Discover Greenland and ignite your adventurous soul
I guess you could be forgiven for thinking of Greenland as some large sheet of ice too close to the arctic to be enjoyed. And what would you do?
Why visit Greenland?
Surprisingly it’s got a lot more then you would think. Depending in which season you would travel, Summer and winter can give you a totally different experience.
Summer
May or June in Greenland are the summer months, peaking in July or early August determined by how far north you may be. Midsummer in in July/August and said to be one of the best times to visit Greenland.
Suggestions are that if you want to avoid the crowds and the facilities, then early summer in May and June would be great times to go – also late summer – August end and early September.
It is also worth experiencing early summer in the end of May and in the month of June. The same applies to late summer in the end of August and beginning of September.
Of all the places of interest to travel to in the world, Greenland rates top for the more adventurous traveler. Obviously Greenland is more suited to the tourist who enjoys the great outdoors – Hiking, Kayaking, sailing, whale watching, fishing and hunting are the most common pursuits.
Winter
The scenery is outstanding and glaciers and Fjords await. The explosion of color from short-lived flowers in the summer is also a wondrous sight.
December through to April are the winter months. It gets cold – temperatures can dip below minus 20 degrees Celsius. Greenlander’s claim that it does not feel very cold because the air is dry. Take that as you choose.
Dog sled rides, Northern lights, snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and ice fishing top the what to do bill in the cold season.
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. Many people are confused at how this large land mass, essentially the worlds largest island, could be considered physio-graphically, at least, as a part of the continent of North America.
10 Special Highlights to any Greenland Vacation
- Visit Qaqortoq an old colonial town in southern Greenland
- The Qaqortoq Museum is worthy of a look with exhibits that include harpoons, kayaks and traditional blubber bags.
- Enjoy the hot water springs of the nearby island of Uunartoq, where the water can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
- Whilst busy can hardly describe the capital of Greenland, Nuuk is the largest city of Greenland. It is home to a quarter of the entire population — around 15,000 people and is the least-populated national capital in the world.
- Take a dog sledding tour around Greenland. This offers a truly Arctic experience
- In the summer months, a hike through Disko Bay offers an unspoiled district of bountiful natural beauty. The summers are warm (up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit)The area is characterized by its warm summers (up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and the area is renowned for for its gentle hills, tundra plains, majestic fjords and mountains.
- Take a summer cruise beneath the midnight sun
- Go whale watching
- View the wildlife including musk oxen, polar bears, reindeers, seals, walruses and, of course, whales.
- Go to Kangerlussuaq for your auroral viewing. Visitors during the winter months should be able to see a spectacular Aurora Borealis show at night. There is a 99% chance of visuals between November and March.
“There’s not much in the choice of hotels in Greenland and certainly forget about finding some 5 star resort. It is all about a rustic cool-Bohemian style of lodging with an aspect of student digs thrown in”.
Travel Notes:
- Your travel planning to Greenland will quickly reveal that it is expensive to get there. Best to use a travel agent to assist you with flights getting to the country and connections within. There is limited infrastructure so air transport will be the most common way to travel distances
- Cash is the main currency – the Danish Krone is the official currency but places like Nuuk will accept Euro and USD in some cases. Credit cards can be used but not all the time
Daily costs of travel in Greenland
Expensive.
No matter if you are a backpacker or simply a budget traveler, you will not get away cheaply in Greenland
Low end hotel or hostel – $50-60 per day
Food – $30–40 per day per person
2 drinks per day $10-15
$100 : Suggested Daily Budget for ‘bare bones’ travel (hostel rooms, public transport, food from stalls or supermarkets etc) with a few sightseeing highlights per week
$ 200+ Suggested Daily Budget for ‘average’ travel (Mid-range hotels, food from the occasional restaurants and stores, sight seeing attractions and transport .
where to next?
Time for some warmth and sunshine. Carribbean sounds good about now. But somewhere different, perhaps. How about….Virgin Gorda?