Drift to sleep as icebergs float by your bungalow
There are few locations the place waking up appears like an instantaneous 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 examine.
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 joys is that all of it is determined by 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 styles and sizes.
Ilimanaq Lodge is positioned 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 simple 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’ll be able to have in the event you’re searching for a mixture of journey and luxurious.
Every bungalow additionally has an expansive balcony that appears over the ocean in the event you’re liable to a night of iceberg watching beneath the midnight solar.
THE LOCATION
Ilimanaq is a small settlement positioned 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 can have transfers offered as a part of their keep, or you can even do a day journey to Ilimanaq…I’d extremely advocate at the least one in a single day keep to actually take in the great thing about this vacation spot! Diskoline and World of Greenland each function providers all through the summer time months, as do a variety of different native tour operators.
It’s potential 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. Nevertheless, on the identical 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 related 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 supply 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 toilet 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 capable of 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 take advantage of your keep. Your baggage will then be whisked away to your bungalow, when you wander in direction of it and get your first glimpse of the views!
Within the rooms, there are espresso and tea amenities so you’ll be able to sip a heat drink whereas photographing icebergs out of your deck (my type of pictures!), and there are native beers, a collection of wines and snacks obtainable to buy additionally.
The thought behind the lodge is that you simply’re geared up to remain in your bungalow all day in the event you want to learn a e book, {photograph} some bergs and calm down. All you’ll must do is stroll all the way down to the bistro for breakfast, they’ll pack your lunch after which you’ll be able to return for a wander to dinner – it’s superb! I’ll share extra for these eager on filling their days with journey slightly additional down the web page.
All bungalows are powered with photo voltaic vitality to help 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 absorb the magic of your environment, to take heed to the waves, the bobbing bergs and the birds. It’s the proper alternative to actually take a break, unwind, and escape slightly.
THE FOOD
Restaurant Egede and its professional 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 may get pleasure from meals on the deck overlooking the ocean, or inside, the place it’s comfortable, Nordic and feels as fastidiously designed because the dishes themselves.
Take a peek at a few of the meals under.
THE ADVENTURES + PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
If you happen to’re desirous to get out and about, you’ll be able to {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 could be very photogenic with the standard vibrant homes, Greenland canine in most yards, and naturally, the dramatic shoreline, distant peaks of Disko Bay, and no matter big icebergs are floating by.
To take advantage of 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 traditional 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’ll be able to wander the whole monitor which takes as much as 10hrs, or you’ll be able to take your time, take loads of images and see how far you get. Even simply strolling to the highest of the primary hill offers beautiful views towards the icefjord!
There are numerous excursions you’ll be able to take whereas staying at Ilimanaq Lodge together with a guided Settlement stroll, Tundra Hike, or, you’ll be able to sail all the way down to Itilliup Ilua and enterprise in off-road autos to Tasiusaq Fjord and two glaciers!
As with all visible lodge critiques, I’ll let the images do the remainder of the speaking. If I can say one last item, a keep right here is sort of a breath of contemporary air and essentially the most lovely solution to spend your final day or two in Greenland, notably in the event you’re visiting Ilulissat.
Learn extra a few 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 lots of my imagery scattered all through the location, and may even see me enjoyable on the balcony too…it was the most effective expertise to take a seat 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 resembling Lonely Planet, Wanderlust and the Sunday Occasions, Lisa based The Wandering Lens to share vacation spot guides to the worlds most photogenic locations and outside experiences.