Much of Greenland's interior is made of the second-oldest ice sheet in the world, the oldest being that of Antarctica. Polar explorers have felt the pull of Greenland's allure for more than a hundred years. The same allure is still present today. With the utmost respect for the untouched wilderness and sparse arctic wildlife, we bring visitors to this remote and magnificent corner of the world.
Exploring Greenland by sea is a rewarding and fulfilling way of discovering this vast land. As most of the country is covered in ice, only the coastal regions are inhabited. Indeed, most of Greenland's towns are situated on the west coast.
West Greenland is the most populous region of Greenland. Approximately half of the country’s population of 56,000 inhabitants live in the larger towns along the west coast, in particular Sisimiut and Manitsoq in the north, and Paamiut and Nuuk, the capital city, in the south. Nuuk, with its 17,000 inhabitants, is one of the world’s smallest capital cities. The gateway to the rest of the world is the international airport at Kangerlussuaq. This is also where most trips to the ice sheet take places and where chances of seeing musk ox are good. Whale spotting in the waters off Paamiut and Nuuk is a rewarding experience.
The more remote East Greenland is less populous than the west coast. Greenland’s only national park makes up a large part of eastern Greenland. Encompassing a total of 970,00 sq km, it is also the world’s largest national park. The huge tundra expanses are home to musk oxen, caribou, polar bears, Arctic hares, wolves, foxes. The park’s fjords and coastal inlets provide a haven for seals, walruses and whales. During the summer, it’s possible to sail among icebergs, enjoy awe-inspiring helicopter rides over glaciers or the ice sheet, go kayaking, embark on a whale safari or try fishing. During the winter, skiing is a popular activity, or going on a tundra safari, or simply enjoy the beautiful northern lights’ reflection on the snow-covered mountains. Dog sledding is another popular pastime for visitors. The Greenlandic sled dog originated from the wolf and has acclimatised to the arctic climate. The dogs are robust and exceptionally strong. Twelve-fifteen dogs can pull a sled carrying several hundred kilos of fish from the coast to the fish plant.
South Greenland with its almost balmy climate compared to the north is a colourful concoction of Inuit and Norse ruins, charming towns, small villages and sheep farms. Plenty of hiking, fishing and farm holidays are on offer in the towns of Narsaq, Qaqortoq, Nanortalik and Narsarsuaq.
Albatros Travel owns 100% of Albatros Arctic Circle in Kangerlussuaq, we have been taking people on tours of this mighty frozen country for years. Nobody knows Greenland like we do and we offer dog sled tours, trips to see the Northern Lights, cruises to remote glaciers and much more. There is so much to see and discover in Greenland that the only way to find out is to go and see for yourself.
Get in touch with us to find out what we can offer your clients. With our on ground assistance and years of Greenland experience, this remote destination is closer than you think.