Travel Planning

Figuring out the special travel tricks and peculiarities to a destination can often be a maze of questions. We want to make it as clear as possible so that you stay within the South Greenland universe and book directly with local operators. If you are ever in doubt, please do not hesitate to email us.

Read about how to get here and then how to get around once you have arrived in South Greenland, plus remember these special tips to make your journey as smooth as possible. Browse local operators and accommodations to fill in the final pieces of your travel planning.

If you are looking for advice for regions other than South Greenland, please contact the national tourist board, Visit Greenland, who can put you in contact with the right local operators.
CRUISE SHIPS
Do be aware that several towns, settlements and locations in South Greenland, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcome cruise ships in the summer season from June to September, and ship size can range from the expedition vessels with a few hundred passengers at most to the conventional cruises with a few thousand persons onboard. In short, it can be a lot of people in town at once.
Do you want to know where cruise ships will be and when?
Information regarding the cruise schedule can be found here. 
TRANSPORT
Note that there are four official commercial transport companies that help get you to and fro in South Greenland. They do not have cooperative agreements, so you will have to book each leg individually, regardless of whether you are making same-day connections or spending time somewhere before continuing to the next destination. This also means that you will have to handle your baggage in order to transfer from one company to the next.

Air Greenland offers international and national connections to Narsarsuaq, South Greenland, by airplane and helicopter. Icelandair offers international connections to Narsarsuaq by airplane. Disko Line offers regional connections from Narsarsuaq to other towns and settlements in South Greenland, by boat. Arctic Umiaq Line offers national connections to Nanortalik, Narsaq and Qaqortoq, South Greenland, by passenger ship.

When coordinating same-day travel with multiple transport companies, do check that there is availability on all portions before booking any one portion.

Do be aware of transport companies’ cancellation and ticket change policies. While some companies offer full cancellation  or the opportunity to simply pay the difference in ticket price, others companies require a surcharge no matter what.

Always leave ample layover time between various portions of transit, keeping in mind the standard check-in times.

Standard check-in time for domestic airplane and helicopter flights is one hour prior to departure.
Standard check-in time for international airplane flights is two hours prior to departure.
Standard check-in time for boat transfers is half an hour prior to departure.
INSURANCE
Purchase travel insurance. The airlines and local carriers do not have cooperative agreements, so an unfortunate delay during one portion of transit could result in a domino effect to other portions of your travel.
SIKORSUIT ICE
In spring, typically April and May although as early as February and March in recent years, there is a natural phenomenon in South Greenland called Sikorsuit - sea ice broken up in the spring thaw in East Greenland that is then free to sail with the current around Cape Farewell and northward. It can completely block in harbours and waterways, making boat transport slow or impossible.

Purchase travel insurance. The airlines and local carriers do not have cooperative agreements, so an unfortunate delay during one portion of transit could result in a domino effect to other portions of your travel.