A long weekend out of the ordinary!

5 days in Ilulissat

The itinerary below applies to departures in 2027. If you have booked this tour with a departure in 2026, you can find the applicable itinerary here.

Are you dreaming of shorter but intense experiences where you can do a lot in fewer days? This summer trip is where you taste the best Greenland offers in just a few days.

We fly you to the capital of the icebergs, Ilulissat, where great experiences await you on your doorstep. But the experiences aren’t just under the open sky; choosing Hotel Arctic with its special location, breathtaking views, and the opportunity to indulge your palate in the hotel restaurant, forms the basis for a very special long weekend.

You’ll experience ice in all shapes and colors wherever you go on your trip – on land, sea, and air. The Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is guaranteed to leave a deep impression. Set aside a few days to recharge and pamper yourself on this exclusive summer tour to Greenland!

Our daily program is based on the excursion packages we offer.

Excursions

On this tour, you also have the opportunity to add optional excursions, such as a day trip to the Eqi Glacier, an impressive glacier located about 80 kilometers north of Ilulissat. From the boat, you can enjoy spectacular views of the glacier and experience the dramatic sight and sound of massive chunks of ice breaking off and crashing into the fjord.

Most excursions require a minimum number of participants to take place. To minimize cancellations, we therefore schedule the excursions on specific days during the trip. You can read more about the excursions in the daily itineraries below. The itineraries are not set in stone. Some excursions may be rescheduled depending on weather conditions, but we strive to complete the full program during the trip.

We strongly recommend booking the excursions with your trip to avoid them selling out later. Some excursions are very popular but can only be offered in limited numbers. If, contrary to expectations, an excursion is not carried out, you will, of course, receive a full refund.

Day program

Day 1 Arrival Ilulissat, optional hike to Sermermiut. Welcome dinner

The trip starts with a morning departure from Copenhagen. After a 4½-hour flight, you’ll land in Nuuk, Greenland, and continue with a small domestic flight to Ilulissat. During the spectacular approach, you can admire the beautiful summer landscape, where the mountains are decorated in shades of green and brown, and the icebergs float majestically in the bay.

Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up by bus and driven to the beautifully located hotel. Here, a guide will welcome you and give you an information session about the city, the area, places to eat, and excursion options.

The abandoned settlement of Sermermiut by the Icefjord (add-on)

This hike takes you through green landscapes to the ancient settlement of Sermermiut, where Inuit cultures have lived for 4,000 years. In the summer you can experience the blooming mountainsides while the guide explains the history and ancient customs of the area. You’ll see the ruins of some of the old peat houses. From the historically significant site of Nakkaavik (Old Women’s Gorge), you’ll have a fantastic panoramic view of the Icefjord and its huge icebergs.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant (drinks not included).

Caroline Ellis Friis
Day 2 Ilulissat on your own or optional sightseeing in town and possibly sailing on the Icefjord (optional)

Spend the day exploring Ilulissat at your own pace, or join a marathon day with many different and exciting excursions where you can really see ice in different ways.

You have the opportunity to join a guided city walk.

Guided tour of town (add-on)

On a guided tour of the town, you can explore Ilulissat, the third-largest town in Greenland. Founded in 1741, the town has a fascinating history and features charming buildings such as Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace, which now serves as a museum. Discover the sled dog pitches where the dogs stay in the summer and get an insight into traditional Greenlandic city life combined with modern facilities.

Sailing among icebergs (add-on)

This boat trip is an absolute must when visiting Ilulissat. Daily, huge amounts of ice from the Ilulissat Ice Glacier flow into the fjord, forming impressive icebergs. On a quiet boat trip, you’ll get closer to these majestic natural phenomena, and in the middle of the bright Arctic summer, this sight will leave you speechless.

Aninngaaq R. Carlsen - Visit Greenland
Day 3 Ilulissat on your own or possibly a whale saferi or a helicopter tour

There are several wonderful excursions available today, if you’re tempted.

Whale watching (add-on)

Getting close to the majestic whales is an overwhelming experience – a feeling that will give you a rush and leave you with memories for a lifetime. Greenland’s waters are home to around 15 species of whales, and during the summer months, the humpback, fin, and minke whales are the most commonly seen.

The whales move around Disko Bay throughout the summer, often close to the town, in the Icefjord, or further north at Arveprinsens Ejland. We use a fast Targa boat for this excursion, which makes it possible to cover greater distances and increase the chance of finding the whales. We are also in close contact with local fishermen who help us spot the big animals to give you the best possible experience.

Helicopter tour to Sermeq Kujalleq (add-on)

Experience Greenland’s nature from the air on an unforgettable helicopter tour to Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the world’s most active glaciers and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fly over the breathtaking Arctic landscape, where huge white icebergs and their deep blue ice feet stretch as far as the eye can see. The helicopter lands on a mountain close to the glacier, so you can enjoy the spectacular views and hear the rumbling sounds as the ice calves. This tour gives you a unique perspective of Ilulissat’s impressive ice world, and it’s only by helicopter that you can get to the glacier itself at the bottom of Ilulissat Icefjord.

Julie Skotte - Visit Greenland
Day 4 Ilulissat on your own or optional boat trip to Eqi Glacier

Enjoy your day in Ilulissat: shopping, lounging in a cafe, and enjoying the magnificent views. You can also choose to take a boat trip to Eqi Glacier.

Day trip to Eqi Glacier (add-on)

We set out in the morning from Ilulissat. The Eqi Glacier flows into the fjord 80 kilometers north of Ilulissat. By boat, it is possible to get relatively close to the glacier’s edge and watch it calve large chunks of ice from a safe distance. Our ice-safe ship lies in the water near the glacier for about two hours, waiting for the ice to calve. A good lunch is also served here.

The length of the trip to and from Eqi Glacier can vary between two and five hours each way, depending on the type of boat used that day. At 2:00 PM, the ship arrives at Port Victor, the ‘port’ of Glacier Lodge Eqi, where some passengers disembark and others board. Then it’s time to go back to Ilulissat.

 

Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
Day 5 Return flight to Copenhagen

After an eventful weekend, it’s time to say goodbye to Ilulissat. You fly back to Copenhagen directly and arrive in the evening with unforgettable memories and amazing images in your mind.

This summer tour offers intense nature experiences and relaxation in the beautiful landscape of Greenland. Perfect for those who want to experience the best in a short time.

Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Excursions (Optional purchases)

Ivar Eythorsson - Visit Greenland
Caroline Ellis Friis
Jan Lindahl
Asa Steiners - Visit Greenland
Anders Peter Amsnæs

Sermermiut Hike (Ilulissat)

The stunning icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord form the backdrop to the ancient settlement of Sermermiut, located about 1.5 kilometers south of the town. For 4,000 years, various Inuit cultures lived at this site, and many remains can still be seen today, bearing witness to their presence.

You can explore ruins from the time when Inuit lived here, and if you continue to the end of the boardwalk, you will also reach the so-called “Kællingekløften,” which became well known after season 4 of the TV series “Borgen,” much of which was filmed in Ilulissat.

  • MINIMUM PARTICIPANTS: 4 persons
  • DURATION: 2 hours

We recommend booking the tour at the same time as your trip. If you book later, you risk it being sold out. Please read more about the excursions in the daily programs above.

Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
Christina Lundbye
Henrik Møller Nielsen - Visit Greenland
Aninngaaq R. Carlsen - Visit Greenland

City Walk (Ilulissat)

Begin your experience with a deeper understanding of Greenlandic culture and history—adding valuable perspective to all your other experiences in Greenland.

Ilulissat was founded in 1741 and is today Greenland’s third-largest town, with more than 4,500 inhabitants. On this guided city walk, your guide will share insights into the town’s history, Greenlandic culture, and modern life 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Along the way, we visit the fishermen at the harbor, the vendors at “Brættet,” and pass by Knud Rasmussen’s birthplace as well as the old wooden Zion Church.

  • MINIMUM PARTICIPANTS: 4 persons
  • DURATION: 2 hours

We recommend booking the tour at the same time as your trip. If you book later, you risk it being sold out. Please read more about the excursions in the daily programs above.

Aninngaaq R. Carlsen - Visit Greenland
Jette Schwartz
Anders Peter Amsnæs
Beate Ulich
Aninngaaq R. Carlsen - Visit Greenland
Stian Klo - Visit Greenland
Jesper Kunuk Egede

Icefjord Cruise (Ilulissat)

Experience the impressive icebergs of Ilulissat bathed in the unique light of the midnight sun. On this popular boat tour, we head out into the Icefjord, where large icebergs, calved from the Ilulissat Glacier, drift and ground at the mouth of the fjord.

Here, you will have the opportunity to sail close among these majestic ice formations and experience their scale and beauty up close. Please remember to dress warmly, as it can be chilly out on the water—even in summer.

  • MINIMUM PARTICIPANTS: 4 or 6 persons
  • DURATION: 2.5 hours

We recommend booking the tour at the same time as your trip. If you book later, you risk it being sold out. Please read more about the excursions in the daily programs above.

Julie Skotte - Visit Greenland

Whale Safari (Ilulissat)

Join us on an unforgettable boat tour among the icebergs of Disko Bay as we search for the majestic whales that inhabit these waters. Humpback whales are the most common visitors, but with a bit of luck, we may also spot fin whales or minke whales. The captain adjusts the route according to the day’s conditions and the latest sightings to give us the best possible chance of getting close to the whales—always with respect for the animals and their natural behavior.

  • 3-hour whale safari in Disko Bay
  • Opportunity to see humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales
  • Cruise among the impressive icebergs of the Ilulissat Icefjord

Good to know

Whales are wild animals, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, cruising among the magnificent icebergs makes this a truly memorable experience, no matter what the day brings.

We recommend booking this excursion at the same time as your trip. If you book later, the excursion may already be sold out.

Lloyd Horgan - Vertical Magazine
Keld Ravn
Keld Ravn
Keld Ravn
Keld Ravn
Keld Ravn

Helicopter Tour - Kangia Classic (Ilulissat)

Price and dates: EUR 610 per person (April 1 – December 31, 2026)

2027: We do not yet have flight times and prices available. If you would like to book, please write to us in the comment field during step 2 of the booking process. We will contact you as soon as the excursion is available for sale.

Ilulissat Ice Fjord and the Kangia Glacier are in focus on a 1½ hours helicopter ride that takes you right into the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No boat or hiking trail can get this close to the huge glacier – and you will see it all from above!

The helicopter takes off from Ilulissat Airport and flies as low as safety and laws allow over mountains, lakes, rivers, and the Icefjord until we reach a mountain at the ice sheet’s edge. Here we have about half an hour to enjoy the view. Then, we fly over the glacier front and follow the Icefjord for 70 kilometers on our way back.

Minimum number of passengers

The minimum number of passengers depends on the type of helicopter used during the given period. We cannot always predict which helicopter type will be used, as it depends on availability at the time of the flight. The minimum number is three passengers for a small helicopter, while it is six passengers for a larger helicopter.

Booking

Please note that you cannot book this tour in the booking process. If you wish to book the helicopter tour, please indicate this in the comment box when booking in step 2. You can also contact us by phone or e-mail. We recommend booking the tour at the same time as your trip. If you book later, you risk it being sold out. Please read more about the excursions in the daily programs above.

Paul Zizka - Visit Greenland

Day Trip to the Eqi Glacier (Ilulissat)

Travel season: June – September

80 kilometers north of Ilulissat you can visit the calving glacier Eqi. It is possible by boat to get very close to the glacier and experience huge pieces of ice breaking off. The sounds are enormous, and the sight of the icebergs, crashing into the water, is breathtaking.

  • Boat tour to Eqi (return trip)
  • Lunch on board
  • 2-hour stay in front of the glacier on board
  • Transfer between hotel and harbor b/w

Duration of the trip depends on which boat is used on the day.
Duration: 6-12 hours

Good to know

We recommend that you book the excursion when you book your trip. By booking later, you risk that the package is sold out.

Practical information

Flight times (local time) 2026

  • Departure from Copenhagen at 9:00 am
  • Arrival back in Copenhagen at 9:35 pm

Please note that departure times are subject to changes.

Packing List

Find the packing list for your trip here.

Baggage included

20 kilos of checked baggage and 8 kilos of cabin baggage (max. dimensions of cabin baggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm).

Travelers with reduced mobility and wheelchair users

We do not recommend this tour for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. Greenland Travel’s advice regarding difficulty levels on our excursions is intended for travelers who are not disabled. We are always happy to provide you with information on the suitability of the trip, taking into account the specific needs you may have. Please note that our advice is not based on medical knowledge, and ultimately it is YOUR responsibility to decide if a tour is right for you.

A long weekend out of the ordinary!

5 days in Ilulissat

Experience world-class nature and luxury! Stay at Greenland’s best hotel – with a view of a UNESCO world heritage site, the Ilulissat Ice Fjord. Many exciting excursions available!

Inuit CultureIcebergsGlaciers
From
per person in double room
2 days  | 1 nights
June-September
Departure from Copenhagen
Travel id 9023

Greenland Travel A/S is the tour operator of the trip, while Air Greenland solely acts as an intermediary. This means that all future contact regarding the trip will be directly with Greenland Travel, which is also responsible for the practical arrangements of your journey.

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Foto: Greenland Travel 2022 05 10 Kathrine 0042

Can we help you?

You are always welcome to contact us if you have any questions regarding your trip or if you need advice or guidance.

You can call us at: +45 3313 1011

Contact a travel specialist