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What makes Ittoqqortoormiit special?
The most isolated town in Greenland, Ittoqqortoormiit’s neighbours include the World’s largest national park to the north and the World’s largest fjord system to the south. Ittoqqortoormiit’s backyard is an unspoiled, pristine wilderness where wild animals thrive, millions of seabirds nest, enormous icebergs form a constantly changing sculpture gallery, and local hunters still follow the ancient traditions. Ittoqqortoormiit is the best place in Greenland to experience the traditional Inuit style of living and where you have the highest chance/risk of meeting a polar bear.
How to get to Ittoqqortoormiit
Although Ittoqqortoormiit is a town in Greenland, there are no direct internal flights. Visitors must travel from Reykjavik or Akureyri in Iceland to Nerlerit Inaat (Constable Point), and then take either a helicopter, boat, or snowmobile transfer across the last ~40kms to Ittoqqortoormiit. Alternatively, you can join one of the expedition cruises that call into port during the summer.
The best times to visit Ittoqqortoormiit are: July – August (sailing, hiking), and February – May (dog sledding, snowmobiling, Northern Lights), February – April (seal hunting) and March, August – October, December (musk-ox hunting).
How to get around Ittoqqortoormiit
Ittoqqortoormiit is a small town where locals walk everywhere. There are no other forms of transportation within the town limits.
However, for excursions in Ittoqqortoormiit and area, the most common way to get around is with a boat or on foot (summer), with a dog sled, snowmobile, snowshoes or skis (winter), or with a helicopter (all year).
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What to do in Ittoqqortoormiit
Ittoqqortoormiit is the picturesque and very welcome port of call for expedition cruise ships exploring the north-east coast of Greenland during summer. There are a variety of things to do in Ittoqqortoormiit. Focal points include the church and the small, local museum whose historical costumes, tools, and pictures tell the story of lives lived in remote and harsh conditions. Otherwise, visitors enjoy discovering the vibrantly green football field (soccer is huge in Greenland) set in an endless landscape of rock and snow, and wandering between the colourful houses soaking in the atmosphere of Greenland’s most isolated town.
It is also the destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking for remote and more extreme adventures, no matter the time of year. The town’s single tour operator employs experienced local guides to offer a wide range of tours that draw inspiration from the community’s hunting culture. Alternatively, you can work with them to plan and equip an independent trip or expedition, including training in Arctic survival.
During the short summer, hiking, kayaking, and fishing are the main activities for guests and locals alike. Marked hiking routes ranging from a few hours to a full day lead to several key highlights around Ittoqqortoormiit, while guided multi-day treks follow ancient hunting routes into the mountainous backcountry. Experienced kayakers can hire equipment and explore the intricate waterways as the Inuit did, and keen fly-fishermen will love the challenge and solitude of catching Arctic Char (obtain your permit at the tourist information centre).
Once the snow falls and the sea freezes for the long winter, dog sledding takes over as the primary activity, though joining a guided snowshoe hike or ski tour is also possible. Introductory dog sled excursions of a few hours allow you to visit two nearby abandoned settlements, Greenland’s hottest hot spring (be careful – it is 62 degrees Celsius!), and the edge of the ice where hunters lie in wait for unwary seals. Longer expeditions (up to several weeks) are also available for those who want to immerse themselves in this ancient tradition, explore beyond the immediate surrounds of Ittoqqortoormiit, and experience the full glory of the magical Northern Lights away from any source of light pollution. These extended trips can specifically incorporate hunting for seals or Musk-ox (you have the choice of watching or participating) during certain months of the year.
Whatever you end up doing, remember – if you are leaving town without a guide, make sure you take an emergency beacon or satellite phone, carry a rifle, and know how to use it to deter polar bears.
Good to know!
Ittoqqortortoormiit is part of East Greenland.
Learn more on the region’s tourism website.
- It is also possible to camp within the town limits and camping equipment can be hired from Nanu Travel. It is not recommended to camp outside of town unless accompanied by a person with a gun, as polar bears have been sighted near populated areas in most years.
- Ittoqqortortoormiit has one place to eat out called Orormersiarderdarpi Grill Café. Meals for guests on guided tours are often included in the package.
- Ittoqqortoormiit has its own time zone UTC-1. Most of the rest of Greenland uses UTC-2. However during the daylight saving period, most of the rest of Greenland uses UTC-1.
- Only the Danish Sirius patrol and a small number of hunters from Ittoqqortoormiit are allowed to enter the North-east national park without special permission
- Ittoqqortoormiit is the closest inhabited place to Greenland’s highest mountain – Gunnbjørn’s Mountain (3,694m). Located in the North-East National Park, this is also the highest peak above the Arctic Circle.
- The people of East Greenland speak a different dialect to those in other parts of the country, though most can also speak the official language of West Greenlandic
- Ittoqqortoormiit means “the place with the big houses” in the East Greenlandic dialect. Its Danish name was Scoresbysund (Scoresby Sound) when it was a colony, for Arctic explorer and whaler William Scoresby.