2026 Tour Dates
July 28 - August 10
(7 out of 7 spots remaining)
email info@minershop.com to sign up
Over the last 25 years we’ve discovered some incredible mineral localities along the way in Southern Greenland. Many of these areas aren’t in guidebooks, online forums, or maps, they’re places we found the old-fashioned way: by hiking ridges, cracking rocks, and following promising geology wherever it leads.
Some of our best discoveries have come from these “secret” spots, where rare and fluorescent minerals still turn up for collectors willing to get a little dirt on their boots. When you join one of our Geo-Adventure Tours, you’ll get access to little-known mineral localities we’ve spent decades discovering.
That means more time hunting, more surprises under the rocks, and a much better chance of taking homespecimens from places very few collectors have ever seen.
MinerShop offers guided Mineral Geo-Adventure Tours to the major sites within the Ilimaussaq Complex. During the Greenland Tour you will visit Taseq, Kangerlussaq, and Tunulliarfik for 7 to 10 days of intense mineral exploration. For references, please browse the Trip Report pages for a Greenland Adventure of a lifetime.
The pictures on these pages represent the most typical scenery you will encounter during our Greenland Geo-Adventure Tours - water and icebergs, mountains and rocks. If you’re a rock collector, this is paradise.
Ilimaussaq is the type locality for many alkaline minerals and the variety is amazing! Even more amazing is the yet to be discovered variety of fluorescent rocks and minerals. Greenland is essentially “virgin territory” for collecting fluorescent rocks and minerals. We have our choice of camping in the mountains, staying in hotels, travel by boat, car, and hiking. Fluorescent mineral collecting is the primary focus but any rock collector interested in this rare and unique mineralogy should consider our Greenland Geology Adventure Tour - a trip of a lifetime.
General Overview
Air travel to/from Greenland, with boat transportation to/from Narsaq
Guided collecting trips (travel via 4-wheel vehicle, boat and hiking).
- 3 days on the cliffs of Tunuliarfik Fjord
- 2-3 days on the Taseq Slope with optional camping
- 1 day at the Kangerlussaq tugtupite mine
- 1 optional day on top of Kvanefjeld at the famous tugtupite mines
- 1 free day, packing, local tourism
- 3 days for rest/weather days
- Side trips available to the ice pack, norse ruins, mountain climbing, shopping, etc (optional)
Expert tips and guidance on locales and minerals and prospecting
Shipping - 50 kilos to USA ($300.00 surcharge), hand-carry of finds allowed
WHERE TO STAY
There are several guesthouses and hotels in the Narsaq area. Contact us to assist with booking one of these places to ensure accurate booking.
Hotel Narsaq
Beautiful Hotel Narsaq is located right in the middle of town. Free daily breakfast is included. Rooms have private bathrooms.
Bakeries, grocery stores, etc are all within walking distance.
Price: $114-$135/night
Hotel Narsaq Blue/Red house
Run by Hotel Narsaq, there are a few homes to rent; all have TVs, WIFI, kitchens, bedrooms and beautiful views of the ocean/village.
Free daily breakfast at the local Hotel Narsaq is included with your stay.
Price: $135-$140/night
Igdlo Guesthouse
To save more, you can book a room at the local Narsaq hostel. You can buddy up and share a room with a friend to split the costs. Most rooms come with two separate beds.
You will find clean accommodations, shared bathing facilities, and common living areas. You'll book a room with an ocean view. Bakeries, grocery stores, etc are all within walking distance. A great way to stay with other travelers if trekking solo.
Price: $102-$114/night
Silamut Cottages
Run by very kind locals, Paul & Monika. There are 3 beautiful cottages to stay in, stocked with everything you need for a comfortable stay. Walkable to local grocery stores and restaurants. Note, some do not have WIFI if that is a requirement for travelers.
Price: $125-$247/night, depending on home
How to get to Greenland
Getting to this remote part of the world is the hardest part of the trip! If schedule changes bother you, canceled flights, etc - be forewarned. Flying in the arctic is an “iffy” thing. High winds, fog, and general weather conditions can quickly change flight schedules, cancel flights, or even force landings at alternate airports. It is part of traveling in the arctic and we just figure out what to do when it happens. One way or another, everyone seems to get there.
You will depart from a major US airport to Keflavik (KEF).
- When you fly in to Keflavik (KEF) you will take another plane to Qaqortoq (JJU).
From Qaqortoq, you will take a ferry using Diskoline to Narsaq, where our partner will pick you up from the dock and take you to your hotel, pick up groceries and any necessary supplies before heading out on your first adventure the following day.
The return leg will require a stay in Iceland for one day. Take the shuttle bus from the airport to one of the volcanic thermal baths (in Iceland).
Travel Itinerary
Below is an example flight schedule flying out New York City (JFK) and the ferry to take to get into Narsaq. You are welcome to book any flights that suit your need, arrive a few days later or earlier and meet up with the group when it is convenient for you.
Locales
We cannot provide a detailed daily plan of activities as the day is not planned until the night before! Greenland is a beautiful land, but rugged and unpredictable. The weather rules, and our plans revolve around the weather. Many of the locales we will visit are accessible only by boat and we must take advantage of the calm windless days to do our boat travel. Other areas will be reached by hiking and will be explored on those days that it is too windy to travel by boat.
Kvanefjeld
Travel by 4-wheel drive up an old mine access road followed by a hike up about 250m to the old uranium mine. Climb a relatively steep trail 200m to the top of Kvanefjeld (altitude 700m). Spend a least a day prospecting the tugtupite mines for tugtupite, chkalovite, sorensenite, and other varieties. Tugtupite found here is scarce and usually scarfed up by the locals. Nonetheless, an incredibly beautiful (and strenuous) hike to a historic locale. Swim in the glacier fed lake (warm by Greenland standards).
Taseq East
Travel by 4-wheel drive up an old mine access road, ford a river (using hip waders) - or optionally cross a footbridge much further away, then hike up a gentle slope to the 500m level. Find yellow sodalite, tugtupite, ussingite, and many others. Camping recommended if desired. Some may want to return to this spot several times as it is quite productive and easy to reach. Numerous finds of tugtupite crystals have been made in this area.
Taseq West
Same access as Taseq East but opposite direction once the stream has been crossed. Perhaps one of the most productive areas in the complex, but also the furthest hike (1.7km from the bridge). Prospect around the snow patches, camp if desired - fantastic combination pieces from this area, heavy in beryllium minerals. If you have any intention to camp out, this is the area you should focus on. If not for the rocks you will find, simply for the uninterrupted solitude and beauty of this area. You can even catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis.
Tunuliarfik
Travel by boat to the base of the cliffs along the Tunuliarfik Fjord. There will be several landings at different areas - “Sodalite Beach”, the “Cliffs” where mind-boggling ussingite specimens are found, and of course homage to Tugtup Akatoforia - the type locale for tugtupite. Camping is nice here, but a little rugged. Access is a rather steep climb from the water up the sloping cliffs. (A 20 - 30 minute boat ride from Narsaq). The cliffs offer an awesome view of the icebergs slowly making their way down the fjord, against the deep blue waters.
Kangerlussaq
Travel by boat to the end of the Kangerlussaq Fjord, landing at a “beach” with easy access to a flat sloping plain. Easy place to spend a day searching for beautiful tugtupite/polylithionite pieces as well as fantastic specimens of eudialyte, arfvedsonite, and other rare minerals. Hours can be spent exploring the flat areas, or poking around the nearby cliffs and tallus slopes. A one hour boat ride from Narsaq.
Tour Costs
(Based on 7 participants)
Non-Refundable Deposits must be made by the end of April, accompanied by a signed Participant’s Agreement and Non-disclosure Agreement for each participant.
All prices and times subject to change. Your seat is not confirmed until $500.00 nonrefundable deposit is received and we have received a signed and notarized Participant’s Agreement as well as a Non-disclosure Agreement.
You may spend more if you buy gifts, jewlery, or dine lavishly. You may spend less if you are frugal, eat a lot of peanut butter. One place where we cannot cut corners is hotel rooms. Even if you plan on camping most of the time, you must have a backup room in the event the weather turns nasty. Two people can share a room, but the costs don’t go down dramatically (rooms are rented per person)
What to bring?
What you bring you will probably end up carrying on your back, along with 20 pounds of rocks. So pack light, but bring the necessities (light ones preferably). You will be hiking up mountains (not cliff climbing, just vertical hiking). You will have to carry a tent, sleeping bag, UV light and battery, hammer and chisel, coats, food, etc.
Clothing - The temperature averages in the 50’s to 60’s, but at night can get down to freezing (especially on top of the mountains). The physical activity warms you up quickly, and 60 degrees (F) is already pretty warm. But nighttime, layers are definitely in order.
First Aid - We’ve not yet had any injuries. But bring the common sense stuff, bandages etc. There is a hospital in Narsaq so any serious emergencies can easily be handled.
Food - Two well stocked grocery stores carry just about anything you need, but it’s all in Danish so be prepared to rely on pictures. If you have special dietary requirements contact us and we will make sure it is available there.
Camping Gear - Greenland is a land of changing weather and it is the arctic. Tents must be sturdy enough to take the occasional wind storm but light enough to carry, sleeping bags warm (w/ mattress), and bug netting serious.
Backpack - Don’t bring your kid’s school bag! You need a backpack for serious hiking. Remember you will be carrying batteries, hammers and chisels up the mountains, and pounds of rocks back down (along with the hammers). Make sure the backpack has all the supports, straps etc that make carrying easy.
Rock Hammers - A good crack hammer (not a geologist’s rock hammer), a good chisel (w/ plastic hand protector) and whatever else is your favorite tool. Often these get left behind so we have a pretty good collection, but don’t rely on us.
The only way to find glowrocks in the daytime....
UV Lights, batteries and UV tents - A GOOD UV light, one that won’t break, and is bright. Spare bulbs, spare cords, spare batteries. You’ll need a UV tent to climb under during the daytime for lighting up rocks. Some people have gone out and bought black BBQ grill covers. A big tarp of opaque landscaping material that I just spread out on the ground, weigh down with some rocks and end up with a light but roomy viewing tent.
Electrical - 220v, 50hz, European plug style. Keep this in mind for your chargers (for the UV batteries). Since you’ll be camping, don’t worry about electric shavers.
Mosquitoes - Big and hairy. Bring some serious bug spray (DEET). They sell hats with netting which help keep the mosquitos from flying in your mouth. But they really don’t bite - sometimes Higher up they’re not a problem at all (another advantage to camping on the mountain).
Hiking Shoes - Good ones! Broken in! Steel toes! You’re going to be climbing over rocks, up cliffs, up mountains, and hiking long distances. This is not an area to skimp in.
Medicine - No American medicine available (excedrin, nyquil, etc). Danish meds are good, but if you want good old American drugs, bring ‘em. And of course, make sure you have all the prescription medicine you need.
Reading material - Unless you intend to spend ALL your waking hours looking for rocks, and only stop to sleep, bring something to read.
Greenland - Rockhounding at its best
Mineral exploration is a very costly part of the mining industry. With no guarantee that anything of commercial value will be found by the prospectors sent out into the field, tens of thousands, or even millions of dollars, may be spent with no return. In truly remote regions, where the costs of sending those prospectors out is substantially higher, this can be a serious detriment to thorough investigation of the area's mineral potential.
To combat this problem, Greenland has an annual "mineral hunt" called Ujarassiorit. Ujarassiorit is a Greenlandic word meaning "go and look for rocks." The program was initiated in 1989 to actively involve the people of Greenland in some aspects of exploration work, and at the same time to create a postive attitude towards the mining industry. As well, it assists in the government's efforts to define the economic mineral potential of the country.
The government puts up prize money each year to encourage the collection of mineral samples that may be of economic value. Only permanent residents of Greenland can compete for that prize money, which in 1998 had 25,000 DKK (about $3,500 US) as the top prize.
The samples are sent, along with documentation about the samples and the exact location found, to the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum in Nuuk. The annual haul is nearly 1,000 samples, and from these the most promising (usually about 30%) are selected for chemical analysis.
An important aspect of Ujarassiorit is that many of the samples come from areas in which there has been little formal exploration work conducted. Even apart from the economic mineral aspect, such samples have provided important geological knowledge about these areas.
In 1997, the first prize went to a person who sent in a sample of massive sulphides from the Paleoproterozoic Julianehåb Batholith of South Greenland. That sample assayed 3.4% copper, 0.12% molybdenum, 35 ppm silver and 0.1 ppm gold (100 ppm = 0.1%).
In 1998, sulphur-bearing quartzite from the Paleoproterozoic metasediments of Kobberminebugt in South Greenland won the top prize. Gold-bearing samples from the Uummannaq and Nuuk districts of West Greenland took the next two prizes.
Until 1995, Ujarassiorit was administered by Nunaoil, with results published in Danish. For the past four years, the Government of Greenland has organized it, and reports are now available in English as well.