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What makes Kuummiut special?
Unplug. Unwind. And leave behind your daily concerns to adopt the slower pace of life in a small, traditional Greenlandic settlement.
Almost unknown internationally, Kuummiut is the perfect destination for those hoping to get well off the beaten track. It is also a paradise for outdoor adventurers and fishers. During winter, metres of perfect, untouched powder create virgin peak-to-sea runs for experienced skiers. While in summer, these same peaks beckon keen trekkers with off-trail valley and mountain hikes culminating in 360-degree panoramic vistas.
How to get to Kuummiut
Kuummiut is a small settlement with access via helicopter (all year) or by boat up the Ammassalik Fjord (summer). International visitors must first arrive to the airport in Kulusuk (direct flights from Iceland and Nuuk), and then decide how to complete their journey from there. All boat transfers need to be arranged through tour operators in Tasiilaq.
The best times to visit Kuummiut are: June – September (sailing, hiking), and January – April (skiing, Northern Lights).
How to get around Kuummiut
Kuummiut is a small settlement that you walk around. There are no other forms of public transportation within the settlement limits, though it may be possible to arrange a harbour to accommodation transfer.
For excursions in the Kuummiut area, the most common way to get around is with a boat or on foot (summer), and with a dog sled, snowmobile, or snowshoes (winter).
The tourist information office is located in Tasiilaq and can be contacted on +299 98 22 43
Useful phone numbers
- Police (+299) 70 12 34
- Hospital(+299) 98 12 11
What to do in Kuummiut
Most people visit Kuummiut as part of a larger excursion from one of the tour operators in Tasiilaq or Kulusuk. Hiking during the summer and skiing during the winter are the primary reasons to visit, with tall mountains and gentle valleys offering spectacular views, hidden waterfalls, and untouched, deep, powder snow.
If you plan to explore the backcountry around Kuummiut, we strongly recommend that you hire a local guide who is equipped with a gun, due to the small but real possibility of encountering a polar bear. You should also carry safety and navigational equipment at all times.
Fishing is the other key draw for visitors during summer, and Kuummiut is one of the most popular spots for East Greenlandic locals to stock up for the winter. Try your hand at catching arctic char in Kuummiut and then create your own Greenlandic BBQ using flat rocks to cook your catch on the water’s edge. Remember that you must purchase a fishing license first.
Good to know!
Kuummiut is part of East Greenland.
Learn more on the region’s tourism website.
- Kuummiut is home to the only fish factory in East Greenland, due partly to the fact that its harbour is often free of ice during the winter
- It is possible to camp within the town limits and camping equipment can be hired from tour operators in Tasiilaq. It is not recommended to camp outside of town unless accompanied by a person with a gun, as polar bears have been sighted near populated areas in most years.
- The people of East Greenland speak a different dialect to those in other parts of the country, though most can also speak the official language of West Greenlandic
- Like many small settlements in Greenland, some houses in Kuummiut do not have a running water supply. Water must instead be collected from a communal “tap house”.
- Kuummiut means “those that live by the river” in the Greenlandic language. Pronounced “Kuummiit” in East Greenlandic.
- Kuummiut has one Pilersuisoq supermarket that stocks a little of everything. You should aim to bring all your outdoor equipment with you.
- You are more likely to find souvenirs in Tasiilaq or Kulusuk, but some local craftsmen do offer their creations around town.