The Arctic Jewel Summer tour (Local Guide)

A journey into Greenland’s raw and silent grandeur

This is a rare opportunity to explore one of the most remote and majestic corners of the Arctic, where towering fjords, drifting icebergs, and deep stillness create a landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth.

During these unforgettable days, you will travel by foot and boat through East Greenland’s vast wilderness – a place where nature speaks in both silence and scale. From high mountain passes to shimmering glacier fronts, from remote tent camps to tiny coastal settlements, this expedition offers both solitude and connection – to the land, the elements, and to yourself.

Duration of the trip This journey spans 10 days and is designed for travelers who seek more than just scenery – those who want to move through the landscape at eye level, feel the rhythm of the Arctic, and experience the timeless quiet of Greenland’s east coast. It is well-suited to active travelers in good physical condition with a love for nature, adventure, and the beauty of slow travel.

Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavik, Iceland

Welcome to Iceland – where volcanoes meet design and geothermal warmth soothes jetlag. There is time to settle in and breathe before the adventure begins. Transfer is on your own with one overnight stay in Reykjavik.

Day 2: From Reykjavik to Keflavik to Kulusuk and finally to Tiniteqilaaq

Enjoy a slow morning in Reykjavik – stroll the harbor, grab a cinnamon bun, or visit one of the city’s charming galleries before heading to the airport. Our flight departs at 5.30 pm, crossing the Denmark Strait towards the rugged coastline of East Greenland. From the air, you may catch your first glimpse of drifting icebergs and jagged fjords.We land in Kulusuk at 6.15 pm (local time).

Your local Greenlandic guide will welcome you at the airport. After a short walk down to the pier (luggage is transferred by vehicle), a boat awaits to carry us deeper into the landscape. We sail through the narrow fjord of Ikaasartivaq, flanked by towering peaks. The first icebergs appear like slow-moving giants, gleaming blue and white in the Arctic light. As we approach Tiniteqilaaq, we set up camp for the night next to Julius’ cabin with sweeping views over the fjord. Dinner is served under the open sky, and your guide introduces you to life in Greenland – to the culture, the land, and the calm intensity of being here.

Day 3: Hike along the Sermerlik Fjord

Today we set out on our first full hike – a spectacular route along the shores of Sermerlik Fjord, where monumental icebergs drift past in complete silence. We ascend into the hills where the view unfolds step by step: glacier tongues, deep valleys, and — in the far distance — the endless white horizon of the Greenland Ice Cap.

We return to the camp for the night. As the Arctic night glows around us, you may find yourself sitting quietly – watching the ice float by, feeling both small and profoundly alive at the same time.

Day 4: From fjord to fjord — the crossing to Amitsvartivit

After breakfast, we break camp and head deeper into the wilderness. A short climb brings us to a magnificent vantage point, where the Sermilik Fjord reveals itself in full glory – a wide, icy artery flanked by mountains and filled with drifting giants of frozen time. We follow a route along a high ridge before descending to a

sheltered spot at the head of Amitsvartivit Fjord. Here, we set camp for the night, surrounded by quiet water,rock, and the distant thunder of calving ice.

Day 5: Across the valley to Parmagaji

Today’s journey takes us westward through a lush Arctic valley, scattered with hidden lakes and ringed by sculptural peaks. Wildflowers may still dot the tundra, and you might spot ptarmigans or Arctic fox tracks along the way. We reach our next camp at Parmagaji, perched high above the Sermilik Fjord. The panorama here is extraordinary – icebergs drift like sleeping creatures through the dark water below, and behind them, the ice cap rolls endlessly toward the sky. We will stay here for two nights, giving us time to explore and settle into the rhythm of this place.

Day 6: Exploring mountains and ice

This is a day to explore the area around Parmagaji at your own pace. Perhaps you will follow your guide up to a nearby summit for sweeping views of the fjord system and the Ice Sheet, or you might prefer a gentler walk across the tundra to a historic hunter’s hut – once used by the son of famed polar explorer Paul-Émile Victor. This is a place to slow down, to listen, to feel the vastness of the land around you. We will spend another night at the camp at Parmagaji.

Day 7: Boattrip through a waterscape of icebergs

We break camp and make our way down to the shore, where a boat awaits to take us through the ice-laden waters of Sermilik Fjord. We stop in Tiniteqilaaq – a tiny village clinging to the edge of the wilderness – and continue south to the mouth of Johan Pedersen Fjord, a place few travelers ever reach. Here, five glaciers meet and pour their frozen cargo into the fjord. The air is colder, clearer, more crisp. We set up camp for the night on a headland with breathtaking views.

Day 8: At the edge of the Ice Cap

On this day, we explore this remote and magnificent corner of the world on foot. Glacial ice groans and cracks in the distance. From the high ridges, we will look down on iceberg-filled fjords and up toward the interior ice cap – a frozen ocean that stretches beyond the limits of imagination. With luck, we may spot whales gliding through the water below, or Arctic hares bounding across the rocks. We set up camp for the light at Johan Pedersen Fjord.

Day 9: Sailing south towards Ikateq and Tasiilaq

We leave the wild behind and head south by boat, along the spine of the Sermilik Fjord. If weather and sea conditions allow, we will stop at the abandoned settlement of Ikkatseq – a once-thriving island community that was finally left behind in 2005, when the last resident moved to Tasiilaq. A small church still stands, its classroom looking as if the children have just stepped out for recess. In the 1960s, Ikkatseq was alive with activity, drying and exporting cod to the fishing industry – until the fish disappeared, and ultimately so did the people. By late afternoon, we arrive in Tasiilaq, the cultural heart of East Greenland. After days in the wild, a warm shower and a soft bed feel like rare luxuries. You will be staying in guesthouses in Tasiilaq for the night.

Day 10 – The story of East Greenland

Spend the day exploring Tasiilaq at your own pace or with your guide. Visit the local museum and artisan workshops, where tupilaks and traditional crafts tell stories of resilience, belief, and identity. Walk through the Flower Valley or hike to the top of Sømandsfjeldet for one last sweeping view of fjords and sky. In the evening, we share a final dinner together – reflecting on the journey and the quiet transformation that such a landscape can bring. You will again spend your night in guesthouses inTasiilaq.

Day 11: Farewell Greenland and return to Iceland

We rise early and make our way by boat from Tasiilaq to Kulusuk Airport (luggage is transferred separately). One last look back across the water – icebergs, mountains, light. Our flight departs at 8.30 pm, arriving in Keflavik at 9.45 pm. Accommodation in Keflavik is not included.

This 10-day expedition through East Greenland offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the wild and untouched nature of the Arctic — a true jewel of nature. With expert guides, a carefully planned route, and a focus on safety and comfort, this journey will leave you wanting more, and it will be a trip, you remember for the rest of your life.

Guides are Local.