This tour takes in the essence of West Greenland starting in the picturesque town of Ilulissat, home of the UNESCO designated Ilulissat Ice Fjord. You will also visit the amazing Eqi glacier and stay in the unique cabins beside the glacier.

Boarding the coastal ferry south you stop at several towns along the way to Narsaq, on the shores of Narsaq Sund. Sailing plays a very important role in the Greenlandic infrastructure and a cruise along the West coast of Greenland is a fabulous way of experiencing this beautiful and varied country.

Sailing in Greenland is just as natural a part of everyday life as driving a car is for others. However, sailing in Arctic waters is often much more than just a question of getting from A to B. Sailing is a lifestyle and almost a law of nature in and around the world's largest island, where none of the towns are linked by roads.



Countries visited

• Greenland

Places visited

• Nuuk
• Ilulissat
• Diskobukta
• Reykjavik
• Kangerlussuaq

Transportation

Coastal ship, boat to Eqi and flight from and to Reykjavik

Included In Price

• Flights ex Reykjavik to Greenland west coast with all taxes, transfers, accommodation and coastal voyage.
• Breakfast at hotels, but not on the ship (meals can be bought on board cruise in cafeteria).
• City walk/tour in Ilulissat
• Local guide in Narsaq.
• All accommodation as described in twin rooms/cabins
• Outside cabin on board MV Sarfaq Ittuk

Meals Included

This tour includes 10 meals; 8 breakfasts 2 dinners

Not Included In Price

Flight tickets to/from start and end points, any airport taxes, travel insurance, visas, gratitudes and any items of personal nature.

There is no guide during the coastal cruise however there is information aboard the ship and films shown which are announced during the voyage.

Important Information

We strongly recommend to pre-book optional excursions, as these can easily be booked out. Note, however, that weather conditions may affect these excursions and due to this we cannot guarantee that the excursions will run on the time/date booked.

Day 1: Depart Reykjavik (Tuesday)

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Midday flight from Reykjavik Domestic Airport to Ilulissat. Meet & greet by an local representative and transfer to the hotel for check-in. In the early evening join a guided city walk of Ilulissat.

Accommodation

Hotel Icefiord

Meals Included

none

Day 2 : Ilulissat

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Ilulissat is the third largest town municipality in Greenland with more than 5000 inhabitants. About 4500 people lives in the town Ilulissat, and 500 people lives in the four remaining small settlements: Ilimanaq, Oqaatsut, Qeqertaq and Saqqaq.

300 kilometres north of the Polar Circle, Ilulissat lies beautifully situated close to one of the worlds largest glaciers – Kangia. The glacier produces about 20 million tons of ice each day, all floating into the Ilulissat Icefiord and the Disko Bay. All this ice gives at good basis for fishing for Halibut which is the main occupation in Ilulissat. Due to the unique ice and landscape, the area of Kangia and the Icefiord has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 2004.

Your time in Ilulissat allows you to join some of the many optional excursions. You can enjoy helicopter flights over the Icecap and visit remote settlements where fishing and hunting still continues as it has for centuries.

Optional excursions during stay in Ilulissat (see Trip Notes for details):
• The Icebergs of Sermermiut
• Hunter's Settlement - Rodebay
• Midnight Cruise to the Ice Fiord
• By Helicopter to the Ice Cap (operation depend on weather and helicopter capacity)
• Hunter's Settlement - Ilimanaq
• Home Visit
• Feeding the huskies
• Whale Safari

Accommodation

Hotel Icefiord

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts

Day 3 & 4: Boat trip to Eqi, a place not to miss!

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We travel out by boat to Eqi, 5 hours by boat through the Disko bay. Very few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi glacier, which comes out in a fiord about 80 km north of Ilulissat.

Departure from Ilulissat, in a modern and convenient tourist boats, is early. There is tea and coffee on the way and a light breakfast is served. At around midday, you arrive in front of the Glacier, the boat will stay in front of the glacier for approximately 1½ hour, while we hope to spot some amazing calvings and enjoy lunch.

Around 2pm, we land at Port Victor, the ”harbour” at Ice Camp Eqi. The camp guides will greet and show everybody their huts. Coffee and cake is served and practical information on the area is given. The rest of the day could be spent by joining the excursions that hike to the lagoon, the moraine and the glacier or enjoying the view from the huts.

You do not need to bring all your luggage along for these two days. We recommend that you only pack the most necessary in a day pack, since after arriving in Port Victor you have to carry you own luggage 400 m upwards to Ice Camp Eqi. Remember however it can be cold.

There are several options for hiking here to view all the angles of the Eqi Glacier. From the huts you can join an optional group hike around the small lagoon at the southern end of the glacier. There are often large flocks of geese in the lagoon in the breeding season. The hike goes further up the moraine where we can look down into the enormous cracks in the glacier few meters away from us. From here you will also get an overview of a large part of the 70m high glacier-front and see the impressive calvings from the glacier. If you wish to join the optional hike, please book early.

Accommodation

Eqi Camp - All the huts in Ice Camp Eqi come with a beautiful view of the fiord and the glacier.

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
2 x Dinners

Day 5: Return to Ilulissat, relax and revive.

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You return to Ilulissat where you have the evening and following morning to relax.

Accommodation

Hotel Icefiord

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts

Day 6 to 9: Sail along the West Coast

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You have the morning at leisure in Ilulissat until afternoon transfer to the pier for embarking on a sailing voyage along the spectacular West Greenland coast on board the coastal vessel MV Sarfaq Ittuk.

Get ready for an experience of a lifetime as you will be sailing in beautiful clear water in scenic fjords with icebergs floating around you.

The coastal voyage south to Narsaq takes 4 days and 3 nights, and is a regular coastal service used by locals as well as travellers. On board you will meet the local population travelling from town to town to visit relatives and friends along the coast. Enjoy the incredible landscape as we leave the Arctic scenery and reach the green and more fertile South Greenland, rather than whales, watch for sheep along the way. The ship calls at the major towns and required settlements as it travels south.

The ship goes at the local's pace, with time to enjoy the view. There is a sense of community with families welcoming the ship at every port.

Accommodation on board is in comfortable twin share outside cabin with window and private bathroom/toilet.

Everyone travelling in the MV Sarfaq Ittuk have their meals in the restaurant/cafeteria. We have decided not to include the meals in the trip price, but give you the freedom to choose. This will also allow you to enjoy meals ashore when the ship docks at ports along the way.

Please note that there is smoking on board this boat. Meal prices on board are as follows (note that prices are indicative only and may change without prior notice):
- Breakfast buffet - DKK 65 per person
- Lunch buffet - DKK 70 per person
- Dinner (hot dish) - DKK 75 per person

Following is your itinerary/schedule for the 4 day and 3 night voyage (schedule is indicative only and may change without prior notice due to local conditions):

Sailing schedule MV Sarfaq Ittuk
Sunday
Departure at 17:00 for our southbound cruise along the Greenlandic West Coast.
21:30 to 22:00 short stop in Aasiaat.

Monday
Sailing south along the Greenlandic West Coast.
09:00-11:00 Call at Sisimiut.
21:30-22:00 Short stop in Maniitsoq.

Tuesday
Sailing south along the Greenlandic West Coast.
06:30-09:00 Call at Nuuk incl. special Arctic Adventure City tour of Nuuk.
23:30-23:59 Short stop in Paamiut.

Wednesday
Sailing in the South Greenland Archipelago.
15:00-19:00 Call at Qaqortoq.
21:00 Arrival to Narsaq.
Meet & greet by our local guide. Transfer to the hotel for check-in and information meeting.

Accommodation

Accommodation on board MV Sarfaq Ittuk is in comfortable twin share outside cabin with window and private bathroom/toilet
Hotel Narsaq or similar

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts

Day 10 & 11: Narsaq - fjords, mountains, flowers and fertile land.

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The Southern coast of Greenland is jokingly nicknamed "Sineriak Bananeqarfik" (Banana Coast) by the locals. Still far from a tropical paradise, this is the region which experiences the least extreme temperatures of Greenland. The area is characterized by its fjords and mountains; flowering plants, fertile lands and sheepfarms side by side with floating icebergs and glaciers.

You have two days at leisure in Narsaq with time to enjoy optional excursions. Narsaq is a typical Greenlandic town with a small population that is decreasing dramatically every year. It is beautiful with it's coloured houses and icebergs framing the pictures. Local fjords are full of marine life, including whales, salmon, and seals. Other marine animals in Narsaq are harp seals and walruses. Scuba Diving is possible in this area.

There are also lots of quirky things to do in Greenland - visit the private Stone museum in Narsaq or explore ancient Viking ruins in the surrounding area.

Optional excursions during stay in Narsaq:
• City walk Narsaq
• By boat to the Inland Ice Cap
• Hike - The Dyrnæs Peninsula and Kvanefjeld
• Half day by boat to Eskimo ruins
• Evening cruise

Accommodation

Hotel Narsaq or similar

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts

Day 12: Depart for Reykjavik (Saturday)

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In the morning transfer to Narsaq pier and travel by boat through Eric's Fiord to Narsarsuaq. Transfer from Narsarsuaq pier to the airport. Flight departure is in the early afternoon with flight from Narsarsuaq to Reykjavik Domestic Airport where tour ends upon arrival.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts