Tasiusaq

Tasiusaq is a tiny sheep-farming settlement in Kommune Kujalleq, in the far south of Greenland, set on the Tasermiut Fjord (Danish: Ketils Fjord) east of Nanortalik. Founded in 1933, it is one of the country's smallest communities — its population was around 42 in 2025 — and one of the pioneering centres of South Greenlandic sheep farming and farm tourism.

The appeal of Tasiusaq is its setting and its way of life rather than any monuments. The settlement and the scattered farms around it (places such as Nalasut, Saputit and Nuugaarsuk, each home to only a handful of people) sit among lush, flowering summer meadows that run down to a sheltered bay where icebergs collect after calving from the fjord. The most celebrated of these is Tasiusaq Farm, about a two-hour walk along a dirt road from the settlement, run by sheep farmers who host visitors with what is often called one of the best views in Greenland. The sheltered, iceberg-dotted bay also makes this one of the safest places in the country to try sea kayaking.

Visit in the short summer (roughly late June to August), when the meadows are green, the farm-stays are open and boats run from Nanortalik. Outside summer the settlement is hard to reach and largely closed to visitors. Bring warm, windproof clothing whatever the season.

By Plane

Tasiusaq has no airport. The regional gateways are Narsarsuaq Airport (IATA: UAK), with seasonal flights from Copenhagen and domestic Air Greenland services, and the heliport at Nanortalik. From Nanortalik, the nearest town, travellers continue to Tasiusaq by boat transfer; there is no direct air service to the settlement.

The settlement itself is small and walked end to end in minutes. The main "route" is the dirt road inland to the surrounding sheep farms, including the roughly two-hour walk to Tasiusaq Farm; the wider area is explored on foot or, on the calm bay, by kayak. There is no public transport, taxi or car hire. Hiking trails connect Tasiusaq into the farm-to-farm walking network of South Greenland, so good boots and warm layers are essential.

• The iceberg bay — the sheltered bay below the settlement where large chunks of floating ice gather through the summer, the defining sight of Tasiusaq and a fine spot for photography.

• Summer meadows and farms — the lush, flowering hay meadows running down to the fjord, dotted with the small farmsteads of Nalasut, Saputit and Nuugaarsuk, give a vivid picture of modern Greenlandic agriculture.

• Tasiusaq Farm viewpoint — about a two-hour walk inland, the farm sits on a small sheltered bay crowded with icebergs and commands one of the most celebrated views in South Greenland.

• Tasermiut Fjord — the great fjord on which the settlement sits, lined with peaks and a gateway to the climbing country to the south.

• Stay on a working sheep farm — the signature Tasiusaq experience is lodging with the farmers, sharing in rural Greenlandic life and waking to the iceberg bay.

• Sea kayaking — the calm, sheltered, iceberg-dotted bay is rated one of the safest places in Greenland to try kayaking, often offered through the farm.

• Hiking — excellent trails fan out from the farms into the surrounding hills and along the fjord, part of South Greenland's farm-to-farm trekking routes.

• Boat trips — excursions on the Tasermiut Fjord, toward Nanortalik and the spectacular Tasermiut climbing valley, are arranged via boat from the settlement or Nanortalik.

Meals for visitors are provided through the farm-stays, above all Tasiusaq Farm, where hosts cook for guests, often using their own lamb and local produce — book your stay (and meals) in advance. There are no restaurants or cafés in the settlement, so anyone not on a farm-stay must self-cater with supplies brought from Nanortalik. Prices are in Danish kroner (DKK).

There is no bar or café in Tasiusaq; evenings are spent with your farm-stay hosts. Tap and spring water in the area comes from clean Greenlandic sources and is safe to drink, and the meltwater streams around the farms generally run clear (treat or boil standing water to be safe). Bring your own drinks if you want anything beyond what your hosts provide.

• Budget: Camping is possible in the meadows around the settlement with permission; bring a full tent kit, as there are no serviced facilities.
• Mid-range: Tasiusaq Farm offers farm-stay accommodation with home-cooked meals, kayaking and superb fjord views — the classic and most comfortable way to stay; book ahead through South Greenland operators as capacity is tiny.
• Upscale / heritage: There is no hotel in Tasiusaq; for hotel-standard rooms, base in Nanortalik and visit on a day or overnight boat trip.

Tasiusaq is too small to offer real shopping. Provision yourself in Nanortalik before travelling, as the settlement has at most very limited supplies and no craft or souvenir shops. Bring Danish kroner (DKK) in cash. The local "products" are the experience of the sheep farms themselves and South Greenlandic lamb, the mainstay of the region's agriculture.

• Nanortalik — the nearest town, the regional hub for boats, trips and services, a couple of hours away by boat.
• Tasermiut Fjord (climbing valley) — south up the fjord, a world-renowned big-wall climbing and trekking area, reached by boat.
• Narsarsuaq — the regional airport town and gateway to the Norse sites and the ice cap.
• Qaqortoq — the largest town in South Greenland, with museums and full services, reached by boat or helicopter.

All travel onward is by boat or Air Greenland helicopter; there are no inter-town roads.