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Day 1. Arriving in South Greenland
We fly directly from Denmark to Narsarsuaq. Upon arrival we will be accomodated in the hostel situated close nearby the airport at the edge of the ‘middle country’. In the afternoon there will be time to go for a hike to the “Signal Hill" to enjoy the view over Narsarsuaq and the surroundings and get ourselves warmed up for the coming hiking trips -/L/D
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Day 2. By boat to Qassiarsuk
We cross the fjord by boat to Qassiarsuk, the village where Eric the Red settled down in year 985. At arrival we will visit the ruins of this settlement known as Brattahlid. In the summer of 2000 the long house and the church were restored leaving us with an impression of their appearance in the old days. Subsequent to this we cross the ridge of the Narsaq peninsula. It is a very fertile area with a landscape of beautiful colours — green, yellow, white and blue. We quickly get an impression of why this area is "densely" populated with sheep farmers today and why the Norse settled here years ago. At arrival we will be welcomed warmly by the local sheep farmer who might also invite us in for a cup of coffee - "kaffemik". This idyllic place will be our home for the next two nights. B/L/D
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Day 3. Day off in Nunataaq
Nunataaq is beautifully located between two fjords on the edge of Bredefjord, which is full of ice provided by huge glaciers which descend from the ice cap. As the tides change the fjord is a hive of activity with icebergs floating back and forth. The day is at your own disposal: you can go fishing in the fjord, take a short walk in the beautiful surroundings or walk further to the Nunataaq peninsula, which has a panoramic view over Bredefjord, the icy wilderness beyond and the ice cap. Or you can just relax in the peace and quiet of the farm. B/L/D
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Day 4. Trek to Sillisit
Today's trek goes through the land of Erik the Red, a magnificent landscape draped with small lakes and a great view over the ice packed fjords. During the tour we might see white-tailed eagles, as a lot of them are nesting in this area. We will probably encounter sheeps on our way or maybe a herd of Icelandic horses. They walk around freely in the highland during the summer when they are not used for gathering sheep or carrying the kids around in the village. At the end of the day we will arrive at the sheep farm, Sillisit, along the edge of the "Skovfjord" with a great view of the icebergs stranded on the moraine by the mouth of the Qooroq fjord. B/L/D
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Day 5. Day tour from Sillisit
The trek of the day brings us up the hills of the Narsaq-peninsula. The landscape here is wild and breathtaking. We have an ascent to the edge of Narsaq-peninsula from where we have a great view over the land of Erik the Red, Skovfjorden, the peaks at Narsaq Mountain and the great ice cap. We enjoy this picturesque area and head back to Sillisit in the evening. B/L/D
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Day 6. Boat-trip to Narsaq
In the morning we will be picked up by boat heading for Narsaq. After about two hours of sailing on the Skovfjord, we will arrive at Narsaq, one of the most beautifully situated towns in South Greenland. At the head of the peninsula, between two fjords and the ice covered Narsaq strait just outside the port, the colourful houses are spread out in the landscape. We find our way to the hostel, wich is centrally placed in the town. After lunch we have a walk around the town to get familiar with it. The rest of the day you can go exploring Narsaq and its surrounding. Take a look at the Atlantic harbour with its cargo ships from e.g. Denmark, the harbour with its small fishing vessels and the bigger shrimp trawlers that bring their catch to the Royal Greenland factory at the harbour. Maybe your dinner will consist of freshly caught shrimps or even seal or whale bought at “Brættet", where hunters sell their catch. Narsaq museum is also worth visiting, as are also the ruins from the Norse settlers just outside town and further away about an hours walk from Narsaq at ‘Dyrnæs’. The tour leader can also help you book a sailing trip to the icefjord (optional). B/-/-
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Day 7. Trek to Dyrnæs
The hike today brings us along the Narsaq Ilua, a little idyllic bay that is always nicely “decorated" with icebergs. We walk along the shore and enjoy the view over the Narsaq strait and the Sermilik fjord which stretches from the ice cap towards the sea with its crystal-clear and ice filled water. Here, close to the fjord, where the Narsaq mountains rise from the sea, we can enjoy the colours of the icebergs and their fantastic formations at very close range — you can even hear them craking. Lunch is enjoyed close to Dyrnæs where you find remains from the Norse settlers as well as a small spring with drinking water. B/L/-
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Day 8. Boat and hike to Igaliko
An hour and a half by boat brings us to Itelleq, the harbour of Igaliko - a wooden hut - from where we hike along “Kingsroad" to the settlement of Igaliko. After reaching Igaliko we have the rest of the day to enjoy the historical remains from the Episcopal period of Igaliko during the Norse period. B/L/-
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Day 9. Trek to the foot of the Burfjeld
The area around Igaliko invites us to do magnificent walks. We will spend the day on a trek to a nice little plateau called “Narsarsuk", Greenlandic for “tiny little plain". Here we can enjoy the lunch and the magnificent view of the calving glacier and the icebergs drifting by in the fjord. The fjord is filled up with icebergs from the Qoorooq glacier — a glacier arm from the ice cap which produces not less than 200.000 tons of ice within 24 hours. Here at the foot of Burfjeld, 1752m, where there has been a viewpoint since the Norse period, there is a great chance of finding the Greenlandic moonstone and other gem stones. B/L/D
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Day 10. Boat trip back to Narsarsuaq
We hike back to the harbour of Igaliko and jump on the boat to Narsarsuaq. The boat trip brings us across the underwater moraine in the mouth of the Qooroq fjord, where the icebergs strand on their way towards the open sea. We get close to these giants with their blue, white and turquoise colours - a world of fantasy. B/L-
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Day 11. Trek to Den Døde Bræ - “The Dead Glacier”
The trek leads us from Narsarsuaq trough the ‘Hospital Valley’ and the ‘Flower Valley’. The valleys have been created by the ‘Dead Glacier’ which we will see later on in the valley. The hike leads along the Narsarsuaq River that has its spring at the ‘Dead Glacier’. For the interested it will be possible to do a hike that leads all the way up to the glacier, experiencing the enormous forces that have formed the surrounding landscape through millions of years. B/F/-
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Day 12. Departure day
It is time to say goodbye to Greenland. We will have time to visit the interesting museum in Narsarsuaq, which, among other things, contains pictures from the time when Narsarsuaq airport was an American base. B/-/-
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Meals
Meals included are marked in the intinerary with B (breakfast), L (lunch), and D (dinner). Meals not included are marked with -
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Accomodation
Conditions at the sheep farms vary from primitive to very good, but the cabins are all well-equipped with kitchen and bunk beds. In Narsarsuaq, Narsaq and Igaliko, we stay at hostels with shared facilities. It is not possible to stay in a single room during the tour. If you book this tour as a single person you will be accommodated in a double room with another participant of the same sex.
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International departure
This trip is sold internationally. The tour will be conducted in English by a Danish tour leader
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South Greenland – the garden of Greenland
Typical of South Greenland is green, fertile and varied landscape with deep fjords and high mountain ranges. The towns are situated close to each other, but open country is always nearby. In South Greenland you will find all the attractions of Greenland: icebergs, the ice cap, fjords, green hills and picturesque towns and settlements. South Greenland is far the best place in Greenland for trekking.
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Narsaq
Narsaq means the plain. The town spreads beautifully on the plain at the foot of high mountains. Around 1800 inhabitants live in Narsaq. The town has a shrimp factory, slaughtery for sheep, the only one in Greenland, and a manufactory of clothing made of fur from different Greenlandic animals. Close to the harbour you will find “brættet", where you will find the locals selling their own products of fish, seal and whale meat. Narsaq is beautifully situated between two fjords and the easy access to the sea implies that almost everyone here has their own boat.
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The Narsaq Peninsula
This is one of the most beautiful hiking areas in South Greenland. Here you will find lakes and mountains with a fantastic flora and varied bird life. The area provides grazing for several sheep, and some of the sheep farmers have rebuilt their former houses, which we use as hostels on this tour.
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Igaliko
Only 50 people live in Igaliko. Its houses are situated at the head of the fjord and surrounded by red mountains. Nearby is the mountain Illerfissalik “burfjeldet", known for its moonstones. Igaliko has a long history, going all the way back to the time when Erik the Red was living in South Greenland. It is a very special area - green fields and colourful Greenlandic houses are found right next to the blue fjord. In Igaliko there are many sheep farmers, descendants of the Greenlandic people who first farmed the area hundreds of years ago. A walk in the mountains is interesting; the beautiful and colourful stones are found everywhere. In Igaliko there is only one shop, but it supplies the whole settlement with the most necessary items, such as sugar, clothes, petrol and tools.
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Participation
A tour like this requires full participation, and everybody will be involved in day-to-day duties such as cooking and dishwashing. The tour leader will organise the group into teams in the beginning of the tour.
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Grading
This tour is graded a 2-3. In Greenland there are no established trails, and we hike cross-country most of the time. The luggage will be transported between the bases by tractor or boat. You will only need to carry your own day-pack.
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Duration
15 days, with 7 days of trekking and 4 boat trips on the blue-green fjords. The boat trips vary in duration between 1/2 and 2½ hours. Treks are of 5 to 8 hours duration. The durations given here are guidelines and can vary from tour to tour. There are several days where participation in the programme is optional, and the tour can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
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Climate
The average temperature in the Narsarsuaq area in June and July is approx. 10-15°C. If the sun shines from a clear blue sky it can be much warmer in the daytime. Because of the dry air the weather will feel much warmer than in comparable temperatures in most other European countries. It can be a little foggy in the mornings but it usually clears up later in the day. Rain and showers may occur. Please note that the weather in Greenland can change rapidly.
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Currency
Danish kroner (DKK). In the small villages only cashis accepted. In Narsaq, Igaliko and Narsarsuaq it is possible to use the most common credit cards.
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Electricity
There are only a few opportunities for charging batteries on this tour. At the sheep farmers' houses electricity is only provided by a generator, so we can not guarantee that these will be on long enough to charge your batteries. Please bring plenty of spare batteries for your camera etc. In Narsaq and Igaliko the access to electricity is very good.
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Mobile phones
It is possible to use mobile phones in certain areas of the trip. In general we urge you not to use mobile phones when with the group in order to not interrupt the treks and excursions with conversations over the phone.
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Maps
Walking map of South Greenland 1:100.000
or alternatively maps of Narsaq or Narsarsuaq
South Greenland — Østerbygden 1:250.000
These can be bought localy in Greenland or at Nordisk Korthandel, Studiestræde 26-30 Copenhagen, Denmark. Phone (+ 45) 33382638.
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The price includes
Flight from Copenhagen to Narsarsuaq - and return
English speaking tour leader
All accommodation
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
4 boat trips
Luggage transport between accommodations
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Not included
Personal traveling expenses for souvenirs, maps, drinks and beverages throughout the tour etc.
Cancellation and travel insurance
Meals as shown under each day description
(Allow approx. 100 - 150 DKK at restaurants per not included meal)
It is possible to cook your own dinner in Narsaq, Igaliko and Narsarsuaq, which will cost approx. 30-50 DKK
Entrance fees to the Arctic Research Station, museums etc.
Hiring of kayaks, horses and fishing equipment etc.
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Please note:
The program is subject to alteration. A trip like this is very dependent on weather conditions; such as changes concerning wind, precipitation and ice. As a consequence of this some delays or cancellations of some parts of the program may occur, especially those that concern flight or boat transportation. No compensation will be offered within the first 24 hours of delay or change of program due to circumstances that can not be influenced by Topas. Your tourleader will aim to lessen the inconveniences and fill out the time with an alternative program.
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