groenland ilulissat bel iceberg lumière hiver o-nord

Winter atmosphere in Ilulissat

REGION
Greenland
THEME
Aurora borealis, Culture, Stay
ACTIVITIES
Dogsledding, Icebergs, Igloo
DURATION
7 days
DIFFICULTY
Easy

Discover the nature and world-class luxury!

Stay at Greenland’s finest hotel with a view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ilulissat Icefjord.

Prefer shorter but more intense experiences? This journey allows you to sample some of Greenland’s best in a relatively short time. Clear your schedule and recharge in a very special way on this indulgent Greenland trip.

We’ll take you to Ilulissat, the capital of icebergs, where great impressions and experiences await just outside your door. However, not all experiences happen outdoors; the choice of hotel, with its exceptional location, spectacular views, and the opportunity to indulge in the hotel’s restaurant, sets the stage for a unique stay.

Highlights:

  • Experience authentic Inuit life in the iceberg city, Ilulissat
  • Try authentic dogsledding
  • Witness the Northern Lights
  • Spend the night in an igloo!
  • Get close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Icefjord

DEPARTURE DATES:
January 26, 2023
February 02, 16, 23, 2023
March 02, 16, 23, 30, 2023

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES:
Group: 24-26 people

Detailed program

DAY 1 | PARIS / COPENHAGEN

Departure to Copenhagen on regular SAS flights. Transfer independently to your hotel. Overnight at the Imperial Hotel or similar in Copenhagen.

DAY 2 | COPENHAGEN / KANGERLUSSUAQ / ILULISSAT

Groenland Ilulissat generale ville ouest neige hiver maison colorees o-nord

Transfer independently to the airport.

Departure from Copenhagen in the morning, and after about 4 hours and 30 minutes of flight, you’ll set foot on the largest island in the world. After a brief stop in Kangerlussuaq, we continue on a small plane to Ilulissat. It’s a beautiful 45-minute flight, allowing you to admire the stunning icy landscape, wild nature, and the vastness of the Arctic. As we approach Ilulissat, the town will seem to be situated in the middle of nowhere. The colorful houses sharply contrast with the snowy mountains, and you can expect the coming days to be filled with ice, winter, and dog sledding – combined with cultural elements of a modern yet very authentic Greenlandic town. The hotel shuttle from Arctic Hotel will pick you up at the airport, and you’ll check into the wonderfully located four-star hotel. Here, you’ll meet one of our guides, who will brief you on the city, the region, restaurants, and excursion options. You can book excursions during the information meeting or have your pre-booked excursions confirmed.

City Guided Tour (Included in the excursion package)

The first excursion of the excursion package (if purchased) is a guided city tour. You’ll learn more about the city’s history and discover its many interesting aspects, including the numerous sled dogs living there. Most of the dogs stay outside the city in a large kennel when not out on the trail. Ilulissat translates to icebergs, which is quite self-explanatory once you’ve seen the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ilulissat Icefjord and the numerous icebergs floating majestically in the fjord, illuminated by an almost magical light caused by the sun’s reflections. In the evening, you’ll have a delicious welcome dinner at the hotel’s incredible restaurant (drinks not included).

DAY 3 | FREE OR OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS: ICEBERG CRUISE OR NORTHERN LIGHTS SAFARI / HIKING TO SERMERMIUT

Groenland Ilulissat bateau navigationicebergs neige hiver o-nord

The Disko Bay is one of Greenland’s most popular tourist destinations. Primarily known for its ice, it also boasts stunning natural beauty, numerous cultural attractions, and the interaction between traditional and modern urban lifestyles.

Ilulissat and its surroundings offer numerous excursion possibilities, and perhaps the initial preparatory meeting has inspired you to make the most of your day – or maybe you wish to simply admire the fantastic view of Disko Bay and let time stand still for a few hours?

Iceberg Cruise (included in the excursion package)

Almost every visitor to Ilulissat opts for this boat excursion among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million tons of ice flow into the fjord. The icebergs are gigantic, sometimes measuring over 100 meters wide – and with a height of over 60 meters above the water’s surface as well. These giants gather at the end of the fjord, providing you with an excellent opportunity to sail among them. You shouldn’t miss this exceptional experience during your visit to Ilulissat. Remember to bring warm clothing, or you can rent seal skin clothing.

Northern Lights Hike (included in the excursion package from January to March)

On clear winter nights, you can witness the most beautiful Northern Lights above Ilulissat. The Northern Lights are undoubtedly the most spectacular phenomenon in the night sky. We’ll move away from the city lights and head towards where the darkness is most intense. The guide will tell us all about the causes of the phenomenon. You’ll also get tips and tricks to capture the best photos of the colorful lights as they dance in the night sky. According to local legend, the Northern Lights come from the dead playing soccer with a walrus skull. However, the scientific explanation is less dramatic.

Hiking to the village of Sermermiut (included in the excursion package for April)

Stunning panoramas of icebergs serve as a backdrop to the ancient settlement of Sermermiut, 1.5 kilometers south of Ilulissat. For 4,000 years, different Inuit cultures have lived in the settlement. Listen to the story of indigenous peoples’ lives and traditions before Europeans arrived in Greenland. During this hike, we’ll pass by “Kællingekløften” where you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Icefjord before heading back.

DAY 4 | FREE OR OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS: DOG SLEDDING OR NIGHT AT THE IGLOO LODGE

groenland ilulissat traineau chiens immensite blanc meute experience unique o-nord groenland ilulissat ice lodge glace hiver nuit aurores boreales o-nord

If you’ve purchased the excursion package, you can look forward to today’s hour and a half dog sled ride:

Dog Sledding (Included in the excursion package)

Dog sledding is one of Greenland’s most famous icons and a millennia-old tradition for the Inuit. Few vehicles have survived such a long period without changes in appearance and technology: a team of happy dogs in harnesses attached to a simply constructed wooden sled. The experience can’t be explained – it must be tried.

This trip typically takes place on flat terrain in a plain near Ilulissat. In addition to the sled driver, there are two participants on each sled, so if you’ve booked the excursion by yourself, you may share a sled with another person. However, all dogs are different, so if you’re out with your family and friends, we can’t guarantee that you’ll ride together for the entire journey as some dogs are fast and others are not. This trip is recommended for those with neck or back problems or if you’re immobile. Participants must be 12 years old and above.

Night at the Igloo Lodge (Optional)

On days 4 and 5, you’ll get to experience a real igloo where you’ll spend the night and from there, embark on unique excursions. Our partner has had great success with their summer lodges at Eqi Glacier and in the settlement of Ilimanaq. Now, they also offer winter lodges in the shape of igloos. You’ll be taken by snowmobile through the beautiful winter landscape where we hope to see the Northern Lights dancing in the sky at night. Here, at the foot of the mountains, you’ll spend the night in an igloo (with the option to stay in a heated cabin). Igloo Lodge consists of five spacious igloos, each accommodating two people. Reindeer hides and warm winter sleeping bags cover the beds. There are also candles on the bedside table, indicating that the temperature inside the igloo is around freezing point. It’s relatively warm compared to minus 20 degrees Celsius / minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit outside. The wooden cabin near the lodge is where we’ll have our meals. In the wooden cabin, there are also outhouse-style toilets.

During your stay at the Igloo Lodge, you’ll go on two excursions. The first excursion is a snowshoe hike where we head to a viewpoint overlooking the frozen Kangia Fjord. The second is a snowmobile ride to the cabins overlooking the winter fishing grounds at Aattartoq in the hinterland of Ilulissat. The journey to the Igloo Lodge itself is an adventure! You’ll be driven by snowmobile for about an hour into the hinterland of Ilulissat with stunning views along the way. You’ll be welcomed at the cabin with coffee and lunch. Then, you’ll participate in the aforementioned excursions, have afternoon coffee with cake, dinner and evening coffee, followed by a peek outside to see if the Northern Lights are on. Then, you’ll spend the night in an igloo, and in the morning, breakfast is served, and finally, there’s the snowmobile ride back to civilization.

Please note: If you’re interested in our outdoor package, please contact us so we can check if there’s availability for when you’d like to go. As mentioned, the other excursions are also included in the outdoor package. However, if you choose the outdoor package, some of these other excursions will be moved to different days than those mentioned in the day-to-day program.

DAY 5 | EXPLORE THE CITY ON YOUR OWN

Make the most of your final day to discover the atmosphere and life of the city, step back in time, and feel a sense of history at the cozy museum established in the birthplace of Knud Rasmussen. The “Brættet” fishermen, the local market, give you an idea of Greenland’s interesting food products. They don’t come fresher than this. When you’ve satisfied your appetite for visual experiences, it’s time to treat your palate and fill your stomach. Ilulissat’s restaurants invite you on a journey through local specialties such as Greenlandic sushi, fried ammassats (small fish), whale, and seal – and in the cafes, freshly baked cakes will entice all food lovers. It’s indeed a journey that will engage all your senses. And watching the ice fjord will never be boring, by the way.

If you’ve purchased the outdoor excursion package, you’ll return home today after your one-night stay in the Igloo with the option of a one and a half hour dog sled ride. (See day 4).

DAY 6 | FLIGHT ILULISSAT / KANGERLUSSUAQ / COPENHAGEN

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After an intense and extended stay, it’s time to bid farewell to Ilulissat. Greenland is likely to have made a strong impression on you, evoking a particular feeling and bringing forth a series of indelible mental images whenever you hear the word Greenland mentioned in the future. You’ll depart from Ilulissat via Kangerlussuaq and arrive in Copenhagen in the evening.

Transfer independently to your hotel. Arrival at the Imperial Hotel or similar. Overnight.

DAY 7 | COPENHAGEN / PARIS

Breakfast. Transfer independently to the airport. Departure to Paris on regular SAS flights.

End of our services

HOTEL ARCTIC ILULISSAT

groenland ilulissat hotel arctic vue iceberg hiver o-nord groenland ilulissat vue icebergs soleil couchant hivero-nord

The most famous hotel in Greenland is the Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat. It is situated with a fantastic view over the town of Ilulissat, the Ilulissat Icefjord, and Disko Bay. Hotel Arctic is the northernmost 4-star hotel in the world, and additionally, the hotel features a 5-star conference center. The hotel is located just outside the town, about a 15-minute walk from the city center (approximately 1.5 km from the central intersection of the town). The hotel boasts two excellent restaurants, and the large terrace outside the restaurant is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine while the midnight sun casts its golden glow on the icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord.

NOTE: The hotel offers airport transfers, but there are no transfers related to excursions or other activities.

Travel periods

Departures from 26/01/2023 to 05/04/2023

Prices

From 3,095€VAT included
Ask for a quote

Pricing information

Supplement for departures on January 26 and February 23, 2023: 95 euros

OUR RATES INCLUDE:

  • Regular SAS flights Paris/Copenhagen/Paris
    in Economy Class T
  • Airport taxes: 156 euros at present, subject to change
  • 2 nights in a double/twin room at the Imperial Hotel Copenhagen or similar, including breakfast
  • Flights Copenhagen/Kangerlussuaq/Ilulissat (20kg checked baggage, 8kg hand luggage)
  • Airport transfers in Greenland (to/from hotel/airport)
  • 4 nights in a double/twin room at Hotel Arctic Ilulissat, including private bathroom and breakfast
  • Welcome dinner at Hotel Arctic
  • Snacks and drinks on board the flight
  • Air Greenland flight Copenhagen Kangerlussuaq
  • Reception with an English-speaking local guide
  • Services of a guide
  • Complimentary assistance insurance

OUR RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:

  • Meals
  • Excursions (we recommend booking our excursion package)
  • Any service not mentioned in the “our rates include” section
  • Cancellation insurance
  • Comprehensive “PREMIUM” insurance (please inquire for details)

Good to know

Excursion Package with 4 Excursions
Travel Season: January to March

Nature and Cultural History. This excursion package offers a fantastic opportunity to explore both the stunning Arctic nature near the ice fjord, dog sledding, hiking, Northern Lights, and to get closer to the cultural history of Ilulissat.

  • City Walk in Ilulissat (2 hours)
  • Ice Fjord Navigation in Ilulissat (2 hours, 30 minutes)
  • Northern Lights Tour in Ilulissat (1 hour, 30 minutes)
  • Dog Sledding in Ilulissat including clothing and boot rental, 2 persons per sled (1 hour, 30 minutes)

Our excursion packages include the most popular excursions and are tailored to the day’s schedule. We recommend booking the package when making your travel reservation. If booked later, a processing fee of 30 EUR will be added and the package may be sold out.

Price: 390 euros per person

5 Excursion Package & One Night in an Igloo
Travel Period: January – March

This excursion package offers you the fantastic opportunity to enjoy the Arctic nature. In Ilulissat, you can get closer to the cultural history and see gigantic icebergs in the ice fjord. You’ll have the chance to witness enchanting Northern Lights and ride on a dog sled. As a bonus, spend a night in a real igloo (including the option to sleep in a heated cabin) and go snowshoeing. Learn more about the day-to-day program below.

  • City Walk in Ilulissat (2 hours)
  • Ice Fjord Navigation in Ilulissat (2 hours, 30 minutes)
  • Dog Sledding in Ilulissat, including warm clothing and boots, 2 persons per sled (1 hour, 30 minutes) 1 night in an igloo with full board Snowshoeing with a view of the Ice Fjord
  • Northern Lights Tour (2 hours)

Price:
Price per adult: 790 euros per adult Single igloo supplement (room): 135 euros (Total 925 euros per person) Price per child (2 to 11 years old): 710 euros per child