Denmark: Greenland

[bjorn]

"Give me winter, give me dogs,
and you can keep the rest."
- Knud Rasmussen, Explorer and Greenlander.

If you are going to visit Greenland to experience one of the world's greatest travel adventures, you've got to be a little tough. Whiners and wussies need not apply.

Greenland is not green. It is barren, remote and harsh. This is a land for people who love wilderness and wilderness activities. Experienced mountain hikers will enjoy the challenges and unspoiled beauty of landscape. If you fish, you can join a local fisherman on the Ilulissat ice fjord for two days to angle for the Greenland shark with long lines through holes in the ice. Like to kayak? Hunters in Greenland originally developed the kayak. Imagine paddling past icebergs, seals, and whales through the fjords, straits, and archipelagos of the Arctic. You'll see icebergs almost everywhere in Greenland. In Disko Bay, icebergs often rise up to 330 feet above the waterline - especially amazing when you remember that 90 percent of an iceberg is hidden below the surface of the sea. Greenland's natural beauty will not disappoint.

When to go:
June, July, and August are the best time to visit: the days are long, wild flowers are blooming, and the sun actually is shining. There are also heaps of mosquitoes that sting from late June to early August though. Starting in September through November, you can get a good view of the aurora borealis, but going in the harsh winter months between December, January and February is just not a good idea.

What to Do:
History/Ruins:
Greenland has heaps of history. Adventurers, from Leif Erikson to Knud Rasmussen, have been obsessed with the continent for centuries. Greenland's history has been shaped by the people who have explored it. Qasigiannguit, at the foot of a near-vertical escarpment, has buildings dating from 1764. Among the Nuuk's historic sites are Hans Egede's house (the oldest colonial house in Greenland, built in 1728 by the missionary who founded the town) and the New Hernnhut Mission (originally a Christian missionary center, it now houses the university).

Museums:
The National Museum in Nuuk contains displays on Greenland's culture and history, as well as artifacts like dogsleds and kayaks. The highlight of the museum is a group of well-preserved mummies that date from 1475. Ilulissat has an art museum containing paintings by Greenland artist Emmanuel Petersen. The Knud Rasmussen Museum has exhibits on Rasmussen's Arctic expeditions, Inuit life and culture, and local Danish settlements.

Shopping:
Greenland isn't the place to buy the latest fashions or hunt for some antique furniture. The most you can hope for is to pick up a few souvenirs of your trip. Postage stamps, maps, and t-shirts are popular items. So are carvings. Photos are perhaps the best remembrances of a trip to Greenland, as few people have ever seen this landscape.

Food/Culinary Info:
Shrimp, cod, salmon, and other specialties from the sea are served throughout the island. Drink some of the freshest water in the world- chances are, there will be a piece of 30,000-year old ice from the nearby glaciers floating in it.

Adventure
Activities offered in the area include hiking, skiing, and dogsled excursions. Kayak dramatic fjords; fish for sea trout in remote waters; hike through isolated mountains; or ski year round. Springtime is the best season for dog-sled tours and skiing, although Greenland also offers first class summer skiing, even heli-skiing, on glaciers, and dog-sled tours in the summer.

Natural Wonders
What Greenland lacks in man-made attractions it more than makes up the difference in amazing natural wonders. The Northern Lights appear all year round, but they are most impressive in the autumn months. They can also be seen in March, but they "disappear" in the light summer nights. The midnight sun is another magnificent Greenland phenomenon that is encountered north of the Arctic Circle. Daylight can be enjoyed round the clock, depending on how far north you are.

Arts:
The Greenland Cultural Center houses the Nordic Institute on Greenland as well as Greenland's only cinema. Visitors can also enjoy art exhibitions, concerts, theater performances and a nice cafe.

Cafe Quotient:
Greenland is a destination for adventurous people who want to experience the extreme climate and natural wonders the continent offers. This isn't the place to sit and sip coffee. There aren't any sidewalks, let alone cafes.

Cost:
A good deal of money and effort is necessary for any trip to the island. But as surprising as it may seem, there are youth hostels, and other less-expensive accommodations in Greenland. A network of seamen's homes, once used only by seafarers, provide very basic accommodations with a shared bath. In more remote areas, you can stay overnight at sheep farming stations owned by local shepherds (in South Greenland) or at chalets. Tent camping is another option. Outside towns and built-up areas, camping is permitted almost anywhere, except in ruins and on cultivated land in South Greenland. In towns and villages, there are no camping sites, but most communities have laid out specific areas for tenting (inquire at the tourist office). Be sure your tent and a sleeping bag are rated for severe weather.

Getting Around:
Most visitors fly to Greenland from Canada, Iceland, or Denmark. There are no direct flights from the US to Greenland. Greenland has several major airports, including Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq, Pituffik, Kulusuk, Nerlerit Inaat, and Mesters Vig. There are no passenger ship routes between Greenland and other countries, but ships are a good way to travel around the edges of the country. Greenland has no roads or railroads between the towns.

Safety:
Crime really isn't a problem in Greenland. You should be more concerned with the effect the landscape might have on your body. Dehydration, sunburns, hypothermia, and even snow blindness, are some health issues you should be aware of - learn the precautions and treatments for these conditions before you go.

Language:
Take along a Danish-English phrasebook, as English is not widely spoken. In addition to Danish, several Eskimo and Inuit languages are spoken.

Party/Social Scene:
As an outdoor adventure spot, the socializing you'll be doing will be with other travelers camping along side you or with the locals with whom you're staying.

Other Info:
Click here for weather forecast from Weather.com.