Paamuit, Greenland

 

8/16/25  Saturday Paamuit, Greenland 41-46 degrees.  $ = Danish Kroner  (Tender port)

Excursion Walking Tour Paamiut FRD 001 $109. 10-11:30 Stroll the streets of tiny Paamiut with a local who knows its story and residents personally.

•                Keep an eye out for exciting wildlife—like majestic sea eagles soaring above or whales surfacing in the fjord.

Escorted around town by a local, you’ll be introduced to life in Greenland’s eighth-largest fishing village. Suffice it to say, rush hour is no big challenge in this burg. But living in Paamiut has its rewards for the 1,500-or-so souls who call it home. Their scattered skyline is colorful, their blue-black mountain backdrop is stunning – they even have a handsome stave church, one hotel and a supermarket. The fishing is excellent, the mitten-makers are busy, and the wildlife is contented. Minke and humpback whales swim by in the fjord, while white-tailed sea eagles (Greenlanders call them “Nattoralik”) guard the sky and bring good luck to those who spot them.

 

It is a short distance to town.  8th largest fishing industry.  Stunning mountains.  Animals include white tailed eagles, minke, fin, killer, and humpback whales.  A wooden stave church was built in 1909.

Nuuk, Greenland 8/15/25

8/15/25 Friday  Nuuk, Greenland  40-52 degrees Nuuk means Cape.  $=Danish Kroner

Excursion Fjord Boat Tour GOH 004 11:15-1:15.  $209. Embark on an adventure with the Fjord Boat Tour, immersing yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty of Greenland's waters.

•                Look for humpback whales and other wildlife while cruising through a nearby fjord.

•                Continue to Sermitsiaq (weather permitting), a mountainous island where melting snow produces plunging waterfalls and cascades.

Cruise into the beautiful Nuup Kangerlua fjord to look for humpback whales, which usually frequent these waters to feed and often breach the surface in acrobatic displays. As you approach uninhabited Sermitsiaq Island in the fjord, you will see a saddle-shaped mountain rising from the island’s heart. When the weather warms and the snow and glaciers melt, a waterfall usually thunders off the mountain and into the crystal-clear waters of the fjord below. It is quite the sight, as is the wildlife that typically frequents this area. On a lucky day, you may see soaring eagles, seals, or most exciting of all, humpback whales. If they are present, the whales will no doubt steal the show, especially if one leaps from the water and lands with a tremendous splash. Scientists think whales breach the water to clean pests from their skin. However, they may do it just for fun.

 

It is a 30 minute walk to town.  Nuuk is the capital city.  1849 Cathedral Katuag, University.  Unique art pieces. 

 

Isajordur, Iceland 8/12/25

 

8/12/2025  Tuesday Isafjordur, Iceland 45-55 degrees.  Large harbor.  Income from fishing, 3rd busiest port.  Mountains surround the city. Vigur Island is 30 minutes away.  There are birds galore, Eider ducks, puffins, terns. 

Excursion – Fjords and Flowers  8:45-11:45  $156.

Travel across a ruggedly beautiful West Fjord landscape of steep mountain ridges and sheltered fjords.

•                Visit Skrudur, a century-old botanic garden deep in the middle of, well, just about nowhere.

•                Take a guided stroll through the fishing village of Flateyri, all on its own on the edge of a fjord surrounded by magnificent slopes.

•                Hear Icelandic music in a church, visit an old bookstore that thinks it’s a museum, and watch regional handicrafts being made.

•                Share coffee and a chat with the locals.

See the nature, meet some locals and catch a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in small Icelandic fishing towns during this enlightening tour. Included is a breathtaking drive through the West Fjord mountain landscape, where farms and villages huddle on narrow strips of land isolated between rocky ridges and deep fjords. Appearing as if an apparition at one point will be tiny Skrudur, Iceland’s oldest botanical garden. You’ll go in and have a look around. Over 100 years old, this dot-sized green oasis in the midst of the badlands proves what can be grown this far north. Another curio you’ll encounter is the old shark-fishing town of Flateyri, perched on a spit of land projecting out into Onundarfjordur fjord and boasting a current population of about 200. You’ll take a guided stroll along main street and into the life of this mountain-surrounded outpost, entering an intimate little church where you’ll be treated to an Icelandic music program, and visiting the old bookstore that doubles as the village museum and archive. You’ll also have a chance to observe some town women at work in their handcraft workshop and to share a coffee break and chat with the Flateyrites.

HELPFUL HINTS

•                Wear weather-appropriate clothing including a water/wind proof jacket.

•                Comfortable, flat walking shoes with a non-slip sole are recommended.

•                Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

PLEASE NOTE

This tour includes approximately 45 minutes of moderate walking and standing, at times over uneven pathways.