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Best Adventure in Greenland
"Meet the Inuits, navigate among icebergs, trek, enjoy glacier fronts, thermal springs, the Inlandis, the artic fauna, the northern lights, see for yourself how the climate is changing…"
Probably the most complete journey you can do in South Greenland including the best treks in the tundra, an unforgettable excursion on Greenland’s ice sheet, and the biggest and most beautiful mountains and granite walls in Greenland - Ketil and Ulamertorssuaq, in Tasermiut fjord, which are considered one of the ten wonders of the whole Arctic.
Navigate among fjords, icebergs, blocks of ice and spectacular glacier fronts.
Visit the cities of Narsaq and Nanortalik, the most picturesque settlements - Tasiusaq, Igaliko, Sardloq and Qassiarsuk. Bathe in Uunartoq’s warm springs and relish in the breathtaking beauty of the icebergs on the cold waters of the fjord.
Watch the magnificent northern lights, see whales, seals and caribou. Go fishing for arctic salmon and cod, pick mussels, mushroom and blueberries. Visit the best Eskimo and Viking ruins - Brattahlid and Gardar. Meet the local Inuit people.
Join us on an immersion journey to the unexplored secrets of Greenland, one of the last frontiers of the modern world, a journey for adventurous travellers, willing to discover nature in her pure state, and to have first-hand experience of the effects of global warming.
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1: Qaleraliq Camp
Flight Reykjavik - Narsarsuaq. Welcome reception at the airport and preparation of equipment for the trip. We will set off for Qaleraliq Camp, navigating along Tunulliarfik fjord among numerous icebergs, direct to the Ice Cap. Arrival to a cosy, enchanting camp set on a sandy beach, which contrasts with a spectacular view of two glacier fronts from Qaleraliq’s glacier.
We will spend the night at the camp, allowing our senses to enjoy the unbelievable views and the thunderclap roar of the icefall from seracs.
Day 2: Tasersuatsiaq Lake
Ascent to the base of Tasersuatsiaq great lake and panoramic view of the Inlandis. Ascent on foot through a unique desert-like sand valley which will lead us to a surprisingly different landscape, that of the green and thick tundra. After passing the lake, we will climb a mountain 400 metres high, from which we will have a mesmerising view of the lake, one of the largest in Southern Greenland. The summit is also a very special viewing point of the Inlandis, the immense inland glacier. From there you can gaze upon the infinite ice sheet up to the north coast of the island and towards the Arctic Ocean, and see the Nunataks, floating landmarks on the ice sheet. We may pick mushrooms and blueberries, and look for caribou, which are plentiful in the area. Descent to the camp.
Day 3: Glacier fronts and excursion on ice
We will navigate along the glacier fronts on a zodiac boat, admiring the beauty of their vertical walls, ice walls and numerous icebergs as we near them along their more than 10 kilometres descent to the sea. From there we will start the ice excursion. An impressive trek using crampons (organised to be suitable for all travellers) on one of the oldest masses of ice in the planet. We will explore its crevasses, drains, caves, seracs, and other ice formations, which give an incredible, labyrhyntine quality to this glacier.
An expert mountain guide, a specialist in Glacier Science, will be in charge to make sure we are provided with the appropriate equipment, and to ensure the safety of the group during the trip, while he shares with us his knowledge about the special characteristics of the glaciers in the South of Greenland. A unique experience, exciting and original, surprising both first-time comers and those used to the peculiarities of the glacier world. One of the most impressive sights and one of the best excursions in all Greenland.
Day 4: Sardloq
Navigation near Tugtutoq Island towards Sardloq, a settlement surrounded by several islands, nowhere mentioned in South Greenland. An authentic and genuine Greenlandic lifestyle, just in front of open sea. Night in Sardloq
Day 5: Thermal springs in Uunartoq
In the morning we will set off for Uunartoq through the complex system of fjords which somehow reminds us of Scotland, although here it is surrounded by icebergs. On our way to Uunartoq Island, we will go past Alluitsup Paa, a painteresque settlement and the capital for whales in South Greenland, which will give us the chance to look for whales during the whole trip. In the afternoon, we will have free time to enjoy a relaxing bathe in the warm springs (the only thermal springs to which access is possible in Greenland), a holiday resort for many natives who come from all over the country to camp and bathe in the thermal springs, while icebergs float only 500 metres away in the fjord. Night at Uunartoq Island.
Day 6: Nanortalik
Navigation in zodiac boats to Nanortalik, the southernmost town of the country, which has some 2300 inhabitants and is the second most populated town in the South of Greenland. Visit to the Museum of Inuit Culture and Traditions, the best museum in the South. Free time in the evening and for dinner. You can visit the town, go shopping, explore the hunters market, go to a restaurant or have a drink in a town “where there are polar bears” – at least that is the meaning of its name, though the chances of meeting one are extremely little – and which still remains isolated by ice for a considerable part of the year. It is possible to join a guided tour of the town and surroundings. Night at a home /hostel.
Day 7: Camp and Tasermiut fjord
Navigation across to Tasermiut glacier, along the fjord of the same name. Along the journey we will discover three impressive mountains - Ketil, Ulamertorssuaq and Tinitertuup – up to the borders of the glacier, a glacier with a 1.400 metres drop from the plateau to the fjord in barely three kilometres, which turns the glacier into a spectacular, mighty ice waterfall. Night at the camp under the huge Ulamertorsuaq - one of the largest and steepest walls in the world, exceeding even “Capitán” in Yosemite - a place where climbers attempting the big walls in the region usually camp. This fjord is highlighted as one of the ten Arctic wonders.
Day 8: Nalumasortoq Valley
Moderate walk on a terrain of medium difficulty up to the base of the glacier in the amazing granite mass of Nalumasortoq, whose extremely smooth twin walls are highly cherished by climbers in South Greenland. From this viewing point we can see the south face of the Ketil and the north face of the Ulamertorssuaq, together with many other unnamed walls. Alpine and glacial landscapes, incredibly beautiful sights. Fishing and picking mussels, mushrooms and blackberries. Night at the Ulamertorssuaq camp. This camp also offers a fantastic view to the west face of the Ulamertorssuaq as the sun set strokes the rock with the last rays of sun.
Day 9: Ulamertosuaq
Trekking up to the base of the Ulamertorssuaq wall, rated the best Arctic "Bigwall" and one of the best ten climbing walls in the whole world. Mountain of unique, singular beauty, astonishing wall and glaciers. Night at the camp.
Day 10: Hunters Families
Transfer to the mouth of Kuusuaq River, the most popular Salmon River in South Greenland. Walk in a truly alpine background to Tasersuaq Lake, through Saputit path, created by Tasiusaq’s inhabitants to go fishing in Lake Tasersuaq. We will arrive at Tasiusaq, a picturesque village with 80 inhabitants, and tragic historical landmarks which reflect how hard life was in this country decades ago. All the inhabitants of this village starved to death some 140 years ago. It was not until the 1930s that the village was repopulated by descendants and family of the original inhabitants. Spectacular scenery surrounded by mountains. We will spend the night either at local people’s homes – in groups of three or four people – or at the school – depending on which type of accommodation is available due to hunting activity.
Day 11: Narsaq
Transfer by boat to Narsaq, the third most populated town in South Greenland, with about 1700 inhabitants. In the evening, free time to explore on our own the museum, the fur shops, the church, and to have dinner in one of its restaurants or enjoy a drink with the local people. When we travel by boat, we will look out for whales, we may see them here. Night at a home/hostel.
Day 12: Igaliko and Qoorooq glacier
Navigation in zodiac boat to Itilleq, where we will leave the zodiac and take the Kings’ Way to Igaliko on foot. We will visit Archbishopric Gardar’s ruins, religious capital for the Vikings. We will have a sea excursion to Qoorooq fjord and see what probable is the most spectacular glacier in the South of Greenland. We will navigate among blocks of ice until the density of ice is such that we can no longer continue. Wonderful sight of ice floating around us. Night at the Leif Eriksson Hostel in Qassiarsuk.
Day 13: Tasiusaq and Sermilik
Walk to Tasiusaq farm, where seven people live in notable isolation next to Sermilik fjord, which is almost always blocked by the ice from icebergs coming from Eqaloruutsit glacier. Later we will go artic salmon fishing, a walk in the region. Posibility to arrange a kayak excursion in the "Bay of Icebergs".
As we get back, we can also walk around Qassiarsuk, old Brattahlid. It is here that Eric the Red settled when he started Greenland’s colonisation back in 985. We will visit the original ruins from Erik the Red, and a replica of the original chapel. Night at the Leif Eriksson Hostel.
Day 14: Flower Valley
We will cross to Narsarsuaq on a motorboat. Then, we will walk through Flower Valley enjoying the spectacular view of a valley formed due to the retreat and the consequent glacial sedimentation with plenty of flowers. We will walk until we can see Kiattut glacier and the landscape around it, with superb panoramic view of the ice sheet and its Nunataks. This is probably the most renowned excursion in all Greenland. Farewell dinner, with typical Eskimo products, whale, seal, caribou, mattak… and night at the Leif Eriksson Hostel.
Day 15: Narsarsuaq
Transfer Qassiarsuk-Narsarsuaq on a zodiac boat. Free time to visit Narsarsuaq. Flight Narsarsuaq-Copenhagen/Reykjavik
NOTE: This itinerary is a unique journey, designed and organised by Tasermiut, South Greenland Expeditions. It keeps the adventure and discovery ingredients present in all our journeys. The route can be done as it is explained above or in reverse order. The order of the activities may not be exactly as planned in this outline. Greenland is the wildest country in the northern hemisphere, infrastructures are almost non-existent and logistics pose enormous challenges. That is the reason why we may not follow this daily itinerary exactly as planned. It is subject to change in order to adapt the journey to the weather conditions, sea conditions, or technical and organisational difficulties, and it therefore requires flexibility in the traveller.
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