Towns & Settlements in South Greenland

Your Itinerary

The day-by-day travel program below is a recommended itinerary combining the towns and settlements in South Greenland over 8 days / 7 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. Welcome to 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, a charming town surrounded by mountains, fjords, and some of South Greenland's most beautiful landscape.

Day 2. Explore Narsaq at Your Own Pace

Today is yours to explore Narsaq and its beautiful surroundings. Narsaq is a medium-sized town in South Greenland with about 1,500 inhabitants. In the backcountry are high mountains, including the famous Kvanefjeld, which contains over 200 different minerals (including the beautiful, pink gemstone Tugtupit) and is a Mecca for anyone interested in geology.

Today's highlights:

• Discover Narsaq, a charming town situated at the foot of a mountain and beside a sound where icebergs from the surrounding glaciers drift by year-round.
• Visit the local museum, located in the historic colonial buildings by the old harbour, and learn more about the history and culture of South Greenland.
• Choose from several shorter and longer hiking routes around Narsaq, including the walks to Narsaq Point and Dyrnæs (7-8 km), the summit of Tasiigaaq (a landmark for Narsaq), or the mineral-rich Kvanefjeld area.

Hiking tip! If you want to visit Kvanefjeld, we advise that you take a taxi to the sheep farm in the valley (about 7 km). Otherwise, it is quite a long day hike (20-25 km), and you have less time to look for stones!

For hiking recommendations and local information, visit the tourist office located near the museum. All hikes are selfguided. 

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3. Qassiarsuk: Norse History & Greenlandic Farm Life

Today, you travel by boat from Narsaq to Qassiarsuk (approx. 1 hour).  The approx. 40 inhabitants earn their livelihoods from sheep farming, but the village also has a school, a shop and a church. 

Today's highlights:

• Visit Qassiarsuk, also known as Brattahlid, where Erik the Red established his settlement in AD 982.

• Explore the well-preserved Norse ruins and visit the Brattahlid open-air museum (admission fee not included).

• Experience life in one of South Greenland's small farming communities, where sheep farming remains an important part of daily life.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4. Qooroq Ice Fjord & Arrival in Igaliku

We take a boat from Qassiarsuk to Qooroq Icefjord (approx. 1.5 hours). Your luggage will be transported from the harbour to Igaliku. If you would like a lift, this can be arranged at an additional cost.

Today's highlights:

• Sail among icebergs of all colours, sizes and shapes. When the glacier is in view, the boat engine is stopped, so you can enjoy the absolute silence and a drink chilled with glacier ice – more than 1000 years old!
• From Itilleq, follow a scenic 4 km hike along a picturesque unpaved country road to Igaliku, one of the most beautiful villages in Greenland! Your luggage will be transported by car. 
• Admire the colourful houses set on lush grasslands beside a milky-blue fjord, with the dramatic peak of Illerfissalik (Burfjeld) rising across the water.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5. Explore Igaliku at your own pace

Today is 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.

You may choose between several selfguided day hikes:

Day 6. Arrive in Qaqortoq, the largest town in South Greenland

Today, you enjoy a scenic boat journey through the fjords of South Greenland – from Igaliku to Qaqortoq (approx. 1 hour). You can spend the rest of the day exploring the town at your own pace.

Qaqortoq is the largest town in South Greenland with about 3,300 inhabitants. It is the main centre of education in South Greenland with an upper secondary school, a business school, a vocational school adults and a school for tourism management and guide training.

Furthermore, the town has several fair-sized companies such as Great Greenland, with its tannery and sewing facilities for creating beautiful sealskin clothes.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7. Explore Qaqortoq at Your Own Pace

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

Today's highlights:

• 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

You also have the option to join guided excursions (not included):

Day 8. Farewell to South Greenland

Depart from Qaqortoq Airport (JJU)

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

From Qaqortoq, you will be transferred by car to the airport for your departure, taking with you memories of everyday life in som of the worlds most remote towns and settlements.

We fly with Air Greenland back to Copenhagen (Denmark) via Nuuk.

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

South Greenland is the only place in Greenland where you will find agriculture. Today, more than 30 farms are located throughout the entire region. Often in very remote and beautiful areas with green pastures and sheep, cattle and horses roaming freely in the hills. On this tour we welcome you to visit a few of the farms and get a first-hand experience to the daily life of the Greenlanders who live of the land.

Qaqortoq is the largest town in South Greenland with approximately 3,300 inhabitants. The town serves as an important regional centre for education and training, including an upper secondary school, a business school, vocational education for adults, and programmes within tourism and guide training.

The town also has a number of local enterprises, including Great Greenland, which operates a tannery and sewing facilities producing traditional sealskin garments.

Qaqortoq is particularly known for the Stone & Man project, Greenland's oldest fountain in the town square an the harbour, where local fishermen and hunters often sell the day's catch.

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.

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

Difficulty

No special requirements on this trip. The hike between Itilleq and Igaliku is 4 km.

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

Accommodation at hotel and guest house with private or shared facilities.

Meals

Breakfast is included.

Dinner and lunch packets can be ordered at all the hotels. In Narsarsuaq we have a self catering kitchen available at our guest house so you can prepare your own meals.

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