Qaanaaq (dead link: January 2023), formerly known as Thule, in northern Greenland is one of the world's northernmost civilian settlements, topped only by Longyearbyen on Svalbard and a few military bases. Getting here will be a challenge, as permits may be required for use of the nearby Thule Airbase, under U.S. control.
Understand
The alternative name for this settlement is Thule, a name still used by the nearby airbase. The word comes from the Latin "Ultima Thule", meaning the Far North Land.
Get in
Permission
A permission to enter or travel through Thule Air Base could as of April 2007 be obtained by sending an application to the foreign affairs department in Denmark. Details can be found (only in Danish) at the national ombudsman's homepage (dead link: January 2023).
If you live outside Greenland or do not have Danish citizenship then you must provide the following information:
- Name
- Birthdate and birthplace
- Permanent address
- Purpose of the journey
- Place of residence during your stay
- Name of the travel agency through which the ticket will be/has been booked.
Applications can be sent or faxed to:
Udenrigsministeriet Asiatisk Plads 2 1448 København K Denmark Telefax: +45 33 92 01 70
By plane
Qaanaaq Airport (IATA: NAQ), 77.488611°, -69.388611°. Air Greenland flies twice per week from Upernavik, which has flights from Ilulissat. These flights are very expensive.
Get around
By foot
The town's pretty small, and you should be able to get around it on foot.
See
- Qaanaaq Museum, 77.467791°, -69.237513°, +299 971473. Features paintings, sculptures, carvings and photographs from the historic Thule trading station. 2019-03-07
Do
Buy
Eat
- Qaanaaq Supermarket, 77.468829°, -69.236183°. 2020-10-31
Drink
Sleep
- Hotel Qaanaaq, 77.46928°, -69.2317°, +299-971234, hotelqaanaaq@gmail.com. Only hotel in town, has a handful of no-frill rooms and shared bathroom. If fully booked they can help out with arranging other accommodation. Boasts its own small restaurant serving up both lunch and dinner. 2019-03-07
Go next
The Northeast Greenland National Park is the obvious next destination.