Prepare for an unforgettable journey through West Greenland’s most iconic region, where towering icebergs, quiet fishing hamlets, and volcanic islands shape a world unlike any other. 

Centered around the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord and the lesser-visited Disko Island, this seven-day private tour invites you to experience Greenlandic culture, Arctic wildlife, and the raw natural beauty of the region with local guides and flexible pacing throughout.

Destinations on Your 7-Day Disko Bay & Icefjord Private Tour

Day 1: Ilulissat – Walking Tour of Old Town, Zion Church & Museum Visit

Day 2: Ilulissat – Sermermiut Valley Hike & Icefjord Interpretation Center

Day 3: Ilulissat – Private Icefjord Boat Tour & Arctic Fishing Experience

Day 4: Oqaatsut Village – Remote Settlement Visit & Wildlife Spotting

Day 5: Qeqertarsuaq (Disko Island) – Town Tour & Kuannit Cliffs Hike

Day 6: Qeqertarsuaq – Whale-Watching Safari & Volcanic Beach Walk

Day 7: Return to Ilulissat – Scenic Transfer 

Day 1: Arrival in Ilulissat & Arctic Orientation

Begin your Greenlandic adventure with a warm welcome and a deep cultural connection in the vibrant heart of Disko Bay.

Your private driver-guide greets you at Ilulissat Airport and accompanies you on a scenic drive into town. As pastel-colored houses appear against dramatic Arctic backdrops, the crisp sea air and crunch of snow or gravel underfoot announce your arrival in a land shaped by ice and resilience.

Ilulissat Old Town Walking Tour

After check-in, set out on a private walking tour of Ilulissat’s historic heart. 

Wander through the old town where Greenlandic explorer Knud Rasmussen once played, and listen as your guide shares stories of the town’s evolution—from a missionary outpost to a thriving Arctic hub. 

At the harbor, wooden boats bob in the frigid water, and Zion Church’s black timber steeple stands as a quiet sentinel over generations of local life.

Ilulissat Museum & Artisan Encounters

Later, visit the Ilulissat Museum for a guided exploration of Rasmussen’s life and the culture that shaped him. 

Step into a local artisan’s studio, where sealskin slippers and bone carvings reflect both tradition and creativity. Here, art is not just decorative—it’s a way of holding onto identity during the long, dark, polar nights.

Day 2: Ancient Settlements & Glacial Knowledge

Walk through millennia of human history and witness the eternal motion of ice.

Sermermiut Valley Hike with Private Guide

This morning, lace up for a journey through the past. Your guide leads you along raised wooden paths through Sermermiut Valley, a landscape rich with archaeological remnants from three distinct Inuit cultures. 

Hear how ancient communities thrived in this dramatic setting, living in harmony with the elements. At the overlook above Ilulissat Icefjord, gaze in awe at a sea of jagged icebergs—some as tall as buildings—slowly drifting westward from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier.

Private Tour of the Icefjord Centre

After a relaxed lunch, dive deeper into this wonder of the natural world at the UNESCO-backed Ilulissat Icefjord Centre. 

Your private guide walks you through its sleek, modern exhibits, blending global climate science with intimate stories of how ice has shaped Greenlandic life. Marvel at real-time satellite imagery of the glacier’s movement and hear from local voices what the shifting ice means for future generations.

Day 3: Ice, Sea & Arctic Livelihoods

Sail into a kingdom of floating giants and step into the boots of a Greenlandic fisherman.

Private Boat Tour of Ilulissat Icefjord

Today, you board a private vessel and navigate into the otherworldly landscape of the Ilulissat Icefjord. 

Giant shards of ice—white, blue, and turquoise—drift silently by as your captain guides you through the frigid maze. Cameras ready, you’ll get close enough to feel the temperature drop while your guide explains how calving from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier fuels this UNESCO-listed wonder. 

It’s a moment of humbling beauty where time stands still, and nature reigns supreme.

Fisherman-for-a-Day Experience (Seasonal)

In the afternoon, trade your boat for a hands-on adventure with a local fisherman. 

Don thermal gear and step onto the water or the shore to learn traditional methods of Arctic fishing. Whether setting lines under ice or hauling nets, you’ll hear how sustenance, patience, and deep environmental knowledge intertwine in everyday Greenlandic life. It’s not just a skill—it’s survival, storytelling, and pride.

Day 4: Remote Village Encounter

Step back in time with a visit to a secluded Greenlandic village, where everyday life unfolds against a majestic Arctic backdrop.

Boat Transfer to Oqaatsut (Rodebay)

After breakfast, embark on a scenic private boat journey along the rugged coast to Oqaatsut—a village of just a few dozen residents nestled between icebergs and granite hills. 

Once a whaling station, today it offers a rare glimpse into traditional Greenlandic life. 

You’ll stroll past colorful homes, visit the tiny church or local school (if open), and enjoy a hearty lunch of freshly caught seafood prepared in the authentic local style. With each conversation and shared dish, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how the community thrives in isolation.

Wildlife Spotting on the Return Voyage

On your way back to Ilulissat, with binoculars in hand, your guide helps scan the shimmering waters for Arctic wildlife. 

Depending on the season, you might spot humpback whales breaching in the distance, seals lounging on ice floes, or seabirds soaring overhead. As the sun casts golden light across the bay, the return feels more like a meditation than a transfer—one of those Arctic moments that lingers.

Day 5: Volcanic Island Wonders

Cross Disko Bay to discover Greenland’s geologic roots and local life on one of its most striking islands.

Transfer to Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island

This morning, your private guide arranges either a boat or seasonal helicopter ride across the bay to Disko Island. As the cliffs of Qeqertarsuaq rise into view, you’ll feel transported to another world, where volcanic origins and Arctic ice intersect in spectacular ways.

Walking Tour of Qeqertarsuaq Town

Once ashore, meet your local guide for an intimate tour of Greenland’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement. 

Wander through colonial buildings, visit the octagonal basalt church known as “God’s Ink Pot,” and learn how the Arctic Station—a research outpost of the University of Copenhagen—has made Qeqertarsuaq a hub for studying climate and marine ecosystems. It’s a fascinating blend of old and new, tradition and science.

Hike to Kuannit Cliffs

In the afternoon, head out on a leisurely hike to Kuannit, where coastal cliffs formed by ancient lava flows rise above the sea. 

Along the trail, your guide points out Arctic wildflowers, medicinal herbs, and the telltale signs of thermal activity. At the cliffs, surreal basalt columns frame a view of Disko Bay that’s at once alien and serene—a landscape both shaped by fire and softened by time.

Day 6: Arctic Giants & Coastal Geology

Today is all about marine life and volcanic memory, written into the shoreline, sea, and sky.

Private Whale-Watching Safari

Set off with your private skipper on a boat safari through Disko Bay, one of the richest feeding grounds for whales in the North Atlantic. 

Depending on the season, you may encounter pods of humpbacks diving dramatically, minkes surfacing quietly, or even the elusive fin whale. With the engine hushed and the fjord waters gleaming, you’ll feel the stillness give way to awe as these giants pass nearby.

Volcanic Beach Walk & Glacier Viewing

Back on land, enjoy a guided walk along Qeqertarsuaq’s black-sand beaches, which are evidence of the island’s volcanic origins. 

Your guide shares how fire and ice have collaborated over millennia to sculpt the cliffs and valleys around you. On clear days, you might glimpse distant glaciers on the horizon, sparkling across the sea like frozen cathedrals.

Day 7: Return Journey

One final day to savor Greenland’s slower rhythm and icy grandeur before departure.

Scenic Transfer to Ilulissat

This morning, travel back across Disko Bay by private boat or seasonal air transfer. 

The journey itself is another opportunity for quiet reflection, wildlife sightings, and glacier views that seem almost painted into the sky.