Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík / Keflavík | Flight to Kulusuk | About 2 hours | Mainly in summer; check current schedules |
| Kulusuk | Helicopter or boat to Tasiilaq | 10 minutes by air; about 1 hour by boat | Boats in the ice-free months only |
| Iceland (Akureyri or Reykjavík) | Flight to Nerlerit Inaat | About 2 hours | A few flights a week at most; operators change |
| Nerlerit Inaat | Helicopter to Ittoqqortoormiit | About 15 minutes | Boat or snowmobile in some seasons |
| Iceland | Expedition ship to Scoresby Sund | 1.5–2 days at sea each way | August–September |
| Longyearbyen | Expedition ship | 2–3 days at sea | Late-season voyages ending in Iceland |
By air
Kulusuk has the busiest airport on the coast, with flights from Iceland mostly between spring and autumn and connections to Nuuk. Nerlerit Inaat, also called Constable Point, is a gravel strip 40 km from Ittoqqortoormiit served by a few flights a week. Timetables, airlines and even departure airports in Iceland have changed several times in recent years, so check carefully and do not rely on old guidebooks.
By expedition ship
Voyages to Scoresby Sund start from Reykjavík, Akureyri or Ísafjörður, or cross from Svalbard at the end of the season. The Denmark Strait can be rough. The pack ice usually opens enough for ships to enter the fjord from early or mid-August; earlier voyages may be turned back.
Entry rules
The same rules apply as in the rest of Greenland: it is outside the Schengen area, a passport is required, and travellers who need a visa for Denmark need one marked as valid for Greenland. Flights from Iceland are international, with passport control.
Getting around locally
- There are no roads between settlements. Travel is by boat in summer, by dog sled or snowmobile in winter and by helicopter year-round.
- Tasiilaq is hilly but walkable; hotels collect guests from the heliport or harbour.
- Helicopter seats are limited and weight-restricted. Pack in soft bags and expect baggage limits of around 20 kg.
- Cash in Danish kroner is useful; there is an ATM in Tasiilaq but not in the small settlements.
- Outside the settlements you are in polar bear country. Hike with a guide who carries deterrents.
