Diskobay Tours: Meet the real Greenland

A great way to experience a place is to see it through the eyes of a local, someone with true insider knowledge. In Ilulissat, a homegrown company offers fun, outdoor opportunities to explore what Greenland is truly like, and a chance to meet people imbedded in their culture and breathtaking nature.

Winner of the 2021 Greenland Tourism Award, independent Ilulissat-based company Diskobay Tours is a local business that prioritises the personal experience for its guests. It organises a variety of fun adventures for all ages, from exploring the Eqi glacier, to visiting Ilimanaq, glacier walking on Saqqarliup Sermia, sled dog tours, and cultural excursions to nearby places of interest.

Photo: Henriette Haase Fischer

“In summer we arrange sailing adventures on the ice fjord at Ilulissat,” explains Nivé Heilmann, one of the experienced local guides. “We want our guests to experience the real Greenland regardless of season,” she says. All adventures are led by guides who live locally and are shaped by the culture and the environment, whether they were born or have lived here for many years.

Photo: Diskobay Tours

Arctic sled dogs

At the heart of the company is the pack of Arctic sled dogs. “The dogs are like family to us, like colleagues,” says Frank Larsen, another experienced local guide. In winter, the dogs take guests on adventure tours to experience the vast snowy wilderness around Ilulissat. In the low season, the team organises trips with the dogs to nearby villages, and during summer you can experience a meet and greet with the dogs at the kennel, which currently houses 53 sled dogs. The well-being of the dogs is central to the team, all year round.

Photo: Diskobay Tours

The Arctic sled dog has become an endangered species, with less than 10,000 left. There is no longer a need to use the dogs for hunting or fishing, but they have been crucial to the culture and it would be truly devastating for the people of northern and eastern Greenland to face a future without these incredible dogs.

Both Nivé and Frank have had sled dogs for 20 years and have vast experience working with them. They have joined forces and now operate a local business welcoming guests to meet their treasured dogs and experience the wonders of the stunning wilderness in and around Ilulissat.

Photo: Diskobay Tours

Web: diskobay-tours.com/en_GB
Instagram: @diskobaytourscom