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Villages & the Arctic Wilderness
Remote settlements, the edge of the ice sheet and some of the wildest landscapes on Earth
Remote settlements, the edge of the ice sheet and some of the wildest landscapes on Earth
A settlement on a small island north of Disko Bay, dominated by a heart-shaped mountain of about 1,170m and surrounded by icebergs.
Photo: Carina Gsottbauer, CC BY-SA 4.0
The largest town in East Greenland, a base for hiking, boat trips among the ice and visits to tiny hunting settlements.
Access is by flight via Kulusuk, often from Iceland.
Photo: Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan, CC BY-SA 2.0
From Kangerlussuaq a gravel road leads to the edge of the ice sheet, one of the few places where you can reach it by road on a guided tour.
Photo: Halorache, CC BY-SA 3.0
Basalt mountains, black-sand beaches and summer dog sledding on a glacier, reached by ferry from Ilulissat to Qeqertarsuaq.
Photo: NASA/John Sonntag, Public domain
Settlements have a general store and sometimes a small café; guesthouses and tours often include meals. Local food includes fish, seal, whale, musk ox and reindeer.
Bring snacks and any special foods you need, as choice can be very limited.
Access is by Air Greenland plane or helicopter, by boat, or on the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ferry on the west coast in the warmer months. East Greenland is usually reached via Kulusuk, with flights from Iceland. There are no roads between towns in Greenland. Travel is by Air Greenland plane or helicopter, by boat, or by the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ferry on the west coast.
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but is not in the EU or the Schengen area, and a Schengen visa is not valid there. Nordic citizens can enter freely; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, most EU countries and many others are visa-free. Those who need a visa must apply specifically for Greenland. The currency is the Danish krone. Check current rules before you travel.
Remote travel in Greenland is expensive; transport is the biggest cost.
Transport between settlements is extra and often expensive.
Ice sheet, island and settlements.
Take a guided trip to the edge of the ice sheet, and look for musk oxen on the tundra.
Fly to Ilulissat and take the ferry to Disko Island.
Hike the basalt valleys near Qeqertarsuaq or take a summer dog-sledding trip on the glacier.
Take a boat trip to a small settlement such as Oqaatsut or Ilimanaq.
Fly back to Nuuk for your international connection, allowing for weather delays.
Weather changes fast even in summer; bring windproof and waterproof layers, a hat and gloves.
Flights, rooms and boat trips are limited; book well in advance, especially for June to August.
Fog and wind often delay flights and boats; leave a spare day before international connections.
Use local guides for wilderness trips; there is no mobile coverage in much of the backcountry.
Quick answers for planning time in Greenland’s Villages & Wilderness.
Greenland is outside the Schengen area. Citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, most EU countries and many others are visa-free; those who need a visa must apply specifically for Greenland.
No, travel between settlements is by plane, helicopter or boat.
Yes, guided tours from Kangerlussuaq drive to the edge of the ice sheet.
Usually by flight to Kulusuk, with connections from Iceland, then helicopter or boat to Tasiilaq.
Late winter and spring, roughly March to April.
Google Maps covers the towns; outside them there are no roads, so use guided trips and official trail maps.
Free
Greenlandic and Danish are the main languages; English is spoken in tourism.
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Used by some guides and guesthouses; mobile data can be limited outside towns.
Free
Some boat trips and tours are bookable; many are booked directly with local operators.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Greenland travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.