Postcards from Greenland
Words by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete Heck
As the weeks have passed since our time in Greenland, the reality of all that we did and all that we saw is still settling in.
In one moment we may have been grumbling over rain or struggling with the double kayak (aka divorce boat), but in the next we would look at each other and say incredulously: “We’re in muthaf$%#ing Greenland.”
Goal: achieved. Bucket list: checked.
And as we continue to reflect on what a surreal and exquisite experience it was, as we celebrate our accomplishment and look through all our photos again and again and again, we find ourselves left with questions:
Where do we possibly go from here? How can this be beat?
In terms of providing for natural beauty and an utterly unforgettable experience – Greenland has soared past so many others and might just prove to be invincible.
I guess we’ll have to keep exploring to find out.
From our first night at camp, in which we discovered that the sun never really disappears in an arctic summer.
When the weather took a bad turn, we were stranded for a day. Here. No complaints.
Some landscapes were just so surreal, they seemed unearthly.
We kayaked through wind and rain, over bumpy waters and through a narrow passage that could only be traversed when the tide was high. But most of our days were on incredibly smooth water that allowed us to just enjoy our surroundings in peace (when we weren’t fighting, that is). Thanks to Ant for posing on this one.
Goal reached after 96km of paddling: the stunning Knud Rasmussen glacier.
We ended up spending three nights in Kulusuk, which is a lot of time in a little town of just a few hundred people. But with these such views, we never grew tired of it.
After our kayak journey and before we left for Iceland, we took a 10 minute helicopter ride over to Tasiilaq (there are no roads, public transportation is by helicopter or boat). Being a bit more inland, it immediately felt a few degrees warmer and was an entirely different experience to Kulusuk. It wasn’t quite as attractive, but it was bustling with a few more amenities.
A view of Tasiilaq from above.
Our journey in Greenland was courtesy of Greenland Tours. All opinions, as always, are our own. For a review of our entire trip with them, please click here.
As well, a very special thanks to Lenses for Hire for sending us a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 lens for our trip. If you’re thinking of traveling to the UK or Europe and need a lens, these guys are extremely professional, reliable and highly recommended.
Wow… These photos are absolutely stunning!
Thanks Beatrice!
Beautiful shots guys!
Since buying my 10-22mm last April, I’ve found it rarely leaves my camera for landscapes– absolutely love it!
Pete sure is missing it since he had to give it back. 🙂
wow that is gorgeous, I would love to explore this someday, but your images are breath taking!
Beautiful photos! I really want to visit Greenland, but in winter.
Those are really pretty photos! =)
I’ve been loving your posts lately! These photos are stunning. Thanks for sharing.
Happy travels 🙂
What an amazing place! I love the shot with the sun shining brightly and a smattering of dandelions in the foreground. They seem so out of place!
Beautiful photos. Greenland might be a little too adventurous for me to visit but I love the photo essay 😉
What an amazing trip and you two should really get a gig from the Greenland tourism board.
The photos are terrific but your single statement of “Greenland has soared past so many others and might just prove to be invincible.” has sold me… completely!
Really gorgeous photos of such an amazing place!
Is that a wolf with her pup in the photo or a domestic dog that looks like a wolf? Great pics.
I’ve loved all your Greenland posts. It is very high on my list…and these photos are stunning! Did you fly to and from Iceland?
Incredible! I have to see it for myself one day.
Breathtaking images and story! You could not do a more amazing job of documenting this extraordinary adventure or stunning country. I second the above comment in that it would be wonderful and no doubt mutually beneficial if you were able to partner with Greenland’s tourism board!
These are gorgeous. I love the way ice looks so, so blue. When we were in Iceland it was the same way. Now only to get to Greenland!
sick ass pictures. Can’t wait to go there one day myself.
Thanks for sharing such great photos of this outlandish, almost unreal looking landscape. It seems like a trip of a lifetime, and even if not the usual backpacker destination, Greenland definitely appears to be a place to keep in mind for future travels…
Actually the first photos reminds me of my experience in Russia, where also the sun never fully sets in the summer. But it really makes you wonder how people can survive there in the wintertime when it must be the opposite and the sun is never coming up…