The waters around Ilulissat sit where an active glacier meets the open Arctic, sheltered bays of calm summer water with icebergs drifting out of the Ilulissat Icefjord and into Brede Bay. From a kayak you are at eye level with the ice, sometimes hearing it before you see it.
Conditions here change with the wind and ice, and no two days on the water look the same.
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Up beside a berg, the scale only registers from the seat of a kayak. What looks modest from shore rises well above the deck, and in calm conditions the water around it sits almost still.
Seen from above, a kayak shrinks to almost nothing beside the ice. These bergs calve from the Ilulissat Icefjord and can stand several storeys above the waterline, with far more hidden below.
Paddling routes here loop through Brede Bay, where icebergs drift out of the Ilulissat Icefjord and ground in the shallows. The ice moves with the wind and current, so the line through it changes day to day.
Photo by Aningaaq Rosing Carlsen - Visit Greenland
Kayaking among icebergs tends to suit paddlers with some experience, though shorter, calmer stretches can work for newcomers. Conditions and confidence usually set how far a day goes.
Photo by Chris Brin Lee Jr. - Visit Greenland
The water stays cold through the summer. Cold-water gear and layers underneath are the norm, and the air off the ice tends to run cooler than the forecast.
Photo by Kenny Karpov - Visit Greenland
Days on the water often break on a remote beach, a chance to be out of the kayak for a while, warm up, and watch the bergs from land.
Photo by Glenn Mattsing - Visit Greenland
Every day on the water is different, set by wind, ice, and the pace of the group. Some stretches lean into distance and rhythm, long paddling with short stops on remote beaches. Others lean into stillness, drifting among grounded icebergs and listening to the small sounds the ice makes at the waterline.
The water stays cold right through the summer, so cold-water gear and layers underneath are the norm.
Everything you need to know about this tour — from key details to what you can expect during the experience. If you can’t find your answer here, we’re always here to help.
Kayaking among icebergs tends to suit paddlers with some experience, though shorter, calmer stretches can work for newcomers. Conditions and your confidence usually set how far a day goes, and we shape the route and pace around the group on the water that morning.
The season runs from late June to early September, when the bays around Ilulissat hold calm summer water and icebergs drift out of the Ilulissat Icefjord into Brede Bay. The ice moves with the wind and current, so the line through it changes day to day and no two outings look the same.
The water stays cold right through the summer, so cold-water gear and layers underneath are the norm. The air coming off the ice tends to run cooler than the forecast, and days on the water often break on a remote beach where you can step out of the kayak, warm up, and watch the bergs from land.
Share your travel plans and preferred dates — our team will review availability and get back to you with the best options.
