Disko Bayicebergs
Sermeq Kujalleq, the Jakobshavn glacier, is the fastest-moving large glacier in the world. It calves about 35 cubic kilometres of ice a year into the Ilulissat Icefjord, and the bergs drift out into Disko Bay. We spend ten days on, under and between them, at the quietest time of the year.
- Region
- West Greenland
- Length
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Group
- 4 to 8, two guides
- Fitness
- 3 of 5, long boat days
- Season
- June to August
- Base
- Ilulissat and Qeqertarsuaq
Itinerary
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Day 1
Copenhagen to Ilulissat
Via Kangerlussuaq
A morning flight to Kangerlussuaq and a short domestic hop to Ilulissat, 45 minutes over the ice. Our guesthouse looks over the bay. Supper of Greenland halibut, and a walk at midnight in a light that does not leave.
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Day 2
The Icefjord
Sermermiut and Kangia
A boardwalk walk to the Sermermiut valley, then the UNESCO-listed Icefjord, where the bergs jam at the mouth like a frozen city. We spend the afternoon at the Icefjord Centre and the evening on a small boat among the bergs, in the midnight sun.
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Day 3
Oqaatsut and the bergs
Oqaatsut
By boat north to the fishing village of Oqaatsut, 8 km away, and a drying rack of cod. Lunch with a fisherman, a walk up the ridge. The boat captain, Karen Lyberth, shows us how to read the bergs. Flat tops stay upright. Round ones will roll.
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Day 4
North to Eqip Sermia
Eqip Sermia glacier
A five-hour boat trip north to the glacier front at Eqip Sermia, whose calving face is 3 km wide. We anchor at a safe distance and watch the ice come down. The roar arrives a few seconds late.
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Day 5
A day at the glacier
Eqip Sermia
A guided walk to the viewpoint over the face of the glacier, a day of sitting still with a flask, and, if the sea ice allows, a kayak session in the sheltered bay. Be careful of the waves that come from the calving.
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Day 6
South to Qasigiannguit
Disko Bay
Back through the bergs, with a stop at the old Danish colonial town of Qasigiannguit, population 1,100, and its small museum of Inuit archaeology. The coast is sheltered here, and the light turns the water to mercury at nine.
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Day 7
The ferry to Disko Island
Qeqertarsuaq
A seven-hour ferry across Disko Bay with the Disko Line, past whales if we are lucky. Qeqertarsuaq is a village of 800 people under the basalt cliffs of Lyngmarksfjeldet. Dinner at the old whaling station.
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Day 8
Basalt and whales
Disko Island
A day-long walk on the ridge above the town, with views over the bay and the ice, followed by an evening on a local boat looking for humpbacks, which come in to feed on capelin. The island is volcanic, and a warm spring runs under the town.
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Day 9
The island, slow
Disko Island
A quiet day. A visit to the Arctic Station of the University of Copenhagen, now a research and teaching site, a walk to Red Sand Beach, and a last evening with the whole group, around a table, with halibut and a bottle of Danish aquavit.
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Day 10
Home
Qeqertarsuaq to Copenhagen
An early flight, Qeqertarsuaq to Ilulissat, then Kangerlussuaq, then Copenhagen. Allow for a long day. Most guests sleep on the final leg.
Route map
Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Island. Stops are overnight places or the walking days that matter.
What is included
Included
- All flights from Copenhagen and within Greenland, in economy
- 9 nights: 6 in guesthouses, 2 at the Eqi lodge, 1 at Qeqertarsuaq hostel
- All meals, except lunch in Copenhagen
- All boat trips, including the 70 nm Eqip Sermia day boat
- Ferry Qasigiannguit to Qeqertarsuaq, whale-watching boat
- Two guides and a local boat captain
- All national park and museum entries
Not included
- Travel to Copenhagen
- Alcoholic drinks (a beer costs €9 in Ilulissat)
- Travel and rescue insurance, which is compulsory
- Tips for the guides, if you want to
- Laundry at the guesthouse
Gear and fitness
Level 3 of 5 Active
The boat days are long, up to eight hours with spray and sun. The walks are four to six hours, with an ascent up to 500 m. A reasonable level of fitness and a stable stomach are the main requirements.
For the boat
- Waterproof jacket and trousers, because the spray is cold
- Insulated hat, buff and warm gloves, even in July
- Non-slip boots with a good sole
For walking
- Waterproof walking boots, broken in
- Fleece and light down jacket
- Hiking trousers and a spare pair
- Daypack, 25 litres, with a rain cover
Practical
- Mosquito head net (they are fierce in July)
- Insect repellent (50% DEET)
- Sunglasses with a strap, and sun cream
- Sleeping-bag liner for the lodge nights
We supply
- Flotation suits on the boats
- Binoculars, one pair for every two guests
- First-aid kit and a satellite phone
A full packing list with brands we trust is in Planning.
Weather and season
Dates and prices
| Dates | Length | Availability | Price per person | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 to 28 Jun 2027 | 10 days | 3 places left | €5,600 | Enquire about 19 to 28 Jun 2027 |
| 3 to 12 Jul 2027 | 10 days | Full, waiting list open | €5,800 | Join the waiting list about 3 to 12 Jul 2027 |
| 17 to 26 Jul 2027 | 10 days | 2 places left | €5,800 | Enquire about 17 to 26 Jul 2027 |
| 31 Jul to 9 Aug 2027 | 10 days | 5 places left | €5,800 | Enquire about 31 Jul to 9 Aug 2027 |
| 14 to 23 Aug 2027 | 10 days | 8 places left | €5,600 | Enquire about 14 to 23 Aug 2027 |
Prices are per person in a twin room or shared cabin, in euros. Single supplement €840. A 20% deposit secures your place; the balance falls due 60 days before departure. Groups run with 4 guests or more. Booking terms
Questions
How close do the boats get to the bergs?
Never closer than twice the berg’s height. A rolling berg can send a wave 100 m. Karen decides each day, and she has never been wrong.
Will we see whales?
On Disko Island, in July and August, nearly always. Humpbacks are the most common, with fin whales and minkes in some years.
Are there mosquitoes?
From late June to mid July, yes, especially at the Eqi lodge. A head net makes the difference. By August they have gone.
What is the food like?
Fish and sea food, halibut, musk ox, reindeer, lamb. Vegetarians are catered for, but Greenland is not a fruit country. We bring fresh vegetables from Ilulissat.
Is it a hard trip?
It is a long trip, with big boat days and a few climbs. The difficulty is more the length than the terrain. Most of our guests are 45 to 70.
Photographs
Ask about
Disko Bay Icebergs
Karen LyberthBoat captain, Ilulissat, Greenland. Meet Karen
A guide, not a sales desk, will answer within two working days. Tell us when you can travel.
Enquire about this trip