Our 2024 ski traverse expedition is open for entry.
FAST FACTS:
2024 Expedition: Commences on 15 April 2024 and ends 12 May 2024.
Start Point: Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland.
End Point: Isortoq, East Greenland.
Distance: 575km.
Duration: 28 skiing days in total. It is also possible for a fast moving expedition in favourable conditions to finish the expedition in 24-27 days. Our most recent 3 crossings have been completed between 24 and 25 days. These fast crossings are indicative of our invaluable skill, experience and expertise.
Team Size: Up to 8 persons & guide.
Cost:
The cost of the 2024 ski crossing expedition is £12,000 per person. Please see the inclusions and exclusions pages for further details.
Guide: David Paabo.
2024 DETAILED ITINERARY:
Pre-Expedition Day 1:
Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Friday 12 April 2024
The team meets at our starting point, Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on Friday 12 April 2024 following the arrival of the Air Greenland flight from Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen is the gateway to the west coast of Greenland. After lunch and meeting our fellow team members, we sort our equipment and prepare our sleds for the rest of the day. There is the possibility of seeing the northern lights at this time of year.
Pre-Expedition Days 2-3:
Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Saturday 13 April - Sunday 14 April 2024
Finalise equipment sorting/sled packing.
Explore Kangerlussuaq, which is scenically located by a large fjord, with snow-capped hills and mountains all around.
Expedition Days 1-28:
Skiing for 28 days across the Greenland ice cap from west to east
Monday 15 April 2024 - Sunday 12 May 2024
Early on the morning of Monday 15 April 2024 we ski from Point 660 for 28 days completely across the Greenland ice sheet, from Point 660 to the small village of Isortoq, a distance of 575km. It is possible for fast moving expeditions in favourable conditions to complete the expedition in 24-27 days.
Midway through our journey, the only structure we will encounter is the eerie and abandoned US radar station known as DYE 2. We will spend time exploring this odd and mysterious relic of the cold war, the perfect setting for a science-fiction movie.
On reaching the east coast of Greenland, we will see the remarkable site of civilisation in the distance, being the tiny village of Isortoq, spectacularly situated on an island just off the edge of the ice cap. If the sea ice conditions are favourable, we will ski into this quaint village, and be greeted by its population of around 40 people and several hundred husky dogs. If the sea ice is unfavourable, we will complete this short last section by boat. Our incredible journey will be at an end!
Post Expedition Days 1-5:
Inuit villages of Isortoq, Tasiilaq and Kulusuk (East Greenland), flight to Reykjavik (Iceland)
Monday 13 May 2024 - Thursday 16 May 2024
These 4 days provide time for travel out of Greenland to Iceland.
From Isortoq, we take a 30 minute helicopter from Isortoq to Tasiilaq, the largest village in East Greenland. From Tasiilaq, we take a 10 minute helicopter from Tasiilaq to Kulusuk, where there is a runway for international flights. From Kulusuk, we fly with Icelandair to Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport, Iceland (the gateway to East Greenland).
Detailed flight information is contained in the Flight Logistics section of this website.
What to expect on the ice?
One of the beautiful things about skiing across the Greenland ice cap is that a simple, effective and enjoyable daily routine develops as we move across the ice.
A typical day on the ice cap will involve waking up at 6.00am, having breakfast, packing up our equipment, and setting off skiing at 8.00am. Usually we have 5-10 minute breaks each hour, with a longer break of 20-25 minutes at lunch. At 6.00pm we typically end skiing, then quickly set up camp, and relax as we prepare a hearty and much deserved dinner, melt snow for the following day's water, and enjoy a rest before falling asleep around 8.30pm in a very comfortable tent and warm sleeping bag.
The distances we will cover each day will vary due to the conditions. In the initial section of the crossing, being the first 25km through a section with glacial terrain, your pulk/sled will be at its heaviest (approximately 66kg), therefore the distances we cover each day will be the shortest in the first few days. After a few days, we get beyond the glacial section to reach the flat expanse of the ice cap, and our distances will quickly increase to around 25km a day, and will then steadily improve towards a comfortable 30km a day by the end of the expedition, particularly after we reach the summit of the ice cap, at a height of around 2600 metres and situated in the centre of the ice cap.
Who will lead the expedition?
Ice Horizons Limited founder and senior guide David Paabo will lead the 2024 expedition. Originally from Australia, David has over 20 years of expedition experience around the world, in all types of wilderness environments, and has made extensive expeditions in Greenland including five ice cap crossing expeditions and is a highly skilled expert in polar ice cap travel.
David was born in Sydney, Australia. His early childhood adventures in the Blue Mountains and Tasmania cultivated a passion for the outdoors that has stayed with him. Having completed a Law and Economics Degree at the Australian National University, he worked in Sydney and London, and presently works as a lawyer in Karratha, which he manages to balance with his outdoor passions. He maintains an operations base in the UK for expedition logistics purposes.
David has travelled widely and to many far flung locations where he has cultivated his ambition as an explorer, largely achieving his goals as a solo adventurer or in small groups. In addition to having conducted numerous hiking and canyoning trips in his home country, David has also been involved in many mountaineering and hiking expeditions, most notably in South America where he travelled for several years and developed a love for the Andes mountain range, particularly the Cordillera Real in Bolivia, the Colombian National Parks of Cocuy and Los Nevados, and extensive parts of Patagonian Argentina and Chile.
David has a particular love for the wilderness of Greenland and its people, and has explored numerous remote locations on trekking and skiing journeys there, as well as through lengthy kayaking trips.
David’s most enjoyed activity is playing with his three young children.
Private Groups
We also offer 28 day private expeditions skiing east-west for 1 or more skiers, starting on or about 18 August each year. The cost of private expeditions is GBP 18,500 per person, with no minimum group size. Please contact us for further details.
FAST FACTS:
2024 Expedition: Commences on 15 April 2024 and ends 12 May 2024.
Start Point: Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland.
End Point: Isortoq, East Greenland.
Distance: 575km.
Duration: 28 skiing days in total. It is also possible for a fast moving expedition in favourable conditions to finish the expedition in 24-27 days. Our most recent 3 crossings have been completed between 24 and 25 days. These fast crossings are indicative of our invaluable skill, experience and expertise.
Team Size: Up to 8 persons & guide.
Cost:
The cost of the 2024 ski crossing expedition is £12,000 per person. Please see the inclusions and exclusions pages for further details.
Guide: David Paabo.
2024 DETAILED ITINERARY:
Pre-Expedition Day 1:
Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Friday 12 April 2024
The team meets at our starting point, Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on Friday 12 April 2024 following the arrival of the Air Greenland flight from Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen is the gateway to the west coast of Greenland. After lunch and meeting our fellow team members, we sort our equipment and prepare our sleds for the rest of the day. There is the possibility of seeing the northern lights at this time of year.
Pre-Expedition Days 2-3:
Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Saturday 13 April - Sunday 14 April 2024
Finalise equipment sorting/sled packing.
Explore Kangerlussuaq, which is scenically located by a large fjord, with snow-capped hills and mountains all around.
Expedition Days 1-28:
Skiing for 28 days across the Greenland ice cap from west to east
Monday 15 April 2024 - Sunday 12 May 2024
Early on the morning of Monday 15 April 2024 we ski from Point 660 for 28 days completely across the Greenland ice sheet, from Point 660 to the small village of Isortoq, a distance of 575km. It is possible for fast moving expeditions in favourable conditions to complete the expedition in 24-27 days.
Midway through our journey, the only structure we will encounter is the eerie and abandoned US radar station known as DYE 2. We will spend time exploring this odd and mysterious relic of the cold war, the perfect setting for a science-fiction movie.
On reaching the east coast of Greenland, we will see the remarkable site of civilisation in the distance, being the tiny village of Isortoq, spectacularly situated on an island just off the edge of the ice cap. If the sea ice conditions are favourable, we will ski into this quaint village, and be greeted by its population of around 40 people and several hundred husky dogs. If the sea ice is unfavourable, we will complete this short last section by boat. Our incredible journey will be at an end!
Post Expedition Days 1-5:
Inuit villages of Isortoq, Tasiilaq and Kulusuk (East Greenland), flight to Reykjavik (Iceland)
Monday 13 May 2024 - Thursday 16 May 2024
These 4 days provide time for travel out of Greenland to Iceland.
From Isortoq, we take a 30 minute helicopter from Isortoq to Tasiilaq, the largest village in East Greenland. From Tasiilaq, we take a 10 minute helicopter from Tasiilaq to Kulusuk, where there is a runway for international flights. From Kulusuk, we fly with Icelandair to Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport, Iceland (the gateway to East Greenland).
Detailed flight information is contained in the Flight Logistics section of this website.
What to expect on the ice?
One of the beautiful things about skiing across the Greenland ice cap is that a simple, effective and enjoyable daily routine develops as we move across the ice.
A typical day on the ice cap will involve waking up at 6.00am, having breakfast, packing up our equipment, and setting off skiing at 8.00am. Usually we have 5-10 minute breaks each hour, with a longer break of 20-25 minutes at lunch. At 6.00pm we typically end skiing, then quickly set up camp, and relax as we prepare a hearty and much deserved dinner, melt snow for the following day's water, and enjoy a rest before falling asleep around 8.30pm in a very comfortable tent and warm sleeping bag.
The distances we will cover each day will vary due to the conditions. In the initial section of the crossing, being the first 25km through a section with glacial terrain, your pulk/sled will be at its heaviest (approximately 66kg), therefore the distances we cover each day will be the shortest in the first few days. After a few days, we get beyond the glacial section to reach the flat expanse of the ice cap, and our distances will quickly increase to around 25km a day, and will then steadily improve towards a comfortable 30km a day by the end of the expedition, particularly after we reach the summit of the ice cap, at a height of around 2600 metres and situated in the centre of the ice cap.
Who will lead the expedition?
Ice Horizons Limited founder and senior guide David Paabo will lead the 2024 expedition. Originally from Australia, David has over 20 years of expedition experience around the world, in all types of wilderness environments, and has made extensive expeditions in Greenland including five ice cap crossing expeditions and is a highly skilled expert in polar ice cap travel.
David was born in Sydney, Australia. His early childhood adventures in the Blue Mountains and Tasmania cultivated a passion for the outdoors that has stayed with him. Having completed a Law and Economics Degree at the Australian National University, he worked in Sydney and London, and presently works as a lawyer in Karratha, which he manages to balance with his outdoor passions. He maintains an operations base in the UK for expedition logistics purposes.
David has travelled widely and to many far flung locations where he has cultivated his ambition as an explorer, largely achieving his goals as a solo adventurer or in small groups. In addition to having conducted numerous hiking and canyoning trips in his home country, David has also been involved in many mountaineering and hiking expeditions, most notably in South America where he travelled for several years and developed a love for the Andes mountain range, particularly the Cordillera Real in Bolivia, the Colombian National Parks of Cocuy and Los Nevados, and extensive parts of Patagonian Argentina and Chile.
David has a particular love for the wilderness of Greenland and its people, and has explored numerous remote locations on trekking and skiing journeys there, as well as through lengthy kayaking trips.
David’s most enjoyed activity is playing with his three young children.
Private Groups
We also offer 28 day private expeditions skiing east-west for 1 or more skiers, starting on or about 18 August each year. The cost of private expeditions is GBP 18,500 per person, with no minimum group size. Please contact us for further details.