THE GREAT UUMMANNAQ FJORD

No trip to Uummannaq would be complete without exploring the bay and the great Uummannaq fjord, whether by boat, helicopter, dog sled, snowmobile, ski or the power of your own two feet.

In summer, sightseeing boats can take you anywhere, close to the ice sheet, the great Qarajaq glacier or to the Qilakitsoq camp, where the 8 mummies (6 women, 2 children) were found in 1972 and exhibited at the National Museum of Greenland in Nuuk. They are in a perfect state of preservation, thanks to the cold, dry air. This discovery has enabled us to learn a little more about the way of life of the Inuit of this period. What's more, Uummannaq has 7 villages within easy reach, most of them less than two hours by boat (Niaqornat, Qaarsut, Ikerasak, Saattut, Ukkusissat, Nuugatsiaq and Illorsuit). The bay around Uummannaq is a whale-watcher's paradise (July to autumn). There's a good chance of seeing Minke, humpback, fin and orca whales on a half-day or less safari. You can go hunting... and even pay a visit to Santa's summer house! This house was traditionally built for a Danish TV program and is about an hour's walk from town. For the more experienced, it's also possible to attempt an ascent of the 1,770 m-high Uummannaq mountain. However, this requires advanced mountaineering skills and advance preparation. And don't forget to check out the Qarajaq glacier (Ikerasak Fjord), one of the fastest in the world (along with the Ilulissat glacier), advancing at a rate of 7 km per year. It's a veritable iceberg highway, with incredible shapes.

In winter, Uummannaq offers fantastic opportunities for dog-sledding (between February and April) and heli-skiing (the best place to go is at the top of the mountains on the Nuussuaq peninsula, where the ice cap stretches out and from which many slopes descend - you'll be among the first to set foot on them!) Snowmobile excursions are also an excellent way for tourists to travel between the various villages of Uummannaq. Ice fishing is a great way to spend time with the locals and eat fresh fish in front of the hole in the ice floe!