Aurora Borealis Trip to Greenland

5 days around Kangerlussuaq

This is the perfect autumn weekend break! Enjoy and explore the northern lights and the Greenland Ice Sheet! Grab a few extra days off and jump on the plane to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland – only a 4½-hour flight from Copenhagen Airport in Denmark.

Kangerlussuaq – try amazing experiences

In the area around Kangerlussuaq, you will find a lot of amazing experiences: The woolly musk oxen, one of the world’s longest fjords and the breathtaking mountains. Take a trip up on the Greenland Ice Sheet, and look forward to seeing the northern lights dance in the sky.

Today, Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s most busy airport. The history of the settlement is interesting, beginning during World War II, through the cold war, and developing into a modern international airport.

Please be advised that the northern lights might not be visible in the sky until mid-September. Therefore you should not expect to see it on the departures in the late summer months of this tour.

If you wish to see this tour with accommodation in a hostel, please see tour 9011.

Highlights

Get close to the unspoiled Arctic wilderness
Walk ON the Inland Ice Cap
Experience the Greenlandic tundra
Marvel at the Northern Lights
Don’t miss a trip to the impressive Russell Glacier

Included

Return flights Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland
4 nights at Hotel Kangerlussuaq with private bath/toilet
Breakfast
Food and beverages on board the flight Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq
Welcome meeting with local English-speaking guide
Sightseeing with local English-speaking guide
Towels and bed linen at Hotel Kangerlussuaq
All flight/transportation taxes and fees known to Greenland Travel at the time of publishing
20 kg of checked baggage and 8 kg of cabin baggage

Not included

Lunch and dinner
Travel Insurance
Excursions (we recommend pre-booking the Excursion Package)

Day program

Flight Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, welcome meeting, sightseeing

You fly from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq with Air Greenland, giving you 4½ hours to prepare for your Greenland adventure. As the aircraft approaches Greenland, the sight of nunataks and the enormous icy desert indicate what you have in store.

Kangerlussuaq welcomes you with a blast of fresh coldness

After arrival you check in to Hotel Kangerlussuaq. The location of the hotel is as central as it gets, you will find it in the airport building. You only need to bring your luggage from the baggage carousel to the reception. The rooms are spacious and you will either have a view of the “Koekkenfjeld” (Mount Hassel) or a view of the settlement and nearby surroundings. Kangerlussuaq is located beautifully between incredible mountains and close to the Ice Sheet. This is the only place in Greenland which gives you easy access to areas where you can experience wild roaming reindeer and musk ox up close.

After check-in, there will be an information meeting at the nearby hostel, Polar Lodge. Here you will get further information about the Kangerlussuaq area and its many excursion options. With all the practical information out of the way, it is now time to experience the old American airbase on a guided tour by bus, giving you insight into the area’s fascinating history and nature.

Explore Kangerlussuaq on your own or optional excursion to the Ice Sheet

The area around Kangerlussuaq is the only inhabited place in Greenland’s inland. The climate is continental with very stable weather conditions. Originally, this was also the main reason the Americans chose this place for their base. If you go for a walk in the area, there are still remnants to see from that time.

You are welcome to explore on your but – but we recommend a trip to the Ice Sheet Point 660, which gives you a unique opportunity to stand on top of ice that is many, many feet thick and very old!

Excursion to the Greenland Ice Sheet, Point 660 (optional)

The Greenland Ice Sheet is the second largest ice sheet in the world and covers 80 percent of Greenland and has, at all times, attracted expeditions and researchers. And with good reason; it is a truly unique experience to look at the enormous field of ice and feel the forces of nature. Along the way, we pass the spectacular Russell Glacier, another breathtaking sight with its vertical ice wall of up to 60 meters.

Explore Kangerlussuaq on your own or optional tundra safari and a northern lights tour

Another day with many opportunities. We recommend a tundra and wildlife tour.

Tundra Safari near Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq has incredibly beautiful nature and is home to the massive musk oxen. We drive through the stunning tundra landscape in our 4×4 truck, and the guide will tell us about the varied wildlife in this area. Maybe we will get the chance to spot musk oxen and learn more about these woolly creatures.

The musk ox roams freely in the area around Kangerlussuaq. It is impossible to predict whether we can get close to musk oxen or just admire them from a distance. The guide always brings binoculars, so there is a very good chance of seeing these amazing animals and other wildlife in the area. Do not miss out on this exciting opportunity to explore the stunning nature and wildlife around Kangerlussuaq.

Northern Lights tour (optional)

You should not miss the opportunity to witness the northern lights. Kangerlussuaq is one of the best places to see northern lights in Greenland because of a very stable climate. We drive away from the base into the night and await the stunning sight of nature’s light show. On cloudless evenings we often witness the most stunning northern lights in Kangerlussuaq. To see the fluttering curtain of light in various shades of green is an unforgettable sight.

Explore Kangerlussuaq on your own or optional excursion to the Russell Glacier

Over the years, many travelers have had great experiences at the Russell Glacier.

Russell Glacier (optional)

On our tour to the Russell Glacier, you get to experience the spectacular glacier, which is an impressive sight with its vertical wall of ice rising to 40 meters. You may also be lucky enough to spot musk oxen, reindeer or even a hare roaming in the hills.

Day 5 Return flight to Denmark

Your Greenland adventure has come to an end – for now at least. The Airbus is waiting to take you back to Copenhagen with arrival 4½ hours later.

Map

Kangerlussuaq

Hotels on this tour

Excursions (Optional purchases)

Excursion package with 3 excursions

Travel season: August – December

This excursion package offers you the fantastic opportunity to enjoy the great arctic nature near Kangerlussuaq.

Excursion to the Greenland Ice Sheet, Point 660 (5 hours)
Excursion to the Greenland Ice Sheet, Russell Glacier (4 hours)
Tundrasafari in 4×4 bus (1½ hours)

Good to know
From September 12, 2024 you can also go on a northern lights excursion. You can read more about this excursion under “excursions and additional” on this tour.

Our excursion packages consist of the most popular excursions and are adapted to the day program of your trip. We recommend that you book the package when you book your trip. By booking later, you risk that the package is sold out.

Northern Lights in the Polar sky

Travel season: Mid September to April

On the nights with a clear sky, you can often see the most incredible northern lights in Kangerlussuaq. We will drive out where we are not disturbed by the artificial light in the city, from here we will let nature put on a show.

Transfer back and forth
A cup of greenlandic coffee
A guide will tell stories about the northern lights and the greenlandic myths

Good to know
We recommend that you book the excursion when you book your trip. By booking later, you risk that the package is sold out.

Practical Information

Flight Schedule (local times)

Departure from Copenhagen 10.00 am
Return arrival in Copenhagen 8.25 pm

Please note that flight schedules are subject to change by the airline.

Packing Lists

August to October

Find the packing list for your trip here.

November

Find the packing list for your trip here.

Please be advised that the northern lights might not be visible in the sky until mid-September. Therefore you should not be expecting to see it on the departures in the late summer months of this tour.

Baggage included

20 kilos of checked baggage and 8 kilos of cabin baggage (max. dimensions of cabin baggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm).

Travelers with reduced mobility and wheelchair users

We do not recommend this tour for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. Greenland Travel’s advice regarding difficulty levels on our excursions is intended for travelers who are not disabled. We are always happy to provide you with information on the suitability of the trip, taking into account the specific needs you may have. Please note that our advice is not based on medical knowledge, and ultimately it is YOUR responsibility to decide if a tour is right for you.