2026 East to West Expedition: Commences on 13 August 2026 and ends 13 September 2026.
Start Point: Isortoq Fjord, East Greenland.
End Point: Point 660, Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland.
Distance: 575km. Full east - west crossing.
Duration: 32 skiing days in total.
Team Size: Minimum team size of 1 plus guide. Maximum team size of 8 plus guide.
Cost: Contact us.
Guide: David Paabo (7 crossings).
2026 DETAILED ITINERARY:
Pre-Expedition Day 1:
Kulusuk, East Greenland
Monday 10 August 2026
We travel to our starting point, Kulusuk in Greenland on Monday 10 August 2026, with Icelandair from Reykjavik to Kulusuk.
Accommodation and dinner in a Kulusuk hotel, which is located by fjords, snow-capped hills and mountains.
Pre-Expedition Days 2-3:
Kulusuk, East Greenland
Tuesday 11 August 2026 - Wednesday 12 August 2026
Finalise equipment sorting/sled packing. Accommodation and meals in a Kulusuk hotel.
Expedition Days 1-32:
Skiing for 32 days across the Greenland ice sheet from east to west
Thursday 13 August 2026 - Sunday 13 September 2026
Early on the morning of Thursday 13 August we head off to ski for 32 days completely across the Greenland ice sheet, from Isortoq Fjord to Point 660, a distance of 575km.
It is possible for fast moving expeditions in favourable conditions to complete the expedition in 28-31 days.
The first few days are a challenging walk up a long glacier, with some crevasses, overlooking a spectacular coastline. Once we clear the glacier, we put on skis and head towards the west coast.
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 west coast of Greenland, we will see mountains in the distance, and spend a few challenging days through an ice field before reaching land at Point 660 and completing our remarkable journey.
Post Expedition Days 1-2:
Kangerlussuaq (West Greenland), flight to Copenhagen (Denmark)
Monday 14 September 2026 - Tuesday 15 September 2026
These 2 days provide time for travel out of Greenland to Denmark.
Accommodation and meals in a Kangerlussuaq hotel.
It may be possible for a fast moving expedition that crosses in 28 to 30 days to make an earlier flight.
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: Isortoq Fjord, East Greenland.
End Point: Point 660, Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland.
Distance: 575km. Full east - west crossing.
Duration: 32 skiing days in total.
Team Size: Minimum team size of 1 plus guide. Maximum team size of 8 plus guide.
Cost: Contact us.
Guide: David Paabo (7 crossings).
2026 DETAILED ITINERARY:
Pre-Expedition Day 1:
Kulusuk, East Greenland
Monday 10 August 2026
We travel to our starting point, Kulusuk in Greenland on Monday 10 August 2026, with Icelandair from Reykjavik to Kulusuk.
Accommodation and dinner in a Kulusuk hotel, which is located by fjords, snow-capped hills and mountains.
Pre-Expedition Days 2-3:
Kulusuk, East Greenland
Tuesday 11 August 2026 - Wednesday 12 August 2026
Finalise equipment sorting/sled packing. Accommodation and meals in a Kulusuk hotel.
Expedition Days 1-32:
Skiing for 32 days across the Greenland ice sheet from east to west
Thursday 13 August 2026 - Sunday 13 September 2026
Early on the morning of Thursday 13 August we head off to ski for 32 days completely across the Greenland ice sheet, from Isortoq Fjord to Point 660, a distance of 575km.
It is possible for fast moving expeditions in favourable conditions to complete the expedition in 28-31 days.
The first few days are a challenging walk up a long glacier, with some crevasses, overlooking a spectacular coastline. Once we clear the glacier, we put on skis and head towards the west coast.
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 west coast of Greenland, we will see mountains in the distance, and spend a few challenging days through an ice field before reaching land at Point 660 and completing our remarkable journey.
Post Expedition Days 1-2:
Kangerlussuaq (West Greenland), flight to Copenhagen (Denmark)
Monday 14 September 2026 - Tuesday 15 September 2026
These 2 days provide time for travel out of Greenland to Denmark.
Accommodation and meals in a Kangerlussuaq hotel.
It may be possible for a fast moving expedition that crosses in 28 to 30 days to make an earlier flight.
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.
