Ilimanaq Lodge
Ilimanaq Lodge consists of 15 architect-designed cabins from 2016. Each comfortable cabin is just over 40 square meters and features a bathroom, toilet, and modern furnishings in a rustic, Nordic style. They are designed to blend as naturally as possible into the landscape. In this case, however, the excitement for luxury is surpassed by the unique location. All cabins are placed in the front row facing the icefjord.
From every room, you have a magnificent view over Disko Bay. Whether you’re on the terrace, sitting on the sofa in the living room, or lying in bed, all you have to do is look out the large panoramic windows for a chance to see playful whales in Disko Bay and the majestic icebergs drifting by.
A Traditional Settlement in Harmony with Nature
Already on the boat trip from Ilulissat to Ilimanaq, a sense of calm sets in. The enormous grounded icebergs float slowly past. It’s an absolutely marvelous journey. Ilimanaq emerges as a traditional Greenlandic settlement, where residents uphold traditions and mainly live off fishing and hunting.
There are no cars here—just peace and quiet. Only the occasional barking of sled dogs can be heard. You also have a fantastic starting point for hikes in the beautiful nature. As in most places in Greenland, there are no hiking trails, but the terrain is easy to walk in.
In the settlement, there is a small shop and a restaurant located in one of the renovated historic houses. Here, professional chefs work their magic with what they call “the world’s best ingredients.”
Cultural Heritage and Sustainability
Each cabin at Ilimanaq Lodge is equipped with its own solar panels, which provide energy for heating and electricity. Surplus electricity from the solar panels is sold cheaply to the village, so the more you save on water and heat, the more you contribute to giving back to the local community. The long, bright days and nights of the Greenlandic summer make the solar panels highly efficient.
In addition to the new lodge, the settlement’s two listed buildings—the manager’s house and the merchant’s house—have been restored. They serve as reception and restaurant, but also as a museum and conference venue. Throughout, there is a strong emphasis on sustainability.
The Ilimanaq Project
Ilimanaq Lodge is the result of a collaboration between three parties and is something of a pioneering project. In essence, Greenland’s own cultural heritage has been used as a growth potential. The aim of the joint project is to create a sustainable foundation for growth and progress in the settlement by preserving and reusing cultural heritage and creating a basis for increased tourism.
The project is a collaboration between World of Greenland (WOG—the local excursion bureau), Qaasuitsup Municipality, and Realdania Byg. Realdania has restored the two listed buildings, World of Greenland has built the 15 new cabins, and the municipality has improved the settlement’s infrastructure, harbor facilities, and sanitation. Ilimanaq Lodge now stands as a beautiful example of what is happening in Greenland today when strong forces join together to combine magnificent nature experiences with luxurious comfort, sustainability, and ambitious tourism.
Restuarant KOKS 2* Michelin
In the summer seasons of 2022 and 2023, the team from the Faroese two-star Michelin restaurant KOKS will run Restaurant Egede. This collaboration, led by KOKS’s award-winning head chef Poul Andrias Ziska, will take Greenland’s gastronomic tourism to new heights and put Greenland on the world map as an exciting new destination.
Facts about Ilimanaq
- In 2015, Ilimanaq had only 52 registered inhabitants left—the hope is to increase that number with the new project
- Ilimanaq means “The Place of Expectation.” The settlement was founded in 1741 under the name Claushavn
- World of Greenland is a partnership between Greenland Travel and Topas Travel