At Copenhagen airport we check into our hotel and get a good night's sleep 🛌. A great adventure awaits us in the coming days 🤩.

After 4.5 hours of flight we land in Nuuk🇬🇱, where we change planes. The time difference with Copenhagen is minus 3 hours ⏰.

We will take a short flight north to the town of Ilulissat , which will be our base for the next six nights. 

One of the three largest towns in Greenland is Ilulissat. In Danish, this town is called Jakobshavn, which translates to Jakob's Harbour. It is named after Jakub Severin, a descendant of Czech emigrants who founded the town on a former Inuit village in 1741. 

Ilulissat means "glacier" in Greenlandic 🧊, and lies 300km north of the Arctic Circle at the mouth of a picturesque, 40km-long fjord filled with massive chunks of glacial bush. These are released from the northern hemisphere's most productive glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq. The Ilulissat Glacier Fjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site🤩. Upon arrival, we check in and walk through the town full of colorful houses and friendly residents. We visit the wooden church of Zion⛪, do some grocery shopping and sample some local beer and Greenlandic specialties 🍺😊.

In the afternoon we will have an easy 2.5 km hike along comfortable wooden paths in the national park to the abandoned Inuit settlement Sermermiut in Disko Bay. The view of the impressive glacial fjord Kangia is magnificent. This narrow strait carries 10% of all ice flow from inland. It was the ice floes 🧊 from this fjord that probably sank the Titanic 😮🚢. We stop at the Kællingekløften gorge, which offers a spectacular view of the glacial fjord. This place is linked to a rather dark story: around 900 years ago, in a time of food shortages, old women decided to end their lives by jumping off a cliff so that the younger generation would not suffer from hunger. This is why the gorge is also called Witch's Gorge. There is also a viewpoint with seating on the hill. 

At night, we will cruise 🛥️ between the huge ice floes🧊🧊 of the fascinating Ilulissat glacial fjord to see its indescribable beauty from the water's surface. The sea is cold even in the summer months ☃️, so dress warmly 🧤. The captains navigate the boats carefully, so you don't have to worry about big waves. We will have a cabin on the boat with tea and coffee ☕️. After a two-hour night cruise, we will warm up at our accommodation and enjoy a well-deserved rest. 🛌🏚️. 

The breed of dog known as the Greenland dog🇬🇱🐶 or Greenland husky is an important part of the culture of the Inuit, the local indigenous people. It is one of the purest breeds of dog. They are encountered in many places, especially with puppies in the summer. They are incredibly photogenic and cute 😍. However, we have to respect them: don't feed them, don't touch them and uncool them. Greenlanders are strict with their dogs, but they would give their lives for them. Greenland dogs have a long history of living and working alongside the Inuit. They were used for various purposes including pulling sleds 🛷 for transport and hunting and to help with daily chores in the Arctic environment. The breed's adaptation to extreme conditions ❄️ proves its resilience and suitability for the harsh Arctic climate. We will take lots of photos and videos 📷.

This morning we have another hike around the glacial fjord in the national park in Disko Bay. The Yellow Trek 🟡 🥾 offers breathtaking views of the bay and glacial fjord, running along the cliffs. The trail is 2.7 km long and usually takes  2 hours, depending on how many times we stop for photos 📷. When it rains, the path can be slippery, so it is recommended to use trekking poles for better stability. Along the way, we can refresh ourselves at Asimut Café ☕️🥪. Asimut means "out in nature" in Greenlandic and nature itself provides the backdrop for this cosy little café with views of majestic glaciers. The Yellow Trek ends in town. 

Those who don't feel like doing the whole hike can visit the Isfjordcenter or stay on the wooden walking trail and discover the unique fauna 🐦 and flora 🌸 of the national park.

Ilulissat Isfjordcenter  💎 takes you on an extraordinary journey into Greenland's nature and culture. The permanent exhibition, which is part of the visitor centre, discusses the history of the Ilulissat Glacier Fjord, climate change and Inuit life. In spring, summer and autumn there is the opportunity to experience one of the most extraordinary panoramas in Greenland from the rooftop 📷 , where you can enjoy views of the Kangia Glacier Fjord.

It will be a bit of an adrenaline rush, but it's worth it! However, please note that whale watching 🐋 🐳 cannot be 100% guaranteed as they are wild animals. However, our captain will do his best to find them. Along the way, we will take pictures of the shrubs reflecting on the surface and maybe even spot some seals 🦭🦭. 

After the trip we will warm up at our accommodation. Depending on interest and weather, we may take an evening hike to Sermermiut and watch the sun approach the horizon. 🌅☀️. Maps 🗺️ of the city and national park with routes will be given to each participant at the beginning of our trip.

This morning, active adventurers will have another hike around the glacial fjord in the national park. The Blue Trek 🔵 🥾  is the longest official hiking trail in Ilulissat. It is about 7 km long and takes 4 hours to complete. The hike runs along the glacial fjord and offers spectacular views of the bushes and lakes. The most challenging part takes us through a deep gorge with high cliffs on both sides. This part of the trail is steep and rocky, and if it has rained recently, it will also be slippery. Trekking poles may help a little.

This hike requires better fitness, but almost everyone in the group made it. Those who don't feel up to it can choose one of the optional hikes or an easier trail.

In the afternoon we will visit a Greenlandic household and learn about the beautiful national costume of Kalaallisuut. It consists of glass beads, short pants made of sealskin 🦭and tall white shoes 👢(called kamiks) decorated with a floral motif 🌸. Surprisingly, these come from Moravia, from the time of the missionaries known as the Moravian Brothers who worked in Greenland in the late 18th century. Greenlandic costume is the only women's costume in the world that favors pants 🩳 over skirts 😎. Today, Inuit wear their costume only on important events and holidays🎉. According to Greenlandic tradition, coffee and cake will be served 🍰☕️ - a tradition called Kaffemik.

There will also be facultative excursions such as kayaking 🚣🏻 between  krami, Arctic sauna, sightseeing flight ✈️🚁 , a full-day boat trip to the Eqi Glacier, a visit to the Inuit settlement of Oqaatsut or Ilimanaq.Optional programs can be scheduled based on availability throughout your stay in Ilulissat.

Those interested can take an optional fruit trip to the picturesque, colourful Inuit settlement of Oqaatsut, located 15 km north of Ilulissat. The settlement was once a popular trading post and was called Rodebay (Red Bay) by Dutch whalers in the 18th century 🐳🐋. The more adventurous can enjoy local specialties such as frozen seal blubber 🤤 or whale meat🐋 at the H8 restaurant.  This excursion is not included but highly recommended.

After arriving in Copenhagen, we will briefly recuperate before flying home ✈️