Sailing through fjords, icebergs and stunning glacier fronts on the way to the big walls of the Tasermiut fjord… Meanwhile we can enjoy bathing in Uunartoq hot springs or spend time together with local Inuit while visiting the towns and viking settlements recently recognised and inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The hikes are quite easy, approximately 3 or 4 hours walking, and suitable for most abilities.
Flight from Reykjavík (domestic airport) to Narsarsuaq (also possible to fly from Copenhagen). Welcome reception at the airport. Preparation of equipment and explanation of the journey.
Transfer to Qaqortoq, South Greenland capital, founded in 1775, now with almost 3000 inhabitants. They describe it as the most charming and attractive town in all Greenland. Time off to take a small excursion around town, where we will discover the beauty of its colourful buildings, the awe-inspiring landscapes and some of its thirty different rock sculpture designs, spread over the town. In the afternoon, explore on our own the museum, the fur shops, the traditional kayak club, the church, the only fountain in the country, and enjoy a drink with the local people.
Accommodation in Hostel
We will sail through the outer skerries direction to the village of Saarloq, a picturesque village almost abandoned where we will make a short stop over to wander around.
In the afternoon 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 picturesque 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 Uunartoq warm springs. Southern Greenland’s crystal-clear 38 degree warm springs, discovered by the Norsemen 1,000 years ago, is the only place where the springs are warm enough to bathe in Greenland, a holiday resort for many natives who come from all over the country to camp and bathe in the thermal waters, while icebergs float only 500 metres away in the fjord.. Night at Uunartoq Island.
Accommodation in tents
Transfer to Tasermiut Fjord, a remote breathtaking place on the southern tip of Greenland where not many travelers arrive except for a few climbers.
We will arrive by RIB boat to Tasiusaq, a picturesque inuit village with 80 inhabitants. 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.
After visiting the village we will take the boat again to Kuusuaq River Camp.
We will walk in a truly alpine background seing the beautiful landscape around us.
Night and Dinner at Kuusuak River Camp.
Accommodation in tents
Navigation to Tasermiut glacier, along the beautiful and remote fjord of the same name famous for its mountains and challenging rock faces, home to some of the best “big walls” in the world of climbing and considered as one of the ten wonders of the Arctic. During 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 “Capitan” in Yosemite – This is a place where climbers attempting the big walls in the region usually camp.
Accommodation in tents
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. The 1843 meters high peak is a popular mountain among climbers because of its challenging West Side, a mighty perpendicular Cliff. Night at the camp.
Accommodation in tents in tents.
RIB boat navigation 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.
Accommodation in Hostel.
Navigation to Itilleq, where we will leave the RIB boat and take the Kings’ Way to Igaliku on foot. We will visit Archbishopric Gardar’s ruins, religious capital for the Vikings, the Norse bishop’s farm – the largest in all of Greenland- and the setting of Anders Olsen’s farm, the unique architecture of the Igaliku stone houses. The area is recently declared part of the Unesco World Heritage List.
On the way to Qassiarsuk, we will have a sea excursion to Qoorooq fjord and see what probably 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.
Arriving to Qassiarsuk, a village of about 40 inhabitants mostly farmers, we will see the statue of famous Norse explorer Leif Erikson overlooking the viking settlement Brattahlid, today known as Qassiarsuk as well as the Tunulliarfik Fjord. He was the first known European to have discovered continental North America (excluding Greenland), before Christopher Columbus. Leif was the son of Erik the Red, the founder of Brattahlid, the first Norse settlement in Greenland.
Accommodation in Hostel
Transfer by boat to Narsarsuaq, where we can visit The Bluie West One Museum, former US militay base frozen in time since the Second World War. Time is enough to do that just before flight departure.
Flight from Narsarsuaq to Reykjavík (domestic airport) or to Copenhagen.
2,795€ from Reykjavík (Iceland)
July
Departures from Copenhagen and Reykjavik
Request for available dates
Registration date: Up to 45 days before the journey’s departure date.
Registration after that date: Depending on flight availability.
Reservation: 40% deposit of the total price, excluding airport taxes.
What it’s included:
What it’s not included:
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