Greenland is that huge block of ice that you’ve stared at on a map for all these years. You know, the big white island on the map just below the North Pole, near Iceland and Canada. I bet you thought nobody lived there or I bet that you never even thought about it. Truth is some 45,000 people live on the world’s largest island.
To visit is somewhat difficult and certainly expensive. The only ways to get to Greenland are by plane from Reykjavik or less frequent flights from Copenhagen. The only other way to get there is by infrequent boats or cruise ships that stop in.
The most convenient way to do a day trip to Greenland for the best price and feel like you’ve seen and done quite a lot is by doing the Air Iceland day trip to Kulusuk from the Reykjavik domestic airport.
It’ll cost you between $500-$1000 depending on the day and availability. I was fortunate and got my friends and I a generous discount from my friends at Air Iceland. So I could not pass up this great opportunity. Plus, the weather couldn’t have been better.
My friends Pete, Brian and I flew out this morning to Kulusuk to explore what it had to offer. I wasn’t expecting too much as it was just a daytrip but I was really surprised and excited about how great the trip turned out to be.
The flight into Kulusuk airport is scenic to say the least. Icebergs and broken off pieces of ice dot the Arctic Ocean below you. Then the mountains move into view and make the views even more spectacular. As you rush to snap photos from the plane, you keep seeing more and more angles and icebergs that catch your attention. The next thing you know you’re on the ground.
Kulusuk Airport was built in the 1950’s by the United States as a Cold War airport for potential use for emergencies, supplies etc. It is a DYE 4 airport. The runway is gravel and the place is pretty desolate although it is the busiest airport in Eastern Greenland with daily flights in summer from Reykjavik and helicopter service to western towns.
From the airport, our guide Johan, led us on a 3km hike to the village of Kulusuk. We stopped along the way to see a native graveyard and some great view from the communication tower for the village.
The views of the village, surrounding mountains and the ice valley below were astonishing. The weather couldn’t have been more idyllic and we had a nice group of 10 or so people to travel with on our day trip.
We then hiked down through the snow to the village and had a look around. The village is very primitive. There is no running water and toilets are in outhouses. There is one store to buy supplies, which had very nice people working. Although it was difficult to pay for the bread and fruit we bought because we didn’t have any Danish Krona. Remember that Greenland is technically part of Denmark. Eventually we figured it out with a combination of currencies and made our way through town to the souvenir store that was run by our guide conveniently.
After dodging rip offs at the souvenir store we made our way to the church, which was locked, and nobody knew how to enter. Apparently the guy with the keys was ill or something. It didn’t faze us and we walked down to the boat dock where some locals were setting out on a seal-hunting trip. It was cool to watch them load up the guns and set out through the broken ice in just a motorboat.
Stunning views were the backdrop for a native dance show that two villagers, a mother and son, put on for us. My friends and I went up to take pictures and she started dancing rather interestingly toward us. It made us laugh and caught us by surprise but it was a lot of fun nonetheless.
After the dance show was the coolest part of the day. We were taken back to the airport in style via dog sled. Now I am not saying we were going to win the Iditarod or anything. In fact, dog sleds are possibly the most unorganized and perhaps cruelest form of animal cruelty.
Our musher couldn’t seem to control the dogs that were pulling every which way. Some were being very stubborn and he proceeded to whip and pick them up and throw them. We were in shock, what can you do? If PETA had an office in Greenland, they would have been up in arms!
Eventually he got the nine dogs squared away and they started pulling our sled that had about 800 pounds of man on it including the musher. I felt bad for the dogs but I have to say it was pretty awesome being on a dog sled.
The only bad thing is that the ice is melting and within two days they said the ice wouldn’t be string enough to hold sleds as the water was popping through the ice. A few times we actually fell through the ice and it scared the hell out of us.
We were literally on top of a frozen inlet where if we did fall through into the water, we’d be dead for sure. There was nowhere to swim to as the ice would keep breaking as you tried to pull yourself up. Thoughts of awful movies kept popping into my head. But alas those little arctic dogs got us back to the airport.
After receiving our passport stamps and a very nice certificate of visitation, we flew back to Reykjavik. We flew over some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. You can see a few shots here in the pictures but it cannot do it justice. The glaciers, icebergs and loose ice were breathtaking from the air. It looked fake-like a Microsoft screensaver.
I am back in Reykjavik now and wishing I could see more of Greenland; which should be called Iceland. The west coast is where the majority of the 45,000 people live. There are options to see that part of the island via plane or by boat too but it is very expensive. That’s the biggest problem with visiting Greenland and much of Scandinavia; the prices are just ridiculous.
However, I completely recommend the day trip to Kulusuk. You get a great feel for Greenland, the people and their everyday lives. It is not a big party place by any means but it is just right. You’ll be happy you went…I know I am!
Day Trip to Greenland
June 5, 2012 by 45 Comments
wow what an amazing place …photos are awesome …i just love to read about your travels.
Thanks Olivia, I appreciate that!
I can’t express how beautiful that looks
It really is
The pictures from the plane are amazing…I can’t even fathom seeing that
Normally I am not a plane picture taker but this was exceptional and I had to
That’s horrible about the dogs. Otherwise it looks beautiful. Was it cold?
It wasn’t that cold but got cold at times…luckily there wasn’t much wind and yes the dog thing was quite disturbing
I have never seen a picture of Greenland….good for you Lee.
Ya it’s a mysterious place that not much is known about but very cool!
That little old lady is so cute!
She was awesome!
gorgeous Lee…looks like you had a lot of fun
Thanks Christian!
wow this is an amazing story and pictures, good for you and best of luck. I enjoy reading your site very much and your facebook pictures too.
Thanks Hassan!
You must have a nice camera
Haha yes just got a new Canon S100….loving it
Nice story Lee, thank you
Thank you Paco.
Looks amazing buddy, have fun in Iceland
Thanks Jacob!
I love when you are traveling because it gives me something good and fun to read at work! These pictures are amazing.
Wow, thanks a lot Stephanie, I really appreciate that!
I cannot believe how nice Greenland looks. And the dogsled is a dream of mine, although the torture of the animals I can do without. Who polices that on Greenland?
I have no idea but my guess, at least on the east coast is, no one! In fact one guy we saw killed his uncle and only got 2 years in Greenland jail because he was drunk..meaning it wasn’t premeditated or intentional!
Hi Lee, great pics and post as always. How was the food on Greenland?
We didn’t eat much, there was no lunch. I only bought a bread roll and some type of pastry and my buddies got oranges and gum balls!
How was sitting bitch on the dogsled?
I love being sandwiched between two big dudes, a musher and a ton of dogs!
Amazing again…looks surreal there
It was great, I highly recommend the trip if you get a chance
Awesome trip, Lee. The imagery from the plane is really beautiful. Was there any type of tourism infrastructure in Kulusuk? At least a motel and a restaurant?
You are right that the northern fringes of the Atlantic can be quite expensive. Hopefully, I will splurge someday and see a bit of Greenland!
There was the Kulusuk hotel outside of town, that was it…we went inside and it was nice…there really isn’t enough to do in Kulusuk to make it worth staying a few days so daytrip is perfect…the west coast is a different story
The “little lady” in the picture you met is my grandma. I’m surprised you saw her and to see that shes alright.
Wow thanks for commenting, that’s great! She was wonderful and so nice to us, we all loved her! All my best to her!
I did a similar trip but from Reykjavik I flew to Kulusuk and took a helicopter ride to Angmagssalik. I remember wishing I had some time to explore Kulusuk but my layover just wasn’t long enough! BUT, looking at your photos, I guess both towns look really similar since I actually thought you were in Angmagssalik! Kind of funny how the towns look so alike! Maybe it’s an East Greenland thing? 🙂
That sounds like an awesome trip too and yes I’d imagine many Greenland towns look alike!
Greenland is another place close to my heart. I was on the west coast in August 2012. Ilullisat (from Iceland) and then the ferry down the coast to Nuuk. From there a flight back to Iceland. This is another country I would like to see so much more of some day!
Looks like you had a great trip. i am planing on going there in a couple of month and your article really help me get exited about going there. I cant wait!!!
Great trip report! Does your guide have an email address? I’m in Norway now, so Iceland and Greenland are much more accessible to me, and I’d really like to go soon.
Hola Lee!!!!
Sigo todos tus viajes. Este me parece alucinante!!!! Es hermoso todo lo que mostrás!!!! Gracias por enseñarnos tantos lugares lindos en el mundo!!!! Desde Corrientes Argentina, te mando un fuerte abrazo!!!!
Un fuerte abrazo!!!! Se escribió mal!!!!
I was in Kulusuk in 2008 and seeing your pics brought back great memories. We stayed over for 2 nights in the one hotel there. And I certainly remember the dancer! She brought along her granddaughter. She is one “coochy mama” who danced very seductively towards me/us as well (scariest part of the trip lol). In September I’m doing a polar trip and will be exploring the western coast of Greenland 😉
May i know your tour guide’s contact? Me and friends planning to go there in June