4 Day Tour Kangerlussuaq West Greenland

4 Day Tour Kangerlussuaq West Greenland

Kangerlussuaq is a gateway to Greenland. Just a short distance from the airport we get the chance to get in close contact with the largest ice sheet on Earth – the Greenland Ice Cap.

Highlights

• Kangerlussuaq
• Greenland Ice Cap
• Hiking options
• Chance to observe muskoxen and other wildlife in their natural habitat

Daily itinerary:

Day 1: Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq

Morning flight from Copenhagen, departing at 09:00 or 10:45, depending on the day of your travel. In the afternoon a short Tundra Safari:
The trip takes place on a tough, off-road 4WD coach, which is outfitted to accommodate transport in the Arctic’s summer and winter terrain. We will follow a route through the beautiful tundra landscape, while the guide tells us about the surrounding flora and fauna.
With a bit of luck, we will observe musk oxen roaming freely in their natural habitat around Kangerlussuaq and learn about these incredible creatures. Musk oxen can be aggressive and charge without warning, so we are unable to confirm how closely we can observe their behavior. However, the guide will always bring a pair of binoculars, ensuring you have a chance to watch these impressive animals.
We will also be on the lookout for other wildlife in the area, such as reindeer, and learn about the tundra’s vegetation and flowering plants, including the dense scrub that grows on the south-facing rocky slopes and the wooded thickets of arctic willow that thrive along the rivers and streams.
Geologically-speaking, Kangerlussuaq’s history dates back 2.8 – 2.7 billion years, and at least once, the area has been completely frozen over in ice from Kangerlussuaq to the coastal town of Sisimiut. This is evidenced by the area’s rigid, moraine landscapes and in the generally lower geological reliefs, in comparison to the geological mass that lies to the north. In other words, the geological structure of Kangerlussuaq’s mountain landscapes has been eroded by ice through the ages. Today, the height of the largest rounded hills in the area do not exceed 700 meters.On this excursion, we often drive up to the American-named mountain of Tacan. It is a mountain south of Kangerlussuaq that offers fantastic panoramic views of the valleys, rivers, Kangerlussuaq and even parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet.
After the tour you have time to explore the town of Kangerlussuaq on your own, or take a short hike up to the hills above the hotel.

Accommodation at Hotel Kangerlussuaq for the duration of your stay.

Day 2: Kangerlussuaq – Russell Glacier

On this tour, our destination is the strikingly beautiful Russell Glacier, which stands like a wall of ice – reaching up to 60 meters (197 feet) at certain points – in sharp contrast to the surrounding land and ice-scapes. Kangerlussuaq enjoys a distinguishing attribute as the only place in Greenland where you can literally drive onto the ice sheet – and it is located only 25 km from the settlement! From all other locations in Greenland, you must hike, sail or fly.
The adventure to the area’s most remarkable glacier requires transport with a tundra coach, a 4WD vehicle, which is designed to take on the rocky, changeable terrain and gravel roads. This leg of our journey takes approximately 1.5 hours. On the way, we will be on the lookout for wildlife, such as reindeer and musk oxen, and listen to
stories from our guide about the area’s history.
After arriving to Russell Glacier, you can hike along the glacier’s edge, and simply enjoy its immensity. Here, the roar of melting and morphing ice structures are the only sounds that disrupt the peaceful silence. You will find many excellent locations for close-up photography and panoramas.
Due to the melting of ice during the warmer summer months, glacial thinning and instability within the colossal walls of ice can result. These structures can calve and break suddenly; therefore, it is important to maintain a safe distance.
As the ice slowly moves across the mountain landscapes, its unseen power crushes the rock below, thereby producing an accumulation of stony deposits and fine, gray silt. The silt is actually fine sand, clay and gravel that resulted from the ice’s crushing weight. These moraines and silt serve as a true testament to the great forces that nature can exert. They also help explain the steely gray color of the 160-kilometer (199-mile) long Kangerlussuaq Fjord.
After an hour spent enjoying the fantastic glacial surroundings and nature’s might, we will leave Russell Glacier behind, just as we found it – pristine, magnificent and unforgettable.
The Russell Glacier is located within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Aasivissuit – Nipisat.

Day 3: Kangerlussuaq

Free time in Kangerlussuaq to explore the surroundings on your own.

There is choice of optional guided tours which can be added to the package for this day:

Sightseeing Kangerlussuaq
Point 660 Ice Cap
Full day Adventure to Ice Cap, incl. sandwich: 168
Boattrip with BBQ
Hike to Granatfjeldet (ca. 15 km hike)

For more information, departure days and prices and availability of the optional tours, please contact us.

Day 4: Deperature flight Kangerlussuaq – Copenhagen

Morning free to relax or possibility for a short hike in the area. Check in for your flight departing Kangerlussuaq at 11:40 or 13:10, arriving to Copenhagen at 20:00 /or 21:30 – depending on your travel date.

Dates and prices

Departures:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays