Not just a physical challenge but a challenge above and beyond a human adventure
Highlights
- Accomplish and unsupported expedition of a « World-first » type
- Guided by Michael Charavin, one of the world's top expedition kiters and polar guides
- An immersion in a wild and untamed natural environment, ideal for contemplation and reflection
- Not just a physical challenge but above and beyond human adventure
- Departure guaranteed as from 2 participants, with 3 maximum
Guided by Michael Charavin, one of the world's top expedition kiters and polar guides, we set off on a crazy and incredible journey: the crossing of the Greenland ice cap from South to North by kite ski, namely some 1,500 km from Kangerlussuaq to Qaanaaq. Our expedition should take around 30 days according to wind and weather conditions. At Kangerlussuaq, we shall check our equipment thoroughly before setting off slowly as in all ambitious projects. Once we have passed the lows in southern Greenland, our sails will catch the katabatic winds of the ice cap… Now begins the sheer magic of gliding and the effortless kilometers. Departure from Narsarsuaq is also feasible, it adds around 2,200 km and about 10 days more. If you are a small group interested, please contact us.
Naturally a good kite skiing level is required, but above and beyond the physical effort, this extraordinary human adventure calls for a genuine team spirit and group cohesion. At this time of the year, temperatures can drop to -20 or -30°C, and winds can be strong, preventing progression and calling for patience. The joy of gliding over the snow and arriving at Qaanaaq amidst the Inuit sled dogs is an unforgettable experience. Note that prior experience of shorter expedition kite skiing is a prerequisite. In short, this is an extraordinary adventure that few people have attempted and succeeded. Expeditions Unlimited has organized six crossings since 2017, four West East from Kangerlussuaq to Isortoq and two South North from Kangerlussuaq to Upernavik in 2020. It is probably the most experienced company in the World for these Greenland crossings.
Overview
A short video of our August / September 2020 crossing.
We set off from the south of Greenland as logistics are easier and the weather conditions are often better than in the north. Moreover, the east and west katabatic winds are more often southerly than northerly. We thus land at Kangerlussuaq and check our equipment down to the last detail. A helicopter will then drop us at the ice cap at the starting point of the expedition some thirty kilometers further on. With our pulkas weighing 70 kg, we set off for a journey of 1,500 km, in other words probably some thirty days according to wind conditions.
What’s hardest is to get underway in such an ambitious project. This is due to physical, technical and also meteorological reasons in southern Greenland… Hence the importance of setting off slowly.
But as soon as we start to feel the effect of the katabatic winds, frequently present on this route, our progression becomes sheer magic, as our sails pull us forward effortlessly. The wind will be our guide throughout our journey, and we shall take advantage of all kite skiing opportunities. With steady light winds we can cover up to 150 km per day. At 30/40 km/h we can cover 300 km in ten hours. But on some days without wind or, on the contrary, in stormy conditions, we shall make no headway at all. An average of 70 km per day seems fairly realistic.
Our speed of progression will depend solely on the wind and we will need to turn west and leave the ice cap at Qaanaaq (Thule) to reach the small village of Siorapaluk where the Inuits in their dog sleds will be our first signs of civilization… On our way, we will pass the famous Dye 2 American army base, dating from the cold war, today abandoned.
The differences in altitude along the route account for the dynamics creating the katabatic winds of the ice cap which, combined with weather conditions, create playing surfaces that are more varied than at first sight.
This is first and foremost a fantastic human adventure requiring a genuine team spirit and group cohesion. Temperatures can drop to -20 or -30°C and storms can make all progress impossible. There may be no wind for several days running. Patience is then the master word. Such is the key to success of this kind of expedition, which calls for a gradual introduction…acclimatization to the cold, to physical exertion, etc. This is where the know-how and experience of your guide comes into its own. He has guided many participants to the North and South poles and, himself, has covered tens of thousands of kilometers by kite in the Antarctic and Greenland.
Itinerary
Day 0
To show you what our daily program could be like, we have imagined a 30 day expedition that, while imaginary, is also realistic. We have used the example of Dixie’s 2014 kite expedition (consult his site, still activated, on www.greenlandice.be) to which we have added details from our 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 mahauling and snowkting expeditions. We have also added a dozen “spare” days. The day-by-day program below is thus purely to give you an idea.
DAYS 1 & 2: ARRIVAL AT KANGERLUSSUAQ — PREPARATION DAY
Day 1
Arrival at Kangerlussuaq airport. We will spend the rest of the day then the next day making the final preparations. We check our equipment for the last time before our departure.
DAY 3: START OF THE KANGERLUSSUAQ EXPEDITION
Day 3
Departure early morning by helicopter that will drop us on the ice cap. The wind is insufficient to pull us, but we take our kites out anyway to have some fun. We set up our first camp. The temperature is mild and the weather beautiful.
DAY 4: ADJUSTING THE KITE SAILS
Day 4
Fog and wind. After walking one hour, we take out our sails for the first time, but the wind quickly drops. “We content ourselves with a technical briefing and an adjustment of our sails”.
DAY 5 : COLD DAY
Day 5
A cold morning. After waiting 2 hours, as forecasted, we raise our sails. A magical, eagerly awaited for moment. What could be more wonderful than to use the wind’s natural energy…Although we still cover little distance by sail, it’s a start! We set up camp around 5pm.
DAY 6 : FINE WEATHER
Day 6
A lovely day, ideal for continuing to perfect our kite skiing technique! We cover 60 kilometers.
DAY 7 : EVER LONGER DISTANCES
Day 7
30 minutes’ walking to warm up. The sails then come out of the pulkas and, one by one, swell up with the wind. At 6pm the expedition has covered more than 120 kilometers. Morale soars at last. This is what we needed as we left five days ago “already” and we have “only” covered 250 kilometers. At this rate we’ll need two months to reach Qaanaaq!
DAY 8 : 160 KILOMETRES TODAY
Day 8
Wind and clouds. Snow and wind conditions are excellent and, at the end of the afternoon, the group sets up camp 160 kilometers further on! Today, we have markedly drifted to the north. We rely on the katabatic winds to correct our course. During the day, gusty winds of up to 50 km/h, before falling to light winds in the evening.
DAY 9 : EXCELLENT WEATHER, 210 KILOMETRES
Day 9
Magnificent fresh snow fell overnight. It simply sparkles. Steady wind. 9 hours’ kite skiing to cover 210 kilometers.
DAY 10 : BAD WEATHER
Day 10
Winds at more than 50 km/h. Zero visibility. We decide to remain in our tents… What a pleasure to listen to music while tucked cozily into our sleeping bags… And how great it is to be here!
DAY 11 : WINDLESS AND CLOUDY DAY
Day 11
In our tents… we exchange ideas, enjoy the silence, write in our logbooks, sort our photos for the first time…
DAY 12 : MORNING STORM
Day 12
Despite the storm, we try to launch our sails. But the wind is too strong, increasing at midday up to 100 km/h in gusts. The situation is urgent. We have to set up camp in extreme conditions. Impossible to do more than 5 kilometers. The elements are the decision-makers... we need to remain humble to ensure the success of our expedition.
DAY 13 : RETURN OF GOOD WEATHER AND WIND
Day 13
A good steady easterly wind and 140 kilometers under our belt. The weather worsens in the evening with fog and sleet. But our router talks of clear spells and a good wind for tomorrow. We already feel much better!
DAY 14 : GOOD HEADWAY
Day 14
90 kilometers in fine weather and mild temperatures.
DAY 15 : VERY GOOD WEATHER
Day 15
A tailwind, fairly light,requiring a technical sail approach. We set up camp at around 6pm. In Dixie’s words: “Instead of “parking” our sail in the air and letting the wind carry us away, we should try to generate more wind”…
DAY 16 : NOTHING TO REPORT
Day 16
Fair settled weather. Conditions are just perfect, what more could we want!
DAY 17 : 260 KILOMETERS COVERED!
Day 17
We have the impression that the wind is rising continuously and steadily. We achieve our record of 260 km in 9 hours. If we have the same weather conditions tomorrow, we’ll aim at doing 12 hours!
DAY 18 : THE WIND DROPS
Day 18
The wind quickly drops late morning and we “only” cover 67 kilometers today.
DAY 19 : WINDLESS DAY, THE BAROMETER FALLS
Day 19
In our tent, we see the barometer rising, thus announcing a low.
DAY 20 : LITTLE WIND AND CLOUDY
Day 20
We cover 100 km today. The wind rises and, in anticipation of a gale, we stop after 4 hours’ kite skiing.
DAYS 21 & 22 : IN THE TENT WHILE THE STORM RAGES
Day 21
The wind blows outside. The book we took (having removed its cover to limit weight) is a great way to pass the time.
DAY 23 : LIGHT WIND
Day 23
We cover 60 km today on our kite skis. The sky has cleared and a weather forecast from the Lyon team announces a fine weather window with a wind blowing steadily at 20 knots from the South-East for the next three days. We feel really good after our forced period of inactivity and are ready to go!
DAYS 25 TO 26 : UNDER SAIL
Day 25 to 26
These three days are simply magical and allow us to cover 400 km, i.e. 133 km per day. We don’t go very fast but we kite 7 hours a day. We are now only 200 km from the finishing point!
DAY 27 : HEADING WEST
Day 27
We leave the ridge of the ice cap to head west, towards Qaanaaq and Siorapaluk. The North-West wind is not in our favor and we have to weave, that is to say zig zag, to stay on course.
DAYS 28 to 30 : HEADING FOR SIORAPALUK
Day 28
Bis repetita. We continue to weave. Two days, very trying for our morale, with a wind easing off. We are so close yet so far from our goal…
DAY 31 : THE COAST IN SIGHT
Day 31
Thick fog at the start of the day. The wind has veered. In the middle of the afternoon, we begin to make out the coast line. This is probably our last camp. Emotions are running high! We’re nearly there!
DAY 32: THE EXPEDITION ARRIVES AT SIORAPALUK
Day 32
At midday, we reach Siorapaluk, a small fishing and hunting village. We’ve made it! The inhabitants welcome us and ask, surprised, where on earth we come from. We spend the night in a homestay reserved especially for us. Festive evening.
DAYS 33 & 34: BOAT TRANSFER FOR QAANAAQ AND RETURN
Day 33
Morning transfer on an Inuit boat to Qaanaaq airport where we shall fly to Copenhagen via Nuuk. We land day 29.
DAYS 35 to 44: TEN “SPARE” DAYS
Day 35
“Buffer” days for the expedition
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Guiding
In 2023, your expedition leader is Michael Charavin. Mika is both French-speaking and English-speaking and very experienced in snowkiting, polar environments and in group management (please see above description).
The leader represents Expeditions Unlimited with the group, our partners and local authorities. He makes the decisions necessary for the smooth running of the expedition. His authority is preponderant and unavoidable. You will have to respect his decisions as well as those taken collectively. Should he be unable to take decisions, Manu would then take the lead. His authority would be preponderant and unavoidable. You would have to respect his decisions.
If for reasons beyond our control and duly substantiated, Michael Charavin cannot guide the group, then they will be replaced by another experienced polar guiding team. The services would not be modified, the travel conditions would therefore be identical and this change would not constitute a valid reason for cancellation.
And throughout the program, we will draw on other local skills as needed. Finally, we will have access to a very experienced weather router and a doctor specializing in cold and isolated environments H24.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Difficulty level
Level rated: extreme
This program is intended for experienced participants, who have a high level athlete's physical and mental condition.
This expedition is extremely challenging physically and mentally. It requires a great sense of responsibility and autonomy. Greenland environment is unpredictable in terms of meteorology as well as in terms of the state of the ice. Very low temperatures can be reached (-30 ° C to -40 ° C ) as can strong winds which further increase the "wind effect" on the temperature on the skin. Frostbite is then possible, the severity of which may necessitate the interruption of the expedition. Inlets of open water sometimes have to be crossed. To book this expedition, potential participants are required to send us a Resume of their past 10 years polar and/or mountaineering expeditions experiences. This program is rightly termed a "risky project" and we are one of the few expedition operators in the world to propose it. The risks involved are known to and accepted by all the participants, who are required to meet exacting physical and mental levels of fitness. In the booking process, you will be required to sign a Waiver of responsibility agreement vis-à-vis Expeditions Unlimited / Secret Planet, the guide and the logistician Vicaar and to answer a short Medical questionnaire.
Also, the government of Greenland requires a very detailed file to authorize our expedition. In particular, we will have to provide for each participant an expedition/trek/sports CV, to assess his/her capacity of having a good chance to successfully accomplish this project. Participants under 65 do not require a medical certificate.
Technical difficulty
Level of snowkiting: Autonomous
You have a significant experience and knowledge of snowkiting, both in training and in multiple day expeditions. You have developed a solid set of skills. You can assess all the risk factors, before you put a kite in the air. You can fly your kite by feel and know exactly how it will react in all situations so that you can focus on skiing and terrain. You master the “Power Zone” and have a healthy respect for it. You can safely launch, fly and land your kite in all wind and weather conditions. You have a correct understanding of wind and weather as it is important to always monitor what is going on with both. You are comfortable moving in every feasible direction. You know how to control speed with placement of the kite in the wind window and edging of your skis. You know how to select your kite dimension depending upon wind and weather conditions. You kite on all terrain, on level ground or not, on the flats or uphill. You anticipate problems. When something goes wrong, you stay calm and try to think clearly through the situation. You know how to inspect and maintain your gear. If something needs repair, you can fix it. You have set limits for yourself and stay within those limits. Expeditions Unlimited through its trainings and snowkite expeditions can help you progress in your practice so do not hesitate to contact us.
Meeting point
Meeting point is the starting point of expedition (Kangerlussuaq, Narsarsuaq).
As participants in this expedition often come from different countries, we have not included the international flights in our price. However, we can reserve these flights for you. Do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your flights, we will give you all directions for your flight plan so that all participants land around the same time. You will need tickets that can be modified.
Accommodations
As marked in the program, accommodation is in hotels or in homestays in two to eight bed rooms at the start and finish of the expedition (included in this all-in cost for 3 nights at most), then in two-person tents during the expedition. Additional nights, if any, at the start and finish of the expedition could be in tents, in a communal building, in a homestay or hotel, at the guide’s discretion. Tents are on a two-person shared basis during the expedition.
Meals
Dinners are taken in the homestay at the start and finish of the expedition (included in this all-in cost, for 3 dinners at most). During the expedition, meals are prepared beforehand in freeze-dried form. They provide us with all the calories we need for the expedition with priority given to a balanced diet, light weight, and simplicity of preparation.
Transfers / Transport
Transfers from/to airport are collective and are ensured by taxis, helicopter, dogsled, sno-cat, etc.
Group size
The group is composed of 2 to 3 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided to allow you to check that you are taking what is necessary.
This includes tents, pulka sled, mattresses, stoves, kitchen equipment, etc. A full list of personal equipment which is not provided is presented later in this document, part of which can also be rented to the participants. This list will be finalized and clarified while preparing your expedition with your guide.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we will not entitle ourselves to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02 and until then, each year, as soon as the carbon footprint budget is reached, we will stop taking any reservations for the current year. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 2,55 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €77 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Michael Charavin, kiter and polar guide
Born in 1970, Mika has been a state certified guide since 1999, snowkite instructor, guide in the polar regions since 2003 and is part of the IPGA - International Polar Guide Association, which brings together the best polar guides in world. He has been snowkiting in boreal and arctic regions for 20 years and has traveled more than 15,000 km on expeditions in this way. He is one of the few polar guides specializing in this practice.
He is one of the very first to have crossed Greenland by snowkite from south to north-west (2,300 km in 2008) then to have completed a circumnavigation of the Greenland ice sheet (5,067 km in 2014). He becomes on this occasion (and until 2019) the author of the longest trip ever undertaken on skis and independently. It is also innovative in its way of practicing snowkiting in the mountains (the most complex playground there is for this activity), by combining ascents of summits and crossings of massifs.
Called up in 1994, he spent fourteen months as a technical aid volunteer in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, on the Kerguelen archipelago, where he contributed to various eco-ethological studies and the restoration of subantarctic ecosystems. Then in 1996-1997, he crossed 8,000 km by mountain bike through the highlands of southern Latin America, from the Bolivian Amazon to Tierra del Fuego, passing through the Altiplano, the deserts of Sud-Lipez and the Puna of Atacama, Patagonia...
From 1999, his taste for the wilderness, isolated, austere and cold regions, became even more refined: he turned resolutely towards the Nordic regions, and invested his energy in carrying out committed and stripped down ski expeditions: 1 800 km and four months of itinerant skiing across Scandinavia (from south to north) in 2000; various raids and several hundred kilometers in the central, western and southern regions of Spitsbergen in 2001 and 2002; attempted east-west crossing of Greenland in 2003...
Always driven by a deep passion for the great ski crossings of the polar or subpolar regions, he nevertheless modified his approach to these environments from 2006: to the rigor necessary for the logistical, technical and mental preparation of such expeditions, he now wishes add performance and technicality, key notions, according to him, in the realization of great raids, in particular in the extreme environments which are the large ice caps. It is also a way of reintroducing a playful dimension into an activity that is fundamentally devoid of it...
In total, he has supervised numerous trips, on skis, on foot or by sea kayak, to Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Spitsbergen, Alaska and the French southern lands...
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
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Transfers tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Accommodations tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Meals tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Guiding tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Equipment tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Travel folder tel qu’indiqués dans le programme.
Price does not include
All accompaniments, accommodations or meals mentioned “not included” in the program. Drinks and personal “extras”. The “single” supplement or a different hotel category. Other supplements linked to a lower number of participants registered, your desire to customize or privatize the expedition. The mandatory expedition complementary insurance.
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
Explore all our polar expeditions in Greenland and the high-Arctic
Expedition in Greenland over the Arctic Circle Trail
Crossing Greenland ski manhauling from West to East
