How to travel around in Greenland by boat?
Ferries Aul (Umiaq ARCTIC LINE) – Sarfaq Ittuk:
To connect the south Greenland to center Greenland (Ilulissat and Disko Bay) there is a weekly ferry operated by AUL. The boat is called Sarfaq Ittuk and leaves Qaqortoq on Thursdays (at 8am) towards Ilulissat, taking 4 days to reach its destination. The boat comes back out of Ilullisat at 5pm on Sundays to do the route in reverse.
The boat stops at Narsaq, Nuuk, Aasiaat and other villages on the way. The company’s website allows you to choose the port of entry and exit and the date on which you wish to travel.
The trip can be done in 3 types of accommodation: couchete (dorm), single compartment or cabin. Prices vary greatly. For traveling between Qaqortoq and Ilulissat prices are Dkk 3110, Dkk 4215 and Dkk 8365, respectively.
You can book the ferry on the site. This should be done well in advance as there is a weekly boat only and this is one of the few means of transport to link the coastal provinces. The other option of mobility in Greenland is the helicopter, which however has truly prohibitive prices for most travelers.
You can download the schedule and route of the ferry Arctic Umiaq Line – Sarfaq Ittuk:
Download schedule: 2014_Schedule
Site AUL : http://aul.gl/en.html
Boats in Disko Bay:
Exploring Disko Bay requires moving between villages and fishing communities. During summer it’s possible to do it with some reassurance and affordable prices (for danish standards, of course) since there are several ferries between major towns and cities.
The company DISKO LINE operates ferries between Ilulissat and various cities of Disko Bay and even the island of Disko. There are daily or every two day ferries between the cities of Ilulissat, Qasigiannguit, Qeqertarsuaq and Aasiaat. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the company’s website and paid with a credit card. The boats operate between May 1 and October 31, although they are more frequent in summer (June to mid-August).
You can go to Eqi Glacier but only in organized tour by DISKO LINE or by tourist companies operating in Ilulissat.
Prices and schedules for boats are available on the DISKO LINE site. If you search by date, prices appear in Danish kroner and also in Euros.
The company DISKO LINE also offers some economical tour packages that include the boat and accommodation. They have programs from 2 to 12 days in the Arctic.
Site: http://diskoline.dk/en/
Boats in southern Greenland:
The best way to travel between towns of southern Greenland is by boat. But navegating in Greenland is more than a means of transport, for it is an excellent opportunity to observe the incredible surrounding landscape.
The BLUE ICE company has regular boat services between Narsarsuaq, Narsaq and Qaqortoq during summer, connecting with direct flights to and from Reykjavik and Copenhagen. You can book by email through their website. In addition, if you plan your trip well in advance, BLUE ICE can make a weekly schedule during summer and may engage other travellers in the journey. If you’re a solo traveller, BLUE ICE may have some trips that fit into your plans.
Boat transfer (one way) Price per person (EUR/DKK)
Narsarsuaq – Qassiarsuk 24 / 175
Narsarsuaq – BLUE ICE Camp* 55 / 400
Narsarsuaq – Itilleq (Igaliku ) 48 / 350
Narsarsuaq – Sillisit 55 / 400
Narsarsuaq – Ipiutaq 69 / 500
Narsarsuaq – Narsaq 76 / 550
Narsarsuaq – Qaqortoq 103 / 750
Narsaq – Itilleq (Igaliku) 62 / 450
Narsaq – Qaqortoq 62 / 450
Qaqortoq – Itilleq (Igaliku) 83 / 600
* Min. 2 persons.
Infant 0-1 year: Free. Child 2-11 years: 50% discount
Rates for season 2014
Carla Mota
I am a tirelessly curious portuguese world wanderer and also a travel photographer. My main passion lies in capturing disappearing ancient cultures, human condition and amazing nature wonders, challenging situations. My passion for travel photography has taken me to more than 80 countries which has helped me to create a vast collection of images of people and places from around the world.
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