West Greenland Ski and Sail

Destination

Maniitsoq, West Greenland

Duration

8 Days

Price

Starting from € 5500

Trip Type

Liveaboard

Difficulty

3/5

8 day ski touring trip in the rugged mountains and glaciers of West Greenland, aboard our sturdy yet comfortable ship, the M/V Kisaq. The area offers a huge variety of ski objectives and terrain, making each day unique, with unforgettable runs and views every single day. Return to the ship after each ski tour to the welcoming captain and crew. As a West Greenlander, Taatsi, the Captain, knows this place inside and out. His stories of the place and the people will regale us for hours, as he expertly navigates these pristine waterways. With many options for ski objectives, we will choose the best objective for the conditions each day. There is terrain for every desire and ability, and lots of it! Explore this incredible land of rock, ice and snow in the most intimate way possible, step by step!

Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.

Ibn Battuta

Highlights

Ski from sea to summit: Experience the unique thrill of starting your ski adventure right from the ocean’s edge and ascending through varied terrains, ending your journey at the breathtaking summit. This rare opportunity offers a diverse and exhilarating challenge for avid skiers.
Ski under the midnight sun: Glide across pristine snow under the ethereal glow of the midnight sun. This extraordinary experience allows you to ski in continuous daylight, providing an unforgettable adventure that blends the beauty of night and day.
Ski glaciated terrain, past seracs and hanging glaciers: Navigate through stunning glaciated landscapes, weaving past towering seracs and hanging glaciers. This thrilling terrain offers both a visual feast and a demanding ski challenge, perfect for those seeking adventure.
Marvel at the expanse of glaciers and ice: Stand in awe at the vast, untouched expanses of glaciers and ice. These magnificent natural wonders stretch as far as the eye can see, providing a serene and humbling backdrop to your ski journey.
Variety of terrain for everyone, from couloirs to summits, traverses, loops to gentle glacier skiing: Whether you crave the adrenaline rush of steep couloirs and challenging summits, the endurance test of traverses and loops, or the leisurely pace of gentle glacier skiing, there’s something for everyone. This diverse terrain ensures that skiers of all levels can find their perfect adventure.

Itinerary

Day 1: Board the M/V Kisaq

Meet the crew, partake in a safety briefing. We will head North and ski in the afternoon/evening.

DAY 2-6: Each day we assess the weather and conditions and endeavour to find the best conditions.

Each day will find us seeking out a different objective, from couloirs, to longer traverses, from complex terrain past hanging glaciers and seracs, each day will be one of a kind with amazing views and descents. We plan to ski north of Maniitsoq, into Eternity Fiord and beyond Kangaamiut Village.

DAY 7: We return to within striking distance to Maniitsoq and ski in the morning and early afternoon.

Late afternoon we will transit back to town and spend the night on board in the Maniitsoq harbour.

DAY 8: Disembark the M/V Kisaq

Say goodbye to the crew and transit to the airport for departures.

Accommodations

Our ship for the trip is the M/V Kisaq, a 27-meter ice-strengthened ship. Built in 1967, she was originally used to transport people between remote communities in southern Greenland. In her more recent history, she has been refit to accommodate 10 passengers for winter and summer tours throughout West Greenland.

Cabins

Five comfortable guest cabins each with two single beds, closet, sink, and personal shelves in each room.

Living Space

With three lounge/eating areas, there is lots of room to hang out with the group, or find your own space to enjoy the place. The Kisaq has lots of deck space to watch the world go by, or hang out in the Wheel house with the Captain!

Dates & Rates

2025 Dates

April 12-19 2025
April 19-26 2025 – Full
May 5-12, 2025

Prices from

5500 Euros

What's Included

7 nights aboard the M/V Kasiq
Meals from day 1 lunch to day 8 breakfast
1:5 guide to guest ratio
dedicated skipper and crew

Not Included

Flights to Maniisoq
Travel insurance
Transfers to and from airport
Ski equipment
Avalanche safety equipment
Alcohol

Weather

The weather in West Greenland is fairly mild. Temperatures range between -5 to +5 degrees celsius. Generally high pressure moves in during the spring bringing sunny skies and light winds, however it’s still possible to get days with precipitation.

Activities

Ski touring is the primary Activity onboard, however we will also have several sea kayaks and a Stand Up Paddle Board. After returning from a day of skiing it really nice to go for a paddle on the calm fiord surrounded by towering peaks. For those interested in fishing there’s fishing gear onboard and the crew are always happy help you land an Arctic Cod.

Trip Map

Pictures & Videos

FAQs

What is the skiing like in May?

We can have powder on North aspects and spring or corn snow on more south facing aspects.

What is the weather like in May?

Temperatures hover between -5 to +5 degrees celsius. May is one of the few months with the lowest average precipitation. You can expect any kind of weather during your week trip, from sunny skies to overcast.

What is the food like?

The food onboard the M/V Kasiq is hearty with lots of variety. Breakfast is a buffet with lots of different options each day. Lunches are pack lunches with sandwiches of arctic char! Dinners are hearty meals with salads and desserts each night.

Webinars

Greenland Ski Touring Webinar: Everything You Need to Know

Want to learn why more and more people are going ski touring in Greenland? Check out this free webinar hosted by expert guides! Ever was…

         Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Claire H 
 
 
 
  BEST TRIP EVER!!
We did this trip with Angela in May of 2024. First off, Angela was an incredible guide. She's kind, knowledgeable, fun and dialed. Her knowledge of the culture, skiing, navigation of best plan/route is all awesome. Greenland is truly amazing and I highly recommend going with these guys who have such a connection to the place and people. The skiing was also perfect spring corn!!! Don't think about it too much, just GO!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Marcelo F 
 
 
 
  Pristine Greenland
Great trip all around! Views were amazing, pristine location, great guides and tailored service. I highly recommend traveling with Expedition Engineering and this specific trip. There was good skiing, some cultural experience, and adaptability to weather and conditions available to us. They are not your regular tour operators, they deliver something unique and real. Thumbs up to this company, I would go again with them at any time!!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Thomas M 
 
 
 
  Expedition Engineering East Greenland Ski tour
Outstanding backcountry ski trip. Our trip was actually went April 2024. Scenery was amazing, ski terrain had everything from easy to as challenging as you could want, conditions for us were mostly corn with some very firm and some powder, getting a 'taste' of local culture was cool and the guides, Angela and Matt were great. I had the feeling of sharing an adventure with them rather than being taken on an adventure by them. For lots of other reasons too, would strongly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Enrique D 
 
 
 
  Magnificent ski touring experience
We went there May 2023. If you are willing to rough it a bit, there is no better ski touring experience. Every day we would sail to a glacier terminus into the sea, climb up a peak or two, enjoy sublime unspoilt views on the way to the top, then great powder/corn skiing on the way down.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Cristina M 
 
 
 
  East Greenland May 2023
I took this trip with my partner and another couple in May of 2023. Although, due to weather the trip had to be modified, we were well taken care of with many contingencies ready. Food was plentiful and accommodations were very comfortable. I would highly recommend Expedition Engineering. Trip of a life time. We are hoping to travel again with them in the future. Maybe some where warm!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Mark N 
 
 
 
  Trip of a Lifetime - Never using another backcountry ski operation beside them!
Short summary: this is the best ski trip I have ever been on. If you love adventures and love to travel you need to come here it is one of the most raw and beautiful places I have been. I went with my father and it was an experience I will never forget. The guides are incredible.Now I will touch on why this trip is so special. Guides: Matt and Angela are the guides. They are also husband and wife. They are some of the sweetest and fun people we have met. Our main guide for the trip was Matt. He was extremely calm safe and fun. Me being 24 years old is always wanting to do extreme and fun things. My mom is very cautious. Matt was nice enough to speak with my mom for an hour walking through all the safety procedures and the risks and how they mitigate them. At no point did I feel unsafe or not in good hands. On these trips you spend many hours with the guides so you want to be comfortable with them. I left seeing Matt as a good friend. Scenery: I like to think I am well traveled and have been many places. In terms of scenery and the rawness of the trip nothing compares. You are in the middle of nowhere and there are not people let alone skiers miles around you. You are by yourself and there is something peaceful about that. It is some of the most beautiful mountains I have seen. I would eat my lunch and look at the mountains and get teary eye because it was so beautiful. My dad and I finished a run and he said this is the most amazing ski run I have ever done (with the biggest smile on his face). We completed a hike to the top of the mountain and did a run all the way to the water. Pictures don’t speak for themselves. You are literally skiing to the ocean.Safety: These are guides they are professionals. They take every precaution necessary. Avalanches are not the biggest dangers. But there are crevasses. We take necessary precautions spacing ourselves out and putting harnesses on. We are not putting ourselves in harms way. You are in the middle of no where so you are not going to go down a dangerous run. There are polar bears. No we never saw one. We do carry a gun in case but the polar bears stay by the ice (where the food is) and we are much higher than that. Food: not my favorite but you’re not there for the food. It’s normal food and at the hotel surprisingly decent. Conclusion: this is one of my favorite trips I have ever been on. The picture from the trip is my Home Screen. I am now begging my dad to do another trip with me with Matt and Angela. My mom would never let me go anywhere she did not do her research on she was very scared for us to do this but was able to get comfortable because of Matt and Angela. Matt and Angela thank you for being such calm and nice people but more importantly for creating a trip I will for always remember and a memory I created with my dad that brought us closer together. I really do get teary thinking about how amazing the trip was. Note: if you can do a private trip. Definitely recommend! Had the ability to use the helicopter to get to amazing areas!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Paul Lambie 
 
 
 
  East Greenland Ski touring.
We did this trip in April, 2023. Although 2023 was a low snow year we were able to ski from the village every day. We had great weather and the skiing was amazing. Different tours each day were accessed by skinning directly from our accommodation or by snowmobile or dogsled. The trip is based out of Kuummiit, a small and remote village in East Greenland. Matt and Angela are great guides; highly recommended! A very unique ski experience.
  
 
  
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A fantastic ski adventure and traditional Greenlandic experience