Hiking in South Greenland

Day 1: Arrive Iceland

Transfer to Reykjavik for overnight stay.

Day 2: Fly to Narsarsuaq and hike to view point

Make your own way to Reykjavik City Airport and fly to Narsarsuaq in South Greenland. On arrival in Narsarsuaq you will be met and transferred to the hotel for check-in and an information meeting about the trip. Set off on a hike to the Glacier View Point (3 miles, approx 2 hours), for great views of the Tunulliarfik fjord icebergs and the Kiattuut Glacier.

Day 3: The Flower Valley hike and Qaqortoq, capital of South Greenland

We reserve the morning for the most famous hike in the area, the Flower Valley (7 miles, approx 5 hours). A spectacular hike with sights of the Kiattut river and glacier. You will enjoy the spectacular view of this valley formed due to the retreat of the glacier and the resulting glacial sedimentation. Transfer from Narsarsuaq to Qaqortoq the capital of South Greenland. On arrival take a guided city tour. Later on there is free time to have dinner in one of the restaurants or enjoy a drink with the local people.

Day 4: Qaqortoq and boat transfer to Narsaq

This morning there is time to independently explore Qaqortoq or join an optional excursion to Hvalsoy Church (payable locally). In the afternoon, transfer by zodiac boat to Narsaq city, the third most populated town in South Greenland.

Day 5: Qaleraliq glacier camp and ice hike

In the morning set off for Qaleraliq camp towards Greenland’s ice cap. Following our arrival at the camp with its spectacular views of three glacier fronts we will set off on an excursion on the glacier. We navigate along the glacier fronts on a RIB boat, admiring the beauty of their vertical ice walls and icebergs to the starting point for our ice trek (2 miles, approx 3-4 hours) with an expert mountain guide explore its crevasses, drains, seracs, and other ice formations, which give an incredible, labyrinthine quality to this glacier and learn about the special characteristics of the glaciers in the South of Greenland. Picnic lunch in the ice or at the camp depending on conditions. In the afternoon, transfer by zodiac boat to Narsaq. Watch for the enormous icebergs falling off from the Eqaloruutsit Glacier and floating through the Sermilik Fjord.

Day 6: City of Narsaq and the idyllic Igaliku

Narsaq, with about 1,500 inhabitantsis, is the third most populated town in South Greenland. During the morning you will have free time to visit the museum, fur shops or the fish market. After strolling around Narsaq we will navigate to the pontoon of Itilleq, where an easy hike to cross the “Kongevejen” or Path of the Kings begins (7 miles, approx 3 hours). Our destination is the idyllic Igaliku, a small Inuit settlement inhabited by no more than 40 people. Igaliku, home of the ruins of Gardar (religious capital of Viking Greenland), is famous for being the most beautiful settlement in Greenland.

Day 7: Igaliku and Qooroq Ice Fjord excursion

Leave the green hills of Igaliku with its spectacular views of Einarsfjord and hike back to Itilleq’s pontoon. We take the sea route to Qooroq Ice Fjord, the most active glacier in southern Greenland. We will navigate among blocks of ice until the density of ice is such that we can no longer continue. From Qooroq we will continue on to Narsarsuaq.

Day 8: Viking ruins of Qassiarsuk and Kayaking among icebergs

Transfer by RIB Boat through Tunulliarfik to Qassiarsuk (former Brattahlid, capital of Viking Greenland). Enjoy a walk through the village of about 50 inhabitants and guided tour of the Viking ruins of Brattahlid, learning the history of the arrival of Eric the Red from Iceland at this small settlement in 985. After the cultural visit it’s time for action: a 4×4 trip to the beautiful Tasiusaq farm, where seven people live in notable isolation next to Sermilik fjord, which is almost always blocked by the ice from icebergs coming from Eqaloruutsit glacier. Picnic at the Tasiusaq farm or outdoors if weather permitting followed by an optional Kayak excursion in the “Iceberg Bay” (payable locally). Return by jeep to Qassiarsuk and RIB boat transfer to Narsarsuaq.

Day 9: Free time in Narsarsuaq and fly to Reykjavik

Free time to walk around in the area and visit the local museum which tells the story of Blue West One, the creation of the village of Narsarsuaq and the role it played in the second world war. Check in at Narsarsuaq airport for your flight to Reykjavik. On arrival in Reykjavik make your own way to your hotel by taxi (payable locally).