If you are still undecided about making that trip to Greenland, do not let the harsh cold dissuade you from visiting because you will surely miss out on a lot of wonderful things unique only to Greenland. In fact, now is the best time to visit Greenland because scientists predict that in a couple more years, a large part of it will have already melted and its brilliant glaciers and bergs will only be part of its history. Aside from those mentioned, here are some ten things that you need to see and do in Greenland.

1.) National Museum

When visiting any country or city for the very first time, it is always a good part of the itinerary to include its National Museum. In this particular museum, you will see the mummified bodies of what is believed to be those of the people who died when their boat turned over back in the 1400s. You can also find here other artifacts as well.

2.) Festival of Snow Sculptures

This is an annual festivity attended by locals and foreigners. Here, you will see a magnificent showcase of some of the world’s best snow sculptures on parade. Go to the country’s capital, Nuuk, to witness this yearly event.

3.) Greenland Tours

In order to fully enjoy your stay in Greenland and see as much as possible during your trip, it is best to take guided tours that will take you to Kangerlussuag and then to Ilulissat. These tours will take you around the cities. Here, you will experience native life in Greenland including the traditional welcome coffee drink from a local.

4.) Hiking and mountain climbing

One of the best hiking and mountaineering experiences you can ever have is in the mountains of Greenland. The best place is said to be Ice Cap. However, you should always have an experienced guide with you as you can easily get lost or injured if you don’t know your way around.

5.) Qaqortoq

This is located in the southern part of Greenland. This is where you will find the oldest recorded fountain of the country as well as old building structures, and these buildings go as far back as two centuries ago. You will also see here a mini Eskimo Museum.

6.) Dog sleds

What is a visit to Greenland without trying its famous dog sledding down its icy slopes? Skiing is also a must. You can go skiing across the country provided you have a guide, and you are well-versed in the sport.

7.) Disko Bay

It is said that one iceberg here can weigh approximately more than 6 million tons! One of the most breathtaking sights you will ever witness here or perhaps anywhere in the world is the sun touching the icebergs illuminating their brilliance. Be prepared to be enthralled by this magnificent sight.

8.) Old Town Museum

This is located in Upernavik. It is a place considered to have a friendlier climate than most places in Greenland. The Old Town Museum houses historical mementos of the country including those about the earliest people who have inhabited the place.

9.) Polar Bears

Definitely not to be missed, polar bears are only seen in the cold regions, hence, they are a sight to behold in Greenland. Although fiercely wild and can seriously injure anyone he comes across with, the sight of this white bear is enough to entice any tourist to catch a glimpse of this wild animal. You will surely be amazed at the power and beauty these animals possess.

10.) Musk ox and other animals

After polar bears, tourists also come to this icy country to catch glimpses of musk oxen. You can also see in Greenland a few of Santa’s reindeer and walruses. Whales are also abundant including the majestic white whales.

Kangaroo Island is about seven times the size of Singapore and around 155 kilometres in length, with the town of Kingscote being the island’s capital and main settlement. Wildlife is abundant on the island, where koalas laze in the gum trees and seals laze on the beach. In addition, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, platypi and goannas all thrive on the island.

A wide range of tours are available on Kangaroo Island, enabling you to relax while someone else does the driving. In addition, guides can provide a great deal of information about Kangaroo Island on the way. Both coach tours and four-wheel drive tours are available, with most tours collecting passengers from their accommodation, the airport or the ferry terminal. Bike riding and hiking are also possible for those with the energy, but beware that Kangaroo Island is large and the necessary level of fitness is required for these options.

Large luxury vehicle and passenger ferries operate between Cape Jervis on the South Australian coast and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island (travelling time 45 minutes). There are four departures daily, with extra services at peak times. Bus connections are available to/from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and to/from Penneshaw to American River and Kingscote on the island. Regional Express operates a 30-minute air service from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport, located 13km from Kingscote.

Because of its relative isolation, Kangaroo Island has experienced much less impact from European settlement than than the South Australian mainland. Half the bushland on Kangaroo Island remains untouched since the time of British navigator Matthew Flinders named the island in 1802, and more than a third of the Island has National Park or Conservation Park status. This pristine bushland supports a rich wildlife population of wildlife and makes Kangaroo Island on of the best places in Australia to see wildlife in its natural environment.

Kangaroo Island was separated from mainland Australia about 10,000 years ago. In that time, some species have evolved differently from their mainland counterparts. This is evident for example in the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo (a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo common in south-eastern Australia) which is today smaller, darker and has longer fur than its mainland counterpart. The now endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo is also a unique Kangaroo Island sub-species, as is the small marsupial carnivore the Sooty Dunnart.

Similarly, King Island’s plants have evolved in isolation to the point where at least 45 species are endemic (found only on Kangaroo Island) including several eucalypts. The total absence of feral creatures such as foxes and rabbits helps ensures the integrity Kangaroo Island’s bushland ecosystems.

In recognition of Kangaroo Island’s unique plant and wildlife species (some of which are either threatened or unique to the island), National and Conservation parks were declared across the island very early in the history of its European settlement. Kangaroo Island’s National Parks provide access to spectacular coastline scenery, unique geological formations, fascinating history and abundant wildlife. There are four major parks: Flinders Chase National Park (walking trails and spectacular rock formations), Kelly Hill Conservation Park (limestone caves and hiking), Seal Bay Conservation Park (Australia’s largest accessible colony of sea lions) and Cape Willoughby Conservation Park (first lighthouse in South Australia).

By author Miguel Scaccialupo.