5 Day Tour Glacier Adventure in Ilulissat – Greenland
Ilulissat literally means iceberg in Greenlandic, so it should come as no surprise that it´s an amazing place to experience the power of Greenland’s ice cap. Staying overnight at the remote Eqi glacier base camp, listening to the crumbling sounds of the ice calving into the fjord is truly extraordinary.
Highlights
- The town of Ilulissat
- Icefiord
- Icebergs and glaciers
- Sermermiut old settlement
- Eqi glacier
- Overnight stay at the Glacier Lodge Eqi
- Glacier View hike
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Reykjavik – Ilulissat
Check-in at Reykjavik domestic airport for the flight to Ilulissat is at least 1 hr before departure. Flight duration of approx. 3 hrs.
Upon arrival at Ilulissat airport transfer to your hotel where you stay for 3 nights.
Guided city walk in the afternoon: with the culture-historical walk, you will get an enhanced understanding of the Greenlandic culture and history, which will give the other experiences in Greenland a new perspective. The guide will tell you about the history of the city, the Greenlandic culture and the modern life north of the Arctic Circle.
We will visit the fishermen at the harbor and the hunters at their trading post – Brædtet. We will show you the church and the house where the famous explorer Knud Rasmussen was born.
In the late evening join the Midnight boat tour amongst the floating icebergs – an exceptional experience you do not want to miss out while visiting Ilulissat. During the year, more than 46 km³ of ice flows into the fjord. The result is gigantic icebergs, which can be more than 100 meters on each side and with a height of more than 100 meters above the water surface. These giants strand at the end of the fjord, and that gives a good opportunity to sail among them.
The icebergs are beautiful in every kind of weather; in the sunshine, the contrasts are very clear, the blue shades are very beautiful when it is cloudy and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the icebergs during the night. The boat trip during a bright night is an extraordinary experience.
Day 2: Trip to Camp Eqi
Very few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi glacier, which comes out in a fjord north of Ilulissat. It is possible to get very close to the edge of the glacier by boat and see big pieces of ice break off. The crashes are enormous, and the sight of the icebergs falling into the water is impressive.
During the boat trip, in a modern and convenient tourist boat with room both outdoors and indoors,the guide will inform the passengers about the landscape and nature that can be seen on the way. When getting close to the glacier, a delicious lunch is served. The boat will stay in front of the glacier for approximately 1½ hour, while we hope to spot some fantastic calvings.
Arrival at Port Victor which is the harbor at Ice Camp Eqi. Only the ones that are staying in Ice Camp Eqi go on land.
1-night accommodation in a 2 person hut and includes dinner, breakfast and bed linen
Optional hike from Camp Eqi to the Delta (4 hrs) is possible in the afternoon (not included)
(This hike will take you to the edge of the Delta with amazing views of the landscape. On the hike there and back you will also get spectacular views of the Eqi glacier. The hike begins at 16:00, is about 4 km long in mountain terrain and takes approx. 3 hours. There will be served coffee and tea. Remember suitable clothing.)
Day 3:Eqi and Ilulissat
In the morning we start with a 4-hour Glacier view hike (included):
The hike begins every day at 08:30 and takes about 3-4 hours. You walk past the lagoon and onto the moraine, from where you can look at the fantastic glacier. Coffee and tea will be served on the hike. It is about 8 kilometers walk in mountain terrain.
We return to the the Glacier lodge and prepare for departure from Port Victor at 15:00.
The route back to Ilulissat goes the same way as the day before. Coffee/tea and cake is served in the late afternoon. Seals and whales are often spotted on the way.
Drop off at a hotel in Ilulissat – where you stay the next 2 nights.
Day 4: UNESCO hike to the old settlement of Sermermiut
The beautiful icebergs of Ilulissat create the wing for the abandoned settlement Sermermiut, which is situated one and a half kilometer south of the city. Different Inuit cultures have lived here during the last 4000 years, and today you can still find artifacts, which bear witness to their presence. Hear the story about the life and the customs of the Greenlanders before the Europeans´ arrival; see the ruins, the kitchen mitten, and feel the permafrost with your own hands.
You can walk these treks yourself. But most people find it safe and informative having a guide with them when hiking the Greenlandic mountains.
Furthermore, the historical places will be pointed out, which can be challenging to find and it is always nice to share the experience with somebody.
On the short trek, we turn back by the view at the Kællingekløften.
Day 5: Return to Iceland
Free morning in Ilulissat or possibility for a short hike in the area before it is time for transfer to the airport. Departure to Reykjavik.
Date and prices
Departures:
16th – 30th June: Tuesdays and Saturdays
1st July – 1st September: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
Price per person:
With accommodation at Eqi Lodge in:
A – in Standard hut or Wilderness tent: EUR 3.170
Single supplement: EUR 445
B – in Comfort hut: EUR 3.290
Single supplement: EUR 545
Included in the package price:
- Flights Reykjavík-Ilulissat-Reykjavík
- Airport taxes
- 3 nights Hotel accommodation in double/twin room with private facilities, including breakfast and airport/hotel transfers upon arrival/departure
- Cultural city walk of Ilulissat
- Hike to Sermermiut UNESCO site
- Evening boat tour sailing amongst icebergs
- 2-day tour to Eqi glacier, including: 1 night accommodation in double/twin hut with full board, linnen and towels and glacier view hike; boat transfer Ililussat-Eqi glacier-Ilulissat with lunch on board and a stop in front of the glacier
**Comfort hut includes also electricity, private bathroom, running water.
***Standard huts and Wilderness tent do not have private bathroom – toilets and showers are found at Café Victor where also all the meals are served.
****Full board at Café Victor includes buffet breakfast and dinner, and guests can choose between buffet lunch or packed lunch to take along.
Please note:
The landing at Eqi Lodge is not suited for disabled.
Glacier Lodge Eqi is situated on the rock approximately 100 m above the sea level. We recommend that all luggage is carried in a rucksack, since the ascent makes it difficult to bring a suitcase. All guests need to carry their own luggage.
There are three types of accommodation available:
Standard huts:
“Standard” may sound a little boring. There is, however, nothing standard about the view from these huts. All huts have a splendid view of the calving glacier. All huts are cosy and sparsely furnished just like a log cabin. Bed linen and towels are included. Toilet and showers are found at Cafe Victor.
Wilderness tents:
The Wilderness Tents are luxury tents in high quality. They have full standing height, real beds, furniture and windows. The tents are placed on a large wooden platform with a wonderful terrace overlooking the active glacier. In the tent there is nothing but a canvas dividing you from the impressive thunder escaping from the glacier. Bed linen and towels are included. Toilet and showers are found at Café Victor.
Comfort huts:
Through a seven meter wide window, the new Comfort huts gives a panoramic view of both the glacier and the fiord. Furthermore, Comfort huts are built in a new eco-design, specifically adapted to this special location. The Comfort huts have water closet, shower and underfloor heating. So that after a wonderful long day at the ice sheet you can finish the day with a hot shower in comfortable surroundings. All the energy used in the Comfort huts comes from the sun. Solar panels generate electricity and vacuum tubes heat the water. This creates a sustainable eco friendly concept, with focus on decreased CO² emission and the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the Comfort huts have outlets enabling you to charge your camera.
What do I need to bring?
Warm clothes, good hiking shoes, luggage in backpack rather than suitcase.
