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Kangerlussuaq

#discoverkangerlussuaq #onlyinkangerlussuaq #kangerlussuaq #visitgreenland #greenlandpioneer

The Greenland ice sheet, impressive glaciers, and arctic wildlife roaming freely in a UNESCO protected area lie a stone's throw from the hub of Kangerlussuaq.

Facts about Kangerlussuaq

Name (Greenlandic):

Kangerlussuaq

Name (danish):

Søndre Strømfjord

Region in Greenland:

Qeqqata (a part of Destination Arctic Circle)

Coordinates:

67°00′31″N 50°41′21″W

Postcode:

3910

Airport code:

SFJ

Population:

475 (2022)

Municipality:

Qeqqata (a part of Destination Arctic Circle)

Nearby towns and settlements:

Sisimiut

View map

The town of Kangerlussuaq was established in 1941 when it was opened as a U.S. Air Force base. Americans remained there until 1992.
The 25km long road from Kangerlussuaq to the IceCap was originally built by Volkswagen, who used to test their cars for cold climates here.
Kangerlussuaq lies just outside of the Aasivissuit – Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage-listed cultural area – the Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea.
From 1983 to 2018, Kangerlussuaq was home to the Sondrestrom Upper Atmospheric Research Facility. It was located 15km away at Kellyville, which is also the starting point for the 160km long Arctic Circle hiking trail to Sisimiut.
The Arctic Circle Road which will connect Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut by gravel road is under construction and is expected to be completed by mid year 2021. For more info: Arctic Circle Road website

Useful information

KANGERLUSSUAQ WEATHER

Tips

Kangerlussuaq has a Pilersuisoq supermarket located near the airport terminal, as well as a convenience store on the other side of the runway. Camping gas can usually be found in both places, and you may also be able to pick up some limited, basic camping supplies. However, it is best to bring all your own gear with you.
As the gateway to Greenland, there is no shortage of boutiques for souvenir shoppers in Kangerlussuaq. Niviarsiaq, By Heart, and Vivi’s Shop are all located inside or very close to the airport terminal, and there are also souvenirs for sale at Polar Lodge.
Kangerlussuaq airport is the only airport that provides free internet in Greenland. The free Wifi includes an allowance of 100MB. Travelers can access the free internet through MIT FREE WIFI or scan a QR code at the airport.

Closest ports of entry:

Kangerlussuaq Airport (SFJ), Kangerlussuaq Harbour

Tourist information:

Useful phone numbers:

Police

(+299) 70 14 48

Hospital

(+299) 86 96 11

Why Kangerlussuaq

With the World’s second-largest ice cap crouching on its doorstep and herds of arctic game roaming freely through its UNESCO World Heritage Listed hinterland, Kangerlussuaq is so much more than a simple transit stop on your way to somewhere else in Greenland. It is an opportunity to step into a different world.

It is a world of blue meltwater lakes, crevasses, glaciers, and more ice than you can possibly imagine! A world where hunters still stalk large game. A world in which the Northern Lights dance overhead during the winter months and can easily outshine the moon. A world that originated as a US air base (Sondrestrom Air Base) during WWII, and where you can still stay in refurbished ex-military barracks.

How to get to Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq hosts Greenland’s primary international airport and is a key transportation hub for the island. Air Greenland flies directly from Copenhagen most days with connecting flights to other major centres in Greenland.

If you are already in Greenland, you can fly directly to Kangerlussuaq from Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Aasiaat, Maniitsoq, and Narsarsuaq. Flights from other towns and settlements connect through one of these centres.

Kangerlussuaq is a year-round destination where you can observe musk oxen, visit the ice sheet, and go on scenic flights at almost any time. For other activities, the best times to visit are January – April (dog sledding, ice fishing, northern lights), March – April (winter hunting), May – September (hiking, kayaking, fishing), July – October (summer hunting), and October – January for off-season conferences.

The Polar Circle Marathon (where part of the route is on the Greenland IceCap itself) is held in April or October each year, and the annual Running of the Musk Ox each October.

In 2021, Greenland’s biggest event ever to be held is scheduled for late August. Extreme E, which is a new off-road racing series using electric SUVs and futuristic technologies, will be hosted by Kangerlussuaq and aired by the world’s leading broadcasters. Some of the biggest racing names and teams will compete on a purpose-built Arctic racetrack – part of which will actually be on the sandbars with views of the Russell Glacier.

How to get around in Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq stretches around both sides of the airstrip so it can take a while to walk from one side of town to the other. Alternatively, you can catch the bus that calls past each stop roughly every 30 minutes – one of the stops is just outside the airport across from the souvenir shops. It’s important to note that you can only pay for your bus ticket in cash (a ticket costs 12 DKK) but you can get change. See the bus timetable. Another alternative would be to arrange your transfer with your accommodation provider.

Kangerlussuaq Bus. Photo by Kim Insuk

Unless you are a keen hiker, most excursions in the area depart in Kangerlussuaq via some sort of road transportation. It is also possible to arrange your own private transportation in Kangerlussuaq through Arctic Ice Tours, Albatros Arctic Circle and Kang Mini Tours.

Where to sleep in Kangerlussuaq

As the main flight hub for Greenland, Kangerlussuaq offers a large number of accommodation options despite its small size. Guests can choose from a modern hotel with a conference venue to refurbished dormitories left over from its history as a WWII airbase, to dormitory accommodation with shared facilities.

All Accommodations
Hostel
Hotel

All Accommodations

Kangerlussuaq Youth Hostel

Kangerlussuaq, B-1756 3910, Phone: +299 58 98 97More information

Hotel Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq, Postboks 1006 3910, Phone: (+299) 84 11 80More information

Old Camp Hostel

Kangerlussuaq, c/o Kangerlussuaq Tourism 3910, Phone: +299 84 10 16More information

Polar Lodge

Kangerlussuaq, Mittarfeqarfiit 3910, Phone: +299 84 10 16More information

Hostel

Polar Lodge

Kangerlussuaq, Mittarfeqarfiit 3910, Phone: +299 84 10 16More information

Kangerlussuaq Youth Hostel

Kangerlussuaq, B-1756 3910, Phone: +299 58 98 97More information

Old Camp Hostel

Kangerlussuaq, c/o Kangerlussuaq Tourism 3910, Phone: +299 84 10 16More information

Hotel

Hotel Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq, Postboks 1006 3910, Phone: (+299) 84 11 80More information

Things to do in Kangerlussuaq

For most people, the undisputed highlight of a stopover in Kangerlussuaq is a visit to the Greenland Ice Sheet at Point 660. The feeling of nature’s raw power and the realisation of how small and vulnerable we are leaves an indelible impression as you stand on the very western edge of this vast expanse of ice. You can even channel the spirit of the great Arctic Explorers, leave creature comforts behind, and camp for one or more nights in the frozen desert of the ice sheet itself.

Those with more time usually combine this excursion with a visit to where the inland ice spills down from its high plateau at the Russell Glacier. If you are patient, you are often rewarded with chunks of ice calving off the face of this 60m high wall of jagged ice to fall into the river rapids below.

Hikers on top of the ice sheet near Kangerlussuaq. Photo: Peter Lindstrom

This remote glacier near Kangerlussuaq is also the perfect place to keep a sharp eye out for herds of musk oxen that are found in parts of Greenland and which roam freely in the area. Alternatively, you can join a specific wildlife watching excursion that will take you to the best probable locations for viewing these enormous animals, as well as reindeer (caribou), arctic hare, arctic fox, and several species of birds.

The Russell Glacier is also a popular starting point for an extended Arctic Circle Trail (ACT) hike. The ACT (Greenland’s most famous long-distance trail) runs for 160km between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut, but keen hikers (and fat-bikers or skiers during winter) can add additional kilometres and trek all the way from the ice cap to the sea.

Other summer activities include several short day hikes (Garnet Rock and Sugarloaf Mountain are the most popular), kayaking on Lake Ferguson / Lake Tasersuatsiaq (with dinner at Roklubben restaurant as a reward for the effort), and fishing either in the Kangerlussuaq Fjord or in rivers known for their high concentrations of Arctic Char. Make sure you purchase a fishing license first.

Two hikers enjoying a day in the sun by the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

People enjoying a day in the sun by the Russell Glacier. Photo – Mads Pihl

During winter, the backcountry around Kangerlussuaq thunders with the paws of Greenlandic sled dogs as they transport hunters, fishermen, and now, tourists in the same way they’ve done for thousands of years. With more than 1000 excursions each season ranging from a few hours to a few days (you can even dog sled all the way to Sisimiut), Kangerlussuaq is one of the best places in Greenland to experience this ancient mode of winter transportation. Dog sled out to a prime ice fishing spot, or simply take a short tour in the open terrain of Greenland’s most recently listed UNESCO area for an insight into the strong bond that still exists between Greenlanders and their dogs.

You can also go Musk Ox hunting via dog sled during the winter. There are two main hunting seasons during the year (Mar – Apr and Jul – Oct) for those that practice this sport, and although hunting is a way of life in Greenland, it is also well regulated. You must join a registered hunting trip led by a guide who will take you to the best hunting grounds and teach you about ethical and sustainable practices in Greenland.

Back in town, make sure you call by the store “By Heart” to see whether there are talks on working with Musk-ox wool or the traditional kaffemik happening, and join a city tour to learn more about the American (and other) history of this small, inland town.

Top things to do in Kangerlussuaq

Visit the Greenland Ice Sheet

Tourist flights, boat trips, and the only road to the Greenland Ice Sheet bring one of only two polar ice caps in the world directly to your doorstep.

See the Northern lights

The northern lights or the Aurora Borealis is one of the great surprises of the Arctic night, and you can experience this multicoloured light show from September to April.

Hunt for Caribou and Musk Ox

If you are dreaming of a unique hunting experience, where musk ox bulls and caribou bucks live in their natural environment, then Greenland is the place where even the most seasoned trophy hunters will experience a challenge to their hunting instinct and ingenuity.

See more things to do in Kangerlussuaq

Self-guided Activities in Kangerlussuaq

Lying on the auroral oval and with more than 300 nights of clear skies per year, Kangerlussuaq is one of the best places in the Arctic to see the Northern Lights during winter (October – April). The town’s small size and low light pollution mean that you can often see the Northern Lights clearly from its centre. However, for even clearer views, you should walk just 15 minutes in any direction to an even darker location where the auroral colours will really stand out against the stars, or arrange for a tour to the very darkest sites.

Hike to the top of any nearby hill for an aerial view over Kangerlussuaq or, for those with more experience, explore the mountains and valleys of the vast backcountry that stretches all the way from the ice sheet to Sisimiut. You are limited only by how much you want to carry and how much energy you want to expend.

For those who are interested in history, make sure you visit the Kangerlussuaq Museum, which focuses on the town’s history as an American base and its subsequent transformation into the key transportation hub for Greenland. It is a great place to learn a little about the town so that you can appreciate much better the style of building and infrastructure you will see around town during your stay.

Operator in Kangerlussuaq

Hikers in Aasivissuit UNESCO area close to Kangerlussuaq Photo by Morten Christensen

Greenland Outdoors

Kangerlussuaq, P.O.Box 87, B466 3910, Phone: +299 24 06 16More information

Ski touring with Shifting Ice in Greenland

Greenland Extreme

Sisimiut, Mukkup Aqquserna 10,3911, Phone: +299 55 45 00More information

Dogs on a dog sledding trip near Ilulissat in Greenland fanning out in typical west Greenlandic fashion. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Albatros Arctic Circle

Kangerlussuaq, Mittarfiit Aqq. 3910, Phone: +299 84 16 48More information

Air Zafari

Nuuk, Box 568 3900, Phone: +299 58 40 68 / +299 24 85 54More information

Trophy Hunting Greenland

Kangerlussuaq, C/O Erik Lomholt-Bek PO boks 29,3910, Phone: (+299) 522 514More information

Dogsledge Taxi

Sisimiut, Kunuuteralaap aqq. 19,3911, Phone: +299 53 94 94/ 58 02 39More information

Major Hunting

Nuuk, Jonathan Petersens vej 11,3900, Phone: +299 52 08 41More information

Eating & drinking in Kangerlussuaq

Whether you want to indulge in a gourmet 3-course meal, a traditional Greenlandic buffet, high-quality cafe-style food, or basic fast food – Kangerlussuaq has you covered. While most establishments are clustered in the airport building, there are a few options on the south side of the airstrip, and one highly-rated restaurant that overlooks Ferguson Lake.