Easter holidays near the Icebergs of Ilulissat

DAY 1 | PARIS / COPENHAGEN

Departure for Copenhagen on SAS regular flights. Free transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the Imperial Hotel or similar in Copenhagen.

DAY 2 | COPENHAGEN / KANGERLUSSUAQ

Free transfer to the airport. Flight to Greenland.

This will give you 4.5 hours to prepare for a completely different world. Along the way, you will enjoy a light meal, a movie, and, from a distance, the first view of the Greenland ice cap. Arrival in Kangerlussuaq. Welcome and accommodation. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a guide from our partner company who will assist you with check-in at the Kangerlussuaq Hotel. Then, you will attend an information meeting where you will learn more about the region and the excursion options.

Kangerlussuaq – near the ice cap

Kangerlussuaq is beautifully situated between rolling mountains and near the Greenland ice cap. It is the only place in Greenland with easy access to get up close to reindeer and musk oxen. Kangerlussuaq is also the only place where you can drive and walk onto the legendary Greenland ice cap, which covers about 80% of Greenland. It’s a vast white world where the forces of nature flex their muscles. Take a guided tour of the ice cap and marvel at the rugged wilderness.

Excursion to the Ice Cap, Point 660 (optional)

If you have purchased the excursion package, it’s time for your first excursion. The Greenland ice cap is about 30 km from the town, and we drive in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle through a stunning landscape of moraines. A gravel road will take us to Point 660 – the place where we stop and ascend onto the ice cap itself. Along the way, there are good chances of seeing reindeer and musk oxen, and especially the magnificent moraine landscape.

DAY 3 | FLIGHT FROM KANGERLUSSUAQ TO ILULISSAT AND OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

Your journey continues by plane to Ilulissat. It’s a beautiful flight along the coast, where you can enjoy views of the stunning Greenlandic island, its wild, rugged nature, and its grandeur. As you approach Ilulissat, the town seems to emerge out of nowhere. Colorful houses vie with snow-capped mountains for your attention, and once the plane lands, you can expect the next six days, where you will immerse yourself in a world of snow, ice, winter, and dog sledding – combined with cultural highlights of a very traditional Greenlandic town.

Cultural History Tour (optional) Ilulissat (formerly Jakobshavn) was founded in 1741 and today is the third-largest town in Greenland with just over 4,500 inhabitants. If you have purchased the excursion package, the first excursion is a guided tour. During the town walk, the guide will tell you about the history of the town, Greenlandic culture, and modern life lived 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. We visit the fishermen at the harbor, the small outdoor shop where freshly caught fish and game are sold, we pass by Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace, and the old wooden church of Zion. You can’t help but see and especially hear some of the many sled dogs around here. Most of the dogs are tethered outside the town unless they are out with hunters pulling their sleds in the nearby terrain.

DAY 4 | ILULISSAT AT YOUR LEISURE OR OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

Today, it’s all about the dogs if you have purchased the excursion package:

Dog Sledding (optional)

The mouth of the Icefjord is a breathtaking sight in both summer and winter. During this one-and-a-half-hour sled ride, we traverse Little Akinnaq Mountain for approximately 7 kilometers until we reach a magnificent viewpoint. The journey takes us through hilly mountainous terrain, and you’ll experience the dogs both in front and behind the sled as they act as brakes when encountering steep surfaces on the hills. Dog sledding is one of the greatest symbols of Greenland. A 2,000-year-old tradition for the Inuit, it’s still thriving today, making it one of the most authentic modes of transportation you can try. The basic principle of dog sledding remains the same as it was thousands of years ago; dogs in harnesses attached to a simply constructed wooden sled. The experience cannot be fully explained, you just have to try it!

Meet the sled dogs (optional)

However, if you have purchased the excursion package, today you will meet sled dogs. You can visit the sled dogs at their home, where you can see, smell, and especially hear them when they are being fed. The dog owner will also show you how the sled, harnesses, and whip work, and tell us about the lives of these amazing dogs. You also have the chance to experience something entirely different!

3-hour Snowmobile Tour (optional)

Snowmobiling is an exhilarating adventure with its powerful engines and speed! In winter, snowmobiling is a popular activity in Greenland. The route is subject to change depending on snow conditions and weather. We usually start by traversing “The Gorge,” a winding mountain road just behind Ilulissat. We enjoy a spectacular view of the town and Disko Bay from the top of the hill. The journey continues through frozen lakes and rocky mountain terrain. Along the way, we stop at the highest lookout point for a cup of coffee or tea.

DAY 5 | ILULISSAT AT YOUR LEISURE OR OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

The day is yours to enjoy, and the possibilities are numerous. For example, visit the sewing workshop where they make sealskin souvenirs or shop in craft boutiques for gifts made from tusks, bones, and wood. If you have purchased the excursion package, you can expect a hike to the abandoned village of Sermermiut near the ice fjord.

Hike to the abandoned village of Sermermiut (optional)

The magnificent icebergs of Ilulissat provide a stunning backdrop to the ancient settlement of Sermermiut, located one and a half kilometers south of the town. For 4,000 years, successive Inuit cultures lived in the settlement as it was an ideal hunting location. Listen to the story of the life and customs of the Greenlandic people before the arrival of Europeans. Since the place is covered in snow, you’ll need to use your imagination to see the ruins. However, the view is incredible, so it’s definitely worth the visit.

During this short trip, we turn back after seeing the viewpoint of Kællingekløft, a place where elders would throw themselves off the cliff if needed. Many people ask, “Can’t I do this hike by myself?” The simple answer is “Yes, you can.” However, we find that many people feel comfortable having a guide on their first hikes in the Greenlandic hills. Additionally, the guide will point out historical points of interest, which may be difficult to find on your own. Lastly, it’s nice to share experiences with someone.

Igloo Lodge (optional)

On days 5 and 6, you’ll have the opportunity to experience a real igloo where you’ll spend the night and embark on unique excursions from there. Our partner has had great success with their summer lodges at the Eqi Glacier and in the settlement of Ilimanaq. Now, they also offer winter igloo lodges. You’ll be taken by snowmobile through the beautiful winter landscape, where we hope to see the Northern Lights dancing in the evening sky. Here, at the foot of the mountains, you’ll spend the night in an igloo (with the option to stay in a heated cabin if you prefer). The 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, in stark contrast to the estimated minus 20 degrees Celsius 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 snowshoe hikes where we head to a viewpoint overlooking the ice fjord. The journey to the Igloo Lodge itself is also thrilling. You’ll be driven by snowmobile for about an hour into the hinterland of Ilulissat with breathtaking views along the way. You’ll be welcomed at the cabin with coffee and lunch. Then, you’ll take part in the aforementioned excursion, have afternoon coffee with cake, dinner, and evening coffee followed by a peek outside to see if the Northern Lights are out. Then, you can retire to your igloo, and in the morning, breakfast is served, followed by the snowmobile ride back to civilization.

DAY 6 | FREE DAY IN ILULISSAT OR OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

Disko Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greenland. Primarily because of the ice, but also due to the beauty of the area, the numerous cultural attractions, and the interaction between traditional Inuit life and modern urban life. If you have purchased the excursion package, today is the time for Greenland’s most popular excursion.

Boat tour to the ice fjord (optional)

Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to take this cruise among the icebergs at least once. Every day, over 40 million tonnes of ice break off from the glacier and fall into the Ice Fjord. This results in huge icebergs, some reaching hundreds of meters in height and up to 70 meters of those visible above the waterline. At the mouth of the Ice Fjord, these giants ground themselves on the shores, and here we have the opportunity to sail among them. It’s an incredible natural experience that you’ll remember forever! Nothing less.

DAY 7 | FREE DAY IN ILULISSAT

You have the day at your leisure. You can relax at the hotel, enjoy a book and the splendid view, or go for a hike in the area.

Gala Dinner: In the evening, you are invited to a gala dinner with entertainment. What the entertainment entails is a secret, but it usually turns out to be a lot of fun!

DAY 8 | FREE DAY IN ILULISSAT

Today, it’s time to explore the ice fjord on foot by yourself. Bring your backpack with food and hot water in a thermos and spend the entire day at your own pace marveling at the fantastic ice fjord, where large icebergs drift towards Disko Bay.

DAY 9 | FLIGHT ILULISSAT / KANGERLUSSUAQ / COPENHAGEN

Heading towards Kangerlussuaq, enjoy the last view of Ilulissat’s ice fjord from your plane. After your arrival in Kangerlussuaq, you’ll board Air Greenland’s transatlantic flight to Copenhagen, arriving in the evening.

Free transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the Imperial Hotel or similar in Copenhagen.

DAY 10 | COPENHAGEN / PARIS

Breakfast. Free transfer to the airport. Departure for Paris on SAS regular flights.

End of our services

DEPARTURE DATE
April 2nd, 2023

DEPARTURE GUARANTEED

HOTEL KANGERLUSSUAQ

The Kangerlussuaq Hotel is centrally located as possible, situated within the airport building itself, so you’ll need to retrieve your luggage and bring it to the reception for check-in. All rooms are spacious and offer a view of the so-called Kitchen Mountain or a view of the town and its surroundings. The hotel features a highly reputed restaurant and cafeteria, which is the meeting place for all locals in the area and the 220,000 passengers who transit through Kangerlussuaq each year.

HOTEL ARCTIC ILULISSAT

The most famous hotel in Greenland is the Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat. It’s situated with a fantastic view over the town of Ilulissat, the Ilulissat Icefjord, and Disko Bay. The 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 over the icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord.

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