Arctic Greenland Expedition Cruises

Home | Arctic | Greenland

Quick Facts about Greenland

Greenland is the world's largest island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Three quarters of Greenland is covered by the only permanent ice sheet outside Antarctica. The weigh of the ice sheet depressed the central land area to form a basin more than 300 m (984 ft) below sea level while elevations rise suddenly and steeply near the coast.

Greenland has a population of around 56,000, which is largely concentrated on the southwest coast. The majority of its residents are Inuit. About a third of the population lives in Nuuk, the capital and largest city. The Arctic Umiaq Line ferry connected the various cities and settlements for western Greenland.

Northeast Greenland National Park is the world's largest and most northerly national park. It was established in 1974 and covers 972,000 sq km (375,000 sq mi) of the interior and northeastern coast of Greenland.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Greenland

Enjoy Greenland's coastline with endless icebergs, glaciers, deep fjords, mountains and total wilderness
Experience the stunningly beautiful Scoresby Sund and Ilulissat Icefjord
Visit welcoming Inuit communities and understand their history and culture
Unrivaled opportunities for wildlife viewing: polar bears, muskoxen, whales, walruses and more
Beautiful Aurora Borealis across the night sky with green, purple and red lights dancing

Where to Go in Greenland

greenland-arctic-2014-802-acacia-johnson

West Greenland

Most populated region of Greenland
UNESCO world heritage site in Ilulissat Icefjord
Capital city Nuuk with beautiful view of brightly colored houses, waterfalls and icerbergs
Kangerlussuaq is the main transportation hub providing easy access to the Ice Sheet and fjord
Sisimiut is the main adventure travel hub all year round
Visit remote Inuit communities

East Greenland

Greenland's true wildness with sparse population and infrastructure
Visit the world's largest and most northerly national park - Northeast Greenland with stunning fjord, glacier and mountain view
Enjoy the world's largest fjord system, Scoresby Sund and hike on tundra with fall colors
Tasiilaq-Kulusuk, the largest community in East Greenland, has many adventure options to offer

South Greenland

Eric the Red first landed in South Greenland, and named the country so
Legendary blue ice in the fjords floating in front of lush and green hills
South Greenland farms of sheep, reindeer and cattle
The 70 kilometre long Tasermiut Fjord is called the "Arctic Patagonia" and attracts climbers and mountaineers from around the world.
Visit the stunning 105 kilometre long Prins Christian Sund named after King Chrstian VIII of Denmark

Landing Sites in Greenland

Ilulissat (Disko Bay), Western Greenland

Ilulissat is Greenland's third largest city after Nuuk and Sisimiut, with brightly colored houses surrounded by icebergs. In direct translation, Ilulissat is the Kalaallisut word for "Icebergs". The nearby Ilulissat Icefjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has made Ilulissat the most popular tourist destination in Greenland. You also have very good chances of experiencing large whales up close in nearby Disco Bay.

Sisimiut, Western Greenland

Sisimiut is the second largest settlement in Greenland, which has been inhabited for the last 4,500 years. It was first by the Inuit peoples of the Saqqaq culture, Dorset culture, and then the Thule people. Most families in Sisimiut live in the traditional colorful wooden prefabricated homes shipped from Denmark, and almost always raised or supported by a concrete foundation due to permafrost.

Scoresbysund, Eastern Greenland

Scoresbysund is the world's largest, and one of the longest fjord systems on the eastern coast of Greenland. It is up to 350km long and 600m deep, which stretches over an area of around 38,000 square kilometres, The name of the sound honours English explorer William Scoresby, who mapped the fjord area in detail in 1822.

Scoresbysund, Eastern Greenland

Qaqortoq, Southern Greenland

Qaqortoq is the most populous town in southern Greenland and the fourth-largest town in Greenland. The area around Qaqortoq has been inhabited since prehistoric times.

Qaanaaq, Western Greenland

Qaanaaq is formerly and still popularly known as Thule or New Thule. It is the northernmost civilian settlement in Greenland.

Nuuk, Western Greenland

Nuuk is the largest settlement and capital of Greenland with a population of 18,000 in 2020. The modern town dates from 1721, when Hans Egede, a Norwegian missionary, founded a colony near the site of Vesterbygden, a 10th-century Norse settlement.

Kangerlussuaq, Western Greenland

Kangerlussuaq is located on the far end of the 190 km long Kangerlussuaq Fjord. It is also Greenland's main air transport hub, which could date back to American settlements during and after World War II. The Kangerlussuaq area is also home to Greenland's most diverse terrestrial fauna, including muskoxen, caribou, and gyrfalcons. Russell Glacier is just outside of Kangerlussuaq.

Blomsterbugten, Eastern Greenland

Blomsterbugten is situated on Ymer Island. The name translates into “Flower Bay”. The name was given by Gunnar Seidenfaden and Arne Noe-Nygaard during Lauge Koch’s expedition in 1929 as they found a lot of material for a botanical collection.

Ittoqqortoormiit, Eastern Greenland

Ittoqqortoormiit is a permanent settlement in the eastern Greenland founded in 1925. It is located on the northern side of the mouth of the Scoresby Sound with a population of 452 as of 2013. The name "Ittoqqortoormiit" means "Big-House Dwellers" in the Eastern Greenlandic dialect. The region is known for its wildlife, including polar bears, muskoxen, and seals.

Ilulissat (Disko Bay), Western Greenland

Sisimiut, Western Greenland

Scoresbysund, Eastern Greenland

Scoresbysund, Eastern Greenland

Qaqortoq, Southern Greenland

Qaqortoq is the most populous town in southern Greenland and the fourth-largest town in Greenland. The area around Qaqortoq has been inhabited since prehistoric times.

Qaanaaq, Western Greenland

Qaanaaq is formerly and still popularly known as Thule or New Thule. It is the northernmost civilian settlement in Greenland.

Kangerlussuaq, Western Greenland

Ilulissat (Disko Bay), Western Greenland

Sisimiut, Western Greenland

Kangerlussuaq, Western Greenland

Polar Dream
Travel

Home | Arctic | Greenland

Quick Facts about Greenland

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Greenland