For most people visiting South Greenland, the adventure begins at Narsarsuaq airport, which has flight connections with Denmark, Iceland and the rest of Greenland. The airport was built by the US Air Force during World War II as a transit point for planes flying to and from Europe, and has been an international civil airport since 1959.  Some of the former airport buildings now serve as a modern hotel with all facilities, and nearby are a youth hostel and camping grounds.

During summer, South Greenland fully lives up to its Icelandic name, Graenland, as this is the most fertile part of the country. In fact most of the country’s flora is found in this particular region. The winter climate is relatively mild, and summer temperatures reach 16-18°C. Because of these conditions, the economic life of this area is also very different from the rest of Greenland, with sheep farming and agriculture playing an important role. If you take a boat trip along the fjords you will see isolated sheep farms, some of which have paths and rough roads leading to them, while for others the only contact with the outside world is by boat or radio.  The sheep are rounded up in September, and some 20,000 lambs are taken on flat-bottomed boats to the abattoirs in Narsaq, one of three sizeable towns in South Greenland.   Many sheep farmers have built cabins near their farms, where guests can stay for a day or two before they continue on foot to the next farm.

The abundant fertility of this region was also the reason why Eric the Red chose to live in South Greenland in around 985 AD, after he was exiled from Iceland.   According to the Eric Saga and Greenlander Saga, it was actually Eric the Red who called this country Greenland. After he had spent three years in this region he returned to Iceland to convince his fellow countrymen of the fine opportunities for starting a new life here in this 'Green Land'.  He was successful, and the new immigrant community grew.   Farms and churches were built and a bishopric was established. The sagas describe voyages of discovery sailing north and westwards to North America, long before Columbus reached those shores. Among the chief attractions of this area are the remains of churches and farms, which date back to these Norse settlements that survived for more than 400 years. Farm buildings have been reconstructed in Qassiarsuk, and there is also a reconstruction of Thjodhild's Church, the first Christian church ever built on the North American continent.

But South Greenland is not just known for its fertility, mountains and abundant flora.  It also has glaciers, icebergs in all shapes and sizes, and fantastic Northern Lights, which can be enjoyed from the end of August.

The field ice is a remarkable phenomenon in South Greenland. This ice is formed in the Arctic Ocean north of Greenland and carried by the ocean currents down the east coast, round Cape Farewell and up into South Greenland's bays and fjords. Unlike the icebergs, the field ice consists of enormous, up to three metres thick sheets of frozen salt water, which are in constant motion.

The field ice sometimes isolates towns and villages in South Greenland for periods of time during spring and summer, and then only helicopters can supply the provisions and services. The field ice also brings seals, and seal hunting and fishing contribute to the local economy as well as sheep farming. The distances between towns and villages are usually quite short in South Greenland. The journey from Narsaq to Qaqortoq, for example, takes only two hours by boat and twelve minutes by helicopter. It only takes another twenty minutes by helicopter to reach Nanortalik in the far south. This means that even during a short visit to South Greenland you will have the opportunity to explore towns and villages, glaciers and historical sites as well as the distinctive culture of the region.