Disko Bay Icebergs

Greenland is covered in glaciers, and every summer, icebergs calve off of the glaciers and float out to the open ocean. There's nothing quite like the sight of these towering floating citadels!

Where: One of the best places to see icebergs up close is in Disko Bay, located in Western Greenland. Ilulissat is a small town on the Bay, and it makes a perfect base of exploration.

When: Summer is the best time to visit and photograph icebergs. Late July to early August are particularly good; the midnight sun of Arctic summer means sunset and twilight last for hours, and there's lots of icebergs floating around Disko Bay.

Photography: For land-based photography, a trail goes from Ilulissat to the abandoned settlement of Sermermiut for dramatic views of icebergs. To get up close and personal with the icebergs, your best bet is to hire a boat to take you out into Disko Bay. You can get some great photos, and get close enough for wide-angle photography. If you are a skilled drone pilot, launching a drone from your boat is a great way to photograph the icebergs, allowing you a multitude of unique perspectives. Just be aware that takeoffs and landings from a small boat can be very difficult!

Learn more: This site offers a lot of useful information for planning a visit to Ilulissat. Also, consider checking out the Greenland photo tours offered by pro photographer Erez Marom.

© Ian Plant