The Big 5 of Greenland!

Author : Unwild Planet

'When you've seen the world there's always Greenland' goes the old travellers' saying but if you ask us we'll tell you to see it now because you are missing out!

With magnificent mountainscapes and glaciers and some of the planet's most spectacular fjords, Greenland is truly an underrated gem. The word vast was probably coined here with unfenced wilderness bringing a unique sense of adventure and awe. While there are a lot of things to see and do, we've picked the Big 5 which are an absolute must when you are in Greenland.

Blinding Lights

It's challenging to find a travel bucket list without Northern Lights featured on them and rightly so! Who wouldn't want to watch a psychedelic display of colours across the night sky?

Key Highlight

While Iceland jumps on the list as one of the best places to view them, Greenland is where the magic happens. Here, you don't need to buy tickets, make a reservation or go far beyond the city, you just need to show up in the middle of the street and look up to spot the beautiful phenomena.

Best Time to Visit

And if you visit this island between September and April, you’re almost sure to witness the Northern Lights!

Ice-ice baby!

Stunning icebergs, shimmering glaciers, epic views of ice caps - that’s your Greenland trip in nine words!

Key Highlight

One of Greenland’s greatest draws is its glaciers, the giant rivers of ice that take snowfall to the sea. Whether you’re getting up close to them by boat or by foot, these serene icy streams make for one of the most magnificent spectacles on Earth.

UnWild Recommendations

Some of the favourite glaciers include the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier (the fastest moving in the world) and the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuaq.

The Greenland dog

Here's an UnWild fact for you, dog sledding isn’t just a tourist activity but a necessary form of transportation in Greenland.

Key Highlight

Due to the lack of roads, most of the transportation on the island happens off-road across the ice on a dog sled or a snowmobile. But just because it's an essential service doesn't mean it's not fun, dog sledding is a great way to experience both the unique Greenlandic nature and the Inuit culture.

Bet you didn’t know…

All dog sleds are pulled by the Greenlandic sled dog who is known for its tremendous willpower. These dogs can pull heavy sleds over long distances, and they can live outside in the cold, arctic weather, which they also prefer!

The Land of the People

Meeting the natives of Greenland is an absolute must!

Key Highlight

The Inuits are one of the few populations in the world that still live in close cohesion with nature. They still hunt and fish for a living and depend on many types of animals for their diet, including whales and seals.

UnWild Recommendation

The best way to experience their culture is to rent a room with a local family instead of staying at a hotel or motel. When staying with a family, you’ll live and eat with them and truly understand why Greenland is called the Land of the People despite having a very small population.

Whale hello there!

There are few things in the world so captivating as the power and elegance of a whale.

Key Highlight

And Greenland is home to 15 species at various points of the year! You can spot humpbacks and minke whales until September on this island and if you are lucky you can even catch a glimpse of narwhals (sea unicorns) and beluga whales.