Ittoqqortoormiit

Ittoqqortoormiit (formerly Scoresbysund, after the English whaler and Arctic explorer William Scoresby, who first mapped the area in 1822) is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth. Around 350–400 people live in this brightly painted settlement on Liverpool Land, near the mouth of Kangertittivaq — better known as Scoresby Sund, the largest and longest fjord system in the world — where it opens into the Greenland Sea. The town was founded in 1925, when families were resettled here from the Ammassalik district far to the south to establish a Danish presence on the central-east coast and to exploit the area's exceptional hunting grounds.

What defines Ittoqqortoormiit is its sheer isolation: there is no other settlement of more than 200 people for roughly a thousand kilometres in any direction. It sits at the doorstep of the Northeast Greenland National Park, the world's largest national park, and the surrounding land and pack ice are home to polar bears, muskoxen, Arctic foxes, narwhals and seals. This is hunting country, and subsistence hunting remains central to local life and identity. Visitors come for raw wilderness, wildlife expeditions, dog-sledding and the staggering scale of Scoresby Sund's icebergs and fjord branches.

The climate is high-Arctic and severe. The brief window of relative accessibility is July to early September, when Scoresby Sund clears enough of ice for boats, the midnight sun is up, and kayaking, hiking and wildlife-watching are possible. Winter is long, dark and bitterly cold, but it is the season for dog-sledding and the northern lights. Whatever the season, weather routinely grounds flights and delays plans — flexibility is essential.

By Plane

The settlement is served by Nerlerit Inaat Airport (CNP), also called Constable Point, across the fjord about 40 km away. It has roughly one flight per week year-round to Akureyri and Reykjavík in Iceland (Norlandair/Air Greenland services). From CNP, the final connection to the town is by Air Greenland helicopter to Ittoqqortoormiit Heliport, or by boat in open-water months — both are arranged via the local operator and are weather-dependent. There is no direct fixed-wing service into the town itself.

The town itself is tiny and easily covered on foot — you can walk from one end to the other in minutes, and there is no public transport. Beyond the settlement, movement is by boat or kayak in the short ice-free summer, and by dog sled or snowmobile in winter; both are arranged through the local outfitter. Venturing into the wilderness or the national park requires a guide and proper logistics: rescue capacity is minimal and the odds of timely help drop sharply the farther you travel from town, so independent off-grid trekking is strongly discouraged.

• Scoresby Sund (Kangertittivaq) — the largest fjord system on the planet, a labyrinth of branches walled by mountains and choked with colossal icebergs. Seeing it by boat in summer is the single reason most travellers come.
• Northeast Greenland National Park — the world's largest national park begins on the town's doorstep; an expedition permit is required for any visit, and trips must be properly outfitted. Home to muskoxen, polar bears and Arctic wildlife.
• The Church — the settlement's small church (Mikip Aqqulaa 519) is a focal point of community life and a tidy landmark in the painted townscape.
• Tourist Information Center and Gift Shop (Mikip Aqqulaa 519) — combines visitor information with local crafts and a good orientation point.
• The town itself — rows of colourful houses against a backdrop of ice and tundra, with sled dogs staked across the slopes, make Ittoqqortoormiit one of the most photogenic and otherworldly settlements in the Arctic.

The headline activities are wildlife and wilderness expeditions. Nanu Travel, the local operator, runs the town's logistics and arranges most trips: dog-sledding (including multi-day trips that combine daytime sledding with northern-lights viewing), kayaking in Scoresby Sund (kayaks can be rented by the day or for weeks), boat tours among the icebergs, and polar bear and muskox expeditions for watching or, in season, traditional hunting. Summer brings hiking under the midnight sun and wildlife photography; winter brings the aurora and the frozen-fjord sled trails. Cruise ships also call in summer, using the town as a landing point for Scoresby Sund voyages. Every serious outing needs a guide and emergency planning given the remoteness.

There is no restaurant scene in the conventional sense; eating is largely self-catered from Pilersuisoq, or arranged through the guesthouse, which can provide meals for guests. The local diet leans heavily on country food — seal, muskox, narwhal, Arctic char and fish — reflecting the hunting economy, and guests on tours may be served traditional Greenlandic fare. Travellers should plan to buy provisions at the store and cook, or pre-arrange full board with their accommodation. Vegetarians and those with special diets should bring supplies, as fresh produce is scarce and expensive this far from any supply line.

Hot drinks — coffee and tea — are the social staple and are offered generously in homes and at the guesthouse. There is no developed bar or café scene; alcohol is sold through the general store under Greenland's restrictions and is expensive, so do not rely on buying it freely. Tap water comes from clean Arctic sources and is safe to drink, and in winter meltwater and sea-ice are part of daily life. If you want a social drink, your accommodation or guide is the place to ask.

• Budget / Mid-range: The Ittoqqortoormiit Guesthouse, owned and run by the local operator Nanu Travel, is effectively the only formal accommodation in town. It offers simple, comfortable rooms, can provide meals, and doubles as the booking hub for all tours and expedition logistics. Given the settlement's size there is no separate upscale hotel; for travellers it is the guesthouse or pre-arranged homestays/expedition camps organised through Nanu Travel.

Book far ahead — capacity is tiny and tied to the weekly flight schedule.

Shopping is limited to essentials. Pilersuisoq (Jrnip Aqqulaa 123) is the general store, stocking groceries, household items and basic supplies; like everywhere in the high Arctic, prices are high because everything arrives by the once-or-twice-yearly supply ship or by air. The Tourist Information Center and Gift Shop (Mikip Aqqulaa 519) sells local crafts and souvenirs, including carvings and sealskin items typical of East Greenland — the most meaningful things to take home. There is no bargaining; prices are fixed. Remember that sealskin and certain animal products face import restrictions abroad, so check your home country's rules before buying.

• Nerlerit Inaat / Constable Point (CNP) (~40 km by helicopter) — the regional airport and the link to Iceland.
• Northeast Greenland National Park (adjacent, permit required) — the world's largest protected wilderness, for expedition travel only.
• Scoresby Sund inner fjords (boat expeditions in summer) — Røde Ø, Danmark Ø and other dramatic anchorages deep within the fjord system.
• Akureyri, Iceland (weekly flight) — the practical gateway city for onward travel.
• Reykjavík, Iceland (weekly flight) — Iceland's capital and the main international connection point.