Greenland Hiking on Bear Islands, Scoresbysund

Bear Islands are a spectacular place to explore on foot, with soft tundra, glacially shaped terrain and dramatic mountain peaks rising around the fjords. Small mountain lakes and ponds offer beautiful opportunities for mirror-like reflections, especially when the wind drops and the water becomes completely still. From higher ground, you can combine the reflections with the surrounding peaks to create a strong sense of scale and depth.

Get as low to the water as possible to maximize the reflection and create a stronger foreground. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the person, lake and surrounding mountains in one frame, while placing a person in the scene to give the landscape a sense of scale. Wait for calm conditions with little to no wind—the smoother the water, the cleaner and more powerful the reflection.

Scoresbysund is one of the most remote places you can reach in Greenland. There are no roads or infrastructure here. The area is explored by sailing boat, smaller expedition vessel, kayak or multi-day guided kayak trips, with August to roughly mid-September being the best window to experience it. Just around 500 people coming per year.