An amazing adventure through South Greenland! This tour offers some extraordinary experiences including a trek in the tundra, an unforgettable excursion on Greenland's ice sheet and hiking the biggest and most beautiful mountains and granite walls in Greenland - Ketil and Ulamertorssuaq. Situated in Tasermiut fjord, these are one of the ten wonders of the entire, Arctic region. Navigate among fjords, icebergs, blocks of ice and spectacular glacier fronts. Visit Narsaq and Nanortalik cities, the most picturesque settlements - Tasiusaq, Igaliko, Saarloq and Qassiarsuk. Bathe in Uunartoq's warm springs and relish in the breathtaking beauty of icebergs on the cold, fjord waters. Watch magnificent night skies, see whales, seals and caribou. Go fishing for arctic salmon and cod, and pick mussels, mushroom and blueberries. Visit the best Inuit and Viking ruins - Brattahlid and Gardar, meet local Inuit people and enjoy a journey to the unexplored secrets of Greenland, one of the last frontiers of the modern world.
Itinerary
Day 1 Reykjavik/Copenhagen - Narsarsuaq: Qaleraliq Camp
Make your own way to the airport for your flight from Reykjavik (Keflavik Airport) or Copenhagen to Narsarsuaq. Welcome reception at Narsarsuaq airport and preparation of equipment before we set off for Qaleraliq camp, navigating along Tunulliarfik fjord among numerous icebergs, arriving at a cosy, enchanting camp set on a sandy beach, which contrasts with a spectacular view of two glacier fronts from Qaleraliq's glacier. We spend the night at the camp, allowing our senses to enjoy the unbelievable views and the thunderclap roar of the icefall from seracs. Three nights at Qaleraliq Camp with accommodation in Domo tents, 4-bedded basic but comfortable tents.
Day 2 Qaleraliq Camp: Ascent for Panoramic Views of the Ice Cap
After enjoying breakfast in front of the glaciers, we hike through a unique desert like sand valley, into a surprisingly different landscape of green, thick tundra. After passing Tasersuatsiaq great lake, we climb 400m to the mountain's top, from which we will have a mesmerising view of the lake, one of the largest in Southern Greenland. The summit also offers a very special viewing point for the enormous Polar Ice Cap, the immense inland glacier. From here you can gaze upon the infinite ice sheet up to the north coast of the island and towards the Arctic Ocean, and see the Nunataks, floating landmarks on the ice sheet. In the afternoon, we will have time for fishing or picking mushrooms and blueberries (from mid-August), then return to the Glacier Camp.
Day 3 Qaleraliq Camp: Glacier fronts and Ice Hiking
We navigate along the glacier fronts on a RIB boat, admiring the beauty of their vertical walls, ice walls and numerous icebergs as we approach along the more than 10km descent to the sea. From there we start the ice excursion, an impressive trek using crampons on one of the planet's oldest masses of ice. We will explore its crevasses, drains, caves, seracs and other ice formations, which give an incredible, labyrinthine quality to this glacier, with the assitance of an expert mountain guide. A unique experience, exciting and original, surprising both first-time hikers and those used to the peculiarities of the glacier world. One of the most impressive sights and one of the best excursions in all Greenland. In the afternoon, we return to the Glacier Camp.
Day 4 Narsaq Town
Transfer by boat to Narsaq, the third most populated town in South Greenland, with about 1,500 inhabitants, and check into our hostel accommodation. This evening, free time to explore on your own - perhaps visit the museum, the fur shops, or the church and enjoy a drink with the local people. Overnight in Narsaq in hostel accommodation.
Day 5 Narsaq - Saarloq - Uunartoq Island: Thermal springs
Today we sail today through the outer skerries to the village of Saarloq, a picturesque village where we make a short stop to take a look around. In the afternoon, we set off for Uunartoq, through a complex system of fjords, surrounded by icebergs. On our way to Uunartoq Island, we pass Alluitsup Paa, a pretty settlement and the best spot for whale spotting in South Greenland. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time to bathe in the warm springs, the only thermal springs to which access is possible in Greenland, with icebergs floating only 500m away in the fjord. Overnight on Uunartoq Island with accommodation in tents.
Day 6 Tasiusaq & Trek to Kuusuaq River Camp
Transfer by boat to Tasiusaq, a picturesque Inuit village with 80 inhabitants, a place which reflects how hard life was in this country decades ago. All the inhabitants of this village starved to death some 140 years ago and it was not until the 1930's that the village was re-populated by descendants and families of the original inhabitants. From here we trek to the mouth of the Kuusuaq River, amidst spectacular scenery surrounded by mountains, in a truly alpine background to Tasersuaq Lake. Overnight at Kuusuak River Camp with accommodation in tents.
Day 7 Tasermiut Fjord: Big walls and Tasermiut Glacier
Navigation along the Tasermiut fjord to the "Big Walls" - three impressive mountains, Ulamertorssuaq, Nalumasortoq and Ketil – and on up to the borders of the Tasermiut glacier, with a 1,400m drop from the plateau to the fjord.This is a place where climbers attempting the big walls in the region gather, and this fjord is known as as one of the ten Arctic wonders. Overnight at the camp, with accommodation in tents.
Day 8 Tasermiut fjord: Nalumasortoq hike
Moderate walk up to the base of the glacier in the amazing granite mass of Nalumasortoq, whose extremely smooth twin walls are highly cherished by climbers in South Greenland. From this viewing point we see the south face of the Ketil and the north face of the Ulamertorssuaq, together with many other unnamed walls, as well as alpine and glacial landscapes and incredibly beautiful sights. In the evening, we have time for fishing and picking mussels, The campoffers a fantastic view to the west face of Ulamertorssuaq as the sun set strikes the rock with the last rays of sun. Overnight at the camp, with accommodation in tents.
Day 9 Tasermiut fjord: Ulamertosuaq
Today we trek up to the base of the Ulamertorssuaq wall, rated the best Arctic "Bigwall" and one of the best ten climbing walls in the world, and a mountain of unique, singular beauty, astonishing wall and glaciers. Overnight at the camp, with accommodation in tents.
Day 10 Ulamertosuaq - Nanortalik
Navigation in RIB boats back to Nanortalik, the southernmost town of Greenland, which has some 2,300 inhabitants and is the second most populated town in the south. Free time - perhaps visit the Museum of Inuit Culture and Traditions. Or explore the town - go shopping, explore the hunters market, go to a restaurant or have a drink in a town 'where there are polar bears' – the meaning of its name – which still remains isolated by ice for a considerable part of the year. Overnight in Nanortalik in hostel.
Day 11 Nanortalik - Alluitsup Paa - Qaqortoq
Transfer by boat to Alluitsup Paa, a picturesque small hunting and fishing village located in front of the open sea, then continue on to Qaqortoq, founded in 1775, now with almost 300 souls and one of the most charming villages in Greenland. Time to walk around town, where we will discover the beauty of its colourful buildings, the awe inspiring landscapes and some of 30 different rock sculptures. In the afternoon see the museum, fur shops, traditional kayak club and more. Overnight in Qaqortoq in hostel accommodation.
Day 12 Qaqortoq - Igaliku - Qoorooq Ice Fjord - Qassiarsuk
By boat to Itilleq, from where we start the easy hike on the Kings' Way to Igaliku. We visit Archbishopric Gardar's ruins, the religious capital of the Vikings. The area is recently declared part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the afternoon we visit Qoorooq Fjord and see what probably is the most spectacular glacier in the South of Greenland. We navigate among the blocks of ice, until the density of ice is such that we can no longer continue. Enjoy the wonderful sight of ice floating around you! Arriving to Qassiarsuk, a village of about 40 inhabitants mostly farmers, we will see the statue of famous Norse explorer Leif Erikson overlooking the viking settlement Brattahlid, today known as Qassiarsuk as well as the Tunulliarfik Fjord. Overnight in Qassiarsuk in hostel accommodation.
Day 13 Qassiarsuk - Tasiusaq and Sermilik, the “Bay of Icebergs”
Hike to Tasiusaq farm, where seven people live in notable isolation next to Sermilik fjord, which is almost always blocked by the ice from icebergs coming from Eqaloruutsit glacier. Later we may go fishing for arctic salmon, or take a walk in the region. An optional kayak excursion in 'Iceberg Bay' subject to meeting minimum numbers required to operate and weather conditions - duration 2hrs. On the way back, we walk around Qassiarsuk or old Brattahlid, where Eric the Red settled when he started Greenland's colonisation in 985. Overnight in Qassiarsuk with accommodation in hostel.
Day 14 Tasiusaq - Flower Valley and Kiattut Glacier Narsarsuaq
We cross to Narsarsuaq on a RIB boat, then walk through the Flower Valley, enjoying the spectacular view of a valley formed due to the glacier retreat and the consequent glacial sedimentation, with an abundance of flowers. We walk until we can see Kiattut glacier and the landscape around it, with a superb panoramic view of the ice sheet and its Nunataks. This is probably the most renowned vista in all Greenland.In the evening enjoy a farewell dinner, with typical Greenlandic products such as whale, seal, caribou, and mattak. Overnight in hostel accommodation.
Day 15 Narsarsuaq - Copenhagen or Reykjavik
Transfer by boat to Narsarsuaq. Time to walk around in the area and visit the local museum, before the return flight from Narsarsuaq to Reykjavik or Copenhagen. On arrival into Reykjavik (Keflavik Airport) or Copenhagen, your tour arrangements end.
2024 departures from Reykjavik or Copenhagen:
02, 16, 30 July
13, 27 August
Notes:
Maximum Group Size: 12 persons
The order of the itinerary may change due to weather and other conditions and may be reversed
This is a unique journey, designed to maximise adventure and discovery. Thus, the route may be done as above or in different order. Greenland is the wildest country in the northern hemisphere, infrastructures are almost non-existent and logistics pose challenges, so the itinerary is subject to change and some activities can be cancelled because of weather or ice conditions. As locals say, “The weather is Boss in Greenland”!
Activities such as putting up tents in camp or taking them down, making lunch etc are shared by all guests and guides. Hostel accommodation is in shared rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Camps have no electricity, running water or bathroom facilities.
A reasonable level of fitness is required.
