The Official Tourism and Business Site of Greenland
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North Greenland
The epitome of the Arctic
Icebergs, midnight sun and dogsleds
North Greenland, and in particular the area around Disko Bay, is one of the most popular areas in Greenland for travellers with its huge icebergs, the midnight sun’s everlasting light and a wide variety of attractions at sea, on land and in the air. This extensive Arctic region stretches from the southern part of Disko Bay, known for the Ilulissat Ice Fjord, to Ultima Thule and the town of Qaanaaq. Here, in one of the world’s most northerly inhabited areas, the Inuits’ proud traditions are upheld by a seal hunting and fishing culture that exists in harmony with the Arctic nature and its resources.
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Activities in North Greenland
Trips on dogsleds are popular winter activities throughout North Greenland. During the summer months such trips can also take place on a glacier at an altitude of 800 metres (2,300 feet) near the town of Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island. Aasiaat’s idyllic archipelagos attract a large number of kayak enthusiasts, whilst Ilulissat has a wide variety of sailing trips and helicopter tours to the ice sheet.
Uummannaq, north of the Nuussuaq peninsula, lies in the heart of a unique district which is dominated by high mountains, productive glaciers and the area is frequented by whales.
Upernavik and Qaanaaq primarily attract globetrotters who are looking to experience the original Inuit ways of life.
Settlements at the fishing grounds
What all the towns in the region have in common is typical North Greenlandic hospitality which is deeply rooted in the local population’s character. Openness and helpfulness have been and still are important virtues in a society that has had seal hunting, whaling and now fishing as its principal business activities. Inhabitants have typically settled where the catch was best, and this has resulted in many more small settlements in North Greenland than in the rest of the country.
Summer’s midnight sun and winter’s northern lights
During the summer months in North Greenland the sun is up 24 hours a day. The further north you go, the longer the period with midnight sun. This of course means a correspondingly long period of darkness during the winter, where the northern lights, the stars and the moonlight make up the only natural sources of light on the snow-covered mountains and landscapes.
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The towns at Disko Bay are close to each other and during the high season are served by helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and shipping routes several times a week.
More and more tourists are seeing North Greenland from the sea onboard ships on regular services, on a cruise or with the special expedition cruise ships that sail to the remote regions far to the north. North Greenland is currently attracting more and more tourists every year, so planning and ticket reservation should take place well in advance.
At Destination North Greenland's home page you can find more detailed information about the North Greenland-region
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