Qeqertarsuaq is an exceptional place in the truest sense of the word. Everything about it is the first, the largest, or the only. The natural environment around Qeqertarsuaq is so fertile with angelica and diverse species that it is literally like no other place in North Greenland. Greenlandic legend says that Qeqertarsuaq stands so verdantly in the Disko Bay otherwise packed with icebergs because it comes all the way from South Greenland.
As it entered Disko Bay, a witch in Ilulissat spied the lush green island heading north and cast a spell on it to run aground. So here stands Qeqertarsuaq today. Dog sledding in summer may sound like a misnomer, but thanks to the Lyngmark Glacier that rises many hundreds of meters above the coast, Qeqertarsuaq is the only town in Greenland where dog sledding is possible all year long. What a contrast to sit bundled on a dog sled feeling the midnight sun beat directly overhead while spotting humpbacks and other summer whales like tiny specks in Disko Bay below.
Enjoying this wintertime favorite in summer is not without its dues. Without snowy mountainsides to allow for snowmobiling up to Lyngmark Glacier, one must first put in hard work to reap his great dog sledding adventure. Whether you lead yourself or opt for a hiking guide, you must rely on your own two feet and a string of blue-painted cairns to reach your starting point.
Qeqertarsuaq is the only town on Disko Island, km west of Ilulissat. Disko Island has many natural features including a deep fjord for kayaking, mountains up to meters, hot springs, and columnar basalt rocks that evidence a volcanic history.
Wintertime favorites include ice fishing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. One is also welcome to camp in the hills. Qeqertarsuaq has two restaurants: the restaurant of Hotel Disko Island, which is open throughout the summer, and Blue Cafe. Arctic Umiaq Line. A trip to Greenland where nature goes hand in hand with culture under the midnight sun.
