Backpacking & Hiking in South Greenland

Your Itinerary

The day-by-day travel program below is a recommended itinerary combining backpacking and hiking in South Greenland over 13 days / 12 nights.

The program is indicative and can be customized according to your choice of activities and hotels. The price indication is a guideline for the proposed trip and may vary depending on the season and your preferences. Upon inquiry, a specific travel offer will be prepared.

Please note! Due to limited capacity at some overnight accommodations, the order of the itinerary may change.

Day 1. First taste of South Greenland

Arrive at Qaqortoq Airport (JJU).

Today, you fly to Greenland from Copenhagen, Denmark, and continue via Nuuk to Qaqortoq, the largest town in South Greenland. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the harbour in Qaqortoq, where you board a boat to Narsaq and stay overnight.

Today's highlights:

• A short transfer takes you from the airport to the harbour in Qaqortoq.
• Enjoy a scenic boat journey through the fjords of South Greenland to Narsaq (approx. 45 minutes).
• Arrive in Narsaq where you will spend the coming days. 

Day 2–3. Explore Narsaq & Its Surroundings

Spend the next two days exploring Narsaq and the beautiful landscapes surrounding the town. Narsaq is a medium-sized town in South Greenland with about 1,500 inhabitants. It is beautifully situated at the foot of a mountain and next to a sound, which is always filled with icebergs from the surrounding glaciers.

Today's highlights:

• Discover Narsaq, a charming town with high mountains in the backcountry, including the famous Kvanefjeld.
• Explore the famous Kvanefjeld area, which contains over 200 different minerals (including the beautiful, pink gemstone Tugtupit) and is a Mecca for anyone interested in geology. 
• Visit the local museum, located in the historic colonial buildings around the old harbour. Definitely worth a stop!
• Choose from several hiking routes around Narsaq, including Narsaq Point and Dyrnæs (7-8 km),  the summit of Tasiigaaq (the smaller of the two mountains near the town that serve as a landmark for Narsaq), or longer hikes into the surrounding backcountry.

Hiking tip! If you plan to visit Kvanefjeld, we recommend taking a taxi to the sheep farm in the valley (approx. 7 km) to shorten the hike and allow more time for exploring the area. Otherwise it is quite a long day hike (20-25 km).

Ask for more information at the tourist office, near the museum.

Day 4. Narsarsuaq – Hike to Signal Hill or the Ridge

Today, you travel by boat from Narsaq to Narsarsuaq (approx. 1 hour).

Today's highlights:

• Enjoy a scenic boat journey through the fjords of South Greenland.
• Explore Narsarsuaq at your own pace.
• The area offers some of the beautiful hikes on your own hand and is the place in Greenland with the shortest hiking distance to the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Meals: Breakfast

Optional Selfguided Hiking Activities (Day 4)

Day 5. Hike to Flower Valley and Narsarsuaq Glacier

Today, you have the entire day available to explore the spectacular landscapes surrounding Narsarsuaq.

Today's highlights:

• Hike through the beautiful Flower Valley on your way towards Narsarsuaq Glacier.
• Climb to a plateau offering magnificent views of the glacier and the Greenland Ice Sheet.
• Continue to the glacier itself, where you can experience and touch the ice up close.
• Enjoy some of the best hiking opportunities in South Greenland, with several alternative routes available around Narsarsuaq.

The hike to Narsarsuaq Glacier is approximately 16 km return and includes an ascent of around 300 metres. If you prefer a shorter hike, several other trails can be explored independently around Narsarsuaq on this day.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6. Qassiarsuk to Tasiusaq Sheep Farm

Today, you travel by boat from Narsarsuaq to Qassiarsuk before beginning your hike towards Tasiusaq. Luggage transport from Qassiarsuk to Tasiusaq is included. 

Today's highlights:

• Boat trip to the small settlement of Qassiarsuk, better known as Brattahlid, where Erik the Red settled in 982. Explore the well-preserved Norse ruins and learn about the Vikings who once made Greenland their home. You can also visit the open-air museum (admission not included).
• Follow an easy hiking route along a gravel road through the open landscapes of South Greenland.
• Enjoy beautiful views of rolling terrain dotted with small blue lakes and surrounding mountains.
• Keep an eye on the sky for white-tailed eagles soaring above the valley.
• Arrive at Tasiusaq sheep farm, beautifully located on the shores of the Sermilik Fjord.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7. Tasiusaq – Hike to the Ipiutaat Viewpoint

Today’s hike is self-guided.

Today, you have the opportunity to explore the spectacular landscapes surrounding Tasiusaq on foot.

Today's highlights:

• Hike along the iceberg-filled shores of Sermilik Fjord towards the Ipiutaat viewpoint.
• Follow an easy walking route through open grazing land, where sheep keep the vegetation low and the views wide open.
• Cross small rivers and creeks, which in late summer are often filled with trout swimming upstream.
• Enjoy panoramic views of a large glacier stretching up to the awe-inspiring ice cap on the opposite side of Sermilik Fjord.

The hike to the Ipiutaat viewpoint is approximately 22 km return.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8. Hike from Tasiusaq to Sillisit Along the Sheep Track (15 km)

Today’s hike is self-guided.

Today’s hike takes you from Tasiusaq to Sillisit, a long and varied day covering approximately 15 km. Luggage transport between the sheep farms is included.

Today’s highlights:

• From Tasiusaq, you begin by following a sheep track along the innermost part of the fjord for the first 3 kilometres. At Nunataaq, you join the gravel road towards Qassiarsuk, before leaving it again after about 1 km to continue across slightly undulating terrain towards Sillisit.
• This section of the route is a true “alone in the wild” experience in South Greenland, and you navigate by following small stone cairns built by farmers and fellow hikers.
• Sillisit is beautifully located opposite the Qooroq Ice Fjord. Here, you find today's farm stay in idyllic settings.

Today’s hike is approximately 15 km. In case of bad weather, it is recommended to stay on the gravel road all the way, passing by the Inneruulalik sheep farm, before reaching Sillisit. This is somewhat longer, approximately 23 km.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9. Arrive in the village of Igaliku

Today, you hike on your own from Sillisit to the settlement of Igaliku. Luggage transport is included.

Today's highlights:

• Self-guided hike to Igaliku, surrounded by green grasslands and a milky-blue fjord.
• From the harbour in Itilleq, the final 4 km to Igaliku follow an unpaved gravel road.
• Enjoy views of Illerfissalik (Burfjeld), the striking mountain rising on the opposite side of the fjord.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10-11. Spot Qooroq Ice Fjord from the Plateau or Hike to Waterfalls

These day are dedicated to exploring Igaliku and its surrounding landscapes at your own pace.

Igaliku, known in the Norse era as Gardar, was the episcopal seat for around 300 years between 1100 and 1400. The impressive ruins from this period can still be seen today, offering a unique glimpse into Greenland’s Viking history. In 1782, Anders Olsen and his Greenlandic wife Tuperna settled here as farmers, marking the beginning of the village’s more recent history.

Today, Igaliku is surrounded by some of the finest hiking terrain in South Greenland. Check all the different hiking trails in Igaliku here.

Meals: Breakfast

You may choose between several selfguided day hikes:

Day 12. Explore Qaqortoq at Your Own Pace

Today is yours to discover Qaqortoq and its surroundings on your own. With colourful houses, a lively harbour, and a thriving local community, Qaqortoq is the cultural and commercial centre of South Greenland.

Today's highlights:

• Travel by boat from Igaliku to Qaqortoq, a journey of approx. one hour, with views of South Greenland's fjord system and high mountains along the way.

• Discover the famous Stone & Man project, which consists of more than 30 sculptures that are carved into the granite bedrock by various artists. This permanent exhibition makes a stroll around the city a very special experience.

• Visit the town square and Greenland's oldest fountain, located next to the harbour. Here you can sit and watch the hunters and fishermen selling the catch of the day at the nearby fish market.

• Explore the charming streets of Qaqortoq and experience everyday life in South Greenland's largest town.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13. Farewell to South Greenland

Depart from Qaqortoq Airport (JJU)

Enjoy a final glimpse of South Greenland’s fjords and colourful townscape before your journey home.

At the arranged time, you will be picked up and driven to the airport for your departure, taking with you memories of amazing hikes and life in one of the world’s most remote landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast

Extend Your Trip?

This trip includes return flights from Copenhagen to Qaqortoq via Nuuk. If you would like to extend your stay in Greenland or add a stopover in Nuuk, please contact us.
We have extensive knowledge of Greenland and can provide guidance quickly and easily.

Click here for Price and Practical information

Season and practical info

Greenland is a truly unique destination – majestic, yet not always easy to reach. That is part of its charm. Our travel advisors are happy to help you tailor a trip that matches your wishes and interests. As part of our guidance, we also advise you on the best time to plan your journey, ensuring you bring home the most memorable experiences.

About South Greenland and this itinerary

Greenland is a truly unique destination – majestic, yet not always easy to reach. That is part of its charm. Our travel advisors are happy to help you tailor a trip that matches your wishes and interests. As part of our guidance, we also advise you on the best time to plan your journey, ensuring you bring home the most memorable experiences.

When is the best time to travel?

You can start this tour every day of the week and are free to choose your own pace and what to see and do each day. Just let us know which date/flight you will arrive with and we will book the tour for you as desired.

The best time to travel for this itinerary in South Greenland is from June to September.

Difficulty

Hikes between the hostels are over easy/moderate terrain or follow gravel roads. Some hikes are long 15-23 km depending on the route. Please note, that you have to carry your own luggage on this backpacker tour!

Self-guided

All our package tours are self-guided. This means that you are not a part of a bigger group with a tour leader to guide you around. We will send you very detailed information about the tour before you arrive in Greenland. However, you will need to bring your own hiking map to help you navigate between the sheep farms. We recommend this hiking map. 

Accommodation and meals

 All accommodation includes breakfast, bed linen and towels. However, different accommodation options are available, including options where you bring your own sleeping bag, bed linen and towels. Breakfast, lunch, packed lunches and dinner can often be added at an extra cost, but must be ordered well in advance to ensure availability. This trip includes the accommodation described. Please contact us if you would like to upgrade or downgrade.

Meals

Cooking facilities available at all sheep farms and in Narsarsuaq so you can prepare your own meals. You can also choose to prebook dinner at some/all sheep farms. A nice way to meet the local family at the farm. All dinners have to be ordered in advance and paid directly to the farmer on site. Prices are around 350 DKK/meal.

You can go shopping in Narsarsuaq, Qassiarsuk, Igaliku and Narsaq.

There are restaurants in Narsaq and Igaliku.

How to get here

There are direct flights to Qaqortoq (South Greenland) from Nuuk (GOH) all year round and from Iceland (Reykjavik, KEF) in the high season from mid-June to early September.

The following airlines fly to South Greenland:

• Air Greenland flies from Nuuk to Qaqortoq.
• Icelandair flies from Reykjavik to Qaqortoq. Iceland air provides connecting flights from many major cities in US and EU. With just one stopover in Reykjavik.

Several airlines fly from Europe and the US to Denmark and Iceland.

Please note: We can help you book and include the relevant flight ticket. Simply let us know where you would like to depart from: Copenhagen or Aalborg. Departures from Reykjavik or New York are also possible.

Food and drink

Meat and fish are the foundation of the Greenlandic diet, so be prepared for high-protein fare with relatively few vegetables and side dishes.

In South Greenland you will primarily be served lamb, but also musk ox, reindeer and whale meat. Cod, trout and shrimp are the most common fish and seafood used in South Greenlandic cuisine.

If you have an opportunity to cook your own meals, you won’t want to miss out on a visit to the local meat and fish market, where hunters and fishermen sell the catch of the day.

In South Greenland several sheep farmers have also begun to grow potatoes, turnips, lettuce and cabbage on a larger scale and you can enjoy this fresh produce if you are travelling in late summer.

Opening hours

There are grocery stores (the Pilersuisoq chain) in the villages of Narsarsuaq, Qassiarsuk and Igaliku, where you can buy canned, dried and frozen food, and to a limited extend fresh products. If your package tour includes one of the major towns, we always recommend that you buy food in a supermarket there before continuing on to a small village.

In the towns of Narsaq, Qaqortoq and Nanortalik shops are generally open from 8-9 am to 5-6 pm on weekdays, with slightly shorter opening hours on Saturdays and Sundays. In the settlements (Narsarsuaq, Qassiarsuk and Igaliku) shop opening hours are somewhat more limited: weekdays often from 10 am to 3 pm, Saturdays 10-12 am and closed on Sundays.

About dining in villages and on sheep farms

We always recommend that you take the opportunity to eat locally and taste different Greenlandic dishes when you visit a sheep farm or a small settlement. However, please do not expect a large variety of dishes (à la carte menu), as well as a special children’s menu or vegetarian dishes at such places, as shopping facilities and the choice of products are limited.

If you are a vegetarian or have a food allergy (e.g., allergic to gluten), you may want to consider bringing some food along with you, unless you will be staying in the vicinity of a supermarket in one of the major towns!

Costs

The price level of food in shops is roughly the same as in the rest of Northern Europe. Fresh fruit and vegetables, alcoholic drinks and sweets are the most expensive. See below for indicative prices for meals in cafes/restaurants:

Lunch at cafes/hotels: DKK 120-150 (approx. 16-20 EUR)

Dinner at cafeteria / sheep farm / restaurant: DKK 120 (approx. 16 EUR) / DKK 200-300 (approx. 27-40 EUR) / DKK 200-400 (approx. 27-54 EUR)   

These prices are without drinks

1 beer at a bar/restaurant: from DKK 50 (approx. 7 EUR)   

1 bottle of wine at a restaurant: from DKK 230 (approx. 31 EUR)

Money, Tele & Internet

Currency and Credit cards

The currency used in Greenland is the Danish krone (DKK). You can pay by credit card in stores (also in the settlements), at hotels, restaurants (including the Igaliku Country Hotel) and at tourist offices. However, it is a good idea to have a small amount of cash with you, especially if you are going to stay and dine on a sheep farm, where cash is the only means of payment. There are ATMs in the towns of Narsaq, Qaqortoq and Nanortalik.

Telephony

There is mobile coverage in all towns and villages. Most European telecommunications providers have roaming agreements with Tele Greenland, but it might be quite expensive to use your phone in Greenland. You should also not rely on your mobile phone as a means of communicating with the outside world on a hiking trip, as there are many places in the countryside/mountains where you will not have a signal. If you are planning a longer hiking or kayaking trip in isolated areas, for safety reasons we recommend that you rent a satellite phone.

Internet

There is wireless internet at most hotels and hostels in the towns (including Narsarsuaq and the Igaliku Country Hotel). At most tourist offices you can also borrow a computer to check your emails and so on. What all of these points of access have in common is that you pay for the use of the internet in Greenland and – compared to the rest of Europe – it is quite expensive.

Mobile Phone

Using mobile data from an international phone can be very expensive in Greenland. Make sure to check what your plan covers before enabling data roaming. If you need a Greenlandic SIM card, we recommend Tusass eSIM packages. See prices and packages here (affiliate link).

Access to Electricity

It is possible to charge your devices at the accommodations (bring your own charger).

IMPORTANT NOTE!

Please note that the price of the trip is a starting price, as there may be additional costs for a more expensive type of flight ticket or a different cabin/room standard, depending on availability at the time of booking. You are, of course, only committed to the trip once any price supplements have been confirmed. The starting price is indicated for Greenland’s low season.

Right to Changes Reserved. Please note that a trip like this is weather-dependent, and some changes to the program may occur. Delays and cancellations are possible, especially for flights and boat transport.

No compensation or reimbursement is provided for the first 24 hours of delays or changes due to external circumstances. We will make every effort to minimize inconvenience, and provide an alternative program.

What to bring

For our package tours in South Greenland we recommend:

• A sleeping bag and towel (only if you stay in hostels)
• Slippers or sandals (for use indoors when you stay at hostels/farms or visit a Greenlandic home)
• Hiking boots or solid walking shoes

• Wind and waterproof outerwear
• Sweater or fleece for insulation
• T-shirts and long-sleeved blouses (it can get really hot in the sun on land)
• A knit hat and gloves (it can be rather chilly on a boat trip to the ice fjord)

• A mosquito net and mosquito repellent (which can also be purchased at Blue Ice Café). The mosquitoes are worst in June and early July in southern Greenland. There may be small, annoying flies in August. Mosquitoes are virtually non-existent in sheep farming areas, but can be troublesome in Narsarsuaq and mountain areas with few or no sheep
• Sunglasses and sun lotion