Hiking in Greenland

Igaliku

Igaliku is the starting point of some of the best hiking terrain you can imagine. And the village itself is both charming and friendly. The routes below are our best tips, and we recommend staying at Igaliku Country Hotel for easy access.

See our guide to Igaliku »

Hiking trails in Igaliku:

• The Lake and Plateau hike leads to an outstanding view of the Qooroq Ice Fjord. On the return leg, you cross the "moon landscape" - a desert of weathered rocks and stones. 
• The Waterfall hike leads to a series of waterfalls that fall beautifully towards the Tunulliarfik fjord. Bring a swimsuit, lunch and a blanket to enjoy the views and waters along the way. 
• The Qaqortoq-Igaliku route is a South Greenland classic that covers around 65 km over several days. It passes from the airport town of Qaqortoq to Hvalsey Church and Sissarluttoq to Igaliku.  

Qassiarsuk

Qassiarsuk lies a short boat ride from Igaliku. The settlement is a working sheep farm, and a great starting point for farm-to-farm hiking in Greenland. Some of our travel packages in South Greenland offers a variation of the hikes below:

• The hike from Qassiarsuk to Tasiusaq and Nunataaq is dotted with small lakes and the ice-filled Sermilik Fjord. It passed two idyllic sheep farms, and with a bit of luck, you may spot the white-tailed eagles. 
• Yellow route leads through the green valley of Qorlortup Itinnera with numerous remnants of Norse settlement and on to the Sermilik Fjord. 
• From Nunataaq to Sillisit small lakes, herds of grazing sheeps and maybe even wild ponies covers the landscape. There is a farm in Sillisit, just opposite the Qooroq Ice Fjord. 

Ilulissat

Ilulissat is perfect for shorter and easily accessible hikes. The most popular route starts at the Old Heliport and follows the boardwalk to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sermermiut. A guided hike to Sermermiut is also available.

From the Old Heliport you can choose between three marked trails:

• Yellow Route follows the Icefjord coastline and offers spectacular views of the enormous icebergs drifting through the fjord. 
• Blue Route leads from the quarry to the Icefjord Centre through varied Arctic landscapes.
• Red Route is the shortest trail, connecting the Icefjord Centre with Holms Bakke. It can easily be combined with the yellow or blue routes for a longer hike.

Disko Island

Disko Island showcases Greenland's volcanic landscapes at their finest. Several exciting trails lead into untouched Arctic nature, and staying at Hotel Disko Island in Qeqertarsuaq allows plenty of time to explore the island.

Highlights include:

• Kuannit is famous for its striking basalt columns and offers an ideal picnic spot with panoramic views across Disko Bay, where whales are often spotted.
• Skarvefjeldet (Cormorant Mountain) rises 830 metres above sea level and rewards hikers with sweeping views of the bay, glaciers and surrounding mountain peaks.
• Lyngmarksbræen is a challenging but highly rewarding hike. Overnight accommodation is available at Disko Mountain Lodge, located at the foot of the glacier.
• Qorlortorsuaq Waterfall is reached via trails through pristine wilderness, where fresh rivers provide excellent opportunities to refill your water bottle.

Qasigiannguit

Qasigiannguit is a peaceful town on the shores of Disko Bay and an excellent base for day hikes. Hotel Diskobay provides comfortable accommodation, and don't miss the opportunity to join a musk ox safari aboard the boat Palleq.

Recommended hikes include:

• Paradise Bay (Blue Route) passes small streams and Bing's Cave before reaching the sandy beach at Paradise Bay. Distance: 8 km return.
• Strømstedet (Yellow Route) leads to the point where Lake Tasersuaq flows into Salmon Bay. Distance: 12 km return.

Eqi Glacier

Silence dominates the landscape around Eqi Glacier—broken only by the thunderous sound of huge blocks of ice calving into the fjord.

A stay at Eqi Glacier Lodge is highly recommended and provides access to several unforgettable hikes:

• The Delta Hike follows the shoreline to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the meltwater river flowing from the Greenland Ice Sheet.
• The Ice Cap Hike follows the historic route of French polar explorer Paul-Émile Victor and offers the rare opportunity to walk on the Greenland Ice Sheet.
• The Eqi Moraine Hike, included for overnight guests at Glacier Lodge Eqi, leads to the moraine overlooking the impressive glacier front.

Nuuk

Popular hikes in Nuuk include:

• Kapisillit Icefjord Hike with Nuuk Water Taxi combines a scenic boat trip—often featuring whales, seals and sea eagles—with a hike to Kapisillit, Greenland's only settlement connected to Nuuk by boat and home to one of the country's northernmost sheep farms.
• Nuuk Coastline Hike is an easy two-hour walk along the coast. During winter the hike is completed on snowshoes.
• Quassussuaq (Little Malene) is one of Nuuk's classic hikes, offering around 400 metres of elevation gain and magnificent views over the city and fjord. Snowshoes are used during winter.