Departure from Sisimiut harbor bound for the abandoned settlement of Assaqutaq. As we sail out of the harbor, here we get close to one of the dog’s islands in the narrow passage by Salligunag (Teløen). We pass the entrance to the Old Port of Parasuk Bay and the Qeqi district, a modern residential area with colorful flats placed on the steep cliffs by the sea. The boattour continues into the Amarloq fiord.

About half an hour after we leave Sisimiut harbor we arrive at the little beautiful inner harbor where we from the pontoon bridge go ashore. Immediately after landing, the boat returns to Sisimiut. In the 1960s and 1970s, several small settlements in Greenland were abandoned as people chose to move in to the larger towns to find work. Assaqutaq, which lays at the foot on the southside of the beautiful Nasaasaaq, is one of these abandoned settlements. Today it is used as a summer camp for the local primary schools and, particularly in June, the place comes alive again as people from Sisimiut go there to fish ammassat (capelin), which is also important as dog food and it is also used as a snack. Assaqutaq is a typical settlement of the mid-20th century, with roots dating back to the whaling industry and for this area characteristic of the 19th century. The mix of renovated houses and romantically decayed buildings the imagination is easily led to imagine a ghost town full of mystery and history. We recommend going for a walk in the abandoned settlement before the hike begins.

From the sea level, you climb through a 10-12 meter gap to the flatland area, from which the route continues westward. The route is marked with red and blue cairns. After a kilometer, you will reach the old whale station Qeqqortusuk. A burial site is the first thing you’ll see and if you are up for a small detour, you can walk down to the coast and see the ruins of the first private school in Greenland, which was financed by the citizens of Qeqqortusuk. The hiking trail towards Sisimiut is in a beautiful and very lush landscape. It is relatively easy to find the trail, as the path is easy to spot, the direction is kind of obvious and the cairns are visible. After about 2/3 of the hike, you get to the viewpoint “Whale Bay View Point”. It is a good opportunity to spot whales and watch the passing boats and small boats that put fishing nets off the coast. In fact, there are good chances to spot whales along the trail. Just keep your eyes open and listen carefully to whales’ blows. At the view point, there is usually a little wind that keeps the mosquitoes away. Besides the scenic area in a great hilly terrain without significant elevations, you can enjoy the view all the way down past the Arctic Circle to the blue mountains with eternal snow. A very popular heliskiing area during the spring. At the west end of Mount Nasaasaaq, Sisimiut appears and here you can choose the blue route to the south or red to the north / west. Both routes end by the lake in the town center. Always remember to pay attention to the weather conditions, do not take any chances, help each other and take your waste home.

After 6-7 hours of hiking, Sisimiut begins to appear. When you round the west end of Mount Nasaasaaq, you can clearly see small paths leading into the city. For security reasons, we will ask you to let us know when you are back in Sisimiut.