Greenland Ice cap crossing Ski expedition East-West crossing

Tour Itinerary

Day 1Depart for Iceland

Day 2Fly from Iceland to Greenland. Expedition preparations start at Red House

Day 3 -4Preparation continues at Red House

Day 5Depart for expedition

Day 6 – 30Ski expedition across Greenland ice cap

Day 30Arrival at point 660 + pickup

Day 31-32Relax and recover

Day 33Prepare to depart

Day 34Fly from Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen

Day 35Fly home from Copenhagen

• Climate
• Harsh
• Comfort
• Oeps
• Difficulty
• Medium
• Group
• International
• Physical
• Extreme

X-Plore is offering the chance to join us on a crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap. The Ice Cap is the second largest body of ice in the world (after the Antarctic Ice Sheet), covering an area 7 times the size of the UK with an average ice depth of 2km.

The journey begins with a flight to Iceland, where we’ll stay for one night. The following morning we’ll fly from Reykjavík to Kulusk in eastern Greenland, from where we’ll transfer by helicopter or boat (depending on the weather) to the settlement of Tasiilaq. At Tasiilaq we’ll spend two or three days acclimatising and preparing equipment and supplies. The expedition will start with a helicopter drop on the ice cap, at which point the real work will begin.

The first day will focus on the skills and techniques required to ski and make camp in such an extreme environment. The early phases of the expedition will involve 6 to 7 hours of skiing per day and, after approximately three days, when the gradient reduces and everyone is settled in to the daily rhythm, we will aim to complete 10 to 12 hours of skiing per day.

After no more than a week on the ice, you will have settled enough to really start appreciating the vast and pristine ice wilderness.

Around day 18 we will reach the highest point of the icecap (2500m), meaning that it will be downhill from there all the way to the coast.

By day 26 we should see a small tip of land on the horizon, the ice structures will change and melt-water streams will make it harder to navigate. However, good teamwork will see us safely through this region, finishing at the coast at point 660. Depending on the time and weather, we can choose to take a 4WD truck straight back to civilisation, or we can walk the last 45 km to Kangerlussuaq. When the weather is good, it’s a beautiful walk through an area that hosts wild musk oxen and reindeer.

Around day 29 we’ll arrive at Kangerlussuaq for a very well-earned hot shower and cosy bed.

After a few days of basking in our achievement and relaxing back into ‘normal life’, we’ll fly home via Copenhagen.

Expedition members. Who?

This is an expedition for those who really want to go a step further into the Arctic and like to test themselves under difficult circumstances.

You’re fit and have experience of extended skiing, winter camping, mountaineering and/or other winter outdoor activities. You enjoy multi-day endurance events, thrive in team environments and are sufficiently driven to see a real challenge through to its conclusion.

Training will be key to enjoying this expedition.  We would recommend activities such as dragging car tyres in addition to usual disciplines such as hiking, running, cycling and cross-training.

Compulsory insurance:

Due to the terrain we will operate in, having travel insurance with search and rescue cover to a minimum of EUR 100.000/person is required, along with full repatriation and medical expenses.