The view was an awe-inspiring sea of craggy brown and white ice mountains. It seemed to extend endlessly, making it challenging to pinpoint the entrance of the cave on the Apusiaii glacier. After some searching, I finally spotted where we would head.
Equipped with crampons and a helmet, we crunched over the ice and into the mouth of the cave. Our torchlight illuminated the otherwise pitch-black surroundings, revealing a grand expanse. The cave stretched an astonishing 250 meters in height, with its depth and darkness swallowing any sunlight when the ceiling exceeded 20 meters in thickness.
Photo by Norris Niman – Visit Greenland
Nicco highlighted the cave’s unique features, showcasing ancient ice and intricate frozen formations. The clarity of the blue hues was astounding, although I have to add the caveat that it was almost more mesmerising in photos captured on my iPhone than in person – kind of reminiscent of the northern lights, if you know what I mean.
The Kulusuk ice cave holds significance in Greenland for various reasons. Discovered in 2016, it has seen fewer than 100 visitors. Unlike most ice caves that are accessible only in winter, this cave reforms in summer and can only be reached when the snow melts. Moreover, it currently stands as the sole ice cave tour available in the country.
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Exploring the cave revealed insightful lessons in history, geology, and geography, challenging perceptions of depth and time within the glacier’s confines. Though our exploration spanned only 45 minutes, each moment felt elongated, as if every ice particle had a tale of its age to convey.
Practically, the trip takes 4-5 hours from Kulusuk or Tasiilaq, involving 2-3 hours on land and a manageable 1 km walk with a 100 m elevation gain. With expert guidance, almost any able-bodied person (with crampon shoe size 34 and above) can join this adventure!
This day trip is one of a few you can opt to do while in East Greenland. Booking is necessary and available through Nunatak Adventures or providers at Visit East Greenland.
