Dikso Island has only one settlement, Qeqertarsuaq. The area is called the Grand Canyon of the Arctic by locals.
Dikso Island has only one settlement, Qeqertarsuaq. The area is called the Grand Canyon of the Arctic by locals.
Chris Scott/CNN
The prehistoric landscape of Disko Island was formed by volcanoes thousands of years ago that are now dormant.
The prehistoric landscape of Disko Island was formed by volcanoes thousands of years ago that are now dormant.
Chris Scott/CNN
Qeqertarsuaq is a small town of colorful houses where people never fail to wave hello and smile to anyone passing them on the street.
Qeqertarsuaq is a small town of colorful houses where people never fail to wave hello and smile to anyone passing them on the street.
Chris Scott/CNN
Whales are commonly spotted year round from this black beach on Disko Island.
Whales are commonly spotted year round from this black beach on Disko Island.
Chris Scott/CNN
Icebergs bob by Disko Island's black beach. When they calve, they often create tiny tsunamis.
Icebergs bob by Disko Island's black beach. When they calve, they often create tiny tsunamis.
Chris Scott/CNN
There is almost no tourism on the island so the only way to see its beauty is to befriend a local who owns a boat.
There is almost no tourism on the island so the only way to see its beauty is to befriend a local who owns a boat.
Chris Scott/CNN
There's enough ice on the mountaintops for tourists to go dog sledding year round.
There's enough ice on the mountaintops for tourists to go dog sledding year round.
Chris Scott/CNN
A huge stone resembling the famous stone heads on Easter Island is just one of the oddities that can be found exploring Disko's coastline.
A huge stone resembling the famous stone heads on Easter Island is just one of the oddities that can be found exploring Disko's coastline.
Chris Scott/CNN
Glacial melt causes little waterfalls to form along the cliffs during the summer.
Glacial melt causes little waterfalls to form along the cliffs during the summer.
Chris Scott/CNN
Farther down the coast, the rock formation get ever stranger -- twisted, folded and contorted.
Farther down the coast, the rock formation get ever stranger -- twisted, folded and contorted.
Chris Scott/CNN
The basalt columns of the island look like twisted stairs emerging from the deep blue waters.
The basalt columns of the island look like twisted stairs emerging from the deep blue waters.
Chris Scott/CNN
The basalt columns look completely unnatural despite being naturally formed. "They look like LEGO," says our guide Mark Mølgaard. "Like someone has cut them into layers."
The basalt columns look completely unnatural despite being naturally formed. "They look like LEGO," says our guide Mark Mølgaard. "Like someone has cut them into layers."
Chris Scott/CNN
To land here, you have to find a relatively safe bit of rock to try and dock the boat and jump ashore, before scaling the basalt cliffs.
To land here, you have to find a relatively safe bit of rock to try and dock the boat and jump ashore, before scaling the basalt cliffs.
Chris Scott/CNN
Icebergs are visible in the distance from the top of the basalt cliffs.
Icebergs are visible in the distance from the top of the basalt cliffs.
Chris Scott/CNN
Atop the cliffs, the black rock flows into lush greenery with freshwater streams and plant life.
Atop the cliffs, the black rock flows into lush greenery with freshwater streams and plant life.
Chris Scott/CNN
Angelica plants, known locally as kuannit, give this part of the island its name. "You can just take them and pick them up and eat them," Mølgaard says. "They taste like gin."
Angelica plants, known locally as kuannit, give this part of the island its name. "You can just take them and pick them up and eat them," Mølgaard says. "They taste like gin."
Chris Scott/CNN
Further down the coast, huge stone arches appear, big enough to sail through.
Further down the coast, huge stone arches appear, big enough to sail through.
Chris Scott/CNN
Through the arches is an almost alien landscape of deformed rock.
Through the arches is an almost alien landscape of deformed rock.
Chris Scott/CNN
Icebergs adorn the coast, shimmering in the sun and calving often.
Icebergs adorn the coast, shimmering in the sun and calving often.
Chris Scott/CNN
Sacred to the Greenlandic people, this arch was where fishermen would traditionally offer an animal sacrifice to the Mother of the Sea before heading out to hunt.
Sacred to the Greenlandic people, this arch was where fishermen would traditionally offer an animal sacrifice to the Mother of the Sea before heading out to hunt.
Chris Scott/CNN
Continuing east, giant canyons that resemble the landscape of the Colorado River open up. It becomes clear why locals call these mountains the Grand Canyon of Disko Island.
Continuing east, giant canyons that resemble the landscape of the Colorado River open up. It becomes clear why locals call these mountains the Grand Canyon of Disko Island.
Chris Scott/CNN
The stunning beauty of the red flattop mountains of Disko Island.
The stunning beauty of the red flattop mountains of Disko Island.
Chris Scott/CNN
The black beach of the valley is so pristine it feels like no one has ever left a footprint on it.
The black beach of the valley is so pristine it feels like no one has ever left a footprint on it.
Chris Scott/CNN
Our tour guide for the day, Mark Mølgaard
Our tour guide for the day, Mark Mølgaard
Chris Scott/CNN
From the valley, visitors can see massive icebergs floating by only about 150 feet from shore.
From the valley, visitors can see massive icebergs floating by only about 150 feet from shore.
Chris Scott/CNN
The greenery of the valley isn't grass. It's moss that feels spongy when you walk on it.
The greenery of the valley isn't grass. It's moss that feels spongy when you walk on it.
Chris Scott/CNN
The "young girl," Greenland's national flower, lines the banks of the valley's streams, named after the legend of a child who died. She was buried, winter came, and when the snow melted, her grave was covered in beautiful pink blooms.
The "young girl," Greenland's national flower, lines the banks of the valley's streams, named after the legend of a child who died. She was buried, winter came, and when the snow melted, her grave was covered in beautiful pink blooms.
Chris Scott/CNN
Twin waterfalls crash down from the rock above.
Twin waterfalls crash down from the rock above.
Chris Scott/CNN
When the sun hits the waterfalls just right, they produce an amazing rainbow.
When the sun hits the waterfalls just right, they produce an amazing rainbow.
Chris Scott