The world’s largest island, where 80% of the landmass is covered in ice. With a population of about 56,000 and no roads connecting its towns, Greenland is often a destination that’s off limits in most people’s minds. Look beyond the remoteness and there’s a host of gold standard travel experiences to this intriguing destination and the communities that live there. We work with exceptional partners that put you in the heart of Greenland’s wildlife, landscapes and people so you can return with memories that last well beyond the post holiday blues. Below are our top experiences that showcase Greenland at its best.
A Private View of West Greenland – Nuuk to Ilullisat
Duration: 10 days
Dates: May-Mid September
Accommodation: Hotels, tipi tent and a remote lodge
Transport: Helicopter, plane and boat
Activities: Kayaking, glacier walking, whale watching and swimming with icebergs
Revel in the joys of Greenland’s west coast on a 10-day itinerary including three nights at a remote tipi camp only accessible by boat or helicopter. Sleep on the waters edge, from where privately guided kayaking, fishing, swimming with icebergs and humpback whale watching are all included. Conquer the challenging peak of Qingaaq, around 1610 metres above sea level, and reap the rewards of spectacular views across Nuuk fjord. Continue to Disko Bay, a playground for humpback whales and huge icebergs, fly over the UNESCO Isua Glacier and hear the thunder of breaking ice on a private boat tour to the Eqi Glacier, known as the calving glacier. With a guide, walk the glacier, following the trail taken by polar explorer Paul-Emile Victor between 1948 and 1953 for his exploration of the Eqi Glacier ice sheet, passing abandoned machinery used during this period. Learn about Greenlandic culture, climate and biodiversity at the Ilulissat Icefjord Center before spending a final night at the world’s most northerly 4-star hotel. An itinerary for those with a thirst for adventure looking for a holiday that surpasses a typical ‘coolcation’. Speak to our expert Sue to start planning your holiday to Greenland.
Wilderness and Wildlife of East Greenland
Duration: 10 days
Dates: July-August
Accommodation: Hotels and remote expedition-style cabin tent
Transport: Plane, helicopter and boat
Activities: Lava tunnel tour, visiting isolated communities, kayaking, zodiac excursions and hiking
Guide Price: From £13,589 per person (excluding international flights)
Join a small group tour to the remote corners of East Greenland, spending three nights at Base Camp Greenland, an expedition-style camp in Sermilik fjord. Beginning in Iceland, go on a private group tour of the Raufarholshellir Lava Tunnel formed during a volcanic eruption around 5,000 years ago, and stand at the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Continue onto Greenland where specialist guides lead zodiac and kayaking expeditions amongst giant icebergs, as well as visits to isolated Greenlandic villages. Hike through fields of Arctic cotton grass in Flower Valley above the small town of Tasiilaq and experience a glacier hike from Kulusuk, peering down well-like tunnels carved by meltwater running into the glacier known as moulins. Throughout the expedition, keep an eye out for Arctic fox, ptarmigan and northern wheatear birds, as well as minke, fin and humpback whales that inhabit the fjords. Departing in July and August when the landscapes are blanketed with wildflowers and the midnight sun brings fiery skies and longer days.
Small Ship Cruise to East Greenland’s Sermilik Fjord
Duration: 10 days
Dates: August-September
Accommodation: Hotels and M/S Balto expedition ship
Transport: Plane, 12-berth expedition vessel
Activities: Shore landings to remote settlements and abandoned World War II bases, zodiac and hiking
Guide Price: From £9,979 per person (excluding international flights)
One of the best ways to explore East Greenland is on a small ship expedition through the Sermilik fjord, giving access to isolated areas of this vast region of Greenland only reachable by boat. Onboard the classic 12-berth M/S Balto expedition ship, spend 10 days visiting the Inuit towns of Tasiilaq and Kuummiut, hiking to waterfalls and visiting an abandoned World War II military base. Sail to Sermilik Fjord, which stretches over 90 kilometres and see some of the largest icebergs in Greenland calved from the Helheim glacier floating through the fjord. Throughout the expedition, look out for Arctic fox, seals, and humpback and fin whales who thrive in the nutritious waters. From the end of August, there’s a chance the Northern Lights will appear.
Tailor-made Saqqaq Adventure
Duration: Four, six or seven days
Dates: June-September
Accommodation: Tipi
Transport: Boat transfer
Activities: Foraging, guided hiking, sea fishing, village visits, kayaking and swimming with icebergs
Guide Price: From £4,759 per person, based on four day expedition (excluding international flights)
For those who like to travel with more flexibility, we recommend staying at Saqqaq in a luxury tipi tent overlooking Disko Bay. There are no set itineraries, other than meeting your private guide each evening to plan the next day’s activities. Excursions can be paddleboarding, foraging and cooking, hiking and wildlife tours, and village and ancient site visits. Learn the art of Greenlandic fire-cooking, using ingredients foraged from the land and sea including wild berries, blue mussels and sea urchins, backcountry hike to Saqqaq Lake or explore the ghost town of Qullissat, an old mining settlement abandoned in 1968. Return to a private 40 square-metre tipi before an Arctic dinner overlooking the bay.
Speak to our expert Sue to start your journey to Greenland.
Main image is photographed by Sebastian Lehrke.