Brand new for 2017, Ilimanaq Lodge is a triumph of modern design that showcases Greenland’s natural splendour at its very best. Here, guests are hosted in ultra-modern cabins overlooking the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, enjoying exclusive, uninterrupted views of breaching whales and creaking icebergs. It’s all beautifully remote, reached only by a half hour boat ride.
Eat
You’ll begin each day with a complimentary Mediterranean breakfast buffet, served in the lodge’s black loghouse – a protected building. But, to start the morning the Nordic way, be sure to take your steaming cup of black coffee on your deck. Lunches and dinners are also served at the main lodge, with fresh, local ingredients evident across varied menus. This being Greenland, expect gamey meats and fresher-than-fresh seafood.
Sleep
Each of the lodge’s 15 luxury cabins are positioned right on the Ilulissat Icefjord, offering truly spectacular views of the shimmering water and its ice floe. Wake up to views from your bed – or private deck – of icebergs slowly drifting past. What’s more, the cabins’ distinctive angles and timber cladding blends perfectly into their clifftop surrounds, while solar panels produce enough energy for your electricity and heating. Inside, the cabins are split into two levels – a bedroom and ground-floor lounge – where minimalist, Scandi-chic interiors do little to distract to the main attractions – the great panoramic windows.
Do
At the Ilimanaq Lodge, even the hotel transfer is scenic. Your boat cruise will see you weave in between giant bergs before the lodge’s staff meet you at the mooring to carry your luggage. Then, once arrived, there’s a full range of activities to take advantage of. There’s everything from visits to local families and coastal hikes to ATV trips and glacier climbs. Lastly, many stays come with an included guided walk, your local expert bringing you to nearby Ilimanaq – a community of just 53. Here, you’ll learn how its inhabitants have carved a unique way of life in this inhospitable environment with visits to its church, school and dogyards.
