Uunartoq is an uninhabited island in the fjord system between Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, South Greenland's mildest, greenest country.
A small cluster of natural pools sits on a low grassy slope at around 37-38°C, with open fjord on one side and mountain ridges behind. Icebergs drift past in the water below. There is no village, no infrastructure beyond the stone-lined edges.
Most visits run a full day. Tell us when you'd like to come and we'll arrange the boat and the timing.
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Greenland has no active volcanism, so Uunartoq's heat doesn't come from magma. It comes from deep circulation along ancient fault systems linked to the tectonic break-up that separated the Jan Mayen micro-continent from East Greenland. The hottest measured outflow on the island is around 60°C, cooling to around 38°C in the bathing pools.
Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
The Norse settlers reportedly bathed in these same pools more than a thousand years ago, making Uunartoq one of the longest continuously used hot springs in the North Atlantic world. Medieval sources record a small nunnery established nearby after the Christianisation of Greenland around 1000 AD. After the Norse collapse, Inuit hunters used the island seasonally.
Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
The bath-warm water against cool Arctic air, with snow-streaked peaks visible from the pool and icebergs drifting past close enough to hear the occasional crack. It's a sensation that's difficult to compare to anywhere else. The grass and wildflowers around the pools bloom in July with Arctic thyme, dwarf willow, harebells.
Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
Every Uunartoq trip is unique, shaped by the fjord conditions and the kind of stay you want.
We can build the trip as a focused day on the island, boat out, a long soak, a wander through the wildflowers around the pools, and the journey back, or as part of a longer South Greenland route that combines Uunartoq with Norse ruins, sheep farms, and the Qaqortoq coastline.
Tell us when you'd like to come and we'll arrange the boat, the timing, and any add-ons along the South Greenland coast.
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Everything you need to know about this tour — from key details to what you can expect during the experience. If you can’t find your answer here, we’re always here to help.
The bathing pools sit at a comfortable 37 to 38°C, roughly the temperature of a warm bath. The hottest outflow measured on the island reaches around 60°C, but it cools as it travels into the stone-lined pools, leaving the water warm enough to soak in for as long as you like.
Greenland has no active volcanism, so the heat is tectonic rather than volcanic. It rises through deep circulation along ancient fault systems tied to the break-up that separated the Jan Mayen micro-continent from East Greenland. Uunartoq is the only place in the country where natural springs are warm enough to bathe in.
The season runs from mid-June to early September, when fjord conditions are mildest and the boat access is reliable. July brings wildflowers around the pools, with Arctic thyme, dwarf willow, and harebells in bloom.
Uunartoq is an uninhabited island in the fjord system between Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, in South Greenland. There is no village and no road access, so the island is reached by boat. We arrange the vessel and the timing around your dates.
Yes. Icebergs drift through the open fjord below the springs, often close enough to hear the occasional crack of the ice. The contrast of bath-warm water, cool Arctic air, and snow-streaked peaks is the heart of the experience.
Uunartoq is wild and undeveloped, with nothing beyond the stone-lined edges of the pools. There is a simple changing shelter, but no shops, cafes, or other infrastructure. Bring everything you need with you, including a swimsuit, towel, water, and warm layers for before and after your soak.
Share your travel plans and preferred dates — our team will review availability and get back to you with the best options.
