Greenland Holidays

Most trips to Greenland are quite active; cruises involving daily walking excursions across the arctic tundra; dog sledding or wildlife watching so to be able to get the most out of it you should be in good general health.

Owing to its location north of the Arctic Circle, Greenland experiences extreme contrasts in daylight hours between winter and summer. For two to three months in summer, there is continuous daylight in Greenland, the so-called midnight sun. The winter darkness (three to four hours’ daylight) lasts from about mid-November until the end of January.

It is always best to pack plenty of thin thermal layers rather than one thick layer. For voyages wellington boots, waterproof over-trousers & a waterproof jacket are essential. Most ships provide wellingtons & we will confirm the inclusions on your itinerary. Some ships also provide waterproof outer gear or having this available to hire. You will also need to keep your hands, head, ears and feet warm. The Arctic tends to be quite monochrome so bright coloured clothing tends to stand out in photographs. Aside from clothing a high factor sun cream and sunglasses are considered essential as the glare of snow and water will magnify the effects, insect repellent recommended at some times of the year.

The capital of Greenland is Nuuk, lying at 64°10′ N, makes it the world’s northernmost capital and has been occupied a settlement since 2200 BC

The Aurora Borealis or Northern lights are most frequently seen in the autumn and winter months when the nights are longer and darker.

During the rut Musk Ox males will fight for dominance, this often involves charging at each other from around 20 metres and banging their heads together, similar to a head-on collision at 50 km/hr! This will continue until the dominant male wins. Often during mating, the bull casually kicks the cow’s foreleg to “calm her down and make her more receptive to his advances”.

Kangerlussuaq is the main International airport but there are no roads to anywhere from here. You can only fly, they also have a church with no vicar, a Medical Centre with no Doctor (he flies in for two days a month) and a Norwegian Airbase that rarely has any aircraft.