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What makes Qasigiannguit special?
Surrounded by an extensive backcountry that secrets little-known hiking trails, herds of musk oxen, ancient archaeological sites, impressive glaciers, and the spectacular Disko Bay with its uncountable number of whales and cathedral-sized icebergs, Qasigiannguit offers a unique glimpse into daily life in Greenland from several hundred years ago.
It is home to the Living Settlement Project which sees museum volunteers work throughout the year to regain and perfect the skills their ancestors used to survive Greenland’s harsh climate. These traditions are then brought to life in summertime exhibitions and re-enactments that are the focus of the otherwise modern town.
How to get to Qasigiannguit
Qasigiannguit is located above the Arctic Circle on the southeast shore of Disko Bay. It is a popular port for cruise ships, though it is also very easy to visit independently. International visitors must first fly to Ilulissat or Aasiaat and then take a helicopter (winter) or boat transfer (the rest of the year) to reach the town. DiskoLine sails directly to Qasigiannguit from Ilulissat or Aasiaat, or you can settlement-hop from other locations around Disko Bay. DiskoBay Tours offers transfers from either Ilulissat or Ilimanaq, and Qasigiannguit Tourism & Charter offers transfers from Ilulissat and Aasiaat. An alternative for long-distance hikers is to arrive by foot. It takes about 2 days of moderate trekking to get from Ilimanaq to Qasigiannguit.
The best times to visit Qasigiannguit are: June – September (hiking, sailing,whale watching, fishing), March – April and July – October (musk ox hunting), January – April (dog sledding, snowshoeing), and October – March (Northern Lights).
How to get around Qasigiannguit
Qasigiannguit is a relatively small Disko Bay town so most people simply walk from place to place. Several taxis are available if you do need transportation, and for those staying at the Diskobay Hotel, transfers to/from the heliport and harbour are included for all guests. For excursions in the area, the most common way to get around is by boat or on foot during the summer, or with dogsled during the winter.
You can find out about tourist information at the Diskobay Tours souvenir shop, or at your accommodation provider.
Useful phone numbers
- Police (+ 299) 70 14 23
- Hospital (+299) 91 12 11 (8:00-16:00), (+299) 89 22 11 (after 16:00)
- Hospital (+299) 91 12 11 (8:00-16:00), (+299) 89 22 11 (after 16:00)
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What to do in Qasigiannguit
Qasigiannguit offers the best of both worlds with plenty of outdoor adventure, but also strong cultural experiences.
Joining a cultural city walk when you first arrive will help you get your bearing and introduce you to the wonderful museum collection. Guided tours in Qasigiannguit will also allow you to meet the sled dogs to learn about their lives and their importance to the Greenlandic people, and also give you the opportunity to learn about the bright and intricate National Costume.
During winter, Qasigiannguit tourism operators offer the longest dog sledding adventures in the Disko Bay area. Local hunters and fishermen still travel in this traditional manner, and while a tour of a couple of hours (also available) will give you a taste of the experience, on a multi-day trip you can fully appreciate the unique bond between the musher and his dogs. Outfitted in warm, sealskin clothing these extended trips introduce you to the life of a Greenlandic hunter and may take you to the Saqqarleq Glacier, or all the way to Ilimanaq. They also provide some of the best Northern Lights viewing, far from the artificial lights of Qasigiannguit.
The endless days of summer are filled with hiking excursions and boat tours. Join a guided hike to local viewpoints as diverse as a waterfall, the beach of Kangerluluk (Paradise Bay), the point where Tasersuaq Lake meets the Eqalunnguit Fjord, and to the top of Qaqqarsuaq mountain for panoramic views over Qasigiannguit and Disko Bay. All of these trails are well marked and can be hiked independently, but you will miss all the stories and local knowledge of the guide who turns a standard hike into a rich experience. You can also do a supported thru-hike as an alternate way to reach Ilimanaq.
Getting out on the water is the other key element of a summer vacation in Qasigiannguit. Most people join a boat tour which allows them to visit Qeqertasussuk (where many of the artifacts in the museum were discovered), the abandoned settlement of Akulliit, or Kitsissunnguit – a group of islands where arctic terns and razorbill nest. Others prefer to go fishing, with cod, redfish, and halibut the most common catches (remember to buy a fishing license first). On any of these outings, you have the chance to spot whales and seals, or you can join a dedicated whale watching tour from Qasigiannguit that will take you directly to where these magnificent animals were last seen.
For the ultimate summer day trip, however, combine both water and land-based travel to visit the Saqqarleq Glacier. Bounce around the hinterland in a UTV, sail the length of the Tasiusaq Lake, gaze up at towering bird cliffs, and strap on crampons to step onto this slow-moving river of ice in a short glacier hike.
Finally, keep your eyes peeled for the musk ox that roam near Qasigiannguit. They are not commonly spotted on shorter hikes, but it is possible to come across them on longer hikes and musk ox hunting tour so it is a good idea to join a musk ox safari for the best chance to see these enormous animals. For hunters, it is also possible to trophy hunt for musk ox near Qasigiannguit.
Self-guided Activities in Qasigiannguit
The Qasigiannguit museum extends over several of the town’s oldest colonial buildings and includes a traditional turf hut showing what Greenlandic homes looked like up until the 1950s. Even if you have already visited on a cultural city walk, it is worthwhile spending more time exploring the exhibitions that are focused on the history of the Qasigiannguit area.
One of the highlights of a visit to Qasigiannguit is the Open Settlement initiative. Evoking daily life in the 17th and 18th centuries, it is designed to resurrect traditional practices amongst the local population to ensure that this knowledge and cultural history lives on. Call into the workshop in Qasigiannguit on almost any day to see people from the community working on various projects. Or, if you are visiting during Summer, interact with volunteers wearing traditional sealskin clothing to explore a re-creation of a summer tent camp featuring traditional toys, arts and crafts, cooking implements, and the use of the Greenlandic kayak and umiaq (a much larger boat that women rowed) for transportation.
For those wanting to get outdoors, many of the guided hiking routes in Qasigiannguit are well marked and can be done independently. Follow the red route to Nuussuaq (1.5hrs), the yellow route to Eqalunnguit (4hrs), the yellow and then green routes to the waterfall (5hrs), the blue route to Kangerluluk (3hrs), and the orange route to the top of the mountain (6hrs).
Good to know
- Qasigiannguit is Greenland’s second-oldest town and contains Greenland’s oldest surviving wooden building
Qassigiannguit’s main industry is fishing – particularly for shrimp and halibut - Qasigiannguit means “small spotted seals” in the Greenlandic language. Its Danish name was Christianshåb, in honor of King Christian VI of Denmark, when it was a colony.
- Qasigiannguit has one Pilersuisoq supermarket that stocks a little of everything, as well as several smaller kiosks.
- You should aim to bring all of your outdoor equipment with you, as the supermarket carries only limited, basic supplies and Nea clothing shop is your best bet for additional clothing.
- Souvenirs can be purchased from the Diskobay Tours shop, and perhaps the Nea gift shop, or you can purchase or make your own at the museum.