Hotel Sisimiut & Tours: Endless wilderness adventures

A mere 50 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle lies the small town of Sisimiut. Surrounded by a vast landscape, where the town ends and the ice begins, the area in and around Sisimiut is nature in its purest form, and a land where exploration and adventure are in abundance.

“We speak of our area as a backcountry, because there is nothing beyond the town but pure nature,” says Anette Grønkjær Lings, co-founder of Hotel Sisimiut & Tours. “We like to say that our every day is your adventure,” she continues. Initially just a hotel, the business has slowly but steadily grown, since Grønkjær Lings and her husband took over Hotel Sisimiut in 2008.

“Nowadays, we offer a whole range of experiences in the mountains, in our city and on the water,” Grønkjær Lings says. Much more than just a place to sleep, facilities include an Arctic spa, a restaurant and a brasserie with the freshest of local and international cuisine, making this a top choice for tourists and business travellers alike.

The hotel can cater for different events and experiences, giving guests a comfortable, relaxing stay, and where possible throw in some exceptional outdoor adventures too.

Immersive adventures for everyone

“There are so many opportunities for exploration here,” says Grønkjær Lings, which became the starting point for expanding the business to include tours. It provides exciting and unusual experiences for adventurers, as well as families and caters for different interests and levels of ability. The opportunities to totally immerse yourself in nature and wilderness is what pulls people here.

During the winter months, there is a focus on dog sledging adventures, as well as winter hiking. You can also go on an Into the Wild Adventure tour on snowmobile, which will take you deeper into the wilderness, off the Arctic Circle trail. These trips take in frozen fjords and lakes, hairpin hill climbs, and hard-to-reach scenic views otherwise not accessible.

Sisimiut hosts one of the hardest cross-country skiing races in the world, which also attracts many tourists to the area in winter. “We have three boats and arrange whale safaris and trips on the fjords,” says the founder. In summer, you can experience the abundant sea life on one of the Sea Safaris, showing you the incredible landscapes and archipelago as seen from the sea.

There are more exciting things to come in 2025, when the Artic Circle ATV trail opens. “We will be able to offer four-wheel drives along the Arctic Circle, which is the only place in the world where this will be possible,” she says. The company will also open the doors to a new lodge, Kangia Lodge, only three hours sailing from Nuuk – an opportunity to experience a journey usually done by air, now by sea. One of the big differences from Nuuk, which is Greenland’s foremost cultural hub, is that Sisimiut is in the middle of nature, surrounded by vast landscapes, and seeing the contrast between the two is a part of the overall experience.

Exploring the backcountry

Seeing Greenland from a dog sled is the perfect way to experience the incredible, vast icy landscape. Hotel Sisimiut & Tours’ dogsledding experiences actively encourage participants to get involved in every aspect, from getting the dogs ready and driving the sleds, to feeding the dogs. It is a chance to experience what plays a crucial and essential part of life in Greenland.

“We are involved in the Greenland Dog Preservation Programme,” says Grønkjær Lings. This is an ongoing conservation project, which works closely with the University of Greenland and the University of Copenhagen. Guest can take part in looking after the dogs, grooming them, feeding them, and preparing them for the journey, and truly throw themselves into the experience.

Whatever adventure you seek, Hotel Sisimiut & Tours is sure to have something for you, and in the process share the vast experience of the landscapes and culture in Sisimiut. “We want our visitors to experience nature and Greenland,” Grønkjær Lings adds.

If you have not yet had the privilege of experiencing Greenland, Hotel Sisimiut & Tours is an excellent starting point and the many adventures will leave you wanting to come back for more.

Web: www.hotelsisimiut.com
Instagram: @hotel_sisimiut