8 day trekking tour to the spectacular landscape of South Greenland with its UNESCO World Heritage Sites surrounded by glaciers and blue icebergs.

• Tour Description

  Highlights of the Tour

  • New UNESCO World Heritage Sites

  • Deep Blue Icebergs & Calving Glaciers

  • Norse History and Charming Villages

  8 Day Boat Supported Trek in South Greenland

  Embark on an 8-day trek in the rugged and breathtaking wilderness of South Greenland. On foot, you will traverse the newly added UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kujataa, a sub-arctic farmland that was home to a Norse and Inuit settlement.  There, you can view landmarks and ruins from medieval times and soak in the history of the ancient Nordic settlers.  Journey to the roots of the world’s second largest glacier by boat to witness its magnificence, and fall in love with the deep blue icebergs floating all around you. Listen to the popping ice and thunderous sounds of this actively calving glacier to hear the stories of this mysterious land and the ancestors that once thrived here. 

  Total distance: 70 kilometers (43 miles)
  Altitude: 0- 400 meters (0-1310 feet)
  Maximum ascent: 400 meters (1310 feet)

  Included:  Guide, breakfast (7), lunch (7), dinner (6). Transport: Boat transfers, luggage transport while trekking. Accommodation: Sleeping bag accommodation at a hostel/farms (7 nights).

  Not included: Flights to/from Narsarsuaq (can be added on the first and the last day of the tour), personal equipment, drinks and personal expenses and insurance.

  Please note: The tour starts and ends at the Reykjavik Airport. 

  Private groups & tailor-made tours
  Create the ultimate Greenlandic adventure for your group. You can choose to make one of our pre-existing intineraries a private tour or our travel experts can help you design a completely customized adventure from scratch to meet your group’s wants and needs. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides will ensure that your group has a fun and unique experience during your time in Greenland. Please send your group’s size, preferred dates and desired activities to [email protected]. We look forward to helping you create an adventure of a lifetime.

  This tour is only available as a private tour. If you have questions, please check our FAQs. If you do not find the answer please contact us: [email protected]

• Tour Itinerary

  D1: Arrival to Narsarsuaq - the Gateway to South Greenland

  
  Arrival in Narsarsuaq in the late afternoon/early evening. Narsarsuaq is located 100 km inside a fjord, just 6 km from the Greenland Ice Sheet. We check in at the hostel and have a nice dinner with the group. You have the rest of the evening spend as you like - maybe go for a small walk in the village or just enjoy the nice and quiet pace of Narsarsuaq at the hostel. Accommodation at a hostel.

  D2: Igaliku (Garðar)
  
  We start the day by shopping for our food for the next days in the local shop of Narsarsuaq before we leave with the boat for Igaliku. We have a short boat transfer over to Itilleq. From there, we walk along the coast to the north and  take a path that ends in Garðar or Igaliku, a renowned settlement in the medieval times. It is nicely situated in a green and lush area in the bottom of the Einarsfjord, with the majestic peak Illerfissalik towering across the fjord.  The houses are built with red sandstone, which gives the village a unique appearance. We will spend the next night in a local hostel here in Igaliku.
  Walking: 6-7 hours

  D3: Igaliku - Qassiarsuk aka Brattahlíð - a sheep farming settlement

  We walk along the road the same way we came yesterday to Itilleq where we will board the boat transfer to Qassiarsuk. It is a nice boat trip crossing the fjord. Qassiarsuk is the place where Erik the Red settled centuries ago. Back then, he named the place Brattahlíð, which means "the steep slope". We will visit Eiríksstaðir, Erik’s homestead; the church of Thjodhildur, a reconstructed church dating back to the early settlement; and the statue of Leif Eriksson. After having explored the most important of all the Norsemen landmarks in South Greenland, we start our hike towards a charming sheep farm in Tasiusaq. As we walk along small lakes we might see some jumping fish and numerous sheep of various colors grazing the hills. Once we come over the hill, a fantastic view of the Breiðafjörður fjord is waiting. The route takes us along ancient sheep trails, where we can get a glimpse of the road constructions of the first settlers. In the evening, we arrive at the sheep farm where we will stay for two nights.
  Walking: 2-3 hours.

  D4: Tasiusaq

  In the area of Tasiusaq, the grass fields reach down to the edge of the water and icebergs from the Ice Cap drift by in the fjord on their way towards the ocean. Today, we will go for a hike along the Tasiusaq Fjord to a viewpoint that is not a high peak but still has stunning views of glacier tongues in the distance and icebergs in front of us in the fjord. We enjoy the spectacular scenery before walking back along the fjord where huge icebergs might roll on the tidal waters or may even be stranded after washing up on the shore.
  Walking: 7-8 hours.

  D5: Tasiusaq - Sillisit

  We start today’s hike by passing the neighboring farm in Nunataaq after a few kilometers. It is a stunning hike along the innermost part of a fjord. Then, we head back over to Eiríksfjörður fjord on the east coast of the peninsula. This is a day of easy walking along picturesque lakes on the heath, where the arctic vegetation is simply at its best. In this area, there is a good chance of seeing the white tailed eagle flying above. We arrive at the little hamlet of Sillisit where we stay two nights at a farm.
  Walking: 6-7 hours.

  D6: Sillisit - Naajat Mountain - Sillisit

  Hiking along Mt. Naajat (770m) is our prime objective for the day! We will pass sheep and small lakes surrounded by cotton grass on the way. If we're lucky, we might even spot some wild rabbits. While walking along the mountain we can enjoy magnificent views of glaciers and mountains that surround us at every step. With numerous icebergs gracefully floating in the fjords, this is a sight that hikers from all over flock to this area to see!
  Walking: 5-6 hours

  D7: Qaleralik Icefjord

  Our hike today starts early but it is the shortest route to Itilleq (about one hour). There, we board a boat to go to Qaleralik Icefjord where glacier calve blue icebergs into the ocean.We cruise along glaciers and in between icebergs in this fantastic natural paradise. We make a short stop in the town of Narsaq before heading to Narsarsuaq for our last night.
  Walking:1 hour

  Day 8: Narsarsuaq-Reykjavík

  We pack our bags today, but before leaving Greenland we hike to the outlet glacier at the bottom of the valley. Here is a chance to get onto the Greenland Ice cap or as close to it as possible. First, we hike through the Flower valley before taking a steep 300 meters ascent up to a hill. There, we will get a great view over the glacier. In just half an hour we reach our destination and can put our hands on the biggest glacier in the world! We go to the airport in the late afternoon for our flight back to Reykjavík for a late evening arrival.

   

   

• Equipment List

  Trekking Tours in Greenland

  - Equipment list for Trekking Tours / Assisted Treks in Greenland

  Boots and Clothing:

  • Sturdy Hiking Boots – preferably waterproof with ankle support. 
  • Long sleeve shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic. 
  • T-shirt (thermal underwear) – Wool or synthetic. 
  • Light wool or fleece sweater (2nd layer).
  • Puffy jacket (e.g. Primaloft or down).
  • Trousers – Strong and light material that dries quickly e.g. soft-shell. 
  • Jacket or an Anorak with a good hood – windproof, waterproof and breathable. 
  • Rain trousers – windproof, waterproof and breathable. Please note that full raingear is mandatory on all our tours. 
  • Gloves – Wool or synthetic. 
  • Socks – Wool or synthetic. Two or three pairs. 
  • Warm hat – Wool or synthetic.

  Other gear:

  • A duffel bag for the transport of your overnight gear between huts. Please avoid bringing a suitcase! 
  • Backpack for extra clothes and food during the day. 25 – 40L (1500 – 2500 cu in)  
  • River shoes – Walking sandals or old running shoes with a good grip are a good choice, along with a pair of warm socks or neoprene socks. Open sandals or flip-flops will not do the job. 
  • Walking pole(s).
  • Sleeping bag – A basic sleeping bag with no specific temperature rating is sufficient treks in huts/hostels – for camping tours we recommend a 3 season sleeping bag.
  • Towel – light weight and packable. 
  • Sunglasses & sun protection. 
  • Water container – thermos flask or water bottle 0,5 – 1L.
  • A box/container for your daily lunchs
  • Headlamp for reading and getting around the hut/tent. 
  • Change of clothes for wearing in the hut/camp.
  • Personal first aid kit – including blister care. 
  • Prescription medication and other personal health items.
  • Toiletries; Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap etc. 
  • Earplugs 
  • Protection against flies (mosquito's); such at nets, repellants, etc.

  Optional gear:

  • Gaiters
  • Neoprene socks – highly recommended for river crossings. 
  • Pen knife. 
  • Sun/rain Hat or a Cap. Shorts
  • Thermal mat (for lunch breaks). 
  • Camera, spare batteries and a memory card or films.
  • Dry-bags for electronics and extra clothing. 
  • Aperitif or other heart-warming spirits.

  For your own wellbeing and safety we strongly suggest following the advice of our equipment list, this includes having good quality rain-gear, tops and bottoms! Also respect that cotton clothing is not appropriate for any strenuous outdoor activity – this includes jeans and t-shirts. Modern outdoor clothing is by far more comfortable and will greatly improve your experience. 
Gear transport in Greenland happens on boats with limited capacity – both in volume and weight – pleas limit your personal equipment to 15kg and pack it in a soft duffel bag or comparable.

  Should you have any questions regarding this equipment list or the equipment on our tours feel free to contact [email protected]

• Map