Ilulissat with Guide to Greenland
After a fantastic experience in Nuuk, I flew on a domestic flight to Ilulissat, which is located approximately 300 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle on Greenland’s west coast. It is a captivating destination renowned for its stunning icebergs and rich cultural heritage. With a population of around 4,800 residents, it stands as Greenland’s third-largest town and serves as a gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord.
As in Nuuk, I also booked a tour with Guide to Greenland in Ilulisat. Guide to Greenland is a Greenlandic company passionate about growing tourism to Greenland in a sustainable manner. I arrived at the airport and found a free shuttle that goes to several hotels in the town. My first stop was Hotel Icefiord, and I spent some time exploring the town before I went on a fantastic icefjord cruise, which really impressed me.
The Ilulissat Icefjord, known as “Ilulissat Kangerlua” in Greenlandic, is a natural marvel where the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves massive icebergs into the sea. This glacier is one of the most active and fastest-moving in the world, contributing to the fjord’s ever-changing landscape of towering ice formations. Visitors can witness this spectacle through various vantage points, including boat tours that navigate among the icebergs, offering an up-close experience of their immense scale and beauty.
Ilulissat’s history dates back over 4,000 years, with evidence of ancient Inuit settlements in the area. The town itself was established in 1741 and has since evolved into a vibrant community that harmoniously blends traditional practices with modern living. The Ilulissat Museum provides insights into the town’s past, showcasing artefacts and exhibits related to its cultural evolution and the significance of fishing and hunting in the local economy.
Guide to Greenland is a comprehensive travel platform that connects visitors with local tour operators, facilitating authentic and memorable experiences across the country, including in Ilulissat. The platform offers a wide array of tours and activities tailored to showcase the best of Ilulissat’s natural wonders and cultural heritage. The company was top professional. A big thanks to Mads and Inesa for their fantastic help.
On my first visit to Greenland in 2013, I didn’t visit either Nuuk or Ilulisat, and I later put them on a bucket list of the most important places I would like to visit. I am very thankful it worked out. Both were extraordinary travel experiences that I would rank among the best destinations I’ve been to of more than 2,000 destinations in the world.
