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Archaeological site · Ilulissat, Avannaata
Sermermiut
A valley beside the Icefjord where Inuit settlements existed for about 4,000 years. A wooden boardwalk crosses the valley to a viewpoint over the ice.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Sermermiut
Sermermiut is a low valley between the hills south of Ilulissat, open to the entrance of the Icefjord. At different times people of the Saqqaq culture, the Dorset culture and the Thule Inuit lived there, hunting seals and whales at the ice edge. Remains of turf and stone houses still appear on the ground.
A wooden boardwalk leaves from the Icefjord Centre and crosses the valley without stepping on the vegetation or the remains. At the end, the path climbs the rocks from where you can see the fjord entrance with the grounded icebergs.
Panels along the boardwalk explain who lived in the valley and what life was like there. The site is part of the protected UNESCO heritage area, and it is forbidden to remove stones, bones or any objects from the ground.
Longer colour‑marked trails also start from the valley and follow the coast and hills to other viewpoints.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About one hour round trip on the boardwalk; two hours including the longer trails.
Best time
On clear summer afternoons and evenings. In winter, parts of the boardwalk can be covered in snow.
How to get there
The boardwalk starts at the Icefjord Centre, at Ilulissat’s southern exit. From the town centre it is about a 30‑minute walk.
Tip
Stay on the boardwalk and on the marked trails: the remains of the old houses are fragile and protected.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Sermermiut
What can you see in Sermermiut?
Remains of turf and stone houses of former Inuit settlements, the valley vegetation and, at the end of the boardwalk, the entrance to the Icefjord with its icebergs.
Is the Sermermiut boardwalk easy?
Yes. It’s flat, made of wood, and suitable for most people. The trails that continue beyond it have rocks and climbs.
How long is the walk to the Sermermiut viewpoint?
About half an hour each way from the Icefjord Centre.