Greenland draws adventurous travelers with its iceberg-filled fjords, glacier-covered mountains and opportunities to encounter Arctic wildlife. Humpback whales feed in coastal waters, the Greenland ice sheet covers most of the island and Inuit communities maintain traditions that have endured for centuries. From boating among icebergs to exploring small settlements along the eastern coast, there are plenty of reasons to visit the world’s largest island.
Explore Greenland with Natural Habitat Adventures on our East Greenland Arctic Adventure, which focuses on the island’s eastern coast, or discover two Nordic destinations on Edge of the Arctic: Iceland & Greenland, combining Greenland’s glaciers and Inuit villages with Iceland’s volcanoes, waterfalls and geothermal landscapes.
1. Whale Watching Among Greenland’s Icebergs
Greenland’s coastal waters provide summer feeding grounds for several whale species. Humpback, fin and minke whales are found in the waters surrounding the island, where they feed on fish and krill. Humpbacks are especially recognizable by their long pectoral fins and the broad tails they sometimes lift above the water before diving.
Kayaking has a long history in Greenland. Inuit hunters developed these narrow boats to navigate coastal waters and hunt marine mammals, and kayaking remains closely associated with Greenlandic culture. Today, boat excursions provide opportunities to search for whales and other marine wildlife, including ringed and bearded seals, against a backdrop of steep mountains and floating ice.
2. Witnessing the Northern Lights
Greenland is an excellent place to observe the northern lights, also called the aurora borealis. The natural light display occurs when charged particles from the sun interact with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, producing curtains and arcs of green light, sometimes accompanied by shades of red or purple.
The best time to see the northern lights in Greenland is generally from late August through April, when the nights are dark enough for the aurora to become visible. Clear skies and sufficient solar activity are also necessary, and sightings are never guaranteed.
Travelers visiting Greenland in summer will experience a different Arctic phenomenon: exceptionally long daylight hours. Depending on the latitude and time of year, the sun may remain above the horizon around the clock or dip only briefly below it. This extended daylight allows more time to explore the fjords, mountains and coastal settlements, though it generally prevents northern lights viewing during the peak summer season.
© Anne Hornsby
3. Exploring the Greenland Ice Sheet, Glaciers and Arctic Wildlife
The Greenland ice sheet is the second-largest ice mass on Earth, after Antarctica’s. Stretching approximately 1,500 miles from north to south, it covers about 80% of Greenland and reaches more than 2 miles thick in places. Its oldest layers contain records of Earth’s climate extending back hundreds of thousands of years.
Outlet glaciers carry ice from the interior toward the coast, where some terminate in fjords and release massive icebergs into the sea. These floating formations can tower above the water, though most of an iceberg’s mass remains submerged. From small boats, travelers can observe the ice at a safe distance, while guided hikes offer views of glacial valleys, exposed rock and Arctic tundra.
Greenland’s ice sheet is also a major focus of climate research. Rising temperatures are contributing to ice loss, and the melting of land-based ice adds water to the world’s oceans, raising global sea levels.
Beyond the glaciers, East Greenland supports Arctic foxes, Arctic hares and a variety of birdlife. Eiders and loons inhabit coastal waters, while northern wheatears and gyrfalcons may be encountered on land. Polar bears also inhabit the region, though sightings are uncommon.
4. Experiencing Greenland’s Inuit Culture and History
Greenland’s Inuit have developed specialized tools, clothing and hunting techniques to live in the Arctic’s demanding environment. The ancestors of today’s Greenlandic Inuit arrived during the Thule migration approximately 800 years ago, although human settlement on the island dates back more than 4,000 years.
© Colby Brokvist
Today, Greenlandic Inuit communities continue many longstanding cultural practices while participating in contemporary life. Hunting and fishing remain important in some settlements, alongside tourism, public services and other occupations.
In East Greenland, settlements such as Kulusuk, Tasiilaq and Kuummiut offer opportunities to learn about local traditions and daily life. Visitors may encounter brightly painted wooden houses, fishing boats along the shore and residents who maintain a strong connection to Greenlandic language and customs.
On Edge of the Arctic: Iceland & Greenland, Nat Hab guests visit all three communities, exploring on foot, meeting residents and learning about traditional Greenlandic dancing and drumming. These visits provide a more personal understanding of East Greenland than a brief stop along the coast.
Discover East Greenland with Natural Habitat Adventures
Experience Greenland’s glaciers, wildlife and Inuit communities on a small-group journey with Natural Habitat Adventures. Our East Greenland Arctic Adventure concentrates on the island’s eastern coast, with opportunities to explore fjords, hike through Arctic terrain and discover life in remote settlements.
For travelers interested in visiting two Nordic destinations on one trip, Edge of the Arctic: Iceland & Greenland combines East Greenland with Iceland’s volcanic highlands, waterfalls and sea cliffs. Ride Icelandic horses on a black sand beach, explore a lava cave, soak in geothermal baths and cruise to a puffin colony before continuing to Greenland for iceberg-filled fjords, a glacier walk and visits to Inuit villages.
Both adventures offer the expertise of Nat Hab’s naturalist Expedition Leaders and opportunities to explore some of the Arctic’s least-visited landscapes.