Ivittuut and Kangilinnguit

Where the grass is green
Ivittuut means “the grassy place” in Greenlandic; and just like the neighbouring town of Kangilinnguit/Grønnedal, it is situated in one of Greenland’s most beautiful areas, the Arsuk fjord complex. However, unlike Kangilinnguit and the settlement at Arsuk, Ivittuut is no longer inhabited – apart from a few guesthouses – and therefore the three places primarily attract independent travellers wishing to experience the fantastic scenery on their own. With around 130 inhabitants, Arsuk is best geared to receiving guests that are looking for a choice of overnight accommodation and excursions.

The area’s historical background
Ivittuut and Kangilinnguit are connected by six kilometres (4 miles) of road, and the two towns were not actually founded by Greenlanders themselves, but by Europeans and Americans respectively. This occurred in connection with the establishment of a cryolite mineral mine in the middle of the 19th century, which the Americans reaped the benefits of during the Second World War when cryolite was used in aluminium and aircraft weapons production. Today Kangilinnguit is first and foremost the home of Greenland Command – a navy unit that operates under the auspices of the Danish armed forces.

Things to do in the Arsuk fjord
Despite only a modest stream of tourists to the Municipality of Ivittuut – whose municipal office functions as a sort of tourist bureau – there are good opportunities to enjoy quite unique experiences of the local nature and wildlife on, for example, a musk ox safari or a trophy hunt. In the unique Arsuk fjord there are particularly fine opportunities for sports fishing for sea trout, and when sailing on the fjord there are also good chances of seeing minke whales, white-tailed eagles and other land and sea mammals particular to the region. The Arsuk fjord also contains Norse ruins and one of Greenland’s biggest bird cliffs, which is home to thousands of kittiwakes, gulls and guillemots that breed on the edge of the cliff during early summer.

How do I get to Ivittuut, Kangilinnguit and Arsuk?
Via the international airport in Narsarsuaq you can fly onwards to Ivittuut and Kangilinnguit on Air Greenland’s helicopter. Flights depart on two days a week, and on these days there is also a helicopter connection north to Paamiut. On the same two days the freight ship Assartuisoq sails to Arsuk – although it can only take four passengers at a time. The choice of local transport options in the municipality of Ivittuut is thus somewhat limited, and you should therefore be prepared to hike or to bank on taking advantage of the hospitality of the people of South Greenland should you wish to sail.

Ivittuut weather: