New Year's Eve in Ilulissat

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Copenhagen

Arrival at Kastrup Airport and overnight stay at a 4* airport hotel.

Day 2: Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq - Ilulissat, Information Meeting & Tour of the Town

We board Air Greenland’s red plane in Copenhagen and fly to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. It is a trip of 4½ hours. Ahead of us are five exciting days around New Year’s in Ilulissat, but there is still one more flight to get there.

After a short stop-over in Kangerlussuaq to change planes, we continue towards Ilulissat. After crossing the amazing Ilulissat Icefjord, we land at Ilulissat Airport. You will be picked up by Hotel Arctic’s bus and taken to the cozy hotel by the waterfront in Ilulissat.

After check-in, the guide organizes an information meeting, telling you about the town, the area, and possible excursions. There may be changes to the order of the excursion. Daylight hours are limited, as is the availability of tours boats, so we may have to split the group into smaller parties on some days, and while some people go sailing, others will go dog sledding. Local staff are experts at logistics like this so that no one will be missing out.

Guided town walk:
Ilulissat is Greenland’s third-largest town and is considered one of the four main towns, along with Nuuk, Qaqortoq, and Sisimiut. People have lived in the area surrounding Ilulissat for 4,500 years. Still, the town itself was established as a village in 1727, and, in 1741, the Icelandic merchant Jacob Severin established a trading post called Jacobshavn (Jacob’s Harbour). Later on, the town changed its name to Jakobshavn (now with a ‘k’). You will see many buildings that are linked to this time. For example, Knud Rasmussen, the world-famous polar explorer, grew up in Ilulissat in the building that now houses the historical museum. You can look forward to an exciting tour and get lots of information that you can use in the coming days.

You will have a tasty welcome dinner at the hotel’s very good restaurant (drinks not included).

Day 3: Ilulissat on your own (Optional: Hike to Sermermiut & Huskies)

There are many things to do in llulissat on your own – the guide will have told you about this at the information meeting yesterday. If you have purchased the excursion package, on days 2 and 3, you will either go on a hike to Sermermiut on one day and go out on a dog sled ride on the other.

 OPTIONAL: Hiking to the former Inuit settlement of Sermermiut by the Ice Fjord

 You will hike to the former settlement of Sermermiut, which has been inhabited for thousands of years because of its amazing location at the Ice Fjord. Although the view here is incredible, it was not the scenery that brought the Inuit here. There are excellent hunting opportunities in the area since the Ice Fjord provides food for fish and seals, which has created a basis for human settlements for millennia.

 OPTIONAL: 1 ½-hour dog sled ride 

 Today, you can look forward to a 1 ½-hour dog sled ride. The dog sled is one of the most famous Greenlandic icons and a thousand-year-old tradition for the Inuit. Not many vehicles have survived such a long period without changes in appearance and technology: a pack of happy dogs in harnesses tied to a simply constructed wooden sled. The experience cannot be explained – it must be tried.

 This trip usually takes place in flat terrain on a plain near Ilulissat. Apart from the sled driver, you are two participants on each sled, so if you have booked the excursion on your own, you may share a sled with another person. However, all dogs are different, so if you are out with family and friends, we can not guarantee that you will be riding together on the entire trip as some dogs are fast, and others are not. This trip is recommended for those with neck or back problems or if you are immobile. Participants must be 12 years and older.

Day 4: Day at leisure in Greenland 

There is still plenty of time to go out and experience on your own. You can also enjoy the fireplace next to the hotel lobby, relax in your room, or at the many other vantage points scattered around the hotel and the hotel grounds.

Day 5: New Year's Eve Celebrations (Optional: Meet the Sled Dogs)

Our previous guests expressed wish for the trip to be a little longer so there was time for relaxation. So that’s what this day is for as tonight is New Year’s Eve! However, you will visit with the sled dogs if you have bought the excursion package.

OPTIONAL: Meet the Sled Dogs

However, if you have bought the excursion package, you will get to meet some sled dogs today. You get to visit the sled dogs at their home, and you can see, feel, and especially hear them when they are fed. The dog’s owner will also demonstrate how the sled, the straps, and the whip work, and he will tell us about the life of these amazing dogs.

Gala dinner at Hotel Arctic:
The New Year is now only a few hours away, and tonight you are going to a gala dinner at Hotel Arctic. The hotel offers a five-course dinner, where, as mentioned, there is a break at 8 PM because all of Greenland goes outside to celebrate the Danish New Year and sends up fireworks in honor of friends and family in Denmark. Then we go back to our tables. There will be some entertainment at the hotel, and, at midnight, we will go out into the snow again and celebrate Greenland’s new year. Then we go in and get a glass of bubble water, and then you can judge for yourself how long you keep going.

 Day 6: Ilulissat on your own (Optional: Boat Trip to the Icefjord)

Disko Bay is Greenland’s most sought-after tourist destination. This is especially due to Ilulissat Ice Fjord, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

OPTIONAL: Sailing to the lce Fjord

You start your year with what will probably become one of the highlights of your life, a sailing trip to the mouth of the lce Fjord. Here, you get to sail among the huge icebergs stranded here. The ice has created a sandbank throughout millennia, on which the huge icebergs now run aground. At some point, the ice melts less, there will be a swell or the ice is pushed forward by more ice from the fjord, and then the large icebergs can finally move further out into the deeper Disko Bay and from there to the Baffin Ba.

 Day 7: Ilulissat on your own (Optional: Northern Lights Safari)

You will have a day on your own to relax. If you have bought the excursion package, you will look for the northern lights at night.

OPTIONAL: Northern Lights Safari

When the sky is clear on winter nights, you can see the most beautiful northern lights over Ilulissat. Aurora Borealis is, without a doubt, the night sky’s most spectacular phenomenon. We will drive away from the lights of the town and go to where there is total darkness, apart from the stars and northern lights. The guide will tell us all about the causes of the phenomenon. You will also get tips and tricks to make the best pictures of the colored lights as they cross the night sky.

Day 8: Flight from Ilulissat via Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen

Today, we head back towards Denmark. With one of Air Greenland's Dash 8’s, you leave Ilulissat Airport for Kangerlussuaq and then fly on to Copenhagen, where you will arrive in the evening. Overnight at an airport hotel in Copenhagen.

Day 9: Farewell Denmark

Breakfast at your hotel and time to explore the Danish capital before your return flight back to the UK. We can also assist in extending your stay in Copenhagen with extra nights in downtown Copenhagen.

Optional Excursion Package: £ 540 per person

Our excursion itinerary comprises the most popular excursions. We recommend that you book the itinerary when you book your trip. Booking later incurs a handling fee of EUR 30 and the itinerary may be sold out.

• Hike to Sermermiut by Ilulissat Ice Fjord (2 hours)
• Sailing at Ilulissat Ice Fjord (2½ hours)
• Northern Lights tour in Ilulissat (1½ timer)
• Meet the Sled Dogs (1 hour)
• Dog sledding in Ilulissat, incl. warm clothes and boots, 2 persons per sled (1 ½ hours)

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here

The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

You'll see...

• Dogsledding in Greenland »
• Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site 2004 »
• Northern Lights »
• Photographing the Northern Lights »
• The Big Arctic Five »

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.

Transportation

Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.

Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.

Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7.  Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive.  It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.

We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.