Hvalsey Church Ruins by Boat
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Port
Qaqortoq, Greenland
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$289.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
2½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Eric the Red visited Greenland for the first time in AD 982. Your visit today includes much of the scenery that he would have seen a thousand years ago.
Board a boat at the Qaqortoq marina and motor across the fjord the surrounds the town.
Your destination is the church in Hvalsø, built in AD 1300. Hvalsø was the last place in Greenland to be inhabited by the Norse. When the Medieval Warming Period came to an end, the Vikings could no longer farm in Greenland, so they returned to Norway. Evidence of their time here remains in the physical form of stone ruins, and in written form in the magnificent Sagas. Step inside the church, which was the site of the last Norse wedding in Greenland. It is still one of the best-preserved churches in all of Greenland. Take the time to sit close to the walls and imagine Arctic life back in the 14th century, when Greenland really was green.
As you return to Qaqortoq, scour the shoreline for the ruins of old farms. Questions? Your boat skipper has all the answers.
Notes:
The boat portion is non-guided, A guide will meet the groups at Hvalsø to provide information there. Wear sturdy, non-skid walking shoes. The level of guide experience varies in Qaqortoq due to the remoteness of its location. Limited tourism infrastructure is part of the charm here, and you are trading breadth of experience for authentic interaction. Please bring your spirit of adventure and bear with any language difficulties your guide may encounter and with any operational surprises that may crop up. There are no restrooms available on tour.