Deep inside a 190 km fjord, Kangerlussuaq is one of the only places on Earth where you can drive to the Greenland Ice Sheet. Former Cold War air base, now Greenland's main airport — and a wildlife-rich tundra unlike any other Arctic port.
Ships anchor in the fjord and tender passengers to the small supply quay; book excursions in advance as demand exceeds available vehicles.
💡 Pro move: Excursions sell out fast — the Russell Glacier and ice sheet tours have limited vehicle capacity. Pre-book through your cruise line or a local operator.
Ships anchor mid-fjord; the shallow, silt-prone supply quay can accommodate only small expedition vessels, and a new harbor is planned to address sedimentation.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Expedition cruise lines (Hurtigruten, Quark, Ponant) | Royal Arctic Line supply quay📍 | Docked |
| Larger cruise ships (Viking, Silversea, etc.) | Kangerlussuaq Fjord anchorage📍 | Tendered |
Kangerlussuaq's big draws are all outside the settlement — plan your day around at least one guided excursion to make the most of this remote stop.
Drive 25 km across tundra and river valleys to stand below a 60-meter vertical ice wall. One of the few glaciers in Greenland reachable by road. Witness calving events June–August.
Find Russell Glacier tours →Drive to Point 660 and step onto the world's second-largest ice sheet. Some tours combine this with Russell Glacier for a full ice-day experience lasting 5-7 hours.
Find ice sheet excursions →Around 10,000 musk oxen roam the Kangerlussuaq tundra — one of the highest densities anywhere. 4WD tours through open desert-like terrain offer reliable sightings, plus reindeer and Arctic fox.
Find musk ox safari tours →The small local museum traces the US Air Force Sondrestrom Air Base era (WWII through Cold War) with artifacts, photos, and displays on the base's key role in Arctic defense and later Greenlandic life.
Explore Kangerlussuaq Museum →Self-guided or guided hikes from the settlement. Lake Ferguson is a 2-3 hr round trip through open tundra with views over the fjord. Sugarloaf offers a steeper climb with panoramic ice-sheet vistas.
Find guided hiking tours →Helicopter or fixed-wing tours reveal the true scale of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Kangerlussuaq Fjord from above — an unforgettable perspective on one of the planet's last great ice wildernesses.
Find flightseeing tours →The settlement itself is compact and walkable; the real scenery lies 10-25 km out on the tundra, so walks here are more about orientation than sightseeing.
Walk from the tender landing along the main road through the former airbase settlement, past the hotel and supermarket, to the Kangerlussuaq Museum. Flat, easy, and free.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Follow the trail from the settlement out to Lake Ferguson — a glacially-fed lake on the tundra. Good chance of spotting musk ox on the way. Bring insect repellent Jun–Aug.
📍 Open in MapsClimate normals for Kangerlussuaq, Western Greenland, Greenland (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5°F / -15°C | -8°F / -22°C | 4 | 11:32 AM | 3:32 PM |
| Feb | 1°F / -17°C | -11°F / -24°C | 3 | 9:33 AM | 5:41 PM |
| Mar | 12°F / -11°C | 0°F / -18°C | 2 | 7:42 AM | 7:22 PM |
| Apr | 28°F / -2°C | 15°F / -9°C | 4 | 6:36 AM | 10:11 PM |
| May | 44°F / 7°C | 31°F / -1°C | 6 | – | – |
| Jun | 57°F / 14°C | 43°F / 6°C | 9 | – | – |
| Jul | 63°F / 17°C | 48°F / 9°C | 9 | – | – |
| Aug | 58°F / 14°C | 44°F / 7°C | 10 | 5:53 AM | 10:57 PM |
| Sep | 44°F / 7°C | 33°F / 1°C | 8 | 7:42 AM | 8:51 PM |
| Oct | 30°F / -1°C | 19°F / -7°C | 6 | 9:24 AM | 6:51 PM |
| Nov | 16°F / -9°C | 4°F / -16°C | 4 | 10:24 AM | 3:49 PM |
| Dec | 9°F / -13°C | -3°F / -19°C | 4 | 12:28 PM | 2:07 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Most cruise lines arrange transfers between the tender landing and the settlement/airport. Confirm with your cruise line before departure — this is the most reliable option.
Only about 8 taxis serve the entire town and availability during cruise calls is very limited. The tender landing to settlement/airport is 13–20 km on a rough road. Local numbers: +299 55 23 23 / 84 12 26. Bring Danish Krone cash — card acceptance is uncertain.
A local village circuit bus runs within the settlement for a flat fare, but it does not serve the harbor tender landing or out-of-town attractions.
Local operators (Albatros Arctic Circle, Arctic Ice Tours, Arctic Friend, Topas) offer pre-bookable tours and shuttle transfers to key sites like the Ice Cap (Point 660), Russell Glacier, and town sightseeing. Pre-booking is strongly recommended given limited local transport.
Self-drive rentals available through local companies such as JMM Gruppen, Albatros Arctic Circle, and Tundra Adventures. Useful for independent exploration of the tundra road network.
Upcoming cruises that call at Kangerlussuaq, Western Greenland, Greenland. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.