Hiking Around Tasiilaq

The mountains surrounding Tasiilaq offer some of the most dramatic hiking in the Arctic. Routes range from easy walks above the town to multi-day traverses of the icecap. The most popular summer hike climbs to the plateau above the fjord for panoramic views over the bay, the town's colored houses, and on clear days the Greenland icecap to the west.

The hike to the Red Rock Lake (Røde Sø) is a half-day trip through classic Arctic tundra with the chance of seeing musk ox. Sea kayaking is also excellent here, with guided trips available from operators in town. All serious hiking and kayaking in this region requires a guide or strong local knowledge — weather can change extremely rapidly, and the terrain is unforgiving. Local outfitters including Pirhuk and Ammassalik Expeditions offer guided summer hiking and winter ski touring packages.

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East Greenland's mountains are geologically distinct from the west coast — the area around Tasiilaq contains some of Greenland's oldest exposed rock, over three billion years old, formed before complex life existed on earth. The sharp, dark peaks ringing the fjord are among the most ancient landscapes on the planet's surface.