GREENLAND SAGALANDS

Greenland Sagalands is a tour operator and tourist information site with local roots in Qaqortoq in South Greenland.

The company provides information and advice, as well as offering fishing trips, hiking trips, boat trips, kayaking, etc., for individuals and groups.

The office has a central location in the town of Qaqortoq, with a souvenir shop right next to the jetty used by cruise ships.

CONTACT INFORMATION

GREENLAND SAGALANDS

Vatikanbakken 68
3920 Qaqortoq

Phone: +299 64 24 44 / +299 49 37 41
E-mail: info@qaq.gl

Website
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Hiking

South Greenland and the area near Qaqortoq have fantastic hiking and no less than 50 sheep farms.

En route you’ll meet some of the region’s characteristic sheep farms, where you’ll often be able to stay overnight.

Start, for instance, your hike at the Atlantic airport in Narsarsuaq, continue to Qassiarsuk and end up in Narsaq – or sail to Qanisartuut, where you can hike from place to place in fantastically beautiful surroundings.

If you have fishing gear with you, there are lots of rivers in which you can catch a trout or two.

Greenland Sagalands has extensive knowledge of the region and youcan rent a car or horse for parts of the trip.

Kayaking

With South Greenland as a backdrop, kayaking is an absolutely unique experience.

Try your hand at kayaking in the small vessels in their country of origin. Set course and paddle forth, take a good lunch with you and perhaps a tent and other equipment so that you can set up camp on an island.

Greenland Sagalands will help you with good advice with regard to routes, as well as hiring out first-class kayaks and equipment. The length of the trip is entirely up to you and the price depends on how much equipment you need to hire and the scope of your adventure.

On the website you can contact the company in order to get more details, organise something in advance and get answers to any questions you may have.

Inuit culture

Hunting and fishing remain important occupations in several towns and in settlements in particular.

Hunters and fishermen supply meat and fish for healthy local Greenlandic cuisine, and animal skins from which the national costume and warm winter furs are made.

At the same time, hunting and fishing are important hobbies for the majority of inhabitants. Visit the board in the centre of Qaqortoq, and experience the daily catch being sold.

History of the Norse settlers

Greenland Sagalands knows the local surroundings and cultural history, as well as the stories of the Vikings – or Norse settlers – that first set foot in Greenland more than one thousand years ago.

Led by Erik the Red, the Nordic ships moored at Greenland’s coasts, and although the Norse settlers disappeared equally suddenly some 500 years later, you can still see remnants of their presence, including the huge church ruins near Hvalsø and the small, stone-lined milking folds in the fells.

The area near Qaqortoq has a wealth of cultural history that can be experienced on foot providing you have a good pair of hiking boots.

Visit the company for further information and good routes.

Guided sightseeing

Qaqortoq is an educational centre with schools, a business school, a sixth-form college, etc., and as such is the centre for the whole of South Greenland.

The town has great importance for the local inhabitants. The town was founded in 1774 and is characterised by the proud traditions of Greenlandic culture and history.

A guided sightseeing tour with Greenland Sagalands heads through the area containing the colony’s old houses and onwards to the fish and meat markets.

The guide will describe the conditions in which hunters and fishermen of yesteryear lived, as well as how they live today, Greenlandic food culture and much more besides en route.

There’ll also be time to take a look at the outdoor gallery, “Stone and man”, which consists of sculptures which artists have chiselled into the town’s rocks. The tour lasts around one and a half hours.

Greenland Sagalands has excursions to Great Greenland on all weekdays. The factory purchases and processes sealskins from all over Greenland, and is the only factory of its kind.

Hear about hunting as an occupation and about the factory’s production of the beautiful sealskins.

Close to the local population

In Qaqortoq there are plenty of opportunities to get close to the local population. In one of the most traditional social events – the kaffemik – Greenlanders open their home and invite you inside for a cup of coffee, tea and homemade cakes.

Experience a Greenlandic home in a relaxed atmosphere and hear more about everyday life in South Greenland.

Cultural events such as drum-dancing and folk dancing are occasionally arranged and you have the chance to be introduced to Greenlandic cuisine prepared by a local family.

Explore Greenland Sagalands’ website under ‘Tours’ and decide what’s best for you.

Souvenir shopping

Greenland Sagalands’ souvenir shop has a wide range of products.

Take a look at the website and what’s on offer, ranging from mysterious and sometimes intimidating tupilaks, corkscrews, letter-openers, wine corks, bottle-openers and other utility items – all produced in traditional Greenlandic style and design.

Everything is handmade and thus unique. The majority of items are made of reindeer antler. The products can be bought in the shop itself or online.

Boat trips

The population of Greenland has always enjoyed the riches of the sea and the life that exists beneath the waves – indeed the inhabitants have depended on it. Sailing in Greenland is still as natural a part of everyday life as driving is in other societies.

Sailing in Arctic waters, however, is often much more than simply a question of getting from A to B – sailing is a way of life, practically a God-given right and certainly essential on the world’s biggest island where none of the towns are linked by roads.

A boat trip may also be part of the working day, as well as a means of taking a break from everyday routine.

Greenland’s nature makes a unique setting regardless of the purpose of your boat trip, and it’s therefore also one of the most popular attractions for visitors.

Go on a whale safari, a fishing trip or take a ferry to a nearby town.

Explore the website and read more.

Icebergs

The tallest icebergs tower above the surface of the water at a height corresponding to a 15-storey building, whilst the smallest are only the size of a hut.

Icebergs are found everywhere throughout Greenlandic waters and are found in countless shapes and sizes. This is also true of South Greenland, although they’re generally a little smaller than those further north.

It’s not unusual to see icebergs that form attractive gateways that are almost tempting to sail through.

It’s not surprising that icebergs are one of the most popular attractions in Greenland, and in the waters near Qaqortoq attractive icebergs are found in all shapes and sizes.

You can typically experience these fantastic ice giants from the land, from the water and from the air, so plan your encounter with the icebergs in collaboration with Greenland Sagalands to ensure that your trip matches your own wishes and preferences.

Ice Sheet

Greenland Sagalands has boat trips that sail you close to the Ice Sheet, which at many places can be difficult to get to.

The boat sails to “Oalerallit Sermia” near the neighbouring town of Narsaq. If the sea ice allows, the boat will sail right into the coast, after which a brisk walk up the fellside will take you to the ice cap with the enormous white world stretching out in front of you.

Experience the feeling of minuteness in relation to the enormous world of ice.

Even though it can be difficult to imagine that the ice is melting, the debate about global warming is sure to be topical and relevant when standing on the ice-cold surface.

A walk in the neighbouring town of Narsaq is also on the programme prior to returning home.

Hot springs

South Greenland has its own natural hot-tub in the form of hot springs that are located around 38 kilometres south of Qaqortoq, close to the settlement of Alluitsup-paa.

Bring warm clothes – and your bathing costume – and enjoy the hot springs whilst the icebergs drift by and underline the striking contrasts that are so characteristic for South Greenland.

The boat trip to the hot springs takes around 2½ hours each way and passes icebergs – and perhaps a couple of whales…

Whale safari

When the whale needs air it sticks its head out of the water and exhales through water and air at a speed of several hundred kilometres an hour.

It’s a fantastic sight and sound that neverfails to surprise onlookers.

Greenland Sagalands takes you on a whale safari to the settlement of Eqalugaarsuit.

Dates and times are planned in consultation with you and the other participants on the trip, with prevailing wind and weather conditions being taken into account.

The whales can be seen both in the fjord and out at the coast; indeed, they’re found everywhere – both large and small – in Greenland’s waters.

River fishing

In the area near Qaqortoq you can catch trout, salmon and cod. Fishing is particularly good in July and August.

Depending on whether it’s early or late summer, Arctic char can be fished both in saltwater and in freshwater rivers.

You can hire equipment from Greenland Sagalands, which organises fishing trips in rivers, in fjords, at the coast or from a boat. You can of course also organise your own trip.

Good advice about routes to good fishing spots and information concerning the purchase of a valid fishing licence are available from Greenland Sagalands.

Sea fishing

In the area near Qaqortoq you can catch trout, salmon and cod. Fishing is particularly good in July and August.

Depending on whether it’s early or late summer, Arctic char can be fished both in saltwater and in freshwater rivers.

You can hire equipment from Greenland Sagalands, which organises fishing trips in rivers, in fjords, at the coast or from a boat.

You can of course also organise your own trip. Good advice about routes to good fishing spots and information concerning the purchase of a valid fishing licence are available from Greenland Sagalands.