Drift to sleep as icebergs float by your bungalow
There are few locations the place waking up appears like an on the spot journey.
At this lodge, not solely does the day forward current the opportunity of whale sightings, photogenic huts and climbing trails, however it additionally begins with an iceberg test.
Earlier than brushing your enamel, a peek out the window will reveal what number of icebergs have floated into the bay in a single day, or maybe, even drifted out. The fun is that all of it will depend on the seas, the wind, and people large floating beauties. You may wake to a 50ft frozen monster in entrance, or a complete bunch of bergy bits, bobbing round in a wide range of sizes and shapes.
Ilimanaq Lodge is situated on the southern aspect of Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO website on Greenland’s west coast. Open from mid-June to early September, the lodge is distant, enjoyable however oh so effortlessly luxurious.
It’s straightforward to suppose a distant lodge will lean extra towards the country aspect, however right here, the beds are cozy, the lounge is spacious, the meals are world-class and the little extras, structure and trendy decor all make for among the finest experiences you possibly can have should you’re in search of a mixture of journey and luxurious.
Every bungalow additionally has an expansive balcony that appears over the ocean should you’re liable to a night of iceberg watching below the midnight solar.
THE LOCATION
Ilimanaq is a small settlement situated roughly 15km south of Ilulissat. Entry is through boat throughout the icefjord which presents a chance to stand up near the would possibly icebergs floating all through Disko Bay.
Company staying at Ilimanaq Lodge could have transfers offered as a part of their keep, or you may as well do a day journey to Ilimanaq…I’d extremely suggest not less than one in a single day keep to really take in the fantastic thing about this vacation spot! Diskoline and World of Greenland each function providers all through the summer time months, as do quite a few different native tour operators.
It’s attainable to entry Ilimanaq throughout winter by helicopter, or with dogsled, snowmobile or snowshoe from Qasigiannguit to the south.
The settlement has a inhabitants of solely 53, final counted in 2020 and operates primarily as a fishing village, along with the tourism portion offered by the lodge.
THE DESIGN
Perched on the rocky shores, the A-frame design of the bungalows instantly stands out as you method Ilimanaq by boat. Nonetheless, on the identical time, they’re additionally mixing in, with the tones and supplies used reflecting these of the encompassing rock and tundra.
There are 15 bungalows, all related by picket walkways but spaced generously to make sure privateness and sprawling, uninterrupted views from every balcony. The angles and outlook have been cleverly designed to offer every bungalow with sea views not solely from the deck, however from the bed room upstairs.
The A-frame format permits for lots of area downstairs the place the lounge space and loo are located, then a staircase leads as much as the bed room, providing a heat cosy vibe. As a result of inside mezzanine the place the bed room sits, you’re in a position to snuggle in mattress and be careful the massive home windows to look at the midnight solar, stars and even aurora in early September is feasible!
THE LITTLE LUXURIES
The very first thing to notice is the pleasant welcome, together with your lodge hosts greeting you off the boat and sharing insights about Ilimanaq, the lodge and how one can profit from your keep. Your baggage will then be whisked away to your bungalow, whilst you wander in the direction of it and get your first glimpse of the views!
Within the rooms, there are espresso and tea amenities so you possibly can sip a heat drink whereas photographing icebergs out of your deck (my form of images!), and there are native beers, a number of wines and snacks obtainable to buy additionally.
The thought behind the lodge is that you just’re geared up to remain in your bungalow all day should you want to learn a e-book, {photograph} some bergs and chill out. All you’ll must do is stroll right down to the bistro for breakfast, they’ll pack your lunch after which you possibly can return for a wander to dinner – it’s superb! I’ll share extra for these eager on filling their days with journey a bit of additional down the web page.
All bungalows are powered with photo voltaic vitality to assist the inexperienced initiatives in place, and any further energy is handed to the native settlement.
Oh, and one sudden luxurious that ensures you’ll have entry to uninterrupted pure magnificence…the bungalows are wifi free. Use the time to take in the magic of your environment, to take heed to the waves, the bobbing bergs and the birds. It’s the right alternative to essentially take a break, unwind, and escape a bit of.
THE FOOD
Restaurant Egede and its professional staff of cooks serve up a menu of Greenlandic elements, offering a gastronomic expertise to pair together with your wine and the encompassing wilderness. Having visited again in 2019, then once more in 2024, I’ve been fortunate sufficient to expertise the menu ready by Restaurant Egede, and likewise that of the Michelin-starred staff behind KOKS, which collaborated with the lodge between 2022-2024.
From 2025, the Egede staff are again and you may get pleasure from meals on the deck overlooking the ocean, or inside, the place it’s cosy, Nordic and feels as rigorously designed because the dishes themselves.
Take a peek at a number of the meals under.
THE ADVENTURES + PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
If you happen to’re wanting to get out and about, you possibly can {photograph} dawn out of your balcony, examine the brand new icebergs within the bay, earlier than heading down for breakfast then taking an all-day hike to the icefjord shores, or south alongside the coast.
The settlement of Ilimanaq itself may be very photogenic with the standard vibrant homes, Greenland canines in most yards, and naturally, the dramatic shoreline, distant peaks of Disko Bay, and no matter big icebergs are floating by.
To profit from the surroundings, enterprise up towards the cemetery for one of many highest factors within the settlement which lets you {photograph} over the colorful homes and compress the distant peaks, bringing the scene nearer collectively.
See the under picture which was captured with the OM-1 MKII + 40-150mm f2.8 zoom lens and the MC-20 2 x teleconverter. Such a basic shot you could compose in a number of methods by shifting round and that includes the completely different colored buildings.
To the north, there’s a path that leads towards the icefjord. You possibly can wander your complete monitor which takes as much as 10hrs, or you possibly can take your time, take loads of pictures and see how far you get. Even simply strolling to the highest of the primary hill supplies gorgeous views towards the icefjord!
There are numerous excursions you possibly can take whereas staying at Ilimanaq Lodge together with a guided Settlement stroll, Tundra Hike, or, you possibly can sail right down to Itilliup Ilua and enterprise in off-road autos to Tasiusaq Fjord and two glaciers!
As with all visible lodge opinions, I’ll let the pictures do the remainder of the speaking. If I can say one very last thing, a keep right here is sort of a breath of contemporary air and essentially the most stunning approach to spend your final day or two in Greenland, significantly should you’re visiting Ilulissat.
Learn extra a couple of keep right here – https://worldofgreenland.com/en/ilimanaq-lodge/
(as a result of I photographed the lodge for World of Greenland again in 2019, you’ll really discover numerous my imagery scattered all through the location, and may even see me enjoyable on the balcony too…it was the perfect expertise to sit down on the market at 1am and watch icebergs float by!)
Journey and panorama photographer from Australia who is much extra snug in a pair of flippers than heels! Having labored for publications similar to Lonely Planet, Wanderlust and the Sunday Instances, Lisa based The Wandering Lens to share vacation spot guides to the worlds most photogenic locations and outside experiences.
