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Icebergs

Icebergs are fundamental to Greenland. Experience colossal icebergs grounded in the Ilulissat Icefjord or find them along Greenland’s coastline like floating sculptures.

Greenlanders once used icebergs to distinguish the seasons and even to identify towns, a testament to their steadfast presence and to the intertwined character of Greenlandic culture with our country’s powerful nature. Media stress that the ice in Greenland is melting, and while this is absolutely true, as long as the Greenland Ice Sheet exists, icebergs of all sizes and shapes will fill these Arctic waters.

“Seeing all the icebergs out there is just so impressive! Those beautiful ice sculptures that are given to you by nature… it is just gorgeous!”

Package Tours

Greenland by Topas – Summer tour: Disko Island, Icebergs and Eqi Glacier

Greenland by Topas

Summer tour: Disko Island, Icebergs and Eqi Glacier

Experience Disko Island’s glaciers, Disko Bay’s huge icebergs and legendary whales, then further north, Eqi Glacier's deafening calving events.

FROM €3,617
Greenland Tours: Disko Classics

Greenland Tours

Disko Classics

5 days in Ilulissat incl. city tour, Ilulissat Icefjord and boat tour to the icebergs

FROM €635
Greenland Tours: Northern Lights & Icebergs

Greenland Tours

Northern Lights & Icebergs

4 days in Ilulissat incl. dog sledding & Northern Lights tour

FROM €830
Disko Line: Icefjord Cruise

Disko Line

Icefjord Cruise

Get closer to the impressive Greenlandic nature with Icefjord Cruise.

FROM €93
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ICEBERG CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Many of the picturesque icebergs along Greenland’s west coast calve from two North Greenland glaciers, and as luck would have it, they share the same name!

The largest collection of icebergs in Greenland exists at the Ilulissat Icefjord, thanks to one of the fastest glaciers in the world called Sermeq Kujalleq. True to its “iceberg capital of the world” nickname, Ilulissat is home to thousands of icebergs that can be seen year round by hiking, sailing, or flightseeing.

A bit further north, another Sermeq Kujalleq glacier gives travelers in Uummannaq quite an impressive iceberg display. Here, one really can tell the seasons based on the changing icebergs. An eastern horizon with a thin white glow is the spring view while summer sees a harbor packed with towering icebergs finding their way to sea. And as the winter sea ice forms, any straggling iceberg gets frozen in place until next year, creating a great icy maze perfect for dog sledding and ice fishing.

ICEBERG HUBS IN GREENLAND

In East Greenland, the Sermilik Fjord stands just around the mountain from Tasiilaq, and it is particularly loaded with icebergs during the spring thaw. With so much ice to navigate, getting to the nearby village of Tiniteqilaaq by boat can be more of a thrilling icebreakers trip than smooth sailing! But not to worry – the alternative is a breathtaking helicopter charter that puts the entire fjord full of icebergs into view.

Nuuk and Paamiut, too have their own fjords with iceberg filled waters. In short, keep one golden rule in mind – wherever a glacier meets water, one will find icebergs!

South Greenland is a special place for iceberg watching for not one, but two, phenomena! Blue ice is rampant in South Greenland, and it appears so vibrant against a backdrop of lush green hills. Also, large sheets of pack ice are truly unique to South Greenland towns like Nanortalik and Qaqortoq. Unlike a freshwater iceberg that calves from a glacier, this is frozen ocean water that has traveled all the way from the east coast.

  • There are two types of ice in Greenland’s waters – freshwater icebergs that calve from glaciers into the sea and saltwater pack ice that forms at sea.

  • Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the largest concentration of icebergs in Greenland.

  • The portion of an iceberg visible above water is only about 10% of the total iceberg.

  • Icebergs can be white or blue and even have dark stripes.

  • Blue icebergs have very little air inside while white icebergs have many air bubbles or a snowy surface. Dark stripes in icebergs come from dirt that glaciers pick up as they move from land to sea.

ICEBERGS UP CLOSE

Sailing tours are the most popular and comfortable way to see icebergs, but in this one of a kind environment, why not satiate your adventurous spirit and meet an iceberg in a unique way? Take the rare opportunity to kayak through Greenland’s icy waters and to charge yourself with strong Arctic energy with every iceberg you pass.

Or really take the road less traveled and SCUBA dive alongside icebergs in Greenland. Seeing the foot of a massive iceberg and being within arms reach of extraordinary aquatic life are experiences of a lifetime. At the day’s end, when you look out at the icebergs in the water and know that you have experienced them in a way that few others have, you just might have to pinch yourself to believe it’s real.

Local providers

Double bed at Nuka Hostel in Ilulissat, North Greenland. Photo by Nuka Hostel

Hotel Nuka

Ilulissat, Kussangajaannguaq 32,
3952,
Phone: +299 94 24 24 / +299 54 24 24More information
Red view from livingroom, Photo by Ilulissat Guesthouse

Ilulissat Guesthouse

Ilulissat, Qupaloraasuk 56,
3952,
Phone: +299 27 89 80More information
sikuaput_photo-by-camilla-hylleberg

SikuAput

Qeqertarsuaq, M.P. Porsidlip Aqq. 3,
3953,
Phone: (+299) 921 547 or (+299) 921 550More information

Skansen - Your Home

Qeqertarsuaq, Siorarsuit B 350,
3953,
Phone: (+299) 583 645More information
Tasermiut 3

Tasermiut South Greenland Expeditions

Qassiarsuk, B-873 Qassiarsuk
3923,
Phone: (+299) 522 822More information
Handmade figure. Visit Greenland

Tupilak Travel

Nuuk, Imaneq 18,
3900,
Phone: (+299) 313 218More information
Fantastic iceberg sculpture. Photo by Nuuk Water Taxi

Nuuk Water Taxi

Nuuk, Imaneq 27 27,
3900,
Phone: +299 38 87 77More information
Unnuisarfik Accommodation 03

Unnuisarfik Accommodation

Ililussat, Peter Rosingip Aqq. 5,
3952,
Phone: (+299) 944 210, (+299) 546 944More information

Hotel Icefiord

Ilulissat, Jørgen Sverdrupip Aqq. 10,
3952,
Phone: (+299) 944 480More information
Hotel Hvide Falk 03

Hotel Hvide Falk

Ilulissat, Postboks 20,
3952,
Phone: (+299) 943 343More information
Hotel Avannaa in Ilulissat in Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Hotel Avannaa

Ilulissat, Box 142
3952,
Phone: +299 94 40 02More information
Hotel Arctic 11

Hotel Arctic

Ilulissat, Mittarfimmut Aqq. B1128,
1501,
Phone: (+299) 944 153More information
Aerial view of the hotel with sunrise in background in Winter. Photo by Hotel Angmagssalik

Hotel Angmagssalik

Tasiilaq, Suulup Aqqutaa B 725,
3913,
Phone: +299 98 12 93More information
Woman mask dancing on a sunny day in Aasiaat. Photo by Honest Greenland - Visit Greenland

Honest Greenland

Aasiaat, Qimmeqarfik 60,
3950,
Phone: +299 27 77 90More information
Greenland Travel 01

Greenland Travel

Copenhagen, Wilders Plads 13 A,
1403,
Phone: +45 33 13 10 11More information
Guests at Hvalsey church ruin in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Greenland Sagalands

Qaqortoq, Vatikanbakken 68,
3920,
Phone: +299 64 24 44 / +299 49 37 41More information
MS Fram from Hurtigruten docked alongside in Sisimiut, Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl, Visit Greenland

Greenland Cruises

Nuuk, Niels Hammekenip aqq. 26B PO Box 22
3900,
Phone: +299 54 97 48More information
An overview of the Eqi Glacier Lodge camp with the glacier in the background in North Greenland. Photo by Mad Pihl, Visit Greenland

Glacier Lodge Eqi

Ilulissat, B-
3952,
Phone: +299 94 43 00More information
A tour boat in front of an iceberg wall near Ilulissat in Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Disko Line

Ilulissat, Kussangajaannguaq 13,
3952,
Phone: +299 94 53 01More information
Blue Iceberg. Photo by Blue Ice Explorer

Blue Ice Explorer

Narsarsuaq, Box 58
3923,
Phone: +299 66 54 99 / +299 49 73 71More information
Boat tour into the Pack-ice near Angmagssalik. Photo by Arctic Wonderland Tours, Visit Greenland

Arctic Wonderland Tours

Tasiilaq, Suulup Aqqutaa B-725,
3913,
Phone: +299 98 12 93More information
Sarfaq Ittuk cruising in the Disko Bay outside Ilulissat ice fjord in Greenland. Visit Greenland

Arctic Umiaq Line

Nuuk, Aqqusinersuaq 48 A,
3900,
Phone: +299 34 91 90More information
Uummannaq and the heart-shaped mountain. Photo by Uummannaq Seasafaris ApS, Visit Greenland

Uummannaq Seasafaris APS

Uummannaq, Qernertunnguamut B -909 Box 118,
3961,
Phone: (+299) 565 982More information

World of Greenland

Ilulissat, Kussangajaannguaq 7,
3952,
Phone: (+299) 944 300More information
A view of two Air Zafari flightseeing planes over the Greenland Ice Sheet near Kangerlussuaq Airport

Air Zafari

Nuuk, Box 568
3900,
Phone: +299 58 40 68 / +299 24 85 54More information
ABC Charter winter boat tour

Arctic Boat Charter - ABC

Nuuk, Boks 1355
3900,
Phone: +299 53 38 80More information

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