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Villages & the Arctic Wilderness
Colourful settlements at the edge of the ice
Colourful settlements at the edge of the ice
A dramatic town of colourful houses beneath a soaring heart-shaped mountain, set on an island in the far northwest — one of Greenland’s most striking settings.
💡 The heart-shaped peak and floating winter ice make Uummannaq unforgettable.
Tiny settlements of red, blue and yellow wooden houses cling to rocky shores across Greenland — vivid splashes of colour against ice, rock and sea.
💡 The bold house colours once signalled each building’s purpose.
The remote, roadless east — villages like Kulusuk and Tasiilaq — is a world apart, reached by tiny plane and steeped in traditional Inuit culture.
💡 East Greenland is the classic day-trip add-on from Iceland.
Greenland’s immense fjords — among the largest and deepest on earth — are explored by boat past icebergs, waterfalls, glaciers and abandoned settlements.
💡 Small-ship and sailing expeditions reach places no road ever will.
Covering some 80% of the island, the Greenland Ice Sheet is a frozen continent of its own — the vast, silent, otherworldly heart of the country.
💡 You can reach the ice edge on tours from Kangerlussuaq and elsewhere.
In Greenland’s settlements, food is deeply tied to the land and sea. Traditional Kalaallit cooking centres on what is hunted and caught: seal, whale, musk ox, reindeer, Arctic char, halibut, dried fish and seabirds, often eaten simply or as suaasat (a traditional soup). This is subsistence food, prepared much as it has been for centuries, and sharing a meal with a local family is an unforgettable window into Inuit culture. Facilities are minimal — most villages have a small shop (and perhaps a simple cafe or guesthouse dining room) but no restaurants — so many visitors travel on organised tours or expedition ships that provide meals. Bring an open mind, some snacks, and respect for a culture where nothing from a hunt goes to waste.
This is some of the most remote travel on earth, and it takes planning. There are no roads connecting Greenland’s communities — you move between them by small aircraft, helicopter, coastal ferry and boat, and in winter by dog sled and snowmobile. Many travellers reach the wilderness on organised tours or expedition cruises, which handle the complex logistics, or via hubs like Ilulissat, Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. East Greenland is often visited on day trips or short breaks from Iceland. Weather frequently delays flights and boats, so build in buffer days and stay flexible. Pack for serious Arctic conditions, and always travel with experienced local guides in the backcountry.
Fly to Uummannaq or an east-coast village for a guesthouse stay and local culture.
Join a small-ship cruise through the fjords, past glaciers, icebergs and settlements.
A short flight from Iceland to Kulusuk or Tasiilaq for a taste of the remote east.
Weather routinely delays small flights and boats — never plan tight connections.
The backcountry is serious wilderness — always travel with experienced local guides.
Hunting sustains these communities — approach traditions with an open, respectful mind.
Connectivity is limited or absent — part of the magic of Greenland’s remote edges.
Quick answers to the questions travellers most often ask about Greenland’s villages and wilderness.
Yes — many small settlements welcome visitors, usually via organised tours, guesthouses or expedition cruises that handle the complex logistics. You reach them by small plane, helicopter, ferry or boat, as there are no roads between communities. Local guides are essential for backcountry travel.
Its spectacular setting — a town of colourful houses on a small island beneath a dramatic heart-shaped mountain in northwest Greenland. It’s famed for stunning scenery, traditional hunting and fishing culture, dog sledding, and winter travel across the frozen sea.
East Greenland — villages like Kulusuk and Tasiilaq — is most easily reached by a short flight from Iceland, making it a popular day trip or short break. It’s roadless, remote and culturally distinct, with dramatic fjords and mountains.
For many travellers, yes — the combination of raw Arctic wilderness, colossal fjords, the ice sheet, and authentic Inuit village life is deeply rewarding and unlike anywhere else. It takes time, money and flexibility, but the remoteness is exactly the point.
The UNESCO icefjord at Ilulissat, the colourful capital Nuuk, and the remote villages and vast ice sheet beyond — three faces of Greenland.