Two British sisters recently completed a two-week journey across three Arctic destinations: Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. The travelers, including the author and her sister Nyeema, started their trip on a low-cost flight from London. Over fourteen days, they experienced a wide range of travel styles, moving from budget flights to luxury tours while exploring how tourism is changing these northern regions.
Their first major stop was Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The sisters described the town as remote and quiet, with colorful buildings set against calm waters and blue icebergs. During their visit, they noticed that local residents were frequently discussing political topics alongside nature. Many locals talked about identity, Greenland's relationship with Denmark, and past comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the island. While some residents felt international attention helped attract tourists, others strongly emphasized Greenland's independence.
After Greenland, the sisters traveled to Reykjavík, Iceland, where they saw a much more developed travel industry. Unlike Greenland's emerging tourism sector, Iceland has built a well-organized system for international visitors over many years. Statistics Iceland recorded over 10 million overnight stays in registered accommodation in 2025, with tourism directly accounting for nearly 9 percent of the country's economy. The journey ended in Norway, giving the sisters a full view of how different Arctic nations handle visitor growth and local identity.