During the summer I visited Canada where I participated as a member of an expedition in the Northern Territories. I also had the opportunity to visit some other parts of this huge country and to enjoy its amazing landscape.
During the last three weeks of my stay I’m going to travel to the Northeast Greenland National Park in Northern Greenland. I hardly wait to I go on this trip but I had lots of trouble to find the proper accommodation since the towns in Greenland are very small and there are no many hotels.
Above all, in the spring all of them get overbooked, because most of the people visit Greenland during this season. There are world class hotels in the most attractive areas in Greenland though they tend to be very expensive.
Fortunately, there are local people who rent igloos and other similar vacation rentals to visitors in towns like Sisimiut, Aasiaat or Maniitsoq. I found a number of these affordable lodgings online on this website. I have already booked my accommodation, so I can calmly wait for my journey to took place and make my what-to-see & do list.
I am planning to see the amazing Iluissat Icefjord, a region of outstanding beauty designated as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 2004 and other Greenland’s icebergs and glaciers as well as exciting Arctic wildlife of the island, especially polar bears, seals and whales. I also plan to do lots of hiking in my free time since I’m passionate about mount climbing.
It is interesting that there is no property ownership anywhere in Greenland, so you can hike wherever you want. On top, very exciting is going to be the boat ride among icebergs at Iluissat Glacier with millions of tons of ice that flows into the Kangia ice fiord. The boat ride offers a unique opportunity to sail among these gigantic icebergs.
I can’t wait to experience all of these and to broaden my knowledge about Arctic and its importance to the Earth. I am trying to organize everything before my trip, so I would like to share some useful tips for traveling to Greenland with all of you who plan the trip to Greenland to help you organize it well.
Since weather conditions in Greenland may be extreme it’s good to be well prepared and equipped with all the things you might need during your stay.
1. The Best Season for Visiting Greenland
- Spring
The best periods of the year for traveling to this destination are spring and summer. Spring is not as cold as you may think with daily temperatures above freezing, but the fascinating fjords remain frozen and there is a lot of snow everywhere which makes this time of the year ideal for dog sledding and skiing. If you visit Greenland in spring you’ll also have the unique opportunity to enjoy the nighttime shows of the Northern Lights.
- Summer
However, summer period from mid July to the beginning of September is the peak season for exploring Greenland.
- Autumn & Winter
In case you plan to visit Greenland in winter, keep in mind that temperature during this season can go below minus 20 degrees Celsius, so make sure to bring with you all winter equipment and warm clothes.
2. Winter Clothes and Equipment for Your Polar Expedition
No matter which season you choose for traveling to Greenland, and especially if you travel there in winter, take care that you bring appropriate clothes to keep you warm and dry. The most important pieces of clothes you should have with you include:
- Two or more sets of bottom long underwear,
- One windproof jacket and pants or one-piece suit,
- A parka with insulated hood, hats, vests, socks and wind-stopper and insulated gloves,
- Insulated Boots.
Depending on your accommodation and activities you are going to be engaged in during your stay in Greenland, you should bring some of the following:
- Sleeping equipment- sleeping pads and sleeping bag rated to -20˚C,
- Skis with full metal edges,
- Some skin cream for dry polar conditions to prevent flaking and cracking of the skin,
- Personal first aid kit and toilet kit,
- Communication devices like Mobile phone, GPS or similar.
In the end, enjoy your Greenland adventure as much as I’m going to!
