Ultima Thule or bust!!

November 11, 2008 1:21 PM

Have you ever gone to Greenland?

How did you get there? Ideally I'd like to know the best ways to get there from the US, Canada, Iceland, and Europe. I'm thinking more "serious business" than ecotourism, for what it's worth. Did you fly, take a boat, hitch-hike or what?

Bonus points for anecdotes and local customs.

posted by Mister_A to travel & transportation (7 comments total)

An acquaintance went there a couple of summers ago to wander off the beaten path. He said that the price of charter flights to get from anywhere to anywhere else (the principal way of "getting around") far outweighs any other expense related to the trip.
posted by kittyprecious at 1:44 PM on November 11, 2008

I haven't, but I've wanted to since reading Gretel Ehrlich's "This Cold Heaven:Seaven Season's in Greenland"

Awesome book - The BEST kind of travel book.
posted by readery at 1:46 PM on November 11, 2008

We used to work with linguists who studied Greenlandic Eskimo. Most of them flew through Iceland or Denmark, so I would start there for flights.

I've never heard of anyone taking a boat, but it's probably possible.
posted by Alison at 1:48 PM on November 11, 2008

I have never been, but I know that the easiest way to get there is from Denmark (and Iceland too). A Danish friend of mine told me that the Danish government has been trying to drum up the tourist trade to Greenland for years so it would seem like Denmark is a good bet. I've been looking into going for some time now (one day, one day) and I found this link a while back.
posted by ob at 3:58 PM on November 11, 2008

another answer that doesn't answer your question but:

there is a documentary about a group of guys who cross greenland with kayaks which they towed when the river ran out. In the middle of greenland they stayed in an abandoned american military base in a giant dome that still had food in the pantry. (the food was still edible because of the extreme cold)

so if you go keep an eye out for giant silver domes
posted by compound eye at 4:38 PM on November 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

It seems as though Greenland is not such a popular destination. If anyone should view this question, think of it this way: You are an American academic. You are doing a field study in Greenland. How will you get there?

GO!

PS Thanks to the respondents so far.
posted by Mister_A at 6:17 PM on November 11, 2008

I'm there now.

At the moment the only way to get to Greenland by air is through Copenhagen with Air Greenland. I have been told by colleagues that there are flights from Iceland in the summer.

All travel in country is by plane or boat, neither are particularly cheap. The cost of living is very high, everything is more (often much more) expensive than in Denmark.

Royal Arctic Line sails between North America and Greenland, maybe you can hitch a ride.

More specific questions, MeFi mail me and I'll try to help you (I'm working 80 - 100 hours per week).
posted by DelusionsofGrandeur at 6:44 PM on November 11, 2008