Today, explore the ever-changing backcountry surrounding Ilulissat. Along the way, you will have the chance to visit a private home where you are invited to a traditional "Kaffemik" with coffee and cake with a local Greenlandic family to hear about modern life in Greenland.
In the morning, hike to the abandoned settlement of Sermermiut, where the first people settled in Ilulissat, to learn more about its 4,000-year-long history and the various Inuit cultures that have called it home. The natural beauty of the landscape, along with the stories passed down and now shared with you about the lives and traditions of Greenlandic settlers, will keep your attention throughout the hike. The walk begins at the old cemetery, where people remain buried today, then continues by wooden boardwalk to the edge of the Ice Fjord and on to "Nakkaavik.". Nakkaavik translates to "the place where you fall." This name originates from a historical practice here during periods of famine, in which the elderly would leap from the cliffs. By doing so, they sacrificed themselves to ensure that the younger generation had enough food to survive and sustain future generations. Continue along the track to Seqinniarfik, where every year, on January 13th, the people of Ilulissat hike to welcome the sun and the light after the long, dark polar winter. The hike to Sermermiut will bring Ilulissat's history alive for you to experience firsthand, while the stunning views of the Icefjord and Disko Bay will captivate you.
After hiking to Sermermiut, visit the Ilulissat Icefjord Center on your way back to town. Thanks to its world-class architecture, the Icefjord Center is an attraction in itself, and the design of the building has been purposefully integrated into its surroundings. The shape of the building is inspired by the wingspan of the snowy owl when it is in flight through the landscape. The Icefjord Center is a logical continuation of the paths that wind through the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the roof of the building has been constructed so that you can walk over the top of the center and enjoy the view of the surrounding landscape. Inside, learn about the ice fjord itself, Greenlandic culture, and the study of ice cores through a variety of exhibits.
In the afternoon, head out on a boat tour among the giant icebergs, looking for humpback whales. The humpback whale is one of the farthest-reaching animals in the world. They come to Disko Bay in the summer to eat large volumes of krill and small fish before migrating almost 6,000 kilometers south to the Caribbean for the winter. The humpback whale is the whale we usually see in Disko Bay, and it is easily recognizable by its beautiful tail and unique fluke pattern, similar to a human fingerprint. While spotting whales, learn about the glacier that is producing icebergs in the Ice Fjord, Sermeq Kujalleq. It is located approximately 70 km inside the ice fjord, where all sailing is impossible. It is the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere and the world’s fastest ice stream, with 40 meters per day. Ice production is 46 cubic kilometers per year (equivalent to U.S. annual water consumption). The largest icebergs are 1.5 cubic kilometers.