Sea kayaking around the Nanortalik archipelago is the main reason most independent travellers make the expensive and complicated journey to reach the town. The combination of sheltered water, dramatic granite scenery, and genuine remoteness — there are no roads between settlements, and the only access is by helicopter or boat — makes for kayaking unlike anything available in more accessible parts of the world.
Local guiding is available for those without Arctic kayaking experience; conditions can change rapidly and self-sufficient expeditions require proper cold-water safety training and equipment. Multi-day trips using the network of traditional hunting huts in the skerries are possible with planning. The season runs roughly June through September, with the best conditions typically in July and August.