A human adventure that goes beyond the physical challenge
Highlights
- A self-sufficient expedition like no other in the world
- Guided by French-speaking Michael Charavin
- One of the world's best expedition kiters
- Immersion in raw, untamed nature
- A human adventure and a physical challenge
- H24 personalized weather forecast services and medical hotline
- Departure guaranteed from 2 participants and 3 maximum
Guided by Michael Charavin, one of today's top expedition kiters, we set off to snowkite across the Greenland icecap from south to north, a journey of almost 1,500 kilometers from Kangerlussuaq to Qaanaaq, or Thule to its friends. No other agency in the world has ever done this. Our expedition should take around 30 days, depending on wind and weather conditions. Once we pass the low-pressure areas of southern Greenland, the katabatic winds of the cap are caught in our sails, and the kilometers are swallowed up with the minimum of effort. You need to be a self-sufficient kiter in all wind and snow conditions. We are organizing a more complete crossing from Narsarsuaq to Qaanaaq: allow 700 kilometers and a fortnight more.
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 kilometers, in other words probably some thirty days according to wind conditions.
What is 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 kilometers per day. At 30/40 km/h we can cover 300 kilometers 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 kilometers 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.
Itinerary
Day 0
To make concrete what our day-by-day might look like, we imagined a totally fictional but realistic 30-day expedition. We based it on Dixie's kite expedition of 2014, to which we added elements of our snowkite crossing expedition from west to east in 2019 and then south to north in 2020, as well as our Greenland ski pulka crossing expeditions of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023. Then we added a few days of contingency days... The day-by-day that follows is therefore purely illustrative.
DAYS 1 & 2: ARRIVAL IN 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 EXPEDITION FROM KANGERLUSSUAQ
Day 3
Early morning departure 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, but the wind quickly drops. “We content ourselves with a technical briefing and an adjustment of our sails”.
DAY 5: COLD DAY
Day 5
Cold morning. After a 2-hour wait, as forecast, the sails are set in motion. A long-awaited, magical moment. Using the wind's natural energy is fabulous... We cover a distance that is still too short for sailing, but it is time to get into the swing of things. Camp is set up by 5 p.m.
DAY 6: FINE WEATHER
Day 6
A lovely day, ideal for continuing to perfect our kite skiing technique! We cover 60 kilometers.
DAY 7: DISTANCES COVERED ARE INCREASING
Day 7
Thirty minutes’ walking to warm up. The sails then come out of the pulkas and, one by one, swell up with the wind. At 6 p.m. the expedition has covered more than 120 kilometers. Spirits are rising. Indeed, we left five days ago "already" and we have "only" covered 250 kilometers. At this rate we willl need two months to reach Qaanaaq!
DAY 8: 160 KILOMETERS 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! "That day, we 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 KILOMETERS
Day 9
Magnificent fresh snow fell overnight. It simply sparkles. Steady wind. Nine hours’ snowkiting 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 weather forecaster talks of clear spells and a good wind for tomorrow. We already feel much better!
DAY 14: GOOD HEADWAY
Day 14
Ninety 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 6 p.m. 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 kilometers in 9 hours. If we have the same weather conditions tomorrow, we will 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 kilometers 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 kilometers 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 24 TO 26: UNDER SAIL
Day 24
These three days are simply magical and allow us to cover 400 kilometers, i.e. 133 kilometers per day. We do not go very fast but we kite 7 hours a day. We are now only 200 kilometers 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, so close from our goal... We are beginning to guess the coastline.
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 are nearly there!
DAY 32: THE EXPEDITION ARRIVES AT SIORAPALUK
Day 32
At midday, we reach Siorapaluk, a small fishing and hunting village. We have 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 34.
DAYS 35 TO 44: TEN “SPARE” DAYS
Day 35
Contingency 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
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. 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 program is described as difficult, given the distances covered, the isolation, the carrying, and the climatic and environmental conditions. Participants carry the loads in their pulkas, which weigh nearly 70 kg at the start. A very good physical and mental condition is therefore imperative. A good level of kite sailing is a must (see below), and experience of the far north and of mountaineering is naturally a plus. Each participant is responsible for the application of safety rules, equipment and maintenance, setting up camp and preparing meals. As always in this type of project, the key to success is teamwork and team spirit. Participation in the preparation course, the date of which will be specified at a later date, is therefore essential. Last but not least, the Greenlandic government requires a particularly detailed dossier to authorize our expedition. In particular, we will be asked to provide an expedition / trek / sports CV for each participant, enabling us to measure the latter's ability to succeed in the project with a high probability. Under 65, no medical certificate is required.
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).
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you 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 package 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. Overnight stays in Copenhagen or Reykjavik (stopovers) are not covered and must be paid for by the participant.
Meals
Dinners are taken in homestay at the start and finish of the expedition (included in this package, 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. Meals in Copenhagen or Reykjavik (stopovers) are not covered.
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.
All logistical equipment is provided, including tents and pulkas, as well as all collective equipment including stoves, etc. Your guide is equipped with a satellite phone, a GPS and a geolocation beacon. We also provide, free of charge, an extreme-cold sleeping bag (-30°C/-35°C) and mattress. Other personal equipment is not supplied. A complete list is given below in this document
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 commit ourselves not to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02. 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 kilometers 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 kilometers 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 kilometers 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.
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