Boat tour on the EQI glacier: a trip to the end of the world

Veröffentlicht: 14. Juli 2022, 11:47 Uhr

Aktualisiert: 09. Juni 2025, 22:44 Uhr

Von: wom87

The EQI glacier boat tour leads travelers to the abyss of the planet. There you will find an almost supernatural experience

The gigantic EQI glacier in Greenland is about 430 km north of the Arctic Circle and about 1,600 km south of the North Pole. Very few live on a planet with almost eight billion people in these latitudes.

eqi, which means "edge" in Greenland, is a suitable name for a glacier that is at the last limit of mankind. If the earth were actually flat, the EQI glacier could be the place marked on cards.

I visited Ilulissat after my adventures on the Arctic Circle Trail. After the disappointment of not having managed the trail, I really wanted to use my remaining time in Greenland. When I arrived in Ilulissat, I hastily booked an EQI glacier boat tour at World of Greenland.

About 80 km north of Ilulissat - a Greenland word for "icebergs" - it takes at least three hours to reach EQI by boat. Our ship left the port of Ilulissat and drove up the picturesque Ataa-Straße, the long water route in the discbelty region in the west of Greenland. The travel times can be longer depending on the weather and sea conditions. I was lucky: the day was wonderful and the water was quiet.

Alt = "Ice Mountain seen during the boat tour on the Teqi glacier in Greenland">
Alt = "Ice Mountain seen during the boat tour on the Teqi glacier in Greenland">
Alt = "Ice Mountain seen during the boat tour on the Teqi glacier in Greenland">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "Waterfall Seen on the EQI Glacier boat tour">

The journey along Ataa Straße to the EQI glacier

The money alone was worth the money. When they cut through the calm waters outside of Ilulissat, the signs of civilization quickly disappeared. The boat slowly and carefully maneuvered through the amount of gently rocking icebergs before it gradually gained speed when the colorful city left behind.

We continued and stopped briefly on a small glacier -fed waterfall that poured over the cliffs. The EQI glacier finally appeared between black cliffs on the horizon; A bright white arc above the water. At first glance, it didn't seem to be as big as I had made. Did I let marketing mischief?

alt = “The EQI glacier first appears on the horizon“> Atlas & Boots The EQI glacier first appears on the horizon

When we approached, a smaller ship cut over the facade of the glacier. Only now, with a tiny artificial device in front of it, did the true extent of the glacier appear.

After another hour drive directly into its ever increasing expanses, I was encouraged to see how the sheer extent of this natural wonder was revealed.

It was colossal. Behind the relatively insignificant ice wall on which our boat was positioned was the huge Greenland ice cream ceiling (or ice cap). This huge ice cream body covers 1,710,000 km2 from Greenland - about 80 % of its land surface.

alt = “”> Atlas & Boots A boat cuts over the wall of the EQI glacier

The Greenland ice blank is generally thicker than 2 km (and 3 km in its thickest point) and the second largest ice mass in the world. Only the Antarctic ice cream ceiling on the antipod of the planet is larger. Despite its enormous size, EQI - together with most Greenland glaciers - withdraws.

The melting of the Greenland glaciers and ice shields was reported many times, especially after an unprecedented summer in the Arctic, in which heat waves accelerated the melt in the northern hemisphere. This year, a team of scientists revealed that the Greenland ice blanket even began to melt in winter.

The calf glacier

The EQI, known as a calf gods, is five kilometers wide where it meets the sea and can be up to 250 m high in its highest point. It may not be the largest in the area, but the glacier is one of the most active in Greenland. It was not long after our arrival it was promptly the first of several disorders.

alt = "An ice chunks breaks off the EQI glacier"> Atlas & Boots An ice chunks breaks from the EQI glacier from

An ice shaft loosened from its walls and thundered into the sea, with seagulls resting into the sky. The water around us immediately started to beat. This is exactly why our boat had to stay at a safe distance from the glacier wall. If exceptionally large chunks break out of the glacier, you can create huge waves - even small tsunamis.

further calves followed and the water around our boat changed into appearance and texture. When we arrived, the water was smooth and clear. Now it was condensed with small ice mountains and slush when the glacier wrote our boat.

Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">
Alt = "">

The surface took on an eerie, almost hypnotic tone when the white carpet pulsed under the fuselage. To stand there and fluctuate on the boat while it gently rocked in the daring of the water, felt like it was floating on the edge of the world.

My cheeks were scarcorized from the wind and my fingers, but, like everyone else on board, I could not tear myself away from the essential beauty of the glacier. It was absolutely captivating.

The EQI Glacier boat tour really feels like a trip to the edge of the earth. Here, on the abyss of the planet, it becomes clear that we humans enter the area of nature. Here she said that. I was allowed to stay for a while, but only on their conditions.

boat tour on the EQI glacier: The most important

Was: Booting tour to the EQI glacier from Ilulissat, Greenland.

Where: Ilulissat is slowly beginning to satisfy the demand for accommodation with a growing selection of options. My visit to the main month of July was a decision at the last minute, so most hotels were fully booked. Since there were only a few options left, I stayed in the Ilulissat apartment, a simple self-catering apartment, 10 minutes walk from the city center.

other popular but more expensive hotels are the Hotel Hvide Falk, the Hotel Arctic and the Hotel Icefiord. There are also a growing number of Airbnb options in the whole city. Click here to get a discount on your first stay.

Booking.com

When: The best time for a boat tour on the EQI glacier is from mid-June to mid-September when the glacier can be reached safely. This is also the best time for a visit to Ilulissat, since the weather is best to watch whales, hike, drive kayak and watch the famous midnight sun. This is also the busiest time of the season with hotels and lodges that are quickly sold out, so it is best to book in advance.

like: I booked my EQI glacier boat tour at World of Greenland in their main offices in the center of Ilulisse. The excursions take place daily from June to September and meet at 9.45 a.m. The trip to the glacier usually takes between three and four hours, but can take longer depending on the conditions. The boat stays on the glacier for about two hours.

The price per adult is 2,295 DKK ($ 140) and includes a light breakfast that is served shortly after departure, followed by a rich cold lunch shortly before arriving on the EQI glacier. Free tea and coffee are available all day.

Alt = "on board the EQI glacier boat tour">
Alt = "on board the EQI glacier boat tour">
Alt = "on board the EQI glacier boat tour">
Alt = "on board the EQI glacier boat tour">

The tours begin in front of the main office, where minibuses meet customers and bring them to the quay, where the boat puts. After the tour, minibuses bring customers to the offices or the most important hotels in the city.

For more information and bookings, visit the World of Greenland website, send an email to info@wog.gl, call +299 94 43 00 or come in the office between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

I flew from London via Copenhagen in Denmark to Kangerisuaq. From there I booked a domestic flight to Ilulissat near Air Greenland, which essentially have the monopoly on domestic flights in Greenland. Book via Skyscanner.

alt = “>

Travel guides for Greenland are difficult to get, but if you plan trekking, we recommend the Cicerone Guide to Trekking in Greenland.