Wild Fjords of South Greenland Land of the Vikings

Ships rarely venture into Lindenow Fjord, one of the least-occupied fjords in Greenland. With your Expedition Team in the lead, you may cruise by Zodiac in an arm of the fjord, as our staff use their years of Arctic experience to search for wildlife. You may also spot waterfalls along the sheer rock face or enjoy a hike amongst waterfalls, flowers and blueberry fields.

Also known as Qaqortukulooq, Hvalsey is the site of Greenland’s best-preserved Norse ruins. Built around 1300, the medieval church attracted people from near and far to attend Christian festivals throughout the year. The last written record of the Norse in Greenland recounts the wedding of an Icelandic couple here in 1408. Surrounding the church are the ruins of a farmstead, including stables and a banquet hall. The area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Area.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Area known as Kujataa, the small community of Igaliku (Igaliko) was founded in 1783 and is Greenland’s oldest sheep-farming settlement. Quite different from the distinctive colorful wooden houses seen throughout Greenland, the 19th- and early 20th-century stone dwellings of Igaliku incorporate building stones from the Norse ruins of the nearby Gardar cathedral and bishop’s farm (the largest in the country).

This sub-Arctic farming landscape— the earliest example of agriculture in the Arctic—was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Area in 2017. Featuring archeological sites and agricultural lands, Kujataa is comprised of five areas (Igaliku, Hvalsey, Qassiarsuk, Sissarluttoq and Tasikuluulik) that represent the most comprehensive cultural histories of Norse and Greenlandic farmer–hunters. In honor of the designation, Greenlandic Post issued a stamp in 2018 showcasing the landscape of Kujataa.

The massive tidewater glaciers and dramatically steep cliffs dominating this picturesque fjord system, named after Christian III of Denmark, are one of the many reasons South Greenland has earned the moniker Arctic Patagonia. Aappilattoq, home to about 100 people, is the only settlement in this remote region. This is an ideal place for ship cruising, as the icebergs here come in all shapes and sizes.

Aappilattoq, home to about 100 people, is the only settlement in the remote Kujalleq region of South Greenland. Inhabited since the 19th century, Aappilattoq was only founded in 1922. Its name derives from the Greenlandic word for “red,” inspired by the red mountain towering above the settlement.

Nuuk is the epicenter of Greenland’s fascinating emerging culture. At population 15,000, the world’s smallest capital city is a wonderful and curious mix of the traditional and the new. A particular highlight is the Greenland National Museum, which offers an insight into social change affecting the country from the 1950s onwards. Other exhibits include some of the the world’s oldest rocks (approx. 3.8 billion years found close to Nuuk), and the Qilakitsoq exhibit displaying the mummified remains of 15th century Inuit women and a six-month old child. The Katuaq Culture Centre and Nuuk Art Museum are also worth exploring.