FAQ Greenland

Greenland is an Arctic destination with special conditions

A trip to Greenland and the Arctic is something truly special. The infrastructure is unique, and that places great demands on planning the trip. In general, we do not recommend arranging the trip yourself unless you know Greenlandic conditions very well and are only visiting a few places.

With our experience and local presence in Greenland, you can focus on getting the most out of your trip. We take responsibility for the practical arrangements and safety – and we find an alternative solution if Greenland’s nature shows its teeth.

Some of your advantages

1. You are covered by the Danish Package Travel Act and the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund
2. You get the best prices on accommodation, excursions and transport
3. The trip is put together in the most sensible way
4. You only pay once everything is in place
5. You only have one point of contact

You are covered by the Danish Package Travel Act and the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund

A package tour consists of two components, typically transport, accommodation and possibly excursions. That gives you a wide range of advantages over arranging everything yourself, both formal and informal. When you buy a package tour through Greenland Travel, you are covered by the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund and the Danish Package Travel Act. This means that you benefit from the very high level of consumer protection that comes with it.

1. You get help and are protected in case of delays
2. You get help and are protected in case of cancellations
3. You do not have to worry about cancelling anything in case of delays
4. You can be sure that all transfer rules are met
5. You can simply focus on the trip – we take care of the practical and troublesome parts

Advantages of a tailor-made trip to Greenland.

If you have special wishes for your trip that mean you cannot choose a ready-made package tour, you can have your trip tailor-made by our travel specialists. When a travel agency tailor-makes your trip, you are covered by the Danish Package Travel Act and the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund. A tailor-made package tour will always be more expensive than a ready-made one, but it will also be tailored to your unique wishes. On the other hand, you can influence the price yourself, for example by choosing alternative accommodation or changing the length of the trip – and you can have excursions on the days you choose.

Our travel specialists know Greenland from north to south

Our travel specialists have in-depth knowledge of Greenland, and that knowledge benefits you, whether it concerns transport, hotels, dog sleds or kayaks – and we are always up to date on current conditions in Greenland. Greenland has a highly unusual infrastructure. No towns are connected by roads, and at the same time the country is almost unimaginably large. That places great demands on planning, and it is important to bear in mind that you cannot count on buying a ticket onward from A to B once you have arrived. We have the experience and expertise to ensure you a smooth trip.

Some of the other advantages of having your trip tailor-made by Greenland Travel are:

• You are covered by the package tour law and the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund
• You get the best prices on accommodation, excursions and transport
• We know accommodation options that are not available online
• You can use our guide service in Ilulissat during the summer months
• The trip is put together in the most sensible way
• You only pay once everything is in place
• You only have one point of contact

You can book your tip online or by contacting us via phone or email.

A lot of things have to fall into place when you plan and book your holiday. That is why we have introduced a 24-hour cancellation period. When you book a trip online with Greenland Travel, you can change your mind within 24 hours.

Simply send us an email within 24 hours stating that you wish to cancel your booking. You do not need to give a reason. We will make sure your deposit is refunded to the payment card you paid with.
You will find the email address in your booking receipt. You can also write to team@greenland-travel.dk or use one of our other email addresses and contact forms.

Once we have received your email, we will of course confirm it. If, contrary to expectations, you do not hear from us, please contact us so that we can be sure your trip is cancelled.

Advantages of a package tour to Greenland.

There are many advantages to buying a ready-made package tour, and as a starting point we recommend that you choose one. A ready-made package tour is planned on the basis of feedback from our travellers and put together in the best possible way with regard to infrastructure, transport and accommodation options, and not least the experiences on offer. On our ready-made package tours you are even better protected than on a tailor-made trip. Our partners know that you are coming and know your onward route, so together with us they can find alternative solutions if, for example, the weather causes transport problems or it makes sense to move the time of an excursion. Greenland is not a big tourist country, so it can be an advantage to travel on a ready-made package tour where others follow the same route. This means there is a good guarantee that the excursions will go ahead and, not least, that there is space in the high season. We can also offer special excursions that would otherwise not be available. Some of the many advantages are:

• The greatest possible certainty of experiences
• Best price
• We are with you all the way

When you choose one of our trips with a tour guide, you are taken lovingly by the hand and led into the fantastic world of ice, snow and magnificent nature – by enthusiasts with a great love for and knowledge of Greenland. All our tour guides have a broad knowledge of Greenland. Many also have specialist knowledge in areas such as history, Eskimology, the Arctic environment, botany, the Norse settlers and dog sledding. Knowledge they are delighted to share with their guests. Travelling with a tour guide also means that you travel together with a group.

If that does not appeal to you, you can choose an individual trip without a tour guide. That does not mean you are left to your own devices – all the excursions we offer to arrange are always guided, and you always have access to our local destination guides, who can advise you on getting the most out of your stay.

When you buy a trip from Greenland Travel, you can choose to pay by payment card (via ePay) or by bank transfer. If you have booked a trip online and paid the deposit, you will then receive an invoice from us for the balance. You can pay this balance online or by bank transfer. If you have booked a trip in another way and received an invoice, you can also pay both the deposit and the balance online. You will need the invoice number and order number shown on your invoice.

Booking illness and cancellation insurance.

Illness cancellation insurance covers you if you fall ill BEFORE departure. The cancellation insurance covers you if you, your fellow travellers or your family fall ill. The cancellation insurance must be taken out when you buy the trip. We offer the insurance in cooperation with Europæiske Rejseforsikring. Travel insurance covers you if you fall ill DURING the trip. Check whether you are covered by your home contents insurance. Greenland Travel offers travel insurance in cooperation with Europæiske Rejseforsikring and recommends that you always have travel insurance.

Yes, as a rule, return flights from Denmark are always included in our package tours to Greenland. There may be exceptions, however, where flights depart from other airports outside Denmark. On trips to our other destinations, the departure city may vary, but here too most trips include return flights to and from Denmark.

You will find clear information on what the price includes in the trip description under “included in the price”, and you can always see the departure city both in the trip overviews and in the trip description itself.

Advantages of buying excursions in Greenland before departure.

You can choose whether to buy the excursions before you leave home or once you are in Greenland – the prices are the same. We do, however, recommend booking before you leave, so you can be sure there is space.

On our package tours we have tailor-made excursion packages for each trip. We make sure that all excursions fit the trip’s daily programme. Excursion packages can be booked up to 8 weeks before departure. If you book at the same time as the trip, you save the handling fee of DKK 200. The price of the excursions is the same whether you book before you leave or locally, but you save time and are guaranteed a place by booking before you leave.

Greenlanders will come across as hospitable, cheerful and friendly – and a little shy. They are understandably proud of their country and happy to show it off. Greenlanders have adopted a modern way of life while still cherishing their old values. Thus, the everyday life of a Greenlander can be rather diverse: One minute they are sitting in an office landscape. The next they are standing in an open dingy, heading out for adventure in a nearby fjord.

Greenland is a fishing and hunting society and most people are meat-lovers. It is possible to get vegetarian food in most towns and even in some settlements. The most accessible kind comes in the form of frozen or canned vegetables. In a lot of towns – especially the bigger ones – you can also get all kinds of fresh vegetables that are flown in from South Greenland, Denmark, or Iceland. It goes without saying, that these vegetables are rather expensive because of the air cargo rates.

Most restaurants will be happy to serve a vegetarian meal but it is a good idea to order this a good time ahead as they may have to shop especially for this.

To vegetarians who eat fish and poultry, Greenland is abundant with both and you can eat your heart out.

Vegetarians will not starve in Greenland but you will probably be happy to get a fresh salad when you get back home…
On the flights to and from Greenland, we can book vegetarian meals for you.

Yes. Greenland’s drinking water is among the cleanest in the world. When hiking, however, treat water from lakes and rivers as you would elsewhere.

Some – not all. Sealskin from Greenland may be taken to Denmark with the right documentation from the shop, while products made from whale tooth and narwhal require a CITES permit. Always keep the receipt.

The flight time from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland is approximately 4.5 hours. All flights from Denmark land here and domestic flights will take you to your final destination. The domestic flight from Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat takes about 1 hour.

The flight time from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Ilulissat, takes approximately 3 hours. From Reykjavik to Kulusuk in East Greenland, the flight time is 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Air Greenland recommends that you are ready to check in 2 hours prior to departure, as the check-in closes 1 hour before take-off. If you are transferring from an international flight, you should arrive no later than 3 hours before departure.

As the time of departure to Greenland is always around 9 a.m., we recommend that you travel to Copenhagen the day before your flight and spend the night in one of the hotels located near the airport. We are happy to help you make reservations.

It is not possible to get what is known as a through ticket, but there are some options for having your baggage checked in all the way to Greenland. If you fly with SAS from Jutland and there are at least 40 minutes between the flights in Copenhagen (Kastrup), your baggage can be checked through all the way. Remember to ask for this at check-in, as it does not happen automatically. Please note that in this case we recommend taking out insurance against late arrival or changed departure times. For this insurance to apply, there must be 1 hour and 45 minutes between your scheduled landing in Kastrup and the departure of your flight to Greenland.

As planes from Copenhagen to Greenland depart in the morning (at 9 or 11 AM), we advise you to spend the night in the Danish capital. We have compiled a list of hotels in Copenhagen, which we are happy to recommend to our travellers.

Whether your preference is based on location, price or comfort, you will likely find a hotel to match your requirements. And if not, feel free to contact us for further recommendations.

If you travel via Copenhagen on your way to or from Greenland, consider spending some time in the city. There are plenty of things to do and sights to see in and around the Danish capital. Some with relations to Greenland.

Go back in time by visiting famous Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen’s home in Hundested or the old Greenland Harbour in Christianshavn. At the National Museum, you can dive into Greenland’s early history, and at the Geological Museum, you can see the third largest meteorite from Greenland.

If you are travelling in summer, you will receive your tickets and vouchers 3-4 weeks prior to departure. For winter, spring and autumn trips, you will receive them 2 weeks before departure.

Travelling in the period from the beginning of October to mid-March gives you the best chances of seeing northern lights in Greenland. There is no light pollution in Greenland, which makes it possible to see the Northern Lights right from your doorstep. It is best seen in complete darkness and a clear sky. Take a look at a moon calendar and travel at times of new moon or crescent moon. You can also see the Northern Lights in the light of a full moon, though the glow will be a bit less.

There is no easy answer to that question, as there is no scientific proof to back any such claim – yet. However, Kangerlussuaq in South-Western Greenland is actually home to a research station studying the ionosphere and the northern lights.

The often ideal weather conditions in Kangerlussuaq and the intense darkness provide excellent opportunities to study or simply enjoy nature’s own spectacular light show. Moreover, it is easily accessible, as all flights from Denmark arrive at Kangerlussuaq.

That depends which part of Greenland you would want to visit. The midnight sun only shines north of the Arctic circle. And in Ilulissat and the Disco Bay, which are popular destinations, you can experience the midnight sun from about 20 May to 23 July. But already in late April and mid to late August the days are really long. This timetable shows when the sun rises and sets in Greenland.

The dogsled season usually lasts from January to mid-April. This obviously depends on snow conditions – some winters can be shorter while others will last longer.

Yes, absolutely. In fact, there are great advantages to travelling outside of the peak seasons. One of them being that the trips are cheaper than in peak seasons. Spring in Greenland is short and can be experienced on trips in May where the winter is waning, making the days longer and brighter, and the temperature rises significantly. Autumn in Greenland is a time of natural diversity – from beautiful, sunny days where the mountains are covered in tawny shades, to the dark skies of night where the northern lights appear. Very few tourists travel to Greenland during spring and autumn, so you can have it all to yourself.

Read more about the seasons in Greenland here. 

Clothing in Greenland is always practical. This applies whether you are standing on deck trying to spot whales or you are at a restaurant. Be prepared for sunny days but also for cold, fresh mornings and evenings. Clothing is also more casual in Greenland and is accepted in finer restaurants.

When packing think of the layer-upon-layer principle. This enables you to make fast and easy adjustments for the temperature so you can make yourself more comfortable. The inner layer keeps the body warm. The outer layer is for protection against rain and wind. For example, a pair of rain-proof outer pants can provide protection against wind.

Find more information and packing lists here.

Preferably the warmest clothes that you have. But keep in mind that -20 degrees centigrade will not feel as cold in Greenland as it might elsewhere due to the dry air in Greenland. Sealskin clothing and boots are available for rent in Greenland if you are going on a sled ride or sailing on the icefjord.

See more information about what to wear in Greenland here.

Clothing in Greenland is always practical. This applies whether you are standing on deck trying to spot whales or you are at a restaurant. Be prepared for sunny days but also for cold, fresh mornings and evenings. Clothing is also more casual in Greenland and is accepted in finer restaurants.

When packing think of the layer-upon-layer principle. This enables you to make fast and easy adjustments for the temperature so you can make yourself more comfortable. The inner layer keeps the body warm. The outer layer is for protection against rain and wind. For example, a pair of rain-proof outer pants can provide protection against wind.

Find more information and packing lists here.

Greenland uses Danish kroner. We do not recommend that you bring Euro as only very few places accept this currency. You do not necessarily have to buy currency before your trip as most places in Greenland accept common credit cards, and ATMs are found in all larger towns.

Yes, most places in Greenland accept common credit cards. ATMs are found in all larger towns.

Yes. Greenland uses Danish kroner, and Dankort works in shops and hotels in the towns. Card terminals may be unavailable in the smallest settlements, so carrying a little cash is a sensible precaution.

Service charge and VAT are always included in the prices in Greenland. Thus, tipping is not required. The Greenlanders will not be offended, however, if you choose to tip because you have been very happy with the service.

There are no roads connecting the towns and villages in Greenland, so you either have to sail or fly (or hike, ski or ride a dogsled or snow scooter). You are able to book your own flights and boat journeys, but we recommend that you use a travel agency as it provides coverage in case of irregularities (departures being cancelled due to bad weather, for instance).

Travelling on board the coastal vessel is not merely transportation but an experience regardless of the weather. At the same time, the journey allows you to get close to the locals. The vessel sails from Qaqortoq in the south and all the way up to Ilulissat in the Disco Bay. You can take the full journey or just parts of it. Generally, we recommend that you go from south to Nuuk or from Nuuk to Ilulissat. These are the most popular stretches among our travellers. But less might also do if, for instance, you just want to sail from Sisimiut to Ilulissat as included in our trip ‘The Golden Triangle’.

Read more about the coastal vessel, Sarfaq Ittuk here.

There are many different ways in which you can spend your nights in Greenland today – from international four-star hotels to hostels, hotel apartments and simple sheep farms. Anywhere in Greenland, you can also always choose to spend the night in a tent with a five-star view!

Yes, in all towns. Tusass provides 4G coverage in the towns, and hotels have Wi-Fi. Expect gaps in coverage during boat trips and in the smallest settlements.

In most places, you can buy Wi-Fi access. Be aware that Internet access is expensive in Greenland – also if you use your own smartphone, so you might want to disable data roaming on your phone.

Temperatures in Greenland will naturally vary with the seasons. The air in Greenland is dry, so even low temperatures will feel warm in the sun. Wearing T-shirts is common during summer. When sailing among icebergs and in winter, you should wear warm clothes – but not extremely warm. Warm sealskin clothing is available for rent if the weather is cold. The average temperatures during summer are normally below 10°C.

The dry air in the winter months will therefor also make the colder temperatures not feel quite so cold. Some of our guests have experienced temperatures of 15-20°C below zero.

It is important to mention that the winters can be quite cold in the Arctic regions – so warm clothes are important to keep warm.

Read more about the greenlandic climate.

It is colder than in Denmark, but drier, which makes a greater difference than many people expect. In West Greenland, daytime temperatures in March are typically between −5 and −15 °C. With the right layers, you will notice the cold most on your cheeks.

Practical information and packing lists

All tundra regions on our earth are habitats of many mosquitoes, which is due to sour water climates as well as the permafrost and bedrock hindering the defrost water to sink deep into the grounds. The grounds are typically moist and form into many small lakes and puddles, in which the mosquitoes are happy to lay their eggs.

Mosquitoes are usually appearing around June and July, getting less in August (however you can still meet mosquitoes in August). The common gnat on the other side is quite present in August, but can be kept effectively away with bug spray. We recommend to bring a facial mosquito net from home and purchase bug spray once you are here in Greenland. In Greenland, a higher amount of “DEET” is allowed, which is the only effective substance. Remember after-bite remedy to treat itchiness after a mosquito buite.

The best remedy against mosquitoes is patience.

Danish citizens do not – but Greenland is outside the Schengen area, so other nationalities may require a separate visa. Check the rules in good time.

Cancellation due to acute illness, accident or death in your immediate family – up until departure. It costs DKK 1,245 per person and must be chosen no later than when you pay the deposit.