Visit Qaqortoq, the largest town in Southern Greenland, with a population of around 3,200. Qaqortoq is beautifully situated on a mountainside and surrounded by magnificent fjords. This part of Greenland has many stories to tell. Learn about the Inuit culture and their great respect and symbiotic relationship with the environment and animals. Many of the stories originate from times of great weather changes and declining animal numbers, and they used objects from hunting and fishing to create artistic objects and amulets. There is great respect and love for animals, which are sacrificed, and the sea goddess Sedna is worshipped for releasing the souls of animals. Even today, the Inuit carry a small jug of fresh water with them when they hunt seals. After killing a seal, they give it fresh water to keep its soul from going thirsty. You can have the opportunity to hear many stories and legends and to learn about different eras and the people who have migrated to Greenland.
This part of Greenland offers much more than history and culture. Set foot on rarely visited islands and watch for playful whales. You can also hope to visit one of the many sheep farms in southern Greenland. In Uunartoq, you can have the opportunity to relax in one of the natural hot springs while admiring the breathtaking views of mountain ranges and drifting icebergs.
Sail out through Eriksfjord, named after Erik the Red, a Norse explorer believed to have founded the first settlement in Greenland around the year 980 after being banished from Iceland for manslaughter. You plan to go ashore at Brattahlid, the estate he established at the end of the 10th century.
You can also aim to visit Hvalsey Church, one of the best-preserved Norse ruins in Greenland.
Then, continue your journey south. Through the western mouth of Prince Christian Sound, slowly make your way into this extraordinary fjord system. Here, you are surrounded by a mountainous landscape with peaks of up to 2000 meters and steep cliffs plunging into the fjord, and you see the similarity to the fictional landscape of Mordor from Lord of the Rings. Look out for harbor seals, ringed seals, and whales.
You have now reached East Greenland and are traveling along a wild and unspoiled coastline. You are highly dependent on weather and ice conditions, and your itinerary will be adjusted accordingly. A couple of days will be spent mostly at sea. You are likely to see a parade of icebergs drifting south on the strong currents and marvel at mighty glacier walls plunging straight into the sea. Along the coast, you hope to explore one of the rarely visited fjords. Perhaps you stop at Umivik Bay, from where Fridtjof Nansen began his East-to-West trek across Greenland in 1888.
When you arrive in the vast Sermilik fjord system, you are greeted by icebergs of all shapes and sizes. Most of these come from the Helheim glacier in the center of the fjord, which produces some of the largest icebergs in Greenland. Sermilik Fjord is 90 kilometers long and cuts through a rugged landscape of towering glaciers and jagged peaks. The beauty around you is stunning! You anchor in beautiful spots and keep an eye out for whales. Perhaps the ice will let you through to the small village of Tiilerilaaq. The wooden houses are beautifully situated, with the great Sermilik Fjord in the background. Here, the local Inuit culture and traditional hunting and fishing activities play an important role in the way of life. Here, you have the chance to go on a nice hike to get an overview of the Sermilik Fjord and its icebergs!
Visit the town of Tasiilaq. With a population of just under 2000, it is the largest settlement in East Greenland. There is an older and different Inuit culture here, where shamanism and indigenous culture are much more alive than in other parts of Greenland. During your expedition here, you can learn more about local myths and legends, such as that of the Tupilaqs. In the Greenlandic Inuit religion, a tupilaq was a vengeful monster created by a witch doctor using various objects such as animal bones, skin, hair, or tendons. Tasiilaq is also known for its art scene, where local artists create prints, sculptures, and textiles, usually depicting animals, landscapes, and traditional stories from the region.
/index.webp)
