I’ve written often about how much I want to visit Greenland this year. The video below is a perfect reason why.
This is video of an Air Greenland Dash 8 aircraft approaching Maniitsoq Airport (JSU) at dawn.
I love it. The dusk, the hues of the sky, the snow, the village. What a fascinating place this must be to visit.
While I had planned to visit in the summer, during the season of midnight sun, in many ways winter looks like a more fascinating time to visit. I also suspect it would be less crowded. Maniitsoq, Greenland (once called Sukkertoppen) is located on Greenland’s southwest coast. It’s population of roughly 2,600 makes it Greenland’s sixth most populated town.
With service to three larger towns, Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq, and Sisimiut, I could make this part of a multi-city trip. I still have no concept for what to do and what to see in Greenland. I know there are some nice lodges and I know Air Greenland flies between Copenhagen and Kangerlussuaq aboard an A330. That’s about it.
One of the best trips of my life was to Longyearbyen a couple summers ago. I suspect a trip to Greenland (and perhaps the Faroe Islands as well) would be unique, but equally fascinating.
Have you ever been to Maniitsoq?
I flew into Maniitsoq this past summer on my trip to Greenland and the Faroes (and I’m going back to the Faroes this summer and considering a quick stop by Eastern Greenland as well) when the second leg of my Ilulissat-Kangerlussuaq-Nuuk got canceled and they rebooked me on a Kangerlussuaq-Nuuk flight with a stop in Maniitsoq.
Greenland is absolutely stunning. I don’t know that you ever need to be worried about it being too crowded though (except for maybe the days when cruise ships dock). Make sure you get to Ilulissat if you go.
I took the coastal ferry, it is much more interesting. I wouldn’t touch Greenland with a 10 foot pole during the height of tourist season.
My spouse flew and really liked it . I think she spent the night in town, not a ton to do there.
I agree with you about Longyearbyen. Iceland looks beautiful in the video. I love the professionalism of the pilots.
Make it soon because if the nutcase climate change deniers have their way, you might see sprouting palm trees. Personally I prefer to visit places where palm trees are native and can’t imagine the hideousness of going to Longyearbyen. But I still want it to exist for everyone else.