Rodebay (Oqaatsut) lies on a peninsula and offers views of icebergs in Disko Bay. Alongside the settlement’s history, there are different ways to experience the surrounding area: hikes in the hills, a coastal trail in summer and a guided full-day kayaking tour. When planning, transport routes are just as important as the activities, as there is no connected road network.

History and Greenlandic Cuisine

Oqaatsut has been inhabited as an Inuit settlement and whaling station since the 18th century; in 1877, it became a trading station. The building that houses the H8 Explorer restaurant is also part of the settlement’s history: it was built in the 1890s for the Royal Greenland Trade Department and is protected. The protected building therefore dates from a later period than the trading station established in 1877.

The H8 Explorer restaurant prepares fresh fish and meat from the surrounding wilderness and selected regions of Greenland; the ingredients’ origins may change over time. During visits, you can try local Greenlandic specialties and experience life shaped by fishing, seal hunting and whaling. Culinary impressions and insights into these activities complement the historical perspective on the settlement.

Hiking and Kayaking

Visitors can hike in the hills around Oqaatsut. In summer, you can also hike a coastal trail between Ilulissat and Oqaatsut. When comparing the two options, location and season are the clear differences: the hills are around the settlement, while the coastal trail runs between the two places and is a summer option.

The guided full-day “Oqaatsut & Kayak Adventure” includes a kayaking tour in the bay northeast of the settlement; availability may vary. The full-day format makes the tour a distinct focus of your day’s plans and sets it apart from hiking on land.

The options differ in duration and season, which can help with planning your day: the kayaking tour is a full-day activity, the coastal trail is a summer option, and the hill hikes are around the settlement. This makes it easy to distinguish a day on the water from a hike on land.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

Travel to and from Oqaatsut is by boat, dog sled or snowmobile, primarily in the direction of Ilulissat. The settlement has no connected road network; instead, it has separate, unconnected sections of roads and paths. These are two distinct aspects of mobility: the modes of transport mentioned provide connections to the outside, while the separate road sections are for getting around within the settlement.

First decide whether hiking, the full-day activity on the water, or history and cuisine should be the focus; then choose your accommodation to suit your planned route. Keep in mind that there is no connected road network.

Discover more destinations: Ilulissat.

Return to the regional travel overview: Qaasuitsup.