Food, Culture and Trekking in South Greenland Aug.26
Join us in South Greenland for an unforgettable experience trekking and foraging for natural herbs and berries while enjoying some of the best food and experiences South Greenland has to offer. South Greenland is a vast area of lush green grasslands and forests lying along four long narrow fjords dotted with sheep farms. South Greenland was originally settled by norse settlers, who brought farming and animal husbandry with them. They disappeared after a few centuries of successful settlement. Later the area was settled by Greenlanders who were traditionally hunters. During the colonial period farming and especially sheep farming was brought back. Today South Greenland is a thriving area for fishing and farming. Qaqortoq is the biggest town and is centrally located. We will be hiking and trekking on this trip with an emphasis on local culture and food. Our tour focuses on nature, wonderful landscape and interacting with locals. It can be quite warm during this time of year. Layers are a good idea, and so are waterproof clothing and shoes. The end of August is typically dry and sunny, but we could also experience rain. As we will be spending the majority of our time outdoors sunscreen and good clothing is important.
Aug 26, On August 26 you will have to find a flight for Reykjavik. We will stay at Hotel Frón in the center of Reykjavik unless you make other arrangements. As flights to Greenland are only from Iceland and Denmark, we will begin our journey from Reykjavik Domestic airport the next morning. Flights to South Greenland land in Narsarsarsuaq. Departures between Reykjavik and Narsarsuaq are by Icelandair on Tuesdays and Saturdays
Tour plan
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We will meet all together at Reykjavik domestic airport at 10:00. Flight FI130 departs Reykjavik at 11:40 and arrives around noon. The flight is about 2 hours and 20 min. Once we arrive in Narsarsuaq, we have enough time to get a coffee or light lunch at Blue Ice Café, or the other local Café in town. Narsarsuaq was a very important and strategic airport during WWII. The Americans built a military base in Narsarsuaq, which was very important both to help win the war, and also they had a very large hospital in the area, where most injured soldiers during WWII were taken. The military base closed down in the early 1950´s, but they left an airstrip long enough to handle modern commercial jets, therefore Narsarsuaq today is a very important transportation area and gateway to South Greenland. From Narsarsuaq you can fly to Kangerlusuaq, Nuuk, and Reykjavik, but there is also helicopter services to the other communities in South Greenland. We will start our South Greenland journey by boat. We will depart the docks of Narsarsuaq for Qaqortoq, the largest town in South Greenland, the journey takes approximately 1hr20min and passes magnificent landscapes along the fjord. On arrival to Qaqortoq we will check in to Siffik Heidi- Mut, where we will meet Heidi and learn a little about the area. Dinner will be at Heidi’s Guesthouse, then we will have a walking tour of Qaqortoq. As it is Saturday night it would be fitting to visit the lively bar in Qaqortoq, they often have live venues on the weekend.
We have the opportunity today to visit a couple of shops in Qaqortoq along with the gift shop in the visitor´s center which sells locally crafted items and also Great Greenland Tannery, which sells tanned and prepared skins from the hunters. Your guide and group will visit the main grocery store to pick up groceries for the next couple of days. We will be staying the next three days in a remote settlement, all meals will be served there, but if you require or desire anything special, we recommend you bring it with you from the store. This is also a good opportunity to get lunch at the bakery and extra snacks if you need them. Our boat will depart Qaqortoq at 14:00. We will be on a 2hr and 40min journey heading south toward Nanortalik, passing numerous islands and coves. As we get closer you will notice the mountains bet taller. The area around Nanortalik is known for its beautiful tall and steep mountains. We will turn into Tasiermut Fjord after Nanortalik and in about 40 min we will reach the settlement of Tasiusaq where will will spend the next two nights. During our stay in Tasiusaq you will be able to get a very good glimpse of what life is like outside of the larger towns. We will settle into our accommodation, the red house and then have time to tour the settlement, or hike a bit outside of the settlement to gather some wild thyme, angelica, Labrador rosemary and other herbs. The houses in the settlement, including ours do not have running water. Water is taken at the pump house, in the center of the village. Tonights dinner will be a mix of Greenlandic food prepared by your guide.
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Today is all about peace and nature. Tasiusaq is named after the lake that it sits along. We will hike along the lake and we are able to hike along the roads that connect the sheep farms to the village. We will have time to explore the area and have a picnic lunch along the way. When we arrive back into town, we will be able to experience a Kaffi-Mik, which is a tradition in Greenland when the have visitors. We will visit with a Greenlandic Family from the village. Greenlanders especially in small settlements love to get visitors. Tasiusaq is well off the beaten track and does not get many tourists. This is a rare opportunity to be invited into someone´s home. After the Kaffi-Mik you have free time just to be alone and experience the quiet. Dinner will be served your guide. After dinner is the perfect time to chill, play board games or cards. It is possible this time of year to already experience northern lights if the conditions are right.
Today after breakfast, and cleaning up the house ( group effort ) we have a good 3 hour hike to our next nights accommodation. The hike has a couple of steep inclines but is along a farm road. We will hike to Tasermiut Camp. Our hosts Selik and crew will be waiting for us with a wonderful lunch of some of the best Greenlandic Products available. Dried Cod, Dried Greenland Halibut, dried Seal, Seal blubber, Cod liver´s in blue berries, local berries and other great things. We will have little bit of time to relax after and enjoy the scenery. Tasermiut Camp sits on a lake, and long some of the most beautiful mountains. Our host Selik will take us foraging for berries and herbs along a beautiful walk in one of Greenland´s few forests, while giving you information about the area and different grasses and herbs. You will be gathering some herbs for dinner and of course you can gather some for yourself to take home with you and dry and share with friends. We will be staying in tents in Tasermiut Camp. The camp does not have any facilities. There is a nearby lake where it is possible to go for a dip, but the water is cold. The lake also offers opportunities for fishing. It has Arctic Char and also trout. You are encouraged to help and catch dinner. Dinner will be served in the common tent by our hosts. After dinner is time for stories.
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Selik and his crew will have breakfast ready for you when you wake up. These guys do an amazing job with food, it is a foodie´s paradise. After breakfast we are off by RIB boat. We will travel 50km up Tasermiut Fjord to the bottom of the fjord, at the bottom the boat will drop us off at the glacier. It is possible to spend a little time here and get right next to the tongue of the glacier and a little history of the glacier and different time periods of the ice. When our little tour of the glacier ends, we will go back down the fjord and end up in the picturesque village of Alluitsup Paa, where we will stay at the Whale Inn over looking the bay.
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Today we will be transferred to Qaqortoq by boat, but on the way we will stop for 2 hours at the Natural Hot Springs unnitoq , which are between Alluitsup Paa and Qaqortoq. You will have two hours to enjoy some Greenlandic Natural Hot water in the pool. After that we will be taken back to Qaqortoq.
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Today will have a noon departure for Narsarsauq. We will arrive and then arrive to Narsarsuaq Hotel around 14:00. After check in the hotel we will visit the Narsarsauq Museum. The museum is surprisingly large, full of great information about the settlement. During WWII there were over 4.000 American Soldiers stationed there. After the museum, you have the chance to walk around the area, down to Hospital Valley. There is also a great Arboretum in Narsarsauq, with many many different tree species growing in it. The Arboretum is planted on a very high hill, and also is a great viewing spot to the glacier.
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Today after breakfast, you have a little bit of time to still wonder around a bit, then we have a 13:30 departure for Reykjavik with a 18:00 arrival. We will check in again to Hotel Frón and then go out for a last dinner together.
It is possible to add time in Iceland at the end of this tour.
Base Price includes, all accommodation, full time guide from Iceland plus also local guides in Greenland, round trip flight from Reykjavik to Narsarsuaq, all boat transportation and transfers in Greenland. 8 breakfasts and dinners and 3 lunches. What is not included, flights to and from Iceland, alcohol, extra museum fees or tips.
Things to keep in mind. We will be spending most of our time in Nature. This trip is for people who love nature and food. Who also like meeting people of different cultures. People buying this package must be physically fit, as you need to hike 10- 15 km carrying your belongings. Some of the hikes are steep. The weather can be rainy. You will have at least one night in a tent. There is not running water in all facilities. You will not be able to shower every night. Non of our accommodation has private bathrooms in your room, there are only two hotels with this in south Greenland. Keeping that in mind, it is not possible to visit this part of the world with all of those amenities. It is advised to bring a back pack of no more than 45 litres on this trip. A 35 litre pack is ideal. They are light and easy to carry while hiking. You will have to be able to carry your belongs on this trip, both hiking and on the boats, you will also be expected to carry any extra´s like food and snacks. The most important items to pack are plenty of warm socks, underwear, and very sturdy boots with good ankle support. Outer clothing can be worn multiple days.