The Ilulissat Icefjord

The Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Greenland's west coast, is one of the most spectacular and humbling natural sights on earth. Here the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the fastest-moving and most productive on the planet, calves vast quantities of ice into the fjord, filling it with colossal icebergs, some the size of buildings, that drift majestically toward the open sea. Viewed from shoreline trails, by boat weaving among the floating giants, or from the air, this ever-changing frozen landscape, glowing in the midnight sun, is unforgettable.

What you actually see

• The icebergs - the colossal ice giants filling the fjord.
• The glacier - the fast-moving Sermeq Kujalleq calving front.
• The boat tours - the trips weaving among the floating ice.
• The shoreline trails - the boardwalk and hikes to the icefjord.

When to go

June to September, the Arctic summer, for the mildest weather, boat access and the midnight sun, when the ice glows around the clock; winter brings darkness, deep cold and the chance of the northern lights but limited access. Whales are often seen in the bay in summer, adding to the spectacle.

Honest expectations

Greenland is remote and expensive to reach and travel in, with weather that can disrupt flights and boats at short notice, so flexibility and budget are needed; there are no roads between towns, only flights and boats. The scale and beauty of the icefjord, though, with its cathedral-like icebergs and pristine Arctic setting, are genuinely awe-inspiring and among the great natural wonders of the world.

Nearby

The town of Ilulissat, Disko Bay and the glacier are close by.