Greenland is the world’s largest island and is, despite its name, covered with around 81% ice. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. In 1814 it became a Danish colony, in 1953 part of the Danish Realm, and since 2008 it has been an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. Despite the country’s size (3.4 times the size of France) the size of the population is only around 56.370, making it the world’s least densely populated country. There are no roads connecting the cities of Greenland, which are mainly located along the coasts. Main means of transportation between cities are therefore boats or airplanes.

A good way to discover the breathtaking nature and magnificent landscapes of Greenland is to travel by regular boat from the capital Nuuk, which is located near the south-west tip of the country, up along the west coast to the city of Ilulissat, a main tourist destination. The trip is around 700 km (435 miles) long, lasts 2 days, and along the way you will meet Greenlanders traveling in-between cities, getting on and off the boat in each harbor where it stops, and enjoy the most beautiful scenery passing slowly by.

A main characteristic of the cities of Greenland are the colorful, wooden houses, which are often built on poles to level the houses on the hard rock. This is a a view of the second largest city, Sisimiut, one of the stops on the route.

Ilulissat is Greenland’s third largest city and is located near the Kangia Ice Fjord which leads enourmous amounts of ice originating from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier at the bottom of the fjord to the sea. Sermeq Kujalleq is the Northern hemisphere’s largest glacier with an outlet to the sea. It is only a short trekking trip from the city to be able to enjoy spectacular views to the impressive amounts of ice packed together in the ice fjord.

There are almost no trees in Greenland. But there is plenty of moss, flowers, and small bushes of varying sizes and colors.

If you are lucky, you may encounter this little gang of sled puppies while trekking near the city.

And, after a day of trekking in the mountains or sailing among the ice bergs, you may also be so fortunate that the Northern Lights are out, dancing slowly across the sky, changing shapes while you watch…