Iceland and Greenland tell a long story that's remained widely unknown to people living outside of this harsh, yet beautiful part of the world.

Approximately nine hundred years ago, when Norse peoples left their already desolate homes in search of new lands, they stumbled across present-day Iceland and Greenland. Competition between the various settling groups was fierce and - so the story goes - the more barren and northern of the two places was given the deceptive name Greenland, while the relatively temperate island to the south was called Iceland, as a means of misleading unwanted newcomers.

Interestingly, however, settlers from countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were eager to make their way to these far north regions because the winter temperatures there were as bearable as - or more so than - back home!

Yet despite Greenland's large landmass, it is mostly uninhabitable because of a large ice cover that spans over much of the territory. For living and vacationing, the southern island region consisting of many islands - and the port of call Qaqortoq - is a far better alternative.

When traveling to Qaqortoq, Greenland, cruise vacationers find the scenery to be breathtaking. Polar bears roam the wilds and receding glaciers have sculpted the land into huge, amazing geological formations. Don't miss checking out the rock formations that are cut through with icy streams. The only vegetation appears along a strip that runs south of the landmass.

The rest of Greenland is pretty much barren, and stretches all the way up into the North Pole. Beyond individual natural features such as wildlife and geology, there is the wonder of being in a region so far north from what most people are used to.

When you reach Qaqortoq in the summer, it will become apparent right away that something is different. Everything stays brighter for longer. The significance of this has been explored in American literature by Jack London and his contemporaries, and in several films, including the relatively recent Al Pacino film "Insomnia". While these works were set in Alaska, the presence of continuous sunlight is a common, significant and beautiful characteristic of the land here.

When you book a vacation with Carefree Travel and Cruises, you won't need to call ahead to Qaqortoq to book a room. You can travel in style and let the experts handle the logistics in this far away land, and have plenty of time to enjoy the wildlife, scenery, hiking and kayaking-all underneath the hauntingly beautiful northern-hemispheric light. Why not see what Carefree Travel and Cruises has to offer you in this exotic location, and book a long, far away getaway into the icy wonderland of Qaqortoq today.