We thought we had come across some remote places during our travels, but then we found Ittoqqortoormiit.
First of all, good luck pronouncing it.
Ittoqqortoormiit it’s located on the eastern coast of Greenland, more than 500 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, is one of the most isolated inhabited settlements on Earth. Around 350 people live here year-round, surrounded by ice, mountains, wildlife, and one of the last truly untouched wilderness areas on the planet.
History
And since you're probably wondering how a place with such a complicated name ended up here, we'll tell you the story.
It was founded in 1925 by Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and a group of Inuit settlers. The Inuit are Indigenous Arctic people who have lived in Greenland and other northern regions for thousands of years. The town sits between two neighbors: Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system in the world, and the vast Northeast Greenland National Park.
You know when people start making their own bread, growing basil on the windowsill, or talking about becoming more self-sufficient? Well, in Ittoqqortoormiit, self-sufficiency isn't a lifestyle trend or a weekend hobby. It's simply how life works.
How they cope
Supplies arrive only a handful of times each year. Flights are limited. Winters are long. This isn't like missing the subway and knowing another one will be along in a few minutes.
Many residents still rely on traditional hunting practices, with seals, musk oxen, and other Arctic wildlife remaining an important part of local life and culture.
In a world obsessed with convenience, same-day delivery, and constant connectivity, Ittoqqortoormiit exists at the opposite end of the spectrum. Life moves according to nature, weather, and seasons rather than notifications and schedules. In many ways, it resembles how societies lived centuries ago. The difference is that people here aren't doing it as a lifestyle choice or a trend; they simply don't have the option of doing things any other way.
The Jade Peak Recommendations
At Jade Peak, we’re always drawn to places that challenge how we think about the way people live. That’s why Ittoqqortoormiit is on our list because it looks incredible in photos to be honest and we want to understand how life actually works in one of the most remote communities. Either way, this isn’t a place you visit casually. Getting there is already an experience. You must fly from Iceland (Reykjavík or Akureyri) to Constable Point (Nerlerit Inaat), then take a short helicopter flight into town.
The best time to visit depends on what you would like to do. Summer (July to early September) is for boats, hiking, and the midnight sun. Winter and early spring (February to April) are for dog sledding, frozen landscapes, and the Northern Lights.
And when it comes to accommodation, we quickly realized you need to grit your teeth a little. There are no hotels here, just one guesthouse. So instead of spending three hours searching, here it is: ITT Guesthouse.
Originally published at jadepeak.com.
