Aasiaat

The other favourite pastime amongst locals in Aasiaat is year-round whale watching. winter whales such as the Bowhead (Greenland) Whale frequent the waters around Aasiaat when all others have migrated South. They then relinquish their territory to the Minke, Fin, and playful Humpback whales who appear for a few months during the summer and are often seen very close to Disko Bay’s town of the whales.

Whale safari in the Disko Bay. Photo by Mads Pihl.

One of the best ways to get close to these amazing animals and explore the thousands of islands around Aasiaat is to hire a kayak. You never know what you might find while paddling through the sheltered waterways of the archipelago, calling in wherever looks interesting and camping on your own private island.

When the snow arrives and the sea freezes over in Aasiaat, locals swap their hiking boots for skis (new tracks made every week) or snowshoes and park their boats to release their sled dogs. On any given day, you can join local fishermen sitting by holes in the sea ice as they wait for their catch. Or, embrace the thrill of a traditional dog sled excursion to explore the area around Aasiaat as the Inuit have done for thousands of years. Then, during the long nights, you simply have to walk outside to marvel at the magical Northern Lights dancing overhead, though hiking a small distance from the centre of town offers the best (darkest) views.

Art lovers should wander around town to discover enormous murals and finely-worked sculptures that lie hidden in obscure places and open to the elements. The most obvious of these is a sculpture of the Danish royal family that stands outside the large black church. Venture inside to see a model of a traditional women’s boat hanging from the ceiling and several paintings on the back wall that depict various religious stories, then head up the hill to Aasiaat’s assembly hall where 21 paintings by the famous Danish artist, Per Kirkeby, are mounted. Created during a 3-month visit in 1969, they are seen by few but rumoured to be worth a small fortune! The local bingo-playing community is always happy to share this hidden cultural gem with travellers from around the world.

Paintings By Per Kirkeby In Aasiaat. Photo – Filip Gielda

For those interested in history, the Aasiaat museum has a wealth of information about the area, and one of the best displays of kayaking and dog sledding of any museum in Greenland. You can also ask here to see inside the traditional turf house located up the hill near the church.

The Museum in Aasiaat. Photo – Aningaaq R. Carlsen

The museum is housed in the old Governor’s residence of 1860, one of several colonial buildings that stretch away from the harbour along the edge of Disko Bay. The other that is well worth a look is the Old Girls’ School, now Aasiaat’s public library. Walk past the endless apartment blocks (remember to look for the murals) to discover this stunningly beautiful colonial building that is often perfectly reflected in the small shallow lake at its base.