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Day 1. Arrival in South Greenland
When approaching the south-east coast of Greenland you are left with some impressive views from the plane before landing at Narsarsuaq. At the airport you will be picked up by a guide from Blue Ice Explorer (our local partner) and accomodated in the hostel situated only 500 m. from the airport in the same direction as Hospital Valley and Flower Valley. In the afternoon a visit to the village of Qassiarsuk is planned. The settlement of Qassiarsuk is situated just 20 minutes by boat crossing the fjord from Narsarsuaq. You will hike on your own using the gravel road that passes through the settlement and experience the atmosphere of a small south Greenlandic society. Qassiarsuk is a typical Greenlandic settlement of only 50 people that mainly make a living from sheep-breeding. Sheep dogs and the characteristic small Icelandic ponies roam around freely in this charming settlement, where you will also find a school, a church and a small grocery shop with the daily necessities. Qassiarsuk is also known for Brattahlid - the place where Erik the Red settled in 982. The ruins provide the background for a fascinating history and reconstructions of a classic long house and a small turf church (the church of Tjoldhilde) make up an open-air museum. Here you will be met by a local guide, who will show you around this unique site in the morning. In the afternoon you will return to Narsarsuaq by boat and spend the night in the hostel.-/-/-
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Day 2. Boat trip to Qaqortoq
Today's trip will take us sailing for 4 hours on Erik's fjord and the forest fjord passing the white and gigantic icebergs. Qaqortoq means "white" and is South Greenland's biggest city with approx. 3500 inhabitants. Qaqortoq is also South Greenland's education centre and holds a high school, business school and a public school. In addition, several businesses are set up in the area such as Great Greenland with its own tannery and workroom. It is possible to do an interesting guided tour and experience the process of making raw sealskin into beautiful fur coats. Every where in the city you will meet and be able to study the city's art project "stone and man" - a project carried out by the city's artists who have transformed the city into a park of magnificent sculptures. Take a rest in the middle of the city square and enjoy the oldest fountain in Greenland and experience the vibrant activity around the local fish market "Brættet", where today's catch of fish, seal and whale is sold. You will spend the following 2 nights in the hostel. B/-/-
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Day 3. Greenlandic "city life" and beautiful hiking trips
Today is at your own disposal in Qaqortoq with an opportunity to take a closer look at the city. The city borders the ice-packed sea beautifully and a hiking trip around the lake or in the mountains will leave you with some amazing views of the surrounding green and grassy islands and peninsulas - a glaring contrast to civilisation and the colourful houses bordering the sea. B/-/-
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Day 4. Boat trip - Qaqortoq - Hvalsø - Igaliku
We sail through the crystal clear and blue fjord to Igaliku. During the trip we will pass by the Hvalsø church ruins and spend around an hour here - without guide - and then continue by boat to Igaliku. Igaliku is one of the most beautifully situated villages in Greenland. The scattered stone houses are all situated on a shielded, lush plain nearby a very blue fjord. Rough and barren mountains surround this area and a very special atmosphere and tranquility reign in Igaliku, something you will really sense as you find yourself on the cliffs watching the sun setting or when the village wakes up an early dewy morning. Igaliku was the first episcopal residence in Greenland and the norse ruins from this time are impressive. Today the village's approx. 40 inhabitants live from sheep-breeding. Igaliko holds a school, a church and and small shop. B/-/-
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Day 5. Igaliko on your own
Today's excursion takes you on a beautiful day hiking trip to lake 90 and up on the plateau from where there is a splendid view of the Qoororq icefjord and glacier. You are left with some very good opportunities of finding both rock crystal and the shining moonstone. The peak of Illerfisaslik with its 1752 m. might be tempting for the more experienced and adventurous hiker. The trip will take you up to some steep passages and trackless areas but the view from the highest top is absolutely stunning. Just south of Igaliko towards the mountain of Nuuluk (823 m.) and along the waterfalls around Erik's fjord you will also be able to do some scenic and beautiful hiking trips. B/-/-
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Day 6. Boat trip from Itilleq to Narsarsuaq through the Qooroq Icefjord
We sail from Itilleq to the submerged moraine by the mouth of the Qooroq fjord where many of the gigantic icebergs ground, which we will pass at very close range to enter the Qooroq fjord. In here a magnificent view will appear to us; thousands of icebergs, steep rock walls and in the head of the fjord the big glacier. This glacier calves off ice in massive amounts - no less than 200,000 ton a day! Many of these icebergs of various forms and sizes have a clear turquoise colour - a delight to the eye. In the Qooroq fjord we will stop the engine of the boat, drift around with the current and enjoy the view. The silence is "overwhelming" only interrupted by the scrunching and creaking sounds from the rotating and breaking icebergs. This is truly a vision and a sight without any comparison. We collect ice and enjoy a drink to the sound of air bubbles accumulated in the ice throughout thousands of years bursting in the glass. We arrive to Narsarsuaq and will be accommodated in the hostel. B/-/-
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Day 7. Touching the ice cap!
Today there is a possibility of doing a hiking trip to the Narsarsuaq Glacier (on your own) or to indulge yourself in angling (not included in the package). From Narsarsuaq you can hike all the way into the ice cap and touch the ice in one day. You hike to Hospital Valley, where the gravel road stops, and continue along a path that takes you through Flower Valley. To really get a view of the glacier and ice cap, you have to climb about 300 meters up to a plateau. From here you can continue all the way down to the edge of the ice cap and return the same way. As you get closer, you will see that what appeared from a distance to be just an uneven surface now become high ridges and deep crevasses. In South Greenland you have some excellent opportunities to catch trout. The countless rivers around Erik's fjord is a true angler's paradise. Some rivers are so clear they make it a perfect spot for fly-fishing. Others derive directly from the surrounding glaciers and are more muddy offering other type of fishing opportunities. There is simply an abundance of fish. In June you will be able to see the trouts in the fjords swimming by the shores in a very close distance making it possible to catch them from harbours and points. From the middle of July till the end of September they move up towards the rivers making it the peak season for angling. B/-/-
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Day 8. Departure
Prior to departure at noon there is time to visit the Narsarsuaq Museum, which contains an interesting collection of objects and photos from the Second World War, when Narsarsuaq was founded as an American air base. Alternatively, if you feel like relaxing, you can sit on the terrace of the Blue Ice Café and enjoy a last view of Greenland before the flight home. B/-/-
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Meals
Meals included are marked with B (breakfast), L (lunch), and D (dinner). Meals not included are marked with -
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Narsarsuaq
Narsarsuaq is the gateway to South Greenland. The Americans founded the village during Second World War and today it is a modern town with about 160 inhabitants with its own airport. It has all service facilities required including a hotel, grocery store, school and day care centre. It makes the perfect base for hiking trips in the area; one day of hiking (back end forth) brings us to the ice cap; it is 15 minutes by boat to Qassiarsuk Settlement and only three hours by boat to the neighbouring fjord, Qooroq, where the ice cap calves 200,000 tons of icebergs every day.
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Qassiarsuk
Around 40 people live in the settlement of Qassiarsuk, many of them descendants of Otto Frederiksen, the first Greenlandic sheep farmer who settled here in 1924 and founded the settlement. The settlement is beautifully situated on green, lush slopes with the dark red sand stone cliffs rising majestically in the landscape. The small grocery shop functions as post office in addition to the broad selection of daily necessities such as clothes, hardware, tools and petrol.
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Igaliko
About 40 people live in Igaliko, which is beautifully situated at a fertile plain at the mouth of the fjord surrounded by rough and barren mountains. Mount Illerfissalik is situated by Igaliko known for its moonstones. This place has an incredible history dating back to the Norse period, when the settlement was the Episcopal residence of the Scandinavians. Today the inhabitants of Igaliko are descendants of the Greenlandic people who settled here in the area as farmers a hundred years ago. The shop in Igaliko provides the essentials; groceries, clothing, tools and fuel.
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Hostel
You will be accommodated in hostels in Qaqortoq, Narsarsuaq, and Qassiarsuk. The hostels are well equipped with kitchen, bedrooms with bunk beds, toilets and showers. It is possible to cook your own meals in the kitchen.
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Duration
8 days - 7 nights
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Climate
The average temperatures in Qaqortoq and the surroundings between June and September are between 10-15 degrees. The temperatures are stated as the average temperatures per day. The nights can be cold, but during the day the sun and the dry air give the impression of warmer temperatures than is actually the case. The night temperatures might get as low as the freezing point in certain areas. Usually the weather is clear at this time of year, but naturally rainy weather can occur.
There are no mosquitoes of significance in the beginning of June and late September.
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Currency
Danish kroner. In Qaqortoq, Qassiarsuk and Narsarsuaq most credit cards are accepted.
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Electricity
There is access to charge batteries on this tour.
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Mobile phones
There is sparse roaming and coverage on this tour. Thus it is only possible to use mobile phones in certain areas.
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Maps
Can be bought locally or at www.scanmaps.dk
Hiking map South Greenland, Narsarsuaq 1:100.000
Hiking map South Greenland, Narsaq 1:100.000
Hiking map South Greenland, Qaqortoq 1:100.000
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Price includes
Return flight Denmark - Narsarsuaq
Meals as indicated under each day
All accommodation
5 boat trips: Narsarsuaq - Qassiarsuk, Qassiarsuk - Narsarsuaq, Narsarsuaq - Qaqortoq, Qaqortoq - Igaliku, Itelleq - Narsarsuaq
Entrance fee and guide at the reconstructions at Brattahlid
Map of South Greenland - Eastern Settlement 1:250.000
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Not included
Personal travelling expenses for souvenirs, drinks and beverages etc.
Meals not included in the program as marked under each day. In Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq it is possible to buy meals in the cafeteria or the restaurant
Travel and cancellation insurance
Entrance fees to museums
Rental of kayaks, horses, fishing rods etc.
Additional boat trips and excursions
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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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