Scan Magazine
Hotel of the Month
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Greenland
The Disko Island Hotel is located in the charming town of Qeqertarsuaq.
With nature on its doorstep, The Disko Island Hotel offers guests an array of activities from hiking and kayaking to ice bathing and sauna.
Hotel of the Month, Greenland
Immerse in the beauty of Disko Bay Located on the southern tip of the Qeqertarsuaq Island, Hotel Disko Island gives unparalleled access to the unique landscape and natural flora of Disko Bay. Moreover, as the hotel is comprised of several transformed local buildings, guests will feel immersed right into the friendly community of the town of Qeqertarsuaq. By Signe Hansen
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Photos: Rais Foto
Connected to the mainland by boat in the summer and helicopter in the winter, Qeqertarsuaq Island (also known as Disko Island) offers visitors a chance to truly immerse in the nature and local culture of the island. Hiking, kayaking, dogsledding, ice bathing and even heliskiing, the island’s nature and landscape allow for an array of breathtaking experiences. All can be arranged by the hotel. “Because we are a volcanic island, the nature here is very different from the mainland. We have steep red basalt mountains and basalt columns. Moreover, due to the high mineral content of the soil and numerous small hot springs, Disko Island is a much greener and more fertile place than the rest of the Disko Bay. About half 68
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Issue 163
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February 2024
of Greenland’s plant and flower species grow here,” explains Camilla Hvalsøe of Hotel Disko Island. “We also have Greenland’s only black sand beach which is where our sauna is placed. Guests like to use it for ice bathing, they take a dip with the floating icebergs and then come right back to heat up in the sauna.” Comprised of nine individual buildings, the hotel contains more than 40 rooms. Most of them are spacious double rooms with standards ranging from hostel rooms (if you are on a budget) to sea-view suites with private terraces overlooking the deep blue waters and icebergs of Disko Bay. For those wishing to explore further afar, the Disko Mountain Lodge offers guests the oppor-
tunity to enjoy the endless views over Disko Bay and the surrounding volcanic landscapes on a 3–4-hour hike from the town before tucking in for a good night’s sleep. During the winter, the lodge is reachable by snowmobile and offers fantastic views of the Northern Lights and winter landscape. The spectacular nature is, however, not the island’s only attraction. It is also known as the home to several local artists, one of the world’s most beautifully located football fields, and a remarkably friendly population. “Qeqertarsuaq has a really good vibe. The town is an old whaling station and thus the inhabitants have always been used to visitors. Walking down the street, you are sure to be greeted by the locals even if they’ve never seen you before,” says Hvalsøe. www.hoteldiskoisland.com Instagram: @hoteldiskoisland Facebook: hoteldiskoisland