In Greenland's Remote Fjords and Tiny Settlements, a New Sense of Connection

"It also promises something that Antarctica can't: people. These are not untouched landscapes but ones that, for thousands of years, Indigenous and settler communities have found ways to live in despite the extremity of the elements. It was a privilege to meet them and learn of their ways of life, which feels uniquely important at this moment."

"Unlike popular ports of call elsewhere in the Arctic, like Svalbard or Reykjavik, which already have well-established tourism infrastructures, there's the palpable sense that the destination is still developing its offerings. Small tour operators within each port are rolling up their sleeves to accommodate the increasing number of international arrivals by creating new land excursions and in-town experiences."

"A whopping 80 percent of the landmass is covered by the Greenland ice sheet, meaning that, to get from one side to the other, your best bet is to go around. Expedition cruise vessels, with their ability to move through shifting weather conditions and thick ice sheets, are still the most practical way to navigate the nooks and crannies of Greenland's 27,000-plus miles of coastline."

Greenland is emerging as a premier Arctic destination, enhanced by the inauguration of Nuuk Airport with direct flights to Newark in 2025. Unlike Antarctica, Greenland offers encounters with Indigenous and settler communities who have inhabited the territory for thousands of years. The landscape's extreme conditions—with 80 percent covered by the Greenland ice sheet—create logistical challenges requiring travelers to navigate around the landmass. Expedition cruise vessels remain the most practical transportation method for accessing remote communities lacking roads and airports. While small local tour operators are developing new excursions and experiences to accommodate surging visitor numbers, which reached 150,000 in 2024, Greenland's tourism infrastructure remains less established than other Arctic destinations like Svalbard or Reykjavik.

Read at Conde Nast Traveler