Northern Lights and Icebergs in Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Copenhagen

Arrival in Copenhagen Airport and make your way to the airport hotel for your overnight stay.

Day 2: Flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, briefing and sightseeing

We board Air Greenland's red plane in Copenhagen and head towards the airport in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. The flight takes 4.5 hours and at the end of it awaits an eight-day winter adventure in Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat in Greenland. A guide from our local partner "World of Greenland Arctic Circle" will greet you upon arrival and help you check in to Polar Lodge. Polar Lodge is located a few kilometres from the airport and offers casual accommodation with kitchen facilities, a recreation room and a souvenir shop.

When you have checked in and unpacked, the guide with gather you for a briefing. You will get information about the area, the town of Kangerlussuaq as well as places to eat and places to go. You can also have your pre-booked excursions confirmed or book excursions then and there.

After the briefing, sightseeing in Kangerlussuaq on your own.

OPTIONAL: Greenland Ice Sheet Point 660

Powerful four-wheel driven vehicles will take us through an incredibly beautiful landscape, through mountains, plains, and semi-desert valleys. Near the Ice Cap, we will drive through the fantastic moraine landscape.

At the end of the road, we walk to the Ice Cap and onto the vast ice sheet. We spend some time exploring this world of ice before returning to our vehicles. There are good chances of spotting reindeer, musk oxen and, depending on the season, many species of birds and flowers.

Day 3: Kangerlussuaq on your own

During winter, Kangerlussuaq is a pretty cold place and many pose for a selfie in front of the thermometer hanging in the departure hall of Kangerlussuaq Airport. It displays the outside temperature, which may crawl far below 0 degrees Celsius, but as they say: There is no such thing as bad weather as long as you are wearing the right clothes.

The Kangerlussuaq area offers plenty of things to do. As mentioned above, Kangerlussuaq has Greenland's longest network of roads, allowing you to take many long walks to enjoy the tranquillity.

If you have purchased an excursion package, today's itinerary features either a dogsledding and northern lights excursion or ice fishing. April is often too bright for northern lights, so if you arrive after March, you will go ice fishing instead. You will not miss out on the dogsledding, however. At this time of the year, we have just chosen to move it to Ilulissat in Northern Greenland where there is more snow in April.

OPTIONAL: Two-hour dogsled ride

Dogsledding is an integral part of winter in Greenland. At least north of the Arctic Circle, where Kangerlussuaq is located. Therefore, you will be trying out this ancient Inuit tradition. Not many means of transportation have existed for as long – except perhaps for dugout canoes and Shank's pony.

The basic principle of dogsledding is still the same as almost 1,000 years ago. The dogs are harnessed and hitched to a simple wooden sled. And away we go. The sled driver will take you across the thick ice on the fjord with his dogs to give you a taste of what a person from Northern Greenland would call the real Greenland.

OPTIONAL: Extended northern lights excursion

If you arrive January - March, you will spend some of the afternoon on a 1.5-hour lecture about northern lights and the starry sky, which is so beautiful and clear in Kangerlussuaq. After the lecture, you will learn how to best capture the northern lights using your camera.

When we have enjoyed our dinner, we will drive for about an hour on the road towards the Greenland Ice Sheet. Then we will stop, tilt our heads back and look for the northern lights with the Ice Cap as a picturesque backdrop. After almost three hours below the night sky, we will end the excursion with a strong cup of Greenlandic coffee. In connection with this excursion, you can rent a tripod for your camera for DKK 75 per day.

Day 4: Flight from Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat

We now head towards Ilulissat. It is a beautiful 45-minute flight giving you a perfect chance of really enjoying the beautiful icy landscape, the desolate expanse and grandeur.

During the approach to Ilulissat, the town seemingly pops up in the middle of nowhere. The colored houses vie for attention among the snow-covered peaks and at the bump of the Dash aircraft landing, you can look forward to the next few days full of ice, winter, and dogsleds – combined with cultural highlights from a very traditional Greenlandic town.

We check in at the beautifully situated Hotel Arctic, and at the following information meeting, we get to hear more about the town and the many excursions available.

The first excursion in the Excursion Package is a guided tour of the town:

OPTIONAL: Guided tour of the town

Ilulissat was founded in 1741 and, today, it is the third largest town in Greenland with more than 4,500 inhabitants. The guide will tell you about the history of the town, and you will experience the town’s many exciting facets. Seeing and especially hearing some of the many thousands of sled dogs is unavoidable. Most of them live on the outskirts of the town in large dog spaces – unchained puppies play under supervision by their mother, while the rest of the pack cannot wait to take you on a sled trip.

We will visit the fishermen at the harbor and the hunters at their trading post “Brættet.” We will show you the church and the birthplace of the famous Polar explorer Knud Rasmussen.

Day 5: Exploaring Ilulissat on your own

Disco Bay is one of Greenland’s most popular tourist destinations. First and foremost because of the ice, but also because of its beauty, its many cultural attractions and the interaction between the traditional lifestyle and modern urban life. Racks with kayaks jostle for space with satellite dishes.  If you purchased the Excursion Package you could look forward to a very nice boat trip:

OPTIONAL: Sailing among iceberg 

Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to go on this boat trip among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million ton of ice flow out into the fjord. The floating icebergs are gigantic, sometimes measuring more than 100 meters wide and long – and with a height of more than 100 meters above the water surface as well. These giants gather at the end of the fjord, providing you with a great opportunity to sail among them. You should not miss out on this exceptional experience when visiting Ilulissat. Almost every visitor to Ilulissat chooses to go on this boat trip among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million ton of ice flow out into the fjord. The floating icebergs are gigantic, sometimes measuring more than 100 meters wide and long – and with a height of up to 100 meters above the water surface as well. These giants gather at the end of the fjord, providing you with a great opportunity to sail among them. You should not miss out on this exceptional experience when visiting Ilulissat.

Day 6: Ilulissat on your own

The Disco Bay is one of Greenland's most popular tourist destinations. Mainly due to the ice but also because the place is home to a particular beauty, has numerous cultural sights – and because it is an excellent example of how Greenlanders welcome the new while upholding old traditions. As you would have learned at yesterday's briefing, there are plenty of things do on your own. Visit the sealskin workshop where artisans sew the most beautiful sealskin products and create arts and crafts items from bone, tooth and reindeer points.

OPTIONAL: Hiking to the former Inuit settlement Sermermiut

If you have purchased the excursion package, day 5 will take you on a hike to the abandoned Sermermiut settlement. Sermermiut has been populated for thousands of years due to its incredible location near the Icefjord. Although the surroundings are particularly beautiful, it was not the view that made the Inuit settle here millennium after millennium. Instead, they stayed due to the rich hunting grounds and the Icefjord, which still supplies food both for the locals and for export.

The remnants of the 4,000-year-old settlement make the destination of today's outing. The kitchen midden from centuries ago has proved a gold mine of knowledge for scientists, and some of that knowledge will be bestowed upon you today by our guides. The hike takes approx. two hours. You will be walking on a constructed wooden pathway, thus minimising the risk of sinking belly-deep into the snow.

Day 7: Ilulissat on your own

The day is at your own disposal and your options are once again plentiful. Many travellers love to go out into the nature and happily take the same walk to the Icefjord several times to see if the icebergs have changed position or shape. You will never tire of doing so.

OPTIONAL: Sailing on the Icefjord

If you have purchased this package, you are about to experience one of the tour's absolute highlights; the boat trip out into the estuary of the Icefjord where you will be sailing between the huge icebergs that are stranded here. For thousands of years, the ice at the estuary has created a large sand dune in which the colossal icebergs run aground. Sometimes, when the pressure of the ice becomes too high – or due to swells or melting – the giant icebergs can push free and continue on into the Disco Bay.

On today's excursion, we will get near these enormous icebergs, and because they have run aground, the boat's captain and the officer know their way around the frozen giants – always keeping a safe distance.

Day 8: Ilulissat on your own

This is your last full day in Ilulissat, so now is the time to get your to do list sorted and make sure that you can tick off as many points as possible. Pay a visit to 'the Board' where local fishermen and sealers sell their catches of the day, the cultural historical museum or the art museum.

As previously mentioned, Ilulissat has several great restaurants, and perhaps you can visit one more of them on your last night here.

Day 9: Flight from Ilulissat via Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen

Catch the last glimpse of the Icefjord as Air Greenland's Dash 8 take you from Ilulissat Airport to Kangerlussuaq. From there, you will continue to Copenhagen where you will be arriving in the evening.

Day 10: 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: £ 705 per person 

Get all the most popular excursions with this package. All tours below are included. (We recommend that you book the package while booking your trip.)

Including:

• Northern Lights tour and photo course (2 hours)
• Excursion to the ice cap with bus, point 660 (5 hours)
• City walk in Ilulissat (2 hours)
• Hike to Sermermiut by Ilulissat Icefjord (2 hours)
• Sailing at Ilulissat Icefjord (2,5 hours)
• Dog sled trip in Kangerlussuaq, rental of warm clothes and boots, 3 persons per sled (2 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, &z=2" target="_blank">click here

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

You'll see...

• Ice Cap »
• Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site 2004 »
• Northern Lights »

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.