Plan Your Adventure: Your Guide to Travel to Greenland

Greenland Icefjord Trek

As a lover of the Nordic region and its captivating remote corners, I’ve explored places like the breathtaking Trolltunga hike in Norway and embarked on an unforgettable road trip across Iceland. The allure of the green Faroe Islands and the stark beauty of Svalbard, high above the Arctic Circle, further fueled my desire for a truly unique Arctic experience. Greenland, with its vast icy landscapes and untouched wilderness, became the next frontier on my travel wishlist. For a long time, visiting Greenland felt like a distant dream, an ambitious maybe. But the idea took root, and a dedicated travel fund began to grow, just in case the dream turned into a plan. After weeks of research and meticulous planning, I finally booked my trip to Greenland. Now, I’m excited to share the detailed planning process that made this incredible journey a reality, a process that involved some serious spreadsheet wizardry to bring it all together.

Finding the Perfect Time for Your Greenland Trip

Deciding when to Travel To Greenland is the first crucial step in your planning process. The ideal time to visit largely depends on the experiences you are seeking.

For those dreaming of the midnight sun, extended daylight hours, and wildlife encounters – think whales breaching, musk oxen roaming, or reindeer grazing – the summer months, from June to early September, are your prime window for travel to Greenland.

Whale Watching in Greenland

If you’re an adventure seeker drawn to snow-filled activities such as dog sledding adventures, ice fishing, or the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights, then a Greenland winter trip might be more appealing.

However, the spring months, from February to April, are increasingly popular for travel to Greenland, offering a unique blend of winter and spring experiences. This period allows you to witness the Aurora Borealis while also experiencing the gradual transition from winter, with stunning pink-hued sunrises and sunsets painting the snowy peaks.

While an Easter trip initially tempted me, my vacation time landed in August. I’m thrilled to explore Greenland during a season when boat excursions are readily available, promising a different perspective of this incredible Arctic destination.

Navigating Greenland: Transportation Options

Getting to and around Greenland presents unique logistical considerations. Most international flights to Greenland route through Copenhagen or Reykjavik, with several direct flights available daily. Flight search engines can help you identify the best routes, but I discovered that AirGreenland is particularly useful, especially if you’re interested in incorporating overnight stopovers in different cities to extend your travel experience.

Air Greenland Flight Planning

For instance, you could book flights to Ilulissat with a brief stopover, or opt for a longer layover, perhaps 23 hours in Kangerlussuaq. This extended stopover provides a chance to explore Kangerlussuaq without incurring extra travel costs. While Kangerlussuaq itself might be small, it serves as a gateway to various adventure tours.

AirGreenland’s website also features “Takuss” tickets, offering cheaper fares for those who book in advance, a valuable tip for budget-conscious travel to Greenland.

Interestingly, I observed that AirGreenland flight prices remain relatively stable throughout the year, unlike many commercial airlines where prices fluctuate significantly based on holidays and peak seasons. This price consistency led me to book all my flights directly through the AirGreenland website for my travel to Greenland.

Once in Greenland, internal transportation presents its own set of challenges. With most settlements located along the coastline and no road networks connecting them, air travel and ferries become the primary modes of transport within Greenland.

Inland Flights within Greenland

AirGreenland also operates domestic flights within Greenland. Many of these flights connect through major hubs like Nuuk, Ilulissat, or Kangerlussuaq. An exciting aspect of flying within Greenland is that it offers a built-in scenic experience, often in small propeller planes or even helicopters. These flights themselves become an incredible part of your Greenland adventure. Helicopter flights, typically accommodating around 10 passengers, provide breathtaking aerial views. Securing a window seat transforms your inter-town travel into a sightseeing excursion, effectively giving you a helicopter tour experience without the additional cost.

Helicopter View Greenland Travel

Aerial View Greenland Landscape

Inside Greenland Helicopter

Greenland Helicopter Tour Experience

Even small plane journeys in Greenland offer spectacular views of the icy wilderness.

Small commuter planes are essential for navigating the vast distances and remote settlements of Greenland.

Ferry Travel in Greenland

The Arctic Umiaq Line operates the primary passenger ferry service in Greenland. Running from April to January, the ferry travels along the west coast, connecting Ilulissat and Nuuk, and extending south from Nuuk to Qaqortoq, with stops at numerous smaller settlements along the way.

Greenland Ferry Travel

It’s important to note that ferry routes to your desired destinations might operate only once a week. For example, the ferry from Nuuk to Ilulissat typically departs only on Fridays. Careful planning is therefore crucial when incorporating ferry travel into your Greenland itinerary. Booking in advance is highly recommended. When I booked my couchette just two weeks prior to departure, all cabins were already fully booked. The Arctic Umiaq Line offers a flexible cancellation policy, allowing full refunds up to 2 hours before departure, making it wise to book early to secure your spot.

Finding the Best Greenland Hotels

Accommodation in Greenland, especially outside of major towns like Nuuk, is limited. Securing budget-friendly accommodation in Greenland requires booking well in advance. In fact, it’s important to adjust expectations; “budget accommodation” in Greenland is a relative term. While some local options might be available through local sites, even these typically start around 950 DKK (approximately 130 EUR) per night.

Local Accommodation in Ilulissat

In my case, I started my accommodation search too late, and local residences were already fully booked. This led me to explore more conventional hotel booking platforms like Booking.com.

Booking Hotels in Greenland

Hotel prices in Greenland can sometimes fluctuate, with potential decreases closer to travel dates as hotels offer promotions to achieve full occupancy. Checking booking apps is advisable, as platforms like Booking.com often feature “mobile-only” prices, which can be 10-20% lower than desktop rates, offering potential savings for your travel to Greenland.

Here are a couple of hotel options I chose and can recommend for your trip:

Hotel SØMA Ilulissat: Located right on the shore, this hotel offers rooms with highly sought-after sea views, including the iconic icebergs. Prices start from around 1,200 DKK per night (approximately 165 EUR).

Soma Hotel Ilulissat Sea View

Hotel SØMA Sisimiut: A sister hotel to the Ilulissat location, offering similar amenities and price range in Sisimiut.

Breakfast at Soma Hotel Greenland

If you are traveling as a couple, it’s worth checking for hotel deals, as they may offer packages that include overnight stays with dinner at a competitive price.

A significant perk of hotels in Greenland is the complimentary pick-up and drop-off service they provide to and from arrival and departure points, whether it’s the airport or ferry terminal. Be sure to inform your hotel of your arrival time and flight or ferry details to arrange for this convenient service.

Activities and Tours in Greenland

Planning activities in advance is highly recommended for your travel to Greenland.

The official Visit Greenland website is an excellent starting point for researching activities suited to your travel season. It provides valuable insights for general trip planning and helps you understand activity availability in different regions and seasons.

For a more detailed search of specific tours, I found the Guide to Greenland website helpful. It aggregates tours from various operators, searchable by town or time of year. While useful for planning, I ultimately didn’t book through them due to service and banking fees that significantly increased the total cost. If you choose to book via Guide to Greenland, consider booking all tours at once to minimize these per-booking fees.

You can also find a selection of boat tours on platforms like Manawa.

An iceberg boat tour is an essential activity for experiencing the iconic landscapes when you travel to Greenland.

Sunset boat tours in Greenland offer magical views and are a popular way to experience the Arctic environment.

Dog Sledding Greenland Winter

Exploring Greenland’s fjords and coastlines by boat provides unique perspectives and access to remote areas.

Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO Site

Hiking Ilulissat Icefjord

For tour operators, I recommend Disko Line Explorer for excursions in Disko Bay, known for their excellent TripAdvisor reviews. I also booked tours with Albatros Arctic Circle, another reputable operator.

In Conclusion: Your Greenland Journey Awaits

This guide summarizes the key information I gathered while planning my own travel to Greenland. Careful planning is paramount to ensuring a smooth and fulfilling trip, especially considering the costs associated with exploring this unique destination. With a little preparation, your own incredible Greenland adventure is within reach. Enjoy your journey to Greenland!