Everything you want to know about this beautiful country from the authors of the Bradt Guide to Greenland.
Greenland is a country waiting to be explored. It’s a year-round destination with the right tour operators and guides; Whether you’re planning your own Greenland travel itinerary or hiring a local company, we’re sure we’ll have a wonderful time.
Whatever you decide to do in Greenland, we can guarantee that you will be blown away by the wonders of it all. Whether you’re high up in the mountains, curled up in a tent, racing across a glacier on a dog sled, or sipping a beer on a terrace looking at the icebergs, Greenland is unforgettable.
We’ve traveled extensively throughout Greenland, either as visitors or looking for the Bradt guide. During our travels, we were fortunate enough to meet many Greenlanders who run local businesses; From families offering sea safaris to those who organize multi-day trips. Many Greenlanders are passionate about their region and the tourism opportunities. We participate in activities and visit places that we would never have discovered without those other local people interested in sharing their wisdom and enthusiasm with us.
They ask us when is the most productive time to stop in Greenland and what is there to see. In reality, there is no ideal travel itinerary that suits everyone; It really depends on what you need to see and do. That said, here are some recommended itineraries that will give you an idea of what this glorious country has to offer.
Day 1: Fly to Kangerlussuaq, just north of the Arctic Circle, either directly or to Nuuk.
Day 2: Hike across the tundra to the ice cap and spot reindeer and musk oxen along the way. Hike with poles and crampons over the ice sheet, and for the full experience, camp on the ice overnight.
Day – Return to Kangerlussuaq and flight to Sisimiut.
Days four and five: In Sisimitut, go whale watching, hiking, and maybe enjoy the midnight sun in summer. In winter, enjoy tours of the countryside on snowmobiles, skiing, or dog sledding. There’s a good chance you’ll see the Northern Lights. Don’t miss the “Special” lunch at Nasaasaaq Restaurant, it’s special.
Day 6: Return to Kangerlussuaq to catch your flight home or fly to Nuuk.
Day 1: Fly into the new Nuuk Airport, which is set to open in November 2024.
Day 2: Take a tour of the city, perhaps with the Nuuk Arts Trail as your guide. Spend time at the National Museum to see the mummies of Qilakitsoq. In the evening, you will make a stop at the Godthaab Bryghus brewery and then have dinner.
Day 3: Spend the day in the Nuukfjord with Nuuk Water Taxi and the only village, Kapisillit. Settle into a fishing spot and take your catch to the Unicorn restaurant in the evening to get ready for dinner.
Day – Go home.
Day 1 – Arrival in Ilulissat.
Day 2: Take a boat around the enchanting icebergs and along the fjord towards the Jakobshavn glacier. To see it up close, take a helicopter sightseeing tour. You may be lucky enough to see whales.
Day 3: Hike to the splendid Icefjord Visitor Center by taking one of the marked trails along the UNESCO-listed Icefjord.
Day Four: Take a boat or regular Air Greenland helicopter flight from Disko Bay to Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island and spot whales and icebergs along the way.
Day Five: Stay active or hike the black sand beach in the summer or, in the winter, you can ride dog sledding or snowmobiling.
Day 6: Take a second boat or helicopter tour across the bay to Aasiaat.
Day 7: Kayak through the protected waterways or take part in a sea safari for whale watching and sea fishing. In winter, visitors can go cross-country skiing or learn to ice fish.
Day – Return to Ilulissat to catch your flight back home.
Day 1 – Flight to Narsarsuaq.
Day 2: Visit the museum and then hike to Valley Hospital or even take a consultant and head to the ice sheet.
Day 3: Take a 10-minute boat ride to Qassiarsuk for a guided tour of Erik the Red’s farm and church.
Days four and five: Take a ride from Qassiarsuk or ride an Icelandic horse to one of the many sheep farms where you can spend the night.
Day 6 – Return to Qassiarsuk before descending the fjord towards Qaqortoq, either by boat or regular helicopter from Narsarsuaq.
Day 7: Spend the day exploring Qaqortoq, the stone-carved and man-carved trail, and visiting a café or two.
Day 8: From here a boat will take you to Nanortalik, stopping at the hot springs of Uunartoq, where you can take a regular helicopter to get a view of the mountains, fjords, and glaciers.
Day Nine: Explore the colonial port of Nanortalik and the open-air museum before taking a boat down the Tasermiutfjord. If you have some free time, spend it in one of the secluded cabins near Tasiusaq.
Day 10: A boat or helicopter will take you to Nanortalik and then Narsarsuaq for your flight back home.
Greenland is a vast country that is nine times the length of the United Kingdom (and three times the length of Texas), and stretches some 2,670 km from north to south. Greenland, a country largely unknown to tourists, offers some exclusive reports that every traveler deserves to add to their itinerary.
For more inspiration, check out our next consultant in Greenland.
Greenland’s ice is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Only here can you leave the city and enter a sheet of ice with nothing in front of you, but bright white as far as the eye can see. It would be hard to locate any other country where you can see icebergs the size of towers floating out of your hotel room window. You can even lie in bed and listen to the crunch of icebergs as the surface of the Eqi Glacier breaks.
The most productive starting point for the “ice” is probably Ilulissat and the frozen fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the easiest place to reach the gigantic ice sheet is Kangerlussuaq. Here you can follow a short road that will take you to the edge. , allowing you to practice the herbal phenomenon up close.
To revel in the center of classic Greenlandic culture, visitors can choose to ride dog sleds with a local musher. There are more than 17,000 sled dogs in Greenland; This unique mode of transportation has been an integral component of the Inuit way of life for more than 4,000 years.
Above the Arctic Circle, there are many places offering dog sledding rides, along the west coast (from Kangerlussuaq) and on the east coast. The length of the trips varies from a few hours to multi-day adventures where travelers can sleep. igloos along the way. Running silently over the icy snow with just a shot of dogs skillfully controlled through your musher is unforgettable.
Greenland’s vast, unspoiled landscape is a true wilderness. There are only 56,000 other people living on this huge island, so nature is never more than a few minutes away. Hills, mountains, fjords, and glaciers are components of Greenland’s iconic skylines and each is a vital component of any itinerary.
There are no roads outside the settlements. You can choose to stay in a cabin across a fjord, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in nature. You can hike, snowshoe, ski, kayak, climb, or even just sit and fish. Whatever you do, you won’t be able to avoid being defeated by the raw greatness that surrounds you. Visiting Greenland gives you the opportunity to be in a position that nourishes the body, brain, and spirit.
Greenland’s skies are mesmerizing, no matter when you visit. In summer, the low sun casts a myriad of colors in the sky, making the icebergs pink and orange.
From late September to early April, the dancing patterns of the Northern Lights fill the night sky. You can appreciate its stunning green, yellow, and even red hues just by stepping outside the city, with so few mild pollutants that you don’t have. to venture far away. Visitors can also choose to take a boat, snowmobile, or dog sled into the countryside and observe one of the world’s largest exhibits while being completely immersed in nature. Other features include a 24-hour layover at the Igloo. Lodge, tucked away in the hinterland of Ilulissat, or spend the night in the Aurora cabins of the Arctic Hotel.
You can read more about the places to see the Northern Lights here.
The waters surrounding Greenland attract fish, whales and seals. The easiest way to watch whales is from a sea safari boat (perhaps from Nuuk, Aasiaat or Ilulissat), but you can watch them from the shore or even from your hotel window.
From May to September, 13 species of whales in Greenland waters, from humpback whales to narwhals.
You can pass Greenland for the scenery, but actually leave with a new respect for its people. This is not an empty land, it is a country where the Inuit have lived for thousands of years. You’ll continually wonder how they do it, and how they continue to thrive in such a challenging environment.
The country has ideal museums (especially in Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat) that offer a valuable overview of Inuit history; The undeniable act of chatting with a Greenlandic over coffee will give you an insight into their life.
This is the most popular tourist region and is a wonderful location to easily spot the beautiful icebergs of the icy Ilulissat Fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whale watching can be observed in the bay and there are regular sea and air connections to Disko Island, with its hiking trails and black beaches. . Visit Aasiaat for kayaking around the small islands and easy hikes through the countryside. At the northern end of the Arctic Circle, it offers sunshine in summer and the chance to practice the Northern Lights in winter.
From the end of 2024, it will be possible to take a foreign flight directly to Nuuk, the small capital of Greenland. It is the cultural center of the country and is home to museums, art galleries, and a wide variety of accommodations and restaurants. Nuuk offers all the amenities of an elegant city and is therefore straightforward because of how secluded it is. A convenient reminder is a boat holiday along the world’s second-largest fjord.
Kangerlussuaq is a perfect domain to observe and the easiest position to access the ice sheet. The 165 km long Arctic Circle Trail is the ideal backpacking hike in Greenland. Sisimiut is a quintessential Greenlandic fishing village, offering smart access to snowmobiles and dog sledding. inside.
Southern Greenland is the region with the mildest climate. On the other side of the fjord, from Narsarsuaq Airport, is Qassiarsuk, where Eric the Red established his farm, which is now part of the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site. From here, you can hike (or ride) Icelandic horses through the hills and spend the night on sheep farms.
Visit our favorite Greenlandic city, Qaqortoq, which is home to many local artists. For new adventures, travelers can head to the Tasermiutfjord, a place of true serenity. Stay in a cabin for a while and let the worries of the world melt away. .
Greenland’s east coast is so far off the beaten track that it even has its own language. Fly to Kulusuk, then a helicopter will take you over the mountain ridge and across the fjord to Tasiilaq. In winter, you can go dog sledding, climbing in ice caves, sleeping in an igloo, and snowshoeing; In summer, stopover tourists can kayak, hike, stop on a glacier, and go whale watching. Further north is the national park and the largest fjord in the world. And polar bears, never polar bears!
Do you want to make your European tour bigger? Don’t miss our guide to traveling to Iceland in winter.
If you’re traveling to Greenland for dog sledding, snowshoeing, heliskiing, snowmobiling, or to see the Northern Lights, fall through spring is the most productive time to visit; The further north you go, the longer the season will be for those activities. Wildlife watching, kayaking, horseback riding, and hiking are most productively enjoyed in the spring, summer, and fall. If you want to see the midnight sun, you’d rather be in the north. of the Arctic Circle until midsummer.
However, there are many activities that can be enjoyed at any time of the year, adding fishing, bird watching, photography, and visiting the country’s many museums and galleries. Greenlanders love to be outdoors, so activities will be presented “out of season. “The weather permits.
Be sure to check the updated recommendations for Greenland before you travel.
There are currently five foreign air gateways to Greenland: Kangerlussuaq, Ilulissat, Narsarsuaq, Kulusuk and Nelerit Inaat (Constable Point), near Ittoqqortoormiit, the remote gateway to the national park. By the end of 2024, the new Nuuk Airport will open its doors and the sixth (and largest) foreign gateway to Greenland. Almost all flights to Greenland originate from Denmark or Iceland. There is a weekly departure from Northern Canada. A list of all airports in Greenland can be found here.
Moving around Greenland is different than traveling to any other country because there are no roads outside the settlements. Even the capital has no access and no exit roads. All travel between colonies is done via ships or domestic flights, either by plane or helicopter. Therefore, traveling to Greenland can be quite expensive, so keep that in mind when planning your itinerary. Typically, it’s more productive to narrow your scale to one or two regions and explore them in depth. Despite the extra cost, traveling between places is an adventure in itself. The helicopter perspectives of the vast fjords and island-dotted coastlines are breathtaking. For a relaxing trip, visit the Arctic Umiaq ship that connects 13 settlements along the west coast.
Visit Greenland is owned by the Government of Greenland and is committed to marketing the country’s adventures and opportunities to visitors who wish to visit the world’s largest island.
Air Greenland is the national airline of Greenland and has been operating flights to and from Greenland for approximately 65 years. Air Greenland takes you to Greenland from Denmark, Iceland and Nunavut in northern Canada, and also operates an extensive network of domestic flights with more than 60 destinations. .
Greenland Travel tour packages operate in the following Greenlandic seasons: summer: June-August, autumn: September-November, winter: December-mid-April, spring: May. The dates vary a bit, as Greenland stretches 2,000 kilometers from north to south, so even though it’s still summer in the south, possibly autumn/winter is arriving in the north.
For more information, please consult our next consultant in Greenland.
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