions are good, we will step up on the ice cap itself. Did you know that the ice cap is up to 3 km deep at its deepest? After the stop by the ice cap, we will drive back to the cabin and stay another night.
Day 4: The Great Dogsled Trip – Qasigiannguit
On the last day we return to Qasigiannguit following the dogsled track. Back to the civilisation, we will check in at Hotel Diskobay, where a hot shower will await for us.
Day 5: Kaffemik and local visit
Before returning by helicopter to Ilulissat, we will visit a local familie, who will invite us for a traditional kaffemik, where you will have the chance of have a taste of a few local specialities. When the Greenlandic people invite for a kaffemik, the whole town is welcome. You have a kaffemik, when its your birthday, first school day or at other festivitas.
The trip by helicopter back to Ilulissat will take around 20 minutes, where we once again will check in at Ilulissat Guesthouse.
In the evening our panoramic sauna will be heated up for you, where you can relax in warm surroundings with the view over the Diskobay and maybe cool off in the cold snow outside.
Day 6: Snow shoe hike in the UNESCO-area & icefjord cruise
We will start the day out doing a snowshoe hike by the shore of the Diskobay and getting a view over the Sermermiut Valley by the icefjord. The only sound, we will be able to hear, are the small fishing vessels, which cracks through the ice on the icefjord going far into the icefjord to fish for gigantic Halibut – otherwise no sound will be heard.
In the afternoon we will sail out and get closer to the icebergs in front of Ilulissat. The trip takes around 2 hours and is one of the most beautiful sailing trips, in our opinion, you can do.
Day 7: Day at leisure
Today is at leisure, where you can just relax or consume, what you have been experiencing. Or you have the option of booking extra excursions. We have put today in as a buffer day, if the weather force us to make changes in your programme. You can get inspired by having a look on our local tour operator’s excursions.: Ilulissat Adventure (owned by Arctic Friend).
Day 8: Homebound
After a very exciting week, it is now time to say goodby to Greenland. We are leaving just after breakfast flying to Kangerlussuaq and then after a short stop, we continue to Copenhagen arriving at 21.30
Departure day every Tuesday from 11th January to 12th April 2022
