Greenland Shore Excursions
Highlights of Snaefellsnes
(Grundarfjordur)
Departing the small town of Grundarfjordur,
we pass fishing villages Olafsvik, Rif, and
Hellissandur, and skirt the western edge of
the Snaefellsnes peninsula. The landscape
boasts sandy beaches, rocky shoreline, and
jagged mountains, crowned by the Snaefellsjokull
glacier. Our first stop is at Djupalonssandur,
for a hike to impressively strange
rock formations. We continue past Londrangar,
two rocks protruding from the coast just
east of the Malarrif lighthouse, to Arnarstapi.
There, we walk from the harbor, surrounded
by cliffs and considered by many the most
beautiful in Iceland. We follow the cliffsides,
where we may examine one of Iceland’s largest
seabird colonies up close. We continue
to Budir for a two-course lunch at Hotel
Budir before walking to a rare, yellow-sand
beach. We then drive over the Frodarheidi
Heath, once thought to be one of Iceland’s
most haunted areas. We return to Grundarfjordur
in the afternoon.
Duration: 5 hours
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Stykkisholmur with Breidsfjordur
Boat Tour (Grundarfjordur)
The Snaefellsnes peninsula, with the Snaefellsjokull
glacier rising majestically at its
tip, is one of the most enchanting parts of
Iceland. We start our tour with a drive to the
picturesque fishing village of Stykkisholmur,
where we board a boat trip on Breidafjordur
Bay. On this tour, we view characteristic rock
formations, countless islands and skerries,
and the rich local bird life. Birds nesting and
breeding in the cliffs can be observed from
within a few yards’ distance. Species that
may be spotted include puffins, cormorants,
shags, Black guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars,
and several types of gull. Sometimes Whitetailed
eagles—and even seals—can be seen.
We then drop our fishing nets and trawl the
bottom of the bay. When the net is reeled in,
we sample the freshly caught shellfish and
other seafood, including sea-urchin roe, a
local delicacy. After the refreshing boat trip,
we lunch at a local restaurant, returning to
Stykkisholmur in the afternoon.
Duration: 4 hours
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Ilulissat Helicopter to the Icecap
On this excursion, you will fly close to a
glacier and land on the rock at Kangia, with
a view over both glacier and ice cap. After
a 30-minute stay on the ground, you will fly
again until you reach the icebergs stranded
at the estuary of the Icefjord. Enjoy a magnificent
view of the deep ice foot under the
iceberg and the turquoise sea.
Duration: 1¼ hours
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Ivittuut Polarcirkel Cruise
Experience the Karsakn strait, a beautiful
narrow sound. The excursion may be canceled
due to weather and ice conditions.
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Ilulissat Boat Trip in the Icefjord
Sail in traditional red cutters to the estuary in
the northern part of the Isfjord, or Icefjord,
where gigantic icebergs have been stranded.
The trip presents good opportunities for
seal-watching.
Duration: 2 hours
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Viking Ruins (Narsaq)
Archaeologists believe that when Viking
explorer Erik the Red first visited Greenland
in 982, he spent the winter on the island of
Illutalik, not far from Narsaq. In fact, there is
a lot of evidence of the presence of medieval
Norse settlers throughout the area. In
Narsaq itself, a large farm estate—including
houses, stables, and storehouse—has been
excavated, and in “Dyrnaes Valley,” just outside
the town, a European farm and church
have also been unearthed. We visit the
Norse exhibition in the local culture house
and the ruins in Dyrnaes Valley.
Duration: 2 hours
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Tour to Kvane Mountain (Narsaq)
We cover some of the distance up Kvane
mountain by bus before starting our hike
on foot to its summit. This tour focuses on
geological themes, of particular interest in
this area.
Duration: 3 hours
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Nuuk Whale Watching
Sail to Nuuks Fjord (Godthabs
Fjord), where
you may spot amazing Humpback whales
and encounter other wildlife. The tour also
offers fantastic views over Nuuk, the mountain
Sermitsiaq, and surrounding islands.
Duration: 2 hours
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Qaqortoq Sculpture Tour
Take a stroll through Qaqortoq to view the
unique sculptures created here by artists
from across the Nordic countries who have
come to the town to carve sculptures in
rocks and stones.
Duration: 1 hour
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Hike to Narsaq Point
For those interested in Greenland’s flora,
fauna, and ancient history. A spectacular
hike along Qaqqarsuaq, a typical Greenland
mountain, gives us a fantastic view over the
fjord and the settlement of Narsaq. We pass
by some Inuit ruins and graves, and—on a
more modern note—learn about the Allied
Powers‘ telegraph station that operated
here during the Second World War.
Duration: 3 hours
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Qaqortoq Great Greenland Tour
Join this tour and feel the softness of the
hides delivered by native Greenlandic hunters.
Duration: 1 hour
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Qaqortoq Greenlandic Specialities
Taste different Greenlandic specialities and
get a short presentation on the traditional
foods found in Greenland.
Duration: 1 hour
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Qassiarsuk Sailing to Qooroq
We sail from Qassiarsuk to the underwater
moraine at the mouth of the Qooroq Icefjord.
We make our way into the fjord along
a tortuous path through turquoise-colored
icebergs stranded on the moraine. From our
boat, we behold the breathtaking sight of
thousands of icebergs, sheer cliffs, and an
enormous glacier that sheds some 200,000
tons of ice per day into the fjord. The motor
stopped, we drift quietly with the current,
enjoying the panorama. The absolute silence
is disturbed only by the crash of icebergs as
they break free from the glacier and fall into
the fjord. Gathering ice for our on-board
cocktails, we enjoy the pop of 1,000-year-old
air bubbles as they escape into the glass.
Duration: 3 hours
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Sisimiut Boat Trip to Assaqutaq
Smaller settlements in Greenland like Assaqutaq
were abandoned in the 1960s and
’70s as people moved to bigger towns in
search of steady work and modern amenities.
Assaqutaq, just over iconic Kaellingehaetten
mountain from Sisimiut, is nowadays
used as summer camp for local public
schoolchildren. Each June, it becomes a
busy place as people from Sisimiut arrive
to fish for capelin—a small fish used as dog
food. During a leisurely stroll around Assaqutaq,
we see the old fishing factory, the
summer camp, and a small church that is still
here, beautifully situated on a small hilltop.
Duration: 2½ hours
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Sisimiut Historical Hike to Teleoen
On this hike, we visit ancient ruins and also
experience modern Greenland. On Teleoen—
formerly known as Tommermandsoen
(Hangover Island)—we find cultural and
historical monuments dating back to the
Saqqaq culture, which dominated southern
Greenland from 2500 BC to 800 BC. Our
guide describes how various peoples have
lived and survived in Greenland for over
4,000 years.
Duration: 2 hours
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