Introduction
Summer is truly the prime season for boat tours in Greenland. Winding through the intricate maze of islands and small canals while the warm sun energizes you from overhead, a boat trip can be reminiscent of sailing in the Italian Riviera. But catch sight of a humpback whale or the colorful wooden houses along the coast and realize that, in fact, you are sailing at the top of the world in spectacular Greenland. Whale watching is carried out in both West and East Greenland. Offers include both dedicated whale watching trips, or general sight-seeing/fishing trips with possibilities to see whales. Whale watching is more developed during summer in Disko Bay and southwards in West Greenland and in Tasiilaq, East Greenland. These are also the places where large whales are most abundant during summer. An area where whale watching could possibly increase is Uummannaq fjord, where there are whales in summer, but it is far from the usual tourist destinations.
Target species, peak times of year and locations:
Most whale watching is carried out during summer, and the main target species is the humpback whale. However, there are good opportunities to watch minke whales and fin whales in locations such as South Greenland, Tasiilaq (East Greenland) and Disko Bay. There is a unique possibility of observing bowhead whales during winter and spring (February – May) in Disko Bay, especially from Qeqertarsuaq.