Ilulissat Is a Must-See Destination in Greenland
Greenland is home to some of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in the world. Visitors will find towering glaciers alongside serene fjords and views of vast stretches of ice and earth. The island’s rich culture can be explored in towns through charming museums, authentic restaurants and tailored excursions ranging from relaxing sightseeing to energy packed activity tours. Those that visit may feel like they are a world away, but in fact, Greenland is more accessible than ever.
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New Greenland Route
Air Greenland is launching a new connection from Keflavik International Airport to Ilulissat in the summer of 2016, expanding the airline’s already impressive roster of flights. Air Greenland has a total of 15 flights a week to Greenland during the summer, departing from Keflavik and Copenhagen.
Exciting Icy Excursions
There is so much to see and do while in Ilulissat with many exciting excursions. Visitors can opt for a 1.5-hour helicopter flight over the fjord, where you can see the enormous scale of the fjord and glacier from the air. A stop with a view of the vast inland ice sheet white is an unforgettable experience. Travellers can get up close and personal with huge icebergs as they pass by, drifting off to sea by arranging for a 2.5-hour sailing trip. Sailing in the light of the summer midnight sun from the Ilulissat Icefjord, which is a World Heritage Site, is an incredible sight. The light is quite special in the summer with the low sun giving off warm red hues in the middle of the night. There’s also a chance of seeing whales during the trip. World of Greenland will arrange all the details for you. The company is also working on creating additional excursions for the summer for active travellers like hiking and sledding.
Gorgeous Glacier Views
A trip to the Glacier Lodge Eqi with an overnight stay in a luxury hut with panoramic views of the glacier is also a must. The vastness and beauty of the glacier is breathtaking, with ridges rising out of the ocean, and lucky guests get to see the glacier calve with thunderous chunks falling to the sea. There are 15 huts in all—11 standard huts with basic accommodation and 4 comfort huts that have hot running water, a private bathroom and outlets that accommodate for 220V power. Café Victor offers a hearty breakfast, which is included in the price of the hut, as well as lunch and dinner for an extra price. The chef incorporates local ingredients in the menu such as fresh fish and lamb meat that will keep your taste buds happy. Glacier Lodge Eqi is about 50 miles from town and tour guides will lead you on the cruise.
Greenlandic Whale Safari
Tourists are offered the chance to go on an unbeatable whale watching excursion in Disko Bay—a 4-hour trip on a high speed boat. There are 15 kinds of whales in Greenland, and guests have a good chance of seeing humpbacks, minke and fin whales during the summer. More rare sightings include blue whales, orcas, belugas and narwhals. Seeing a whale surface against a backdrop of icebergs is the ultimate picture-perfect moment.
Arctic Town Culture
Ilulissat, which means icebergs, is not only beautiful, it’s North Greenland’s centre for culture. There are museums, an active harbour, cafés, restaurants and even a nightclub. Sermermiut, the culture house, holds both cinema and theatre performances, and often features guest performances by local and international artists. There are also opportunities to see and purchase high quality local crafts.
The Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen was born in Ilulissat and there is a lovely exhibition in town that gives an impression of the courage and determination that characterised his daring expeditions. It’s recommended to hike to the Sermermiut settlement and take an evening stroll to Knud Rasmussen’s memorial stone, where there’s a fabulous view of the bay all the way over to Disko Island, some 75 km away. If the weather is clear, visitors have a chance to experience a sunset that’s really out of this world.
Cosy Accommodation
The 4-star Hotel Arctic—with an extra star for its conference facilities is very popular. Rooms are comfortable and tastefully decorated with Scandinavian design accents and artwork from native Greenlanders. There are modern igloo cabins available that overlook the idyllic icebergs. The hotel’s facilities are considered eco-friendly and have special accommodations for handicapped travellers. The hotel is also well known for its outstanding cuisine. Hotel Arctic’s award winning chefs use local, fresh ingredients when preparing dishes. Enjoy your meal while watching icebergs drift by under the endless summer sun.
Air Greenland
Phone: +299 34 34 34
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.airgreenland.gl
World of Greenland
Phone: +299 94 43 00
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.worldofgreenland.com
Hotel Arctic
Phone: +299 94 41 53
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hotelarctic.com
JG
