Greenland on a budget - 8 night cruise to see the entire west coast aboard the Sarfaq Ittuk coastal ferry on the Arctic Umiaq Line

The price is unbelievable. If you share a room with three other people, you can expect to pay only $1500 in country for lodging and the cruise, not including food and your international flights to Greenland.

I put a page together with the details and how to book but I’ll copy the verbiage here as well.

1 person would be $4400 because of the cost to have a private room aboard the Sarfaq Ittuk

Someone asked me to come up with what it would look like so I crunched the numbers here. You can take a look at the details here:

8 Nights to see all of West Greenland Aboard the only Domestic Coastal Ferry, the Arctic Umiaq Line’s M/S Sarfq Ittuk

Optimized for Summer Season 2025 for the flights from North America / United arriving in Nuuk on Saturday Night and departing on Sunday the following week. (For example 21 June - 29 June)

Generally speaking: Ilulissat on Sunday, Nuuk on Tuesdays, Qaqortoq by Wednesday, and Nuuk on Friday

  • From Nuuk, transfer to Ilulissat by plane

    • Stay at Inuk Hostels Cabin in Nuuk with Breakfast from 925 DKK, twin room

    • Fly to Ilulissat Sunday Morning on Air Greenland, from 2900 DKK

      • Explore Ilulissat on your own or take optional tours

      • M/S Sarfaq Ittuk will depart Ilulissat at 17:00 on Sundays

  • Catch the Sarfaq Ittuk from Ilulissat and sail all the way to Qaqortoq, South Greenland

    • Ilulissat - Qaqortoq

      • Bunk Room with (with 7 others) - 4400 DKK

      • Private cabin from 16,800 DKK (Can accommodate 4 people. Charged at 2 pax - 8400 DKK x 2)

  • Return from South Greenland to Nuuk

    • Qaqortoq - Nuuk

      • Bunk Room (shared with 7 others) - 2400 DKK

      • Private cabin from 9200 DKK (Can accommodate 4 people. Charged at 2 pax - 4600 DKK x 2)

  • Once in Nuuk, return to accommodation at Inuk Hostels for 2 nights - 1850 DKK

There is ample time to explore Nuuk on your own and try some of the restaurants.

Prior to the trip, you can bring as much food as allowed into Greenland and buy groceries in Ilulissat, Nuuk, and Qaqortoq. It’s possible to make requests but not guaranteed. As a result, it’s best to make a budget for food on your own. Expense can be mitigated by bringing as much as you can and checking the restaurant aboard on https://aul.gl

Total cost:

  • 1 person in private accommodation is 31,675 DKK - in USD* $4435

  • Bunk bed sharing from 12,475 DKK - in USD* $1746

  • Private room if shared with 1 person 14,387 DKK with flight total is 17,287 per person - USD* $2420

  • If private cabin is shared with 4 people, the max, 7900 DKK accommodation cost, plus flight 10,800 DKK - USD* $1512

  • * USD is exchange rate on 17 January 2025 - check exchange rate when you book

Arielle Montgomery