Ilimanaq Lodge – Greenland’s Idyllic Seaside Retreat – Photograph Ideas, Inventive Pictures + Journey Guides

Drift to sleep as icebergs float by your bungalow

There are few locations the place waking up seems like an prompt journey.

At this lodge, not solely does the day forward current the potential for whale sightings, photogenic huts and climbing trails, however it additionally begins with an iceberg test.

Earlier than brushing your tooth, 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 joys is that all of it relies on the seas, the wind, and people massive floating beauties. You could possibly wake to a 50ft frozen monster in entrance, or a complete bunch of bergy bits, bobbing round in a wide range of sizes and styles.

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, stress-free however oh so effortlessly luxurious.

It’s straightforward to assume a distant lodge will lean extra towards the country aspect, however right here, the beds are comfortable, the lounge is spacious, the meals are world-class and the little extras, structure and classy decor all make for among the finest experiences you may have when you’re searching for a mixture of journey and luxurious.

Every bungalow additionally has an expansive balcony that appears over the ocean when 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 by way of boat throughout the icefjord which presents a possibility to rise up near the may icebergs floating all through Disko Bay.

Friends staying at Ilimanaq Lodge can have transfers offered as a part of their keep, or you can even do a day journey to Ilimanaq…I’d extremely suggest not less than one in a single day keep to really absorb 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 lot of different native tour operators.

It’s doable 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 strategy Ilimanaq by boat. Nonetheless, on the similar time, they’re additionally mixing in, with the tones and supplies used reflecting these of the encircling rock and tundra.

There are 15 bungalows, all linked by wood 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 structure 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 big 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 benefit from your keep. Your baggage will then be whisked away to your bungalow, when 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 may sip a heat drink whereas photographing icebergs out of your deck (my form of images!), and there are native beers, a collection of wines and snacks accessible to buy additionally.

The thought behind the lodge is that you simply’re outfitted to remain in your bungalow all day when you want to learn a guide, {photograph} some bergs and loosen up. All you’ll have to do is stroll all the way down to the bistro for breakfast, they’ll pack your lunch after which you may return for a wander to dinner – it’s superb! I’ll share extra for these eager on filling their days with journey somewhat additional down the web page.

All bungalows are powered with photo voltaic vitality to assist the inexperienced initiatives in place, and any extra energy is handed to the native settlement.

Oh, and one surprising 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 hearken to the waves, the bobbing bergs and the birds. It’s the proper alternative to actually take a break, unwind, and escape somewhat.

THE FOOD

Restaurant Egede and its skilled crew of cooks serve up a menu of Greenlandic components, offering a gastronomic expertise to pair together with your wine and the encircling 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 in addition that of the Michelin-starred crew behind KOKS, which collaborated with the lodge between 2022-2024.

From 2025, the Egede crew are again and you’ll take pleasure in 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 few of the meals beneath.

THE ADVENTURES + PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

In case you’re desperate to get out and about, you may {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 normal vibrant homes, Greenland canine in most yards, and naturally, the dramatic shoreline, distant peaks of Disko Bay, and no matter large icebergs are floating by.

To benefit 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 beneath 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 which you can compose in a number of methods by shifting round and that includes the totally different colored buildings.

To the north, there’s a path that leads towards the icefjord. You possibly can wander your complete observe which takes as much as 10hrs, or you may take your time, take loads of pictures and see how far you get. Even simply strolling to the highest of the primary hill supplies beautiful views towards the icefjord!

There are numerous excursions you may take whereas staying at Ilimanaq Lodge together with a guided Settlement stroll, Tundra Hike, or, you may sail all the way down to Itilliup Ilua and enterprise in off-road automobiles 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 final thing, a keep right here is sort of a breath of recent air and probably the most stunning method to spend your final day or two in Greenland, significantly when 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 truly discover a number of my imagery scattered all through the positioning, and might even see me stress-free on the balcony too…it was the perfect expertise to take a seat on the market at 1am and watch icebergs float by!)

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