Uunartoq means ‘the warm place’.
A trip to South Greenland would not be complete without a dip with your loved one in the natural hot springs of Uunartoq.
You cannot leave without feeling refreshed. Imagine icy crisp air. High mountain peaks. Icebergs floating by the sea. Lush green landscapes. Pure nature.
Set on a small pristine island, the hot springs are positioned a little away from civilisation, about a kilometres walk from the sea edge. There are two pools close to each other, both with water at the balmy temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.
You can find human contact a short sail away at Alluitsup Paa, a settlement with 70 people, but the island itself is uninhabited, and as with most nature in Greenland, grows lushly at its own meandering Arctic pace.
Setting afoot the island, you will still have to walk ten minutes amongst the shrubbery and yellow wildflowers to reach the hot springs. There is no developed road, but a trodden path allures that a journey to this special place has been made for many years.
The Vikings and elders of Greenland found this secret gem many years ago, using it as a health spa. Stories are told of how people with health problems would spend a week at the hot springs to be healed.
You cannot leave Uunartoq without feeling refreshed.
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Breathe in, and inhale the fresh air. Travellers who journey to this island must realise that this place is still very much off the beaten track. You will experience nature in its most raw element; as such there will be limited services in the area.
You can change your clothes in one of two simple wooden huts, and if you want to have a drink, you’ll have to bring your own champagne or whisky (we’ve got the rocks). What you will get is the rare chance to relax by nature’s hot pool while the world shifts slowly.
Watch the icebergs float by, colours in the sky change, and soak in that time passes. Take in a deep breath, and you may be surprised that the air around the naturally heated water is pure and fresh instead of smelling of sulphur.
The natural elements of Greenland have been recognised by local therapists and it is now possible to obtain beauty and facial products such as soap and creams, inspired and using the benefits of nature.
Uunartoq Wellness, based in Qaqortoq, is one of the places which offers local creams such as Inuacare – ‘Greenland in a bottle’, made of locally picked timian, labrador tea and other herbs.
Uunartoq is about one hour’s sail from two major towns in the South, Nanortalik and Qaqortoq.
If you land in Narsarsuaq, it is also possible to sail via speedboat with Blue Ice Explorer to the destination in just under 2 hours.
