Activities in Ivittuut

Ivittuut is a paradise for visitors interested in geology and nature. There are around one hundred different minerals in Ivittuut, and approximately half of these are unique to the area. Some of the houses in the former mining town have been converted to youth hostels that provide accommodation for tourists during the summer season. A large number of guests, however, spend most of the time in the neighbouring settlement, Arsuk, from where the choice of excursions is best.

Examples of activities in Ivittuut and the region:

Geological hikes
The area provides plenty of good opportunities to find the moonstone – a mother-of-pearl-like shimmering felspar. En route you may be lucky enough to meet musk oxen from South Greenland’s only musk ox population, which primarily roams in the areas around Ika and Qoornoq, but is now more commonly seen in Grønnedalen and Laksebunden. The area also has a rich birdlife with white-tailed eagles, kittiwakes, Brünnich's guillemotsand white-winged gulls.

Sailing trips in the fjords
At the base of the Arsuk fjord there is a glacier that occasionally produces small icebergs. In the southern part of Qoornoq fjord you can touch the Ice Sheet and there are good chances of spotting the common seal. At low tide in the Ikka fjord the characteristic and very attractive ikaite, submarine limestone columns of up to 20 metres (65 feet), can be seen.