Summary
We all know that Iceland is the land of fire, ice, and water. Whenever someone speaks of the country, they always mention its famous thermal baths. However, Greenland has a thermal bath or two itself.
Whenever we tell people that we just returned from Greenland, they say to us, “Did you know Greenland is white and Iceland is green?” As a matter of fact, we did!
Greenland is 80% covered by a polar ice cap. It has the second-largest body of ice in the world after Antarctica and creates the most icebergs in the Northern Hemisphere.
Needless to say, there isn’t a lot of green in Greenland. So when we heard that there was a thermal bath at one of our landings, we had to check it out.
Bathing at the Top of the World in Greenland
Uunartoq means ‘the warming island’.
We had been blessed with sunshine and balmy weather during our expedition around the West Coast of Greenland, but that’s not to say we weren’t thrilled to take a dip in a warm pool.
The thermal pool was first established by Norse settlers over a thousand years ago.
When the Norse disappeared, the Thule People took up its use, and today, Greenlandic people and visitors like us continue to enjoy it.
It is believed to have healing qualities and was historically utilized by the Benedictine nuns dedicated to Olaf the Holy to help mend the sick.
We aimed to soothe our aching muscles, but I don’t think a whole lot of healing took place once the bubbly was served.
It was a treat enough to strip down to our bathing suits in the Arctic Circle and jump into warm water, but quite another to enjoy champagne while sitting in a hot pool surrounded by glaciers, mountains, water, and ice.
Stunning Scenery of Greenland
The surrounding scenery was astounding. Greenland surprised us.
We didn’t know what to expect when traveling to Greenland, worried that we should have visited it before seeing Antarctica.
Antarctica was beautiful, and we thought nothing could compare to it.
As it turned out, Greenland gave it a run for its money. What we loved about this destination was its diversity.
The colorful tundra sharply contrasted with the blue ice.
Enormous glaciers snaked through jagged peaks leading to the sea. Sometimes the terrain would be rocky, while other times it would be covered in moss.
Some mountains appeared black as coal; at other times, they were cloaked in ice.
Each turn of the head offered a unique and completely different view. Sitting in the pool, we enjoyed a 360-degree panorama of the entire landscape and couldn’t get enough of it.
Not many people from the ship opted for a dip in the Uunartoq thermal pool, and the staff brought several bottles of bubbly anticipating greater participation.
They filled our plastic cups with champagne, informing us that we weren’t allowed to leave until it was all gone.
After all, it was a 20-minute hike out there; would you want to carry a cooler back?
We dutifully complied with their instructions, and by the time we had to return to the ship, nobody was feeling any pain.
Alas, all good things must come to an end, and after our skin was perfectly pruned and every drop of bubbly was consumed, it was time to return to the Sea Spirit.
Back to the Ship
Following the command of fellow passenger Dale from England, all the women returned to the ship in our bathing suits.
Normally, we dress up in Quark parkas and hats, but Dale suggested we should return as we would for a Caribbean Cruise.
It was one thing to hike through the tundra in our swimsuits; it was quite another to board the zodiac navigating through the freezing water to take us back to the ship.
With parkas in hand, we donned our life vests, sat on the rubber sides, and held on for the short, but very cold, ride.
Hot Tub on the Ship
Fortunately, the Sea Spirit has a hot tub on the top deck, so instead of retiring to our rooms before dinner, we all hiked upstairs to keep the festivities going.
We may not have been on land, but the scenery was still outstanding as we sat outside enjoying our last look at the fjord before heading off to our next destination.
Each day is an adventure in Greenland, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.
Travel Planning Resources
Travel through Greenland can be challenging. There are no roads connecting towns, and with a polar ice cap covering most of the country, the only way to travel is by plane, dogsled, kayak, or ship.
An expedition cruise is your best opportunity to see much of Greenland at a reasonable price and within a quick timeframe.
Travel Planning Resources:
- Flights: Begin your journey by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner, a trusted resource for years.
- Hotels: Check prices on hotels through Booking.com for Europe and TripAdvisor for other regions.
- Apartment Rentals: Discover affordable apartment rentals with VRBO.
- Travel Insurance: Don’t travel without it. We recommend Safety Wing for occasional travelers and Medjet for global air medical transport and travel security.
- Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, or private guides? We recommend Get Your Guide.
