Located in Denmark and covering approximately 2,800 kilometres (1,750 miles) from north to south and approximately 1,000 kilometres (625 miles) from east to west, Greenland is the world’s largest island.
Greenland has a massive landscape, 85 per cent of which is ice sheet and is therefore white on the map. Greenland is truly an awe-inspiring and magical country at any time of the year, with amazing experiences that include pristine winter nights, beautiful displays of the northern lights, historical treasures, whale watching and endless summer days under the midnight sun.
To get a roundup of the best things to do in Greenland, we asked the travel experts at Baltic Travel Company to help us navigate the area by giving us their top seven things to do while visiting.
Experience the midnight sun in Greenland
A trip to Greenland is an experience entirely on nature’s terms and on your visit, you will get up close and personal with nature.
The Ice Cap and glaciers in Kangerlussuaq, beautifully accompanied by Greenland’s unique culture and traditional lifestyle is nature’s calling to live in a complete contrast to the modern way of life. The contrasts in Greenland are best experienced during summertime where bright sunlight can suddenly be replaced by a foggy mist. All in all, you should prepare to be overcome by the forces of nature!
Visit Ilulissat
During the flight you will have a bird’s eye view of the beautiful landscapes of Iceland and Greenland. This is an almost otherworldly view of the vast empty ice sheet of Greenland, with remote settlements located along the country’s coast.
As you arrive in Ilulissat, you will catch your first glimpse of the magnificent Ice Fjord of Ilulissat. The Ilulissat Ice Fjord is home to one of the largest glaciers in the world which moves at a staggering rate of 19 metres per day and creates around 35 square kilometres of icebergs every year. This stunning view is often accompanied by the rumbling sounds of the moving ice.
Northern Lights safari
Aurora Borealis is without a doubt the night sky’s most spectacular phenomenon. The best time to see the northern lights in Ilulissat is in the period between September 18 to December when the sky is at its clearest. On winter nights you can see the most beautiful Northern Lights over Ilulissat, and you can drive away from the lights of the town and go to where the darkness is most intense.
Experience the hot springs in Uunartoq
Enjoy a relaxing bath in the Uunartoq warm springs, which are the only accessible thermal springs in Greenland, used as a pool and holiday resort for many natives who come from all over the country to camp and bathe in the thermal springs. Enjoying a warm bath while icebergs float only a few meters away in the fjord certainly provides a unique experience and one that is harmonious with nature.
Sailing among the icebergs
Most visitors to Ilulissat will choose to take this fantastic boat trip during their visit. Over 40 million tonnes of ice flow into the Ice Fjord daily, and the imposing icebergs are enormous, in some cases larger than 100 metres in length and width.
These great blocks of ice converge provide a great opportunity to cruise through them for a truly unmissable experience. The icebergs are incredible whatever the weather but in summer they are particularly stunning due to the contrasts of sun and ice.
Eysers and waterfalls
Drive around the fertile lowlands of southern Iceland and visit one of Iceland’s most magnificent waterfalls, Gullfoss Waterfall, the erupting hot springs in the Geyser area (the word geysir, meaning a hot spring, is originally an Icelandic word) and the outstandingly beautiful Þingvellir National Park where the world’s oldest parliament was founded in the year 930.
Whale watching
In Greenland, you have the opportunity to get as close as possible to these monumental creatures. 15 different species of whale inhabit Greenland at various times of the year with the most frequently seen whale being the humpback. Three of these (the narwhal, beluga and bow-head whale) remain in Greenland during the winter, while blue whales and killer whales are seen less often. The place is constantly surrounded with local fishermen, who usually give advice about the best places to spot the whales at any particular time.
