Visiting Kulusuk: I Took a Trip From Iceland to Greenland

My obsession with the Nordic region has taken me to some wonderful places that still feel surreal. The Faroe Islands and Northern Norway are just two examples. But to this day, taking a day trip from Iceland to Greenland is still one of my most unique and unforgettable experiences. 

I had the privilege of visiting Kulusuk, a small settlement of just under 250 people, in the summer of 2019. To this day, it’s still the most remote place I’ve ever visited. I grew up in London—a city where you have every convenience imaginable—so to see a different way of living was truly eye-opening. 

Visiting Greenland was expensive but worth every penny. If you ever have the chance to go, I urge you to do so. Today, I’ll share my experiences traveling from Iceland to Kulusuk; I don’t know if the day trip is no longer available, but you can still fly to and from the settlement. 

Besides knowing what to expect, I’ll give you the practical information you need to prepare for your trip. 

First of All: Where *Actually* Is Kulusuk?  

Kulusuk is not part of the Greenlandic mainland. Instead, it’s on an island—also called Kulusuk—located east of the main island. 

To get here, you can fly from Iceland or other parts of Greenland. It’s a 15-minute flight from Tasiilaq, which is 25 kilometers away on the mainland. You can also travel by boat; the journey is roughly 40 minutes. 

You can also fly from Nuuk; it takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. From Iceland, it’s possible to fly from Reykjavík in just under two hours. Air Greenland and IcelandAir both operate flights here. 

Getting From Iceland to Greenland 

After spending a few days in Reykjavík, we temporarily departed Iceland on a sunny June day. Our flight left from Reykjavík’s Domestic Airport, which is close to the city center. It’s a very small airport, and you can walk from Downtown Reykjavík in around 30 minutes. 

We flew with Air Iceland Connect, which merged with Icelandair in 2021. From what I could see when researching this article, flights to Kulusuk now depart from Keflavík Airport. It’s the same airport where you’ll arrive in Iceland internationally, and you can drive there in 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can buy an airport transfer bus ticket. 

The flight was pretty straightforward; it took less than two hours to arrive in Kulusuk. When approaching Greenland, we were greeted by beautiful mountains and icebergs still floating around the sea. 

I foolishly thought it would be sunny as we saw blue skies the whole way, but we soon descended through a thick layer of low-lying clouds and landed in Kulusuk. It was only 3ºC (37.4ºF), despite being June—which gives you an idea of how harsh the weather is here. 

My mother and I paid just under €900 each for this day trip in 2019; I noticed when researching this article that the price had increased since then, but I also didn’t see any current bookings available (the most recent one was for 2023). We booked through Travel Greenland. 

Arriving in Kulusuk 

Kulusuk Airport was even smaller than the domestic one in Reykjavík. It’s a single runway and tiny building perched right next to a mountain. We walked through the building with our tour group and were then on our way to Kulusuk. 

The main settlement is 1.5 kilometers from the airport. There are no cars on this island; you either need to walk or take a dogsled (which, admittedly, sounds really cool). Our tour guide and group walked us to Kulusuk; it took around 30 minutes. 

The views were nothing short of spectacular. While I thought it would be a good idea to visit Greenland without bringing gloves, I couldn’t help but point my camera in every direction. I felt like we had stepped onto a different planet. 

What Was Kulusuk Like as a Town?

To me, Kulusuk was beautiful and humbling in equal measure. It was a million miles away from anything I’ve ever known. There was one all-purpose shop that also served as a grocery store, along with a post office, school, church, and some other amenities. The locals were kind and very welcoming. 

The climate here is very harsh. Given its location, the town has harsh winds for most of the year. And while summers are bright, winters are dark. On the shortest day of the year, there are fewer than three hours of daylight. Even when we visited in the summer, it felt like some of the days I’ve experienced in Iceland during the winter. 

As you can imagine from its remote location, almost all supplies have to be imported to Kulusuk. Hunting is still a way of life here; we saw numerous dead seals stored in the harbor (this effectively worked as a fridge). There were also drying racks for fish, as is also common in other remote parts of the Nordic region. 

Visiting Kulusuk revealed a particularly sad element (both locally and nationally). Unemployment is high here, and unfortunately, so is alcoholism. Greenland’s life expectancy (71.54 years in 2022) is also relatively low. 

Living in a town where you feel like you have no prospects must be challenging. Kulusuk’s population has declined sharply in the past 35 years; today, fewer than 250 people live here. I couldn’t ignore the somber atmosphere, and I hope that things change for the better one day. 

Learning More About Local Life and Sailing Through the Icy Seas

While we were in Kulusuk, we were given an insight into Greenlandic life and Inuit culture. We got to visit the local church, which was small but cozy. Moreover, we learned about local hunting traditions and saw multiple sled dogs. However, we were not allowed to pet them; our tour guide said they were capable of biting off someone’s hand.

We also visited a local cemetery. Due to permafrost, many people were instead buried under stones. The many white crosses were, in my opinion, a beautiful sight. Nowadays, there’s also a newer cemetery on the outskirts of the town. 

During our stay in Kulusuk, we were able to visit the local museum. Here, we got to see traditional clothing and learn even more about the local culture. 

As part of our trip to Kulusuk, we had the option to sail in a boat along the water. Doing so was one of the most eerie but beautiful experiences of my life. We sailed among huge icebergs, and there was nothing but the silence. It was truly beautiful, and the surrounding landscapes were equally as spectacular. 

I Was *Not* Prepared for This Trip

I really should’ve known better than to visit Greenland and not dress warmly. Besides not bringing gloves, my jacket was nowhere near good enough for these kinds of conditions. I also didn’t take a warm hat or the appropriate hiking clothes. 

Regardless of when you visit Kulusuk (or any other part of Greenland, for that matter), you should prepare for the elements. That means wearing proper outdoor clothing and dressing in layers. It’s also worth noting that it felt much colder than the air temperature suggested because of the bitter winds. 

Can You Visit Greenland on Your Own?

It is possible to visit Greenland on your own, but if you’re traveling around the country, I would recommend booking a local guide. While the bigger towns in Greenland (e.g. Nuuk) have roads, you won’t find any roads going between each settlement. Instead, you must either fly or take the boat. 

If you plan on doing day trips into nature (including most hikes), it’s definitely a good idea to have a guide. I would also book a guide if I stayed in Kulusuk for longer to visit the rest of East Greenland. 

Useful resources for travel and booking tours include: 

• Visit Greenland
• Greenland Tours
• Travel Greenland
• Greenland Adventures
• Guide to Greenland

Is It Possible to Stay Overnight in Kulusuk? 

Kulusuk has one hotel: The aptly named Hotel Kulusuk. There is also a hostel in the town. Camping is possible within the

As a side note, you’re not recommended to camp outside the town perimeters due to the risk of polar bears. 

Do You Need a Special Visa to Visit Greenland? 

Greenland isn’t in the EU or Schengen Area, and you should bring your passport with you. Nordic citizens are the only exception, but you still need some form of ID and I therefore recommend bringing your passport anyway. 

As for specific visas, this will depend on your nationality. Generally speaking, visa-free countries for Denmark—including the US, Canada, and the UK—do not need a specific tourist visa. You can stay for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. 

Other visa-free countries include the 27 EU member states, Australia, and New Zealand. 

You can check whether you need a visa on this page. You can also learn how to apply here, and get a general overview on this page.   

One important note: Just because you have a Danish/Schengen visa does not mean you can automatically enter Greenland. You need to meet the specific entry requirements for Greenland. 

Which Currency Do I Need in Greenland?

Greenland uses the Danish Krone (DKK). I paid by card in Kulusuk and didn’t have any problems; I’d imagine that the same would be true in Nuuk.   

Time Zones

Greenland has three time zones: UTC + 0, UTC -1, and UTC -2. Kulusuk is in the UTC -2 time zone. 

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