Greenland is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the largest island and the least populated country in the world. ¾ of the island is covered in permanent ice. Greenland offers niche attractions for those who prefer some extreme touring. Warmest months experience peak heat of 10 degrees Celsius while certain places in Greenland go as low as -60 degrees Celsius. Greenland is a destination for rather experienced travellers. There are many dangers lurking for inexperienced travellers.

Travelling info

Although Greenland is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark it is not part of the EU or the Schengen area. A permit to stay in Denmark does not allow for a stay in Greenland and vice versa. Although citizens of the EU are not required to have a visa in order to travel, other nationals might be required depending on their citizenship. (To see requirements check sources).
To drive in Greenland tourists will need their domestic driving permit and their passport. An international driving permit is optional.

Travelling hazards

The only roads in Greenland are in its 18 towns. There is no road network outside of the towns. Most of the travelling is done by air or boat. None of the big car rental companies has an office in Greenland.

Environmental hazards

Although it is hard to imagine that anything could survive in the harsh conditions of this almost entirely ice-covered island, there is a wide variety of animals thriving in the country mainly around the south. Although there are many animals only one is particularly dangerous. The polar bear is currently the largest land predator on earth. This animal is an apex predator reaching up to 3 meters in height while standing on its read paws and up to ¾ of a ton. These absolute beasts are surprisingly stealth predators which are extremely effective. Polar bears are capable of smelling a seal from 20 miles away which is an incredible distance. Because polar bears inhabit areas with almost no human population, the species did not develop a natural instinct to avoid human contact. It is the only bear species that will fearlessly target humans as prey. Attacks occur always when it’s too late for humans to escape. This is due to the stealth tactics used by these juggernaut creatures. For those who want to witness polar bears in the wild, boat trips are the safest way to do so. Other than these apex predators there are no carnivores posing any threat. Although the waters of Greenland are inhabited by much dangerous fish, swimming is rather a rarity in these areas as water temperatures reach -1-degree Celsius in the winter. There are various species of sharks including the great white, the Greenland sharks and many other gigantic marine creatures.
There have been no major earthquakes that affected Greenland since 1933 however recent rise in temperatures and severe melting of the snow and ice caused floods in parts of the island affecting some urban areas along the coasts.

Health hazards

Due to the cold climate epidemics are rather a rarity on the island. There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases and no requirements for any vaccinations. There are however several vaccines which are strongly recommended to ensure safe travel. These are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccine. Healthcare in Greenland is universal for its citizens. Most large settlements will have hospitals or clinics however the main hospital is located in Nuuk. Due to vast differences between patients and specialists almost all emergency transportation happens by air. The facilities on the island will provide a quality service. The EHIC does not provide free service in Greenland, therefore, all visitors are recommended to purchase health insurance.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Greenland receives a relatively small amount of tourists and few of them experience any harm. Locals however particularly in smaller towns experience high homicide rate and a large number of sexual assault reports. Police are often slow to react particularly with the great distances between towns. Tourists are generally safe from violent and petty crime. Wandering around Nuuk and other towns during the night is also safe however due to the alarming rate of sexual assault solo female travellers are advised against travelling alone at night.

Summary

Greenland is certainly a place not for an ordinary tourist, and not for those beach dwelling tourists. Greenland offers a variety of predominantly winter attractions however most of tourism involves exploring the capital of Nuuk, hunting or hiking. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://greenland.visahq.com/requirements/afghanistan/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/greenland