Summer guide · 69°N
How warm the boat days really are, when the midnight sun arrives, what to wear on the water, and every summer tour with price and duration in plain text.
Weather & daylight
Typical temperatures and daylight hours for Ilulissat from May to October. Summer here is cool and bright, and the light changes faster than most visitors expect.
| Month | Daylight | Day | Night | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | About 19 hours · sun above the horizon from about 20 May | +3 °C | −2 °C | First whales, drift ice still in the fjord |
| June | Midnight sun: 24 hours of light | +8 °C | +2 °C | Bright nights, humpbacks in Disko Bay |
| July | Midnight sun until late July | +11 °C | +5 °C | Warmest month, most mosquitoes, calving glacier |
| August | About 16 hours and dropping | +10 °C | +4 °C | Peak whale season, softer evening light |
| September | About 13 hours | +6 °C | +1 °C | Clear air, whales still feeding, first aurora nights |
| October | About 9 hours | +1 °C | −3 °C | Last boat weeks, sea ice returning |
From about 20 May to late July the sun never sets over Ilulissat. The light turns golden around midnight and stays there for hours, which is why our evening sailing at 20:30 feels like an afternoon. After July the nights return quickly, but September still gives long, low sunsets.
Air temperature in summer sits between 3 and 11 °C, and the water of Disko Bay is colder still. On the open deck the wind makes it feel several degrees lower than in town. A windproof outer layer and a warm hat for the evening departure make the difference between a good and a great tour.
Clothing
Summer in Ilulissat is a boat season, not a beach season. Pack for layers and wind, and keep one warm layer dry for the evening.
01
A normal t-shirt or thin wool shirt is enough on land. Add a wool base for evening and midnight sailings, when the temperature drops fast over water.
02
A fleece or light down jacket. It feels warm in town at 11 °C, but out on the water the wind makes it feel closer to 5 °C.
03
The most important piece. A rain jacket and rain trousers keep you dry in spray and summer showers, and stop the wind on the open deck.
04
Waterproof shoes or rubber boots with a grippy sole. The boat deck is wet, and the path along the Icefjord can be muddy after rain.
05
Sunglasses, sunscreen and a cap: the sun is strong at 69 °N, and the midnight sun keeps you out late. Mosquito repellent matters in July, especially near land.
06
A power bank for long photo days, a thin beanie and gloves for the 20:30 sailing, and binoculars if you have them. We look for whales with our eyes first.
Ask us before you travel if you are unsure about footwear or an extra layer. It is much easier to sort out in advance than on the morning of departure.
Summer tours
Every summer tour starts in Ilulissat. Price, duration and season are written out here, so you can choose before you book.
Our most booked summer tour: search for humpback whales among the icebergs with a local captain. Heated cabin, small groups and respectful encounters.
2.5 hours · DKK 800 · daily 14:00 and 18:00 · 15 May to 1 October
Book nowSail into the UNESCO-listed Icefjord and stand beside icebergs that calved from Sermeq Kujalleq, the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere.
2–2.5 hours · from DKK 800
Book nowA full day to the calving glacier front at Eqi, where walls of ice crash into the sea. Local skipper, packed lunch and hot drinks included.
6–7 hours · DKK 2,200 · child 6–14 DKK 1,100
Book nowGolden-hour sailing on the Icefjord with the engine off, in the endless light of the midnight sun. Made for photography and quiet.
Evening departure 20:30 · DKK 800 · 15 May to 15 September
Book nowOne afternoon, two stories: whales in Disko Bay first, then the giant icebergs at the mouth of the Icefjord.
2.5 hours · DKK 1,100 · daily 14:00 · to 1 October
Book nowMeet the whales of Disko Bay, then continue to the historic settlement of Oqaatsut (Rodebay) on the same trip.
2.5 hours · DKK 1,100 · daily 14:00 · to 1 October
Book nowA long boat day through Disko Bay to remote settlements, historic sites and Arctic nature, with free Wi-Fi on board.
9 hours · max 10 guests · from DKK 3,100 · 25 May to 31 October
Book now
Midnight sun · 20 May to late July
Questions
Our whale safari season runs from 15 May to 1 October. Humpbacks are most reliable from late May through September, when they feed in Disko Bay. August is often the strongest month, but whales are wildlife and no departure is guaranteed.
The sun stays above the horizon from about 20 May to late July. Our Arctic Midnight Sun sailing runs from 15 May to 15 September at 20:30, so even outside the midnight-sun window you get a very late, very long sunset.
Air temperature is typically 3 to 11 °C, and it feels colder on the water because of the wind and the icebergs. Our boats have a heated cabin you can step into at any time, but bring a windproof layer for the deck.
Yes. Rain is normal in Greenland and does not cancel a boat tour. We only cancel or move departures when wind, sea or ice conditions are unsafe, and then you are covered by our trading conditions.
From 2 hours on the shortest Icefjord sailings to 6–7 hours for the EQI calving front expedition, and 9 hours for the full-day Alluttoq trip. The whale safari and both combo tours are 2.5 hours.
Yes. The Whale Watching & Icefjord combo does both in one 2.5-hour afternoon for DKK 1,100. The Whale Watching & Oqaatsut combo adds the settlement of Oqaatsut instead of the fjord.
All summer tours start in Ilulissat. The exact meeting point is confirmed in your booking, and it is always close to the harbour in the town centre.
Summer season · Ilulissat
Browse whale safaris, Icefjord sailing and the EQI expedition, and book the one that fits your dates.
