Magical, Magnificent Greenland

Greenland has no equal. There is no other luxury cruising destination on Earth where breathtaking polar beauty and native culture converge so seamlessly. Where coastal vistas unfold before you with such power and insistence. Where you feel such an urgent need to step ashore, meet the native people and experience the “all” of it with a full heart. Lucky for you, Ponant takes you there.

You’ve no doubt heard the story of how Greenland got its name. When Erik the Red stepped on the southwestern shore in 982 AD, he thought a bait-and-switch would attract more settlers to come to this icy expanse. So he called it Greenland to make it sound more appealing.

But climate data suggests that Greenland was, in fact, greener 1,000 years ago. Even today, sheep and potatoes play a huge role in the daily life of the warmer coastal communities up and down its coasts. Summer temperatures here can creep into the 50s on the Fahrenheit scale. Consider, too, that Vikings generally named new lands for what they saw there. “Vinland,” for instance—a northern corner of Canada discovered by Leif Ericson in 1000 AD—was named for its many berries and vines. Given all this, the old bait-and-switch may be little more than a Viking tale.

The Greenlandic Inuit people, however, dismiss this Nordic lore altogether. They call their country—actually an autonomous territory of Denmark – Kalaallit Nunaat, meaning “Land of the People.” And considering how massive this island is (836,300 square miles, the largest non-continental island in the world) there’s quite a lot of that land to go around – even if 80% of it is covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet, the only permanent ice sheet outside Antarctica.

You’ll see what we mean when you embark a Ponant luxury expedition ship to this Arctic wonderland.

Behold the World’s Largest National Park

Dreams of a canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic date back to 1534. That was when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, wanted an easier route by which to transport Peruvian gold and other riches back to Europe. As the narrowest point between the two oceans, the Isthmus of Panama was the logical site. Later, Thomas Jefferson proposed Spain should construct a waterway since, at the time, that country still owned the land. Plans were drawn for the project as early as 1793.

Though Peruvian gold first inspired cutting through land, it was California gold that reinvigorated the plan. By 1848, gold had been discovered in California. Two American businessmen cashed in on the craze – William H. Aspinwall, who operated Pacific steamships from New York City to Panama, then from Panama to California, with an overland route between the two Panamanian ports, and American business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who started his own steamship company. In 1855, the opening of the Panama Railroad made the land trek easier and faster.

Behold the World’s Largest National Park

The centerpiece of any visit to Greenland is the spectacular Northeast Greenland National Park. The world’s largest and northernmost national park, it is almost the combined size of Spain and France; its coastline stretches some 11,200 miles (18,000 km).

Craggy snow-covered alpine peaks, hulking luminous icebergs, deep-cut fjords, wide-reaching glaciers and other breathtaking marvels comprise this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It hosts a profusion of wildlife. Polar bear, musk oxen, walrus and Arctic fox take center stage on the tundra while narwhal and beluga whales steal the spotlight in the surrounding waters. The scenic coast is sprinkled with weather and research stations that extend a warm welcome to visitors. These stations—some of the most remote in the world—house the park’s only permanent residents, about 40 people total depending on the time of year. The park also plays host to dogsledders who come up from the town of Ittoqqortoormiit to hunt for walruses, seals, narwhals, musk ox and polar bears.

Get Out There and Immerse Yourself in Greenland’s Inuit Culture

Greenland is one of the last frontiers of adventure—pristine, dramatic and rugged. And the Inuit people, whose ancestors crossed Northern Canada from Alaska and settled here in the 13th century, want to keep it that way. These are, after all, their lands, and they have shaped a rich and enduring culture in the many coastal villages and towns—even in the capital of Nuuk, equal parts metropolis and charming small town.

A deep respect for the outdoors guides much of daily life today just as it has for centuries. Hiking, snowshoeing, dogsledding, ice fishing and even taking a dip in the cold, bracing waters keep Greenlanders vibrant, healthy and connected to their lands. And if you’re wondering how the earliest settlers got around, look no further than the kayak (qajaq in the Inuit dialect, or “skin boat”). The watercraft was invented here some 4,000 years ago out of pure necessity. Without it, the ancients couldn’t have transported goods or fished and hunted for food as quickly and nimbly as these icy waters required.

During a luxury Arctic cruise with Ponant, you’ll have ample opportunity to try your hand at all these experiences that have come to define Inuit culture, from the southernmost shores of the old fishing port of Qaqortoq and the dizzying heights of Kangerlussuaq Fjord on the west coast to the old trapper cabins of Dodmansbugten on the east.

And here’s the real beauty of a Ponant small ship expedition to Greenland. Outdoor exploration here brings you face to face with the ever-present wilderness of one of the world’s last great wild places. It connects you to the people who have thrived in this extreme environment for generations. And it gives you a new appreciation for human hardiness and simple living. Mostly, when you experience the majesty of Greenland in the same way the locals do, you cannot help but feel deeply moved and inspired by a new respect for nature. It is our hope that you bring that home with you.