Milne Land Island

Large remote island off eastern Greenland coast

An island in eastern Greenland's Scoresby Sund, known to expeditioners for steep granite cliffs, deep fjords and remote boat or kayak itineraries that traverse Arctic coastal scenery.

Main image

Milne Land at a Glance#

Address: Milne Land, Sermersooq, Greenland

About Milne Land#

Milne Land is a large, uninhabited island in eastern Greenland within the Scoresby Sound fjord system and administratively part of the Sermersooq municipality. The island is notable for steep, rugged terrain and extensive fjord-cut coastline.

The landscape is characterised by high cliffs, narrow fjords and glacially carved valleys rather than settled or cultivated land, which makes it principally of interest for scientific expeditions, wildlife observation and technical climbing. There are no permanent settlements on the island.

The island has been mapped and visited by explorers and scientific teams but has never supported long-term habitation. Its terrain and Arctic climate limit access and keep human presence seasonal and expedition-based.

Milne Land lies inside Scoresby Sound off Greenland’s east coast in the Arctic Ocean, within the region of Sermersooq and separated from the mainland by complex fjord channels.

  • Access note: Access is typically by boat or small aircraft from settlements on Greenland’s east coast, often as part of expedition trips into Scoresby Sound.

How to Get to Milne Land#

Milne Land is a large island in Scoresby Sund (eastern Greenland) with no road connections. It is reached only by sea or air: most visitors arrive aboard expedition ships or private boats that operate in Scoresby Sund during the ice-free summer, or by helicopter/charter from the nearest permanent settlement, Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund). There are no public roads or regular ferries to the island, so travel must be arranged with an expedition operator or charter service.

Tips for Visiting Milne Land#

  • Plan visits in mid to late summer (July-August) when Scoresby Sound and the fjords around Milne Land are most navigable and sea ice is at its minimum.
  • Access is by expedition vessel or charter from Ittoqqortoormiit/Scoresbysund and by cruise operators-book your trip and any planned shore landings well in advance because landings are weather-dependent and capacity is limited.
  • Expect no visitor infrastructure on Milne Land; coordinate with your operator about planned landing sites, wildlife best-viewing zones, and contingency plans for weather or ice changes so you can make the most of short onshore windows.

Best Time to Visit Milne Land#

Visit in high summer (June-August) when sea ice is lowest and access is most feasible.

High summer (best access)
Jun-Aug · 0-8°C
Relatively milder temperatures and reduced sea ice make boat or helicopter access more feasible; long daylight.
Shoulder seasons
May, Sep · -5-5°C
Conditions can be variable with remaining ice and unpredictable weather-access may be limited and planning is essential.
Winter (restricted)
Oct-Apr · -20-0°C
Very cold, extensive sea ice and limited daylight; travel is difficult and many services are unavailable.

Weather & Climate near Milne Land#

Climate

Milne Land's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with freezing summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in March). Temperatures range from -22°C to 2°C. Moderate rainfall (739 mm/year).

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
2°
Warmest Month
-22°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January - -21° - -14° -25° 78 mm - - 3.0 m/s - -
February - -22° - -15° -26° 68 mm - - 3.3 m/s - -
March - -22° - -15° -26° 53 mm - - 3.5 m/s - -
April - -18° - -12° -21° 33 mm - - 2.7 m/s - -
May - -10° - -5° -12° 36 mm - - 2.4 m/s - -
June - -5° - 0° -5° 62 mm - - 2.0 m/s - -
July - -3° - 2° -3° 55 mm - - 2.3 m/s - -
August - -3° - 2° -4° 81 mm - - 2.6 m/s - -
September - -7° - -3° -10° 70 mm - - 2.9 m/s - -
October - -13° - -9° -16° 68 mm - - 2.6 m/s - -
November - -18° - -13° -21° 72 mm - - 2.3 m/s - -
December - -21° - -14° -24° 63 mm - - 2.9 m/s - -