AVANI Homes – experience Greenland off the beaten track

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Anton Overballe/AVANI

Far above the Arctic Circle, where glittering mountains rise from icy fjords, lies Uummannaq – a place that feels both untouched and unforgettable. Here, AVANI Homes offers guests the rare chance to experience Greenland away from the usual tourist routes, where silence, community, and vast nature define daily life.

What began as simple rental houses for visiting workers has transformed into a hospitality venture offering authentic Arctic stays in modern hotel apartments with stunning views. “For a long time, our guests looked after themselves,” says director Anton Overballe. “Now we’re focusing more on experiences and to give visitors more of what they come here for.”

AVANI Homes’ modern hotel apartments offer stunning views.

AVANI Homes’ story stretches back over 50 years, beginning with Anton Overballe’s grandparents, who ran a small local shop before expanding into several family businesses. When Anton returned home in 2017, after years spent abroad and in Nuuk, he took over from his parents. Today, he runs the company together with his wife and his brother. “For many years, I was doing much of it myself,” says Overballe. “But now we’re more people involved and entering a new phase where we can focus more on what we can offer our guests and show our daily life as locals.”

Once simple houses for rent, AVANI’s modernised apartments now provide the comforts of home – underfloor heating, fully equipped kitchens, and balconies overlooking the ice-strewn fjord. From next year, guests will also be able to prebook a locally sourced ready-to-cook dinner and breakfast. “Many arrive after several flights and a helicopter ride,” Overballe explains. “We want them to feel at home from the moment they step inside – with a dish with fresh local fish waiting for them, ready to put in the oven.”

Anton Overballe (front) runs AVANI homes with his family.

With a population of just around 1,400, life in Uummannaq moves to a different rhythm. There are no restaurants or tourist hotspots, only a single café serving simple meals and warm drinks, but visitors quickly discover that this is part of the town’s quiet charm. Guests are drawn into the quiet pace of the Arctic – watching the ice float by or fishermen head out in their small boats in the summer and snowmobiles or dog sleds in the wintertime.

For those wanting to explore the area further, AVANI connects guests with the wild Arctic – from Greenlandic dog sledding and nights in an ice cabin. “We have more and more guests who come here on photography expeditions as well,” explains Overballe. “We’ve even had a film crew stay here and some heliskiing groups.”

AVANI Homes – experience Greenland off the beaten track