Qasigiannguit

The small town of Qasigiannguit offers great opportunities for whale safaris, dog sledding, and, if you’ve packed your hiking boots, you can explore the area on foot.

Tours in Qasigiannguit

Experience Greenland’s magnificent nature on small, personal tours with the boat Palleq. Join us for a musk ox safari, a fishing trip with the chance to catch cod or trout, whale watching under the midnight sun, or a visit to the abandoned settlement of Akulliit.

Midnight Sun Whale Safari among Icebergs

A 2-hour tour in the waters around Qasigiannguit. We search for whales while navigating among the day’s largest icebergs in the area. Qasigiannguit is surrounded by many beautiful islands, and in this southern part of Disko Bay, whales are more concentrated due to the sea’s abundance of plankton. We collect ice for drinks along the way – again, from the Greenland Ice Sheet. Late in the evening, there is also a higher chance of seeing ringed seals and Greenland seals close to shore, feeding on ammassat (capelin).

Duration: 2 hours
Participants: Max. 3 people
Price: 950 DKK / per person
Bring: Binoculars, warm clothing, sunglasses

Fishing trip

Fishing Trip with the Palleq Boat

Join us, Kristian and Juaanna, for a fishing trip to the best fishing spots. We fish for cod and, from June 15 onward, also trout. Cod is caught with line and trout with rod. The tour lasts about 3 hours and your catch can be brought back for our chef or shipped to Denmark with our assistance. The chance of catching fish is very high, though we cannot guarantee it.

Duration: 3 hours
Participants: Max. 3 people
Price: 1,195 DKK / per person
Bring: Warm clothes and sunglasses (we provide gear and gloves)

Akulliit

Akulliit – Boat Trip to the Abandoned Settlement

We depart from Qasigiannguit and sail south to Akulliit, abandoned in 1963. The 21 houses still serve as charming summer cottages. Kristian’s mother is originally from the village, and the family now owns a summer home in these beautiful surroundings. We take a walk through the village and enjoy the view. Whales often visit close to shore, and with a bit of luck, we might see the Arctic fox. If you're into winter swimming, you can enjoy an authentic ice dip in the glow of the midnight sun – right from the beach.

Duration: 2.5 hours
Participants: Max. 3 people
Price: 95 DKK / per person
Bring: Warm clothing, and optionally swimwear

Musk Ox Boat Tour with Hiking Option

A 3-hour boat trip with the chance to see whales, musk oxen, birds, and seals. The route is decided on the day of departure. Along the way, we collect ice for our drinks – of course, from the Greenland Ice Sheet. The boat ride is about one hour each way. There’s an opportunity to go ashore and look for the big giants – the musk oxen. While sightings aren’t guaranteed, our local knowledge of their movements often gives us good odds.

Duration: 3 hours
Participants: Min. 2 people – Max. 3 people
Price: 2,295 DKK
Period: Mid-May to end of July
Bring: Binoculars, sunglasses, and warm clothing

Hike to Paradise Bay

An exceptional hike to Paradise Bay along the blue route, which passes small streams and Bing’s Cave. At the stunning Paradise Bay, you can dip your toes in the water or explore the magnificent surroundings, including a Greenlandic sandy beach. There are also good chances of seeing whales.

Duration: About 4 hours round trip including breaks (1½ hours each way)
Distance: About 4 km each way (8 km round trip)
Elevation: About 200 meters each way
Difficulty: Moderate—requires good basic fitness but can be adjusted to the group’s level
Trail marking: Blue route (option to extend with orange route to Qaqqarsuaq)

Hike to Strømstedet

Take a walk through the town and follow the yellow route to Strømstedet, where Lake Tasersuaq flows into Salmon Bay. The route can easily be adapted with detours towards the lake or up the mountainside.

Duration: About 5 hours round trip (2½ hours each way)

Distance: About 6 km each way (12 km round trip)

Elevation: About 200 meters

Difficulty: Moderate—some steep and challenging sections, especially in wet conditions

Trail marking: Yellow route

City Walk in Qasigiannguit

On a city tour in Qasigiannguit, you can experience a number of notable buildings that tell the story of the town’s life and history:

  • The fish factory is the center for Greenland halibut production and is located on the island in front of the hotel.
  • The church, built in 1968-69 and designed by Ole Nielsen, is centrally located in town and is a prominent landmark.
  • Villads Villadsen Efterskole opened in 2009 and houses young people from all over Greenland.
  • The hospital serves as both a health center and pharmacy and has an attached nursing home with a view over the water.

Qasigiannguit Museum

Qasigiannguit Museum is located in Greenland’s oldest wooden house from 1734 and houses an exciting archaeological collection from the Saqqaq culture. Here you can experience an authentic turf hut, exhibitions on hunting and fishing life, colorful costumes, and the town’s history with shrimp production.

Please note that photography is not allowed. Exciting guided tours are offered, which can be purchased at the entrance.

Living Settlement

In summer, the Living Settlement Project brings Inuit culture from the 18th century to life with authentic activities, tools, and skin clothing. Volunteers and professionals invite visitors to experience daily life in a Thule family. The museum also has an exhibition about the town’s former shrimp factory.

Open every Sunday in high season.

Hotel Diskobay - Qasigiannguit.

The hotel is beautifully located overlooking Disko Bay.

About Qasigiannguit

Qasigiannguit means "the place with spotted seals". This city with a population of 1,200 is beautifully located in the south eastern part of Disko Bay, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle.
This Arctic setting consists of a stunning mountain landscape to the east towards the ice cap, and to the west lies the mighty Disko Bay.

The winter landscape is best explored by dog sled or snowmobile.
In the summer months there is hiking in the mountains and sailing in Disko Bay.
The primary occupation is still hunting and fishing as it has always been.
At sea, halibut, cod, crab and shrimp are caught.
In the mountains towards the ice cap, there are reindeer and muskoxen.

Qasigiannguit is a lively city with a primary school, secondary school, Royal Greenland fish processing factory and so on.
The city was founded in 1734 when the name was ‘Christianshåb’. The population is currently approx. 1,200 people and a larger number of Greenlandic sled dogs.
A holiday in Qasigiannguit gives the traveller a unique insight into today's Greenland, with authentic experiences in both culture and nature.
You can travel to Qasigiannguit from both Ilulissat and Aasiaat.

Dog sledding: Yes (winter)
Midnight sun in the summer: Yes
Northern Lights: Yes, in a dark sky and with suitable atmospheric conditions

Request a Tailormade Tour in Greenland

Round trips visiting Qasigiannguit