Fall in Love With Ice Fjords - Ilulissat, Greenland
It’s no secret that Greenland is a remote and cold place, but I want to highlight at the onset of this post how extreme weather and terrain in this country can be. I went in the summer, but even still, this is definitely a trip that you may want to have a guide service for.
Our trip was guided by Arctic Friends and lodging was provided by Ilulissat Guesthouse. Greenland is an intense destination. If you want something non-touristy and off the beaten path this could be the trip of a lifetime for you. Below you’ll find a few reasons why I loved Greenland. Lastly, if you are going to Greenland in summer bring a mosquito net for your head, or buy one when you get there (it was a life saver)!
1. The Ilulissat Guesthouse
One of my favorite parts about this trip was the lodging. The Ilulissat Guesthouse is a cozy little dwelling that sits right on the edge of a small cliff overlooking an ice-filled bay. The communal kitchen and dining area are charming and the views are simply incredible.
I especially enjoyed waking up and walking out onto the porch in the chilly morning air with my mug of coffee to see how the ice had shifted throughout the night. If you have a large group, or are able to stay in this house while other people are staying here, I would definitely recommend doing so!
2. The UNESCO World Heritage Site – Ilulissat Icefjord
A UNESCO site is a significant place of some sort, normally due to history, culture, or scientific merit. At the time I am writing this post there are 1,157 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world. These places are worth protecting for a reason and are a pleasure to visit. What is neat about this area is that it’s virtually untouched and the UNESCO organization puts up signs with a bit of history as well.
3. What You Can See by Boat
From whales to huge ice formations, Greenland by water is quite the experience. Not to mention Greenland has sharks that can live to be around 400 years old…kind of crazy. It’s definitely going to be cold on the water so bundle up because what you see will be well worth it! Also see if you can get on a boat that has hot chocolate, or bring it yourself, because that was the foam on top 🙂
4. The Colorful Buildings
What’s interesting about property in Greenland is that no one person owns land, instead the land is shared by society. So it was interesting to walk around the town and see the colorful buildings scattered about the rocky landscape. What’s also interesting is that the houses are color-coded based on their function. For example, the color yellow is reserved for hospitals and buildings in which medical professionals live.
5. The Hiking
You can pretty much walk anywhere and get great views in Greenland, but because of how little of the area is built up the hiking/exploring is almost endless. However, we had a guide and much of the hiking we did was not marked by signs or trails, so that is a potential downside if you wanted to hike alone. This particular picture was taken near Qeqertarsuaq, on Disko Island off the coast of mainland Greenland.
6. The Authentic Food
Let me be clear here. I would not recommend going to Greenland for the food. However, the authentic food was a treat to try because it was so different than anything I have ever had before. As you would expect, much of this food is from the sea.
7. 24-Hour Daylight! (In Summer)
I just think its neat because you have more outdoor time/time for activities. Plus it’s kind of interesting to not experience night for a week.
I definitely want to check this place out at some point!
Wow! Can we go to Greenland together one day! V cool place