Tour Description
Of the four seasons in Greenland, it's no secret that winter is the longest and most dominant. On the other hand, spring, summer and autumn are short. However, autumn contains a myriad of gifts in the form of golden foliage and the most exciting natural phenomena: the Northern Lights.
Nuuk is much more than Greenland's capital city. On this journey you’ll go to the most beautiful and darkest viewpoints around Nuuk to hopefully witness one of the most majestic natural phenomena in the Arctic. Your local guide will tell about various folk tales related to the Northern Lights in Greenland.
Ilulissat Icefjord is a beautiful and interesting place, regardless of the season. It has its own very special colours for each period, but the autumn offers the most dramatic colour contrast. The day often ends with blazing Northern Lights filling the sky.
Highlights
- Possibility to view the Northern Lights in one of the world's most beautiful countries
- Learn a little about Greenlandic myths and legends
- Scenic flight from Nuuk to Ilulissat
- Stay in one of Greenland's best-located hotels: Hotel Icefiord
- Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Listed destination by land and possibly by sea
- Possibility to eat really well at one of the many good restaurants in Ilulissat
Summary
The gateway to Greenland is Nuuk, reached by direct flight from Copenhagen. In the evening we will take a tour looking for Northern lights.
Day 2, Saturday. Nuuk - Ilulissat
Scenic domestic flight more than 500 km north to the iceberg capital Ilulissat, where you’ll stay at Hotel Icefiord. Afternoon guided tour of the ‘city’.
Day 3-4, Sunday and Monday. Ilulissat
Guided tour to Sermermiut with view to Kangia Icefiord with a lot of ice. Rest of the days are at your disposal in Ilulissat, with optional excursions to choose from.
Return home from Ilulissat to Copenhagen via Nuuk.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1. Copenhagen - Nuuk. City walk and Northern Light
Your adventure begins with a flight to Greenland's main gateway, Nuuk.
Here we will go on a guided city tour to experience well-known places and the breathtaking viewpoint that’s often found on postcards from Nuuk! We will talk about Greenland’s history, as well as the sculptures and paintings around us. The tour shows Kangeq, where Hans Egede originally settled as well as the old colorful houses and the iconic Sermitsiaq mountain in the background.
I the evening we will go on a cozy tour in a green hybrid car to the most beautiful and darkest viewpoints around Nuuk. The tour is guided by a local, who will tell you about various folk tales related to the aurora, as well as the history and culture of the city. We provide a warm drink during the tour, especially during the cold stops where we step outside to hopefully witness one of the most majestic natural phenomena in the Arctic. If we are unlucky with the unpredictable northern lights, you can join another aurora tour for free!
The night is spent at Hotel Hans Egede Express which is central located in Nuuk.
B / - / -
Kangerlussuaq - close to the Ice Cap
Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s main air transportation gateway. This small airport town belongs to Qeqqata Municipality, and has a population of approx. 600 people. Just 40 km from the ice cap, the town offers much more than an airport.
Day 2. Nuuk- Ilulissat. City Tour
Most people travelling to Greenland want to see glaciers and icebergs. Today you’ll fly to the iceberg capital, Ilulissat. Flight time is approx. 1 hour 20 minutes and in good weather you’ll have a spectacular view over Ilulissat Icefjord shortly before landing.
You’ll be transferred by bus from Ilulissat Airport to your comfortable accommodation at Hotel Icefiord, where you’ll be staying for the next 3 nights in a seaview room.
This afternoon you’ll take a guided city walk to gain insight into everyday life and a little about local history.
B / - / -
Day 3-4. Ilulissat on your own
During the days a guided hike to the old Inuit settlement Sermermiut, overlooking the icefjord mouth, is included. Beautifully situated on the outskirts of Ilulissat, the hike is about 5 km and reasonably easy.
UNESCO’s addition of Ilulissat Icefjord and Sermermiut to its World Heritage List has had a significant positive impact to the region. Your guide will explain what UNESCO conservation means and why it’s so important.
Rest of the days are at leisure to explore Ilulissat as you wish. You may like to relax and enjoy the local atmosphere around town, go to a café, visit the museums or one of the local artisan studios. If you’d prefer to make the most of your time with some guided excursions, we have a good selection to choose from, including tours with a Northern Lights theme.
See the excursion, in the text given for Ilulissat
B / - / -
Ilulissat - enourmouse icebergs
For many enthusiasts, Ilulissat (formally Jakobshavn) is considered “the Navel of the World” when discussing travel to Greenland.
Day 5. Ilulissat - Copenhagen (via Nuuk)
With hopefully a memory and camera full of Northern Lights, the adventure is now over. Your homeward journey starts from Ilulissat with a flight to Nuuk and onwards to Copenhagen.
B / - / D
NOTE! – Would you like to extend the journey?
Northern Lights Facts
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) occur when electrically charged solar particles collide with the Earth’s magnetic field. Attracted to the magnetic poles, the particles produce dazzling Auroral light when they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms: North Pole = Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis and South Pole = Southern Lights / Aurora Australis.
This phenomenon occurs year-round but is seen only in dark, clear skies. In Greenland it is best experienced in autumn and winter, with some places better than others.
Price and Practical Info
Price Includes
- Flights Copenhagen (Denmark, Europe) - Nuuk (Greenland) - Ilulissat (Greenland) incl. taxes
- Flights Ilulissat (Greenland) - Nuuk (Greenland) - Copenhagen (Denmark, Europe) incl. taxes
- 1 night at Hotel Hans Egede Express, incl. breakfast
- 3 nights at Hotel Icefiord (Ilulissat) in shared double room incl. breakfast
- Excursions Nuuk: City tour and Northern lights with car
- Excursions Ilulissat: City tour and Sermermiut Hiking
- Transport from / to airport and hotel (Ilulissat)
- Contribution to the Travel Guarantee Fund
- All taxes and charges
Price Excludes
- Meals, except breakfast and meals on the Atlantic flight
- Other excursions except those specifically mentioned in "Price Includes"
- Tour guide (this trip is on your own)
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Single room supplement / cabin allowance of 2.000 DKK
Please note: The price of this trip is a base-level estimate, calculated on a certain category of seat on the flights and room/cabin category of accommodation. The actual price for your travel date may differ, according to availability at the time of booking. Please confirm with us any possible surcharges at the time of making your booking.
If you need further explanation, please feel free to contact us.
Meals
Included meals are marked with B (breakfast), L (lunch), D (dinner) on each day. If meals are not included, these are marked with -.
On Air Greenland flights between Denmark and Greenland, free meals and drinks are served on board. On domestic flights in Greenland, a cup of coffee and a biscuit is typically served.
Accommodation
Access to Electricity
Mobile Phone
Mobile phone coverage is sparse during this trip, so there will only be limited opportunities to use your phone.
IMPORTANT NOTE!
The programme is subject to change without notice. A trip like this is dependent on good weather. There may therefore be some changes in the programme. Delays and cancellations may occur, especially in air and ship transportation.
No compensation is granted for the first 24 hours of delay or travel changes due to external circumstances. We will strive to reduce the disruption as much as possible and endeavour to provide an alternative programme or fill in the additional waiting time.
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