2026 West to East Expedition: Commences on 14 April 2026 and ends 16 May 2026.
Start Point: Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland.
End Point: Isortoq, East Greenland.
Distance: 575km. Full west - east crossing.
Duration: 28 skiing days in total.
Team Size: Minimum team size of 1 plus guide.
Cost per team member: USD $87,900 (1 team member). Please contact us.
Guide: David Paabo (7 crossings).
2026 DETAILED ITINERARY:
Pre-Expedition Day 1:
Copenhagen flight to Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Tuesday 14 April 2026
We fly to our starting point, Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on Tuesday 14 April 2026, on Air Greenland flight GL761 from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, departing 9.30am and arriving 11.20am local time (flight time 4 hours 50 minutes).
Accommodation and meals provided in a Kangerlussuaq hotel. Sort equipment.
Pre-Expedition Days 2-3:
Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Wednesday 15 April 2026 - Thursday 16 April 2026
Accommodation and meals in a Kangerlussuaq hotel. Sort equipment.
Explore Kangerlussuaq, which is scenically located by a large fjord, with snow-capped hills and mountains.
Expedition Days 1-28:
Skiing for 28 days across the Greenland ice sheet from west to east
Friday 17 April 2026 - Thursday 14 May 2026
On Friday 17 April 2026, we head off to ski for 28 days completely across the Greenland ice sheet, from Point 660 to the small village of Isortoq, a distance of 575km.
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.
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 sheet. 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 a hundred or so husky dogs. If the sea ice is unfavourable, we will complete this short last section by boat.
It is possible for fast moving expeditions in favourable conditions to complete the expedition in 24-27 days.
Post Expedition Days 1-2:
Inuit villages of Isortoq, Tasiilaq and Kulusuk (East Greenland), flight to Reykjavik (Iceland)
Friday 15 May 2026 - Saturday 16 May 2026
These 2 days provide time for travel out of Greenland to Iceland.
From Isortoq, on Friday 15 May 2026 we take a 30 minute helicopter from Isortoq to Tasiilaq, the largest village in East Greenland. We stay a night in Tasiilaq. From there, on the morning of Saturday 16 May 2026 we take a short helicopter to Kulusuk, where there is a runway for international flights. From Kulusuk, in the afternoon of Saturday 16 May 2026 we fly with Icelandair to Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport, Iceland (the gateway to East Greenland).
What to expect on the ice?
One of the beautiful things about skiing across the Greenland ice sheet is that a simple, effective and enjoyable daily routine develops as we move across the ice.
A typical day on the ice sheet 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 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 (around 75kg), 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 sheet, 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 sheet, at a height of around 2600 metres and situated in the centre of the ice sheet.
Who will lead the expedition?
Ice Horizons founder and Polar Guide David Paabo will lead the expedition. David has over 30 years of expedition experience around the world, in all types of wilderness environments, and has made extensive expeditions in Greenland including leading seven ice sheet crossing expeditions. David is a highly skilled expert in polar ice sheet travel.
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.
Start Point: Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland.
End Point: Isortoq, East Greenland.
Distance: 575km. Full west - east crossing.
Duration: 28 skiing days in total.
Team Size: Minimum team size of 1 plus guide.
Cost per team member: USD $87,900 (1 team member). Please contact us.
Guide: David Paabo (7 crossings).
2026 DETAILED ITINERARY:
Pre-Expedition Day 1:
Copenhagen flight to Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Tuesday 14 April 2026
We fly to our starting point, Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on Tuesday 14 April 2026, on Air Greenland flight GL761 from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, departing 9.30am and arriving 11.20am local time (flight time 4 hours 50 minutes).
Accommodation and meals provided in a Kangerlussuaq hotel. Sort equipment.
Pre-Expedition Days 2-3:
Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland
Wednesday 15 April 2026 - Thursday 16 April 2026
Accommodation and meals in a Kangerlussuaq hotel. Sort equipment.
Explore Kangerlussuaq, which is scenically located by a large fjord, with snow-capped hills and mountains.
Expedition Days 1-28:
Skiing for 28 days across the Greenland ice sheet from west to east
Friday 17 April 2026 - Thursday 14 May 2026
On Friday 17 April 2026, we head off to ski for 28 days completely across the Greenland ice sheet, from Point 660 to the small village of Isortoq, a distance of 575km.
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.
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 sheet. 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 a hundred or so husky dogs. If the sea ice is unfavourable, we will complete this short last section by boat.
It is possible for fast moving expeditions in favourable conditions to complete the expedition in 24-27 days.
Post Expedition Days 1-2:
Inuit villages of Isortoq, Tasiilaq and Kulusuk (East Greenland), flight to Reykjavik (Iceland)
Friday 15 May 2026 - Saturday 16 May 2026
These 2 days provide time for travel out of Greenland to Iceland.
From Isortoq, on Friday 15 May 2026 we take a 30 minute helicopter from Isortoq to Tasiilaq, the largest village in East Greenland. We stay a night in Tasiilaq. From there, on the morning of Saturday 16 May 2026 we take a short helicopter to Kulusuk, where there is a runway for international flights. From Kulusuk, in the afternoon of Saturday 16 May 2026 we fly with Icelandair to Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport, Iceland (the gateway to East Greenland).
What to expect on the ice?
One of the beautiful things about skiing across the Greenland ice sheet is that a simple, effective and enjoyable daily routine develops as we move across the ice.
A typical day on the ice sheet 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 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 (around 75kg), 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 sheet, 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 sheet, at a height of around 2600 metres and situated in the centre of the ice sheet.
Who will lead the expedition?
Ice Horizons founder and Polar Guide David Paabo will lead the expedition. David has over 30 years of expedition experience around the world, in all types of wilderness environments, and has made extensive expeditions in Greenland including leading seven ice sheet crossing expeditions. David is a highly skilled expert in polar ice sheet travel.
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.