Wildlife sightings in Greenland 2025-2026. My personal experience

I just returned from a summer season of 10 weeks in Greenland a spectacular return to Qaanaaq in Avanersuaq after being unable to visit since COVID. I have so many thoughts and observations I will be processing for the coming months but I do want to mention wildlife now so people can start to plan whether a trip to Northeast Greenland is feasible for winter 2027, which is quickly approaching.

Right, so many people care more about wildlife than culture and people in Greenland. It's just reality when it comes to tourism and it is what it is. Especially on cruises.

I did several trips to Greenland in 2025 in both winter and summer. In 2026, I only did early summer and late summer / early winter.

I am a specialist in the most remote areas in Greenland where the arctic big 5 wildlife still live. You won't get this in Ilulissat or other mainstream destinations. Certainly not Nuuk.

Below I'll mention what I saw where and what season / month. It's anecdotal and wildlife is never guaranteed. But what improves your chances is staying longer in Greenland. 3 weeks is ideal and 2 weeks is probably too rushed if you are super keen on seeing the more rare and elusive wildlife. It's also very dependent on who you go with. The only meaningful sightings I've ever gotten with quality photos was with local hunters. There are day rates or hourly rates that are negotiated in advance or from a set price list from the local operator. You need a substantial budget if you're going to remote Greenland. But clarify the prices early while you're planning and you can contact me for a consultation to help you secure the prices because email is not really reliable in these towns.

Without further ado, here is my list.

Humpback whales: mostly in Disko Bay and near Ilulissat. Many, many, many August 2025 also many near Western Iceland heading from the West fjords to Reykjavik. June 2026 and August 2026: almost none. It was very strange. Both on cruises (Swan Hellenic Vega in August 2025 and HX Fridtjof Nansen in June 2026). I saw one whale three days ago right outside Ilulissat abroad the Sarfaq Ittuk ferry on 22 September 2026. Whale Tours with Claus Foss Hansen in an open boat is your best bet. He can almost guarantee a sighting especially if you go out with him more than once. Jan Corsten Ilulissat Local Guide and Ilulissat Excursions co-founder is also a whale whisperer. I think the cruise ship was a disadvantage in 2026 and we were too early. Your chances improve a lot in July and August vs June.

Narwhals: never anywhere else except in Qaanaaq area near Qeqertat in August 2026. These are very rare because they are sensitive to noise. Your best chance for seeing them reliably is up here in the northwest. You need 3 weeks up here minimum and there are no guides. It's hunters and you need an intro to them and such. Please contact me for a consultation. They are also possible to be viewed in Ittoqqortoormiit from the ice edge in May but that's it. They disappear pretty quickly after that because the icebreaker cruise ship comes by the first of June. However, in Ittoqq, they do not hunt by qajaq so it's much higher probability that you will not see a live narwhal there because the quota is very low and exhausted usually in one day. If you want to see a live one, Northwest is best but the likelihood of a month long delay is high. Upernavik is also a much more likely location in August and even into September.

Walrus: reliably near Etah in northwest Greenland in August 2026. It's the only live walrus I've ever seen. They are getting extremely rare in the east. I hear there are some near Qeqertarsuaq in Disko Bay but that is not confirmed. I hear they're in the NE GL national park.

Wolves: near Etah in Northwest Greenland in August 2026.

Muskoxen: Handful in Kangerlussuaq in August 2025. Possible in Ittoqqortoormiit but much cheaper and easier in Kangerlussuaq. You will be closer to them in Kangerlussuaq probably and seeing them alive is higher because there aren't many subsistence hunters over there. You can easily see them if you do the Arctic Circle Trail. August is hunting season though as is March. So keep that in mind.

Arctic Hares: guaranteed in Ittoqqortoormiit winter 2025 April. They are pets in this community and people feed them. Not hunted. 2025 August - September you can see some in Kangerlussuaq but single digits. I saw 3 in Siorapaluk in August 2026.

Seals: everywhere. Sometimes they swim in a group in open water. Seen in South Greenland going north toward western Greenland in August 2025. Greenland seals aren't hunted as much so I've seen some in Prince Christian Sound south Greenland August 2025 and a few near Etah and Qeqertat in Northwest Greenland in August - September 2026. Ringed seals are everywhere but very common in the north.

Birdlife: the most variety I've seen is in northwest. Little Auks, Various gulls, geese, Black Guillemots, Ravens, and dozens more near Qaanaaq and the Guillemots were mostly north of Siorapaluk. August 2026. Siorapaluk with the auks they catch from nets are best in late July. There are bird cliffs near Uummannaq in early August 2025 and in June 2026 I saw another bird cliff near Eternity Fjord near Maniitsoq. Best to see these with local hunters rather than the cruises. Ptarmigans in Kangerlussuaq and Ittoqqortoormiit (usually caught by the dozen and very delicious).

Foxes: mostly Kangerlussuaq all year round in my experience and on the ACT. They are not stupid so you often don't see them but you can find their tracks next to a bears or a larger animal. I saw one in Constable Point airport in April 2025.

Reindeer: almost guaranteed near Kangerlussuaq and various hunting grounds all year and ACT. They have died out in East Greenland. I am not interested in them at all. August through end of September is hunting season so that's not the time to go see them in my opinion. West Greenland is very reliable.

Greenland shark is bycatch and not on purpose. Quite rare and not reliable. You won't see one alive if you see one caught. Last heard about in Ittoqqortoormiit March 2026.

Other whales: there were many killer whales this year in Qaanaaq area in August 2026. Big whales like Bowhead and Sperm whales sometimes seen from a distance in West Greenland on cruises in August 2025. Only 0-1 of these though. They're not hunted.

And last but not least, the one you've been waiting for. Polar Bears: basically you will not see them anywhere in Greenland except for one place. Ittoqqortoormiit and its fjord Kangertittivaq also known as Scoresbysund. If it's up to me, no cruises will be allowed in that fjord so the only way to see bears is with the local operator that is approved and licensed for viewing. And if you're there long enough, especially after hunting season, they will come close to the town because they know that they are not at risk anymore. April 2025: 10 bears seen at close distance on sea ice. August 2025: 6 bears seen on a cruise from a far distance. Very far.

South of Etah but north of Siorapaluk in August 2026: 1 solo fat bear. Very close to Ellesmere Island in Canada so unclear if it is normally in Greenland or Canada but it was fun to see a chubby bear while we were sailing back to Qaanaaq.

Again, bears are rare and most greenlanders have never seen a live polar bear. Ittoqqortoormiit is the most isolated town in Greenland and the most expensive destination by far. If you are keen to see bears, East Greenland is the way to go. Most likely is Ittoqq but Tasiilaq also has an operator Sermilik Adventures that is licensed to do guiding for viewing. It is one of the most expensive things you can do. Several thousand dollars USD a day kind of destination per person but if it is your priority, then stay for 3 weeks and your chances will be quite high especially in the April time frame. I saw several bears in April 2022 as well but I stayed in the town for 7 weeks.

Given the new defense agreement signed on Tuesday, I do not know what this will mean for tourism in the fjord because Mestersvig will be a new base for the US and it is very close so if you want to see bears, next year might be the time. I have a trip I'm organizing but it is very expensive and limited to 4 people max. https://icebergchick.com/cultural-expedition-itt

Another more popular place for bears and wildlife is south of the Pituffik Space base so Moriusaq and Savissivik and Kullorsuaq going further south are also available but extremely remote and you will definitely need help arranging where to stay and who will take you out. In winter is best as well. March April. There is only one person living in Moriusaq and in Savissivik there are about 45.

I hope this is useful.