Itinerary Details

I developed this itinerary over six trips to West Greenland in the past seven years. The photos from this website, inspiration videos, and description below should help guide your decision on whether a Greenland adventure is right for you.

A word on Greenland’s culture and climate change

There is a story in Inuit mythology that is taught to every child from the moment they learn to talk. The legend goes that when local people treat their environment badly, Sedna, the Mother of the Sea, punishes them by gathering all of their animals in her fiery hair at the bottom of the ocean. With no animals, there is no food for the people and nature is out of balance. To keep Sedna happy, the people must comb her hair – clean the sea – so she releases the animals back into the wild.

My test trip of this exact itinerary was completed in 2023 with a group of four.

Intro to Remote Greenland - Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq and Uummannaq

Prices range from 48,000 DKK double occupancy to 55,000 DKK single occupancy

High Level Itinerary Preview

Highlights include…

·    Wild polar landscapes and wildlife

·    Professional photographer accompanying group + instruction

·    Sail through icebergs

·    Possibility of aurora borealis

·    Helicopter to Uummannaq Island

·    Uummannaq settlement

·    Ilulissat UNESCO

·    Aurora viewing sailing trip in the icefjord (if possible)

·    Climate change & economic development perspectives and dialogues

·    Harbour life & culture in Uummannaq

·    Luxury Hotel in Ilulissat (optional)

·    Greenland Kalaallit Inuit local life

·    Kaffemik at a local home

·    Kangerlussuaq Point 660 walk on the icecap (option if flying via Copenhagen)

·    Possibility of drone / aerial photography on the sea ice (option during winter - check local drone regulations here)

·    Dog sledding adventure (option during winter)

·    Snowmobiling (as the passenger - option during winter)

Photos above are from vendors and their associated Facebook pages. Please click here for more information about them.

Icebergchick Adventures is proud to announce upcoming trips in 2024-2025 in winter and summer. The winter dates of this departure have been chosen to make the most of the fabulous winter landscapes and low light that can be found in Greenland during the month of March and early April. The September dates were chosen based on years of experience to make the most of the late summer season activities as well as maximize your possibilities of seeing the northern lights while it isn’t very cold yet.

The sunrises and sunsets tend to be spectacular and the big dark Arctic skies are superb for viewing or photographing the aurora borealis (northern lights). This trip explores both Ilulissat in the west and the remote northerly settlement of the island Uummannaq. Ilulissat (formerly Jakobshavn) means “Icebergs” in the West Greenlandic language, Kalaallisut. From Ilulissat we take a helicopter north to the stunningly located northerly Inuit island settlement of Uummannaq with its famous heart shaped mountain. During winter, average daytime temperatures hover around -15°C (5°F), but it is a dry cold, so not as bad as it sounds.

Ilulissat and the Icefjord

Each year, the massive Jakobshavn Glacier calves some 35 billion tons of icebergs into the sheltered waters in Disko Bay and the Icefjord. It is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on the world’s largest island. Towers, arches, and walls of ancient blue ice thrust skyward from the water’s surface. It’s believed that an iceberg calved from this magnificent glacier sank the Titanic itself! A first sighting of this unique arctic wonderland is guaranteed to make your heart beat faster. In wintertime the snow cover means that dog sledging and more currently snow-mobiles have become the normal way of transport for the local people who hunt and transport fish.

A huge country that is three times the size of Texas, it is populated rather sparsely only around the coast. Indeed, there are no roads to anywhere except in and around the settlements and the only way to travel is by boat, air, dog sledge and foot. There are many fabulous view points overlooking the Icefjord. Sunrises and sunsets can be enjoyed from many areas close by the hotel, even from your veranda! The amount of ice in the vicinity is variable and very reliable in the Icefjord itself, it is always awe-inspiring to witness giant icebergs trapped in the sea ice or to watch as the smaller pieces just float by. In the mornings and evenings we hope for a spectacular showing of the pastel blue/pink skies that are common in these parts, lighting up the landscape in a manner that is special in Arctic Greenland.

Uummannaq

This is a truly adventurous experience exploring a location that is only now becoming more accessible to visitors. Uummannaq is a remote island located in north Greenland almost completely cut off from the rest of the world. The trip to Uummannaq is by small plane from Ilulissat to the small settlement of Qaarsut, followed by a dramatic helicopter ride to Uummannaq. The settlement comprises brightly coloured houses randomly set above a working harbour. The roads around are snow packed and the sounds of sledge dogs is ever present. “Uummannaq” means “heart-shaped” in Kalaallisut (the Greenlandic language). Like many place names in Greenland, it gets this name from a physical characteristic of the area, its very dramatic heart-shaped mountain which dominates the small island upon which it sits. Uummannaq itself rises directly from the ice filled ocean and its past is well-preserved with many historic buildings easily accessible around the harbour area. Huge icebergs are generally trapped in the frozen sea around the settlement and it is possible to walk or snowmobile out onto the ice. The lovely and often clear ice lake behind the settlement affords a fabulous escape for an afternoon. This is the ‘aurora time’ of year and wherever possible we will try to capture these incredible phenomena. Icebergchick is an experienced ‘aurora photographer’ and will be passing on her expert knowledge to ensure that you go home with some good high quality images. In all this is a rare opportunity to explore a location that is very much off the radar of most travelers!

Qeqertarsuaq

Qeqertarsuaq is the name of Greenland’s largest island, also known as Disko Island. Qeqertarsuaq is also the name of the islands only town. The small port town now has approximately 850 inhabitants and enjoys a beautiful location with the basalt mountains as its backdrop. The colourful Greenlandic houses form a striking contrast to the huge basalt mountains that lie behind. In geological terms Disko Island is far younger than mainland Greenland and is therefore very different.

Large parts of the island consist of tall, steep basalt mountains created by volcanic activity 25-65 million years ago. The island is interesting for many reasons, not least because of the great diversity in the flora found here. Featuring black sand beaches littered with small sparkling ice fragments, tall reddish-black mountains that rise precipitously above its colourful buildings, an impossibly lush backcountry in which more than half of Greenland’s plant species are found, and artistically contorted columns of basalt rock, Qeqertarsuaq stands apart in Greenland’s only volcanic region.

Hikers, in particular, are drawn to the unusual geology and colourful landscapes around Qeqertarsuaq, which also offer front-row seats to the enormous icebergs and some of the best whale watching in Disko Bay. An abundance of fish and other marine life in the waters around the island brings large numbers of migrating whales. In spring, the area is one of the best in the world from which to observe the great Greenland whales. In Greenlandic the whales are known as “Arfivik”, meaning “barrel-shaped”. In summer, humpback whales are regularly sighted just off the shoreline.

Final Thoughts

If you only have time to go to one place in Greenland, I will always recommend Ilulissat for five days to one week in mid-to-late March or September. But in order to have a truly unforgettable experience, you can add on Uummannaq and Qeqertarsuaq. I am particular about vendors and suppliers in Greenland. I believe that responsible tourism stimulates the local economy so I support the locally owned businesses in the vendors section.

Cost

I absolutely hate it when companies are not transparent about the price of a trip. Greenland and the arctic as a region is not a cheap place to visit and I doubt it ever will be.

The cost of 10 days in Ilulissat + Uummannaq + Qeqertarsuaq starts at 46.000 DKK

I break out the cost of this itinerary and the others on the detail page.

Additional Details

To cut down on the length of this page, I have broken up the details of the itinerary on a separate page. Please click below for more details

Note: this can be upgraded to include things like a heliskiing add-on in Maniitsoq, walking across the ice cap from Kangerlussuq and other exclusive opportunities.

Itinerary overview and details below. Please see the inspiration page for more information and resources. Hotel info is here and pictures here.

 

Brief Overview

Activity Level: 💪💪2 out of 5 (moderate physical activity)

  • Day 1: For those coming from Copenhagen, fly to Kangerlussuaq stay one night at Polar Lodge / Hotel Kangerlussuaq

    • Visit Greenland’s Ice Cap via Point 660 Tour

    • Potential wildlife sightings (muskox, arctic fox, blue fox, reindeer)

    • Walk on and touch ice from Greenland’s inland ice sheet

    • Visit Russell Glacier

    • Potential northern lights in winter and late summer

    • Museum visit to learn about the origin of the airport that was a previous US Air Base

    • Greenlandic Buffet Dinner

  • Day 2: [Transfer] Helicopter journey to Uummannaq via stopover at Qaarsut

    • Flight on domestic Air Greenland Dash 8 propeller aircraft to Qarsut (35 minutes)

    • Outbound Flight on Air Greenland helicopter from Qaarsut to Uummannaq heliport (15 minutes)

    • Settle in houses and apartments by Avani

    • Tour of town

    • Orientation with Uummannaq Sea Safaris ApS

    • Welcome dinner

    • Sunset sailing trip in the Uummannaq Fjord (summer only)

  • Day 2 - 5: Uummannaq: The “Real Greenland” Cultural Immersion, Subsistence, Raw Nature, Traditional

    • Various group and/or individual activities and tours will be available depending on interests. Seasafaris will be our provider and the many options are on their site here UMD Seasafaris

    • For those interested, there will be opportunities to fish and have your fresh catch prepared at the house

    • Visit The Children’s House featured in the award-winning film Inuk

    • Cultural experience and harbour life

    • Local foods: halibut, narwhal, seal, muskox, possibly polar bear upon request

    • Short walk to Santa’s hideaway

    • Photography workshop

    • Dog sledding on sea ice (winter only)

    • Whale watching (summer only)

    • Climate Expedition (summer only)

    • Store Glacier (summer only)

    • Potential Northern Lights

  • Day 5: [Transfer] Uummannaq to Qeqertarsuaq / Disko Island

    • Return Air Greenland helicopter from Uummannaq to Qaarsut and arrive in Ilulissat

    • Transfer to port for afternoon scenic boat trip to Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Line

    • Disko Line direct journey is approx. 2 hr and whale watching is possible on board

    • Settle in at Hotel Disko Island

    • Welcome dinner at Hotel Disko Island restaurant

  • Day 5 - 8: Qeqertarsuaq / Disko Island

    • Explore Qeqertarsuaq with our chosen vendor Qeqertarsuaq Tours

    • Activities include boating trips, cave exploration, nature walks, whale watching, hikes, among other opportunities

    • Possibility to stay in Beach Igloo for aurora viewing

  • Day 8 - 12: Ilulissat, the gem of Greenland and the iceberg capital of the northern hemisphere

    • Settle into luxury hotel (Hotel Arctic, Hotel Ilulissat depending on availability)

    • Private tour to the Sermermiut Ice Fjord and UNESCO World Heritage Site

    • Private visit and kaffemik at home of local artists and carvers

    • Cruise in the Icefiord with Ilulissat Boat Tours or Ilulissat Water Safaris

    • Optional Hiking with guide

    • Optional Igloo Stay (winter only - sells out quickly)

    • Visit to the calving glacier, Eqi with Ilulissat Boat Tours or Disko Line

    • Photography workshops with Icebergchick for northern lights and landscapes

    • Meals at Hotel Arctic, Hotel Hvide Falk Greenlandic Buffet, Hotel Icefiord, Muskox Burgers at Brasserie, and Asian Fusion Cafe Inuit

    • Possible northern lights if skies are dark enough

For full details please click here.

 

Greenland Flight Connections

You can fly to Ilulissat, Greenland (JAV) either with Air Greenland from Copenhagen (CPH) or with Icelandair from Keflavík International (KEF). The Copenhagen flights depart in the morning arriving in Ilulissat at lunch time. Flight time is around 7hrs including a short stop and change of plane in Kangerlussuaq. Normally this flight requires a hotel stay in Copenhagen the night before departure.

The Icelandair flights are direct and run on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. They depart late and are shorter 3hrs 30. This will allow guests coming from the US or UK to make the entire journey in one day. Guests arriving from the US normally come into Keflavík early morning.

CPH – JAV (stop in Kangerlussuaq)
09:45 – 14:00 (07h 15m)

JAV – CPH (stop in Kangerlussuaq)
09:45 – 20:15 (8h 15m)

KEF – JAV
21:30 – 23:00 (3h 30)

JAV – KEF
23:45 – 05:15 (3h 30)

Note that Ilulissat is in a different time zone (UTC-2).

Dates and Prices

2024 Trip Dates

  • Fully Guided / Escorted Summer Ilulissat + Uummannaq (min 7 - max 12 participants):

    • Monday, 16 September - Thursday, 27 September 2024

      • This trip will start and end in Copenhagen

      • [Confirmed Departure - limited spots remaining]

    • Possible October trip TBA

      • Off season

2025 Trip Dates

  • Winter Qaanaaq & Ittoqqortoormiit 2025:

    • Ittoqqortoormiit Special Interest January 2025, 2-3 weeks, Dates TBA - Departure from Reykjavik

    • Qaanaaq March 2025, 2 weeks, Dates TBA [2 spots left] - Departure from Ilulissat

    • Qaanaaq April 2025, 2 weeks, Dates TBA [4 spots left] - Departure from Ilulissat

    • Ittoqqortoormiit General Interest May 2025, 2 weeks, Dates TBA [5 spots left] - Departure from Reyjavik

Prices

  • All prices are subject to change depending on availability.

  • Summer Ilulissat + Uummannaq approximate cost: from ~$7800 USD* / 55,775 DKK double occupancy; from $8500 USD* / 60,145 DKK per person single (min 5, max 12 participants) - Domestic flights and helicopter to Uummannaq are included but International flights to Ilulissat are not included.

    • This includes all accommodation in Greenland, meals, tours, helicopter to Uummannaq, transfers, luxury stay at Hotel Arctic, guides, and fully escorted and managed by dedicated trip organizer / leader & professional photographer, Arielle

    • Price can come down if participants are willing to stay at a different hotel (Icefiord Apartments or similar accommodation)

  • Qaanaaq + Savissivik price: please inquire since the price varies wildly depending on several factors. Estimate from $10,000*+ for the month long stay [includes all international + domestic airfare]

  • Ittoqqortoormiit price: $7,000* - $11,000* USD depending on choices [includes international airfare]

  • Please drop me a line or fill out the form below if interested

    * on USD indicates that exchange rates need to be reviewed vs the DKK price when you pay, as it could fluctuate.

 

Vendors

I support small business where possible. I prefer to deal with the local companies like Ilulissat Boat Tours (previously Ilulissat Tourist Nature) or IWS Tours and in Uummannaq, I use Uummannaq SeaSafaris. When I’m alone I prefer stay at Hotel Icefiord’s in town apartments. For the summer and winter trips, we will use Hotel Arctic, the premier luxury hotel in Ilulissat because of favorable rates in 2024. In Uummannaq, we will rent homes with Avani.

Please see the partners section for more information and how to support these businesses.

 

Essential Trip Information

WEATHER

The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area

FITNESS

Although you don't need to be particularly fit to take part in an Arctic expedition, you do need to have a good level of mobility

DEPOSIT

To confirm your reservation, a deposit of 25% (unless indicated otherwise at time of booking) of the total invoice amount is required at time of booking. Balances are due 45 days prior to departure.
Please refer to our "terms and conditions" page on our website 

PASSPORT 

You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. 

We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. 

VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. 

MEDICAL

If you are under regular treatment for any ailment, you must bring a sufficient supply of medicines for yourself. It is wise to carry an extra week’s supply of prescription medications just in case of flight delays or other unforeseen circumstances. 

EXCLUSIONS

We recommend you allow US$100 per person for meals not included in the itinerary

When it comes to money matters on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget a sensible amount for things like meals not included, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. It's always better to bring a little more than you think you'll need.

Also make sure you've read your trip details thoroughly so you know what's included in the trip price and what isn't. this shoud make budgeting a little easier. You'll find this info in the Inclusions section of your Essential Trip Information (that's this section).

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Travelling responsibly is all about making good choices. It's about ensuring you have an incredible trip while also having a positive impact on the local environment, community and economy you're travelling in. How can you be a Responsible Traveller? See our tips below:

- Choose to travel with a responsible travel company like us!
- Bring a refillable water bottle and some water purification tablets (or a Steripen) to cut down on plastic bottle waste.
- Be an animal-friendly traveller. Only go to venues that respect animals by allowing them to live normally in their natural environment.
- Eat at local restaurants, buy from regional artists and support social enterprises so you can contribute directly to locals and their economy.
- Always be respectful of local customs and ask permission if you want to take a photo of someone.
- Learn a few words of the local language and engage with the people around you.
- Carry a cloth or re-usable bag so you can avoid plastic bags.

Next actions

Send a request if interested by filling out the form below. IBC Adventures is an end-to-end experience so all you’ll need to do is pack the gear list, buy your international flights, and travel insurance. We will take care of the rest and we look forward to seeing you in Greenland.