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West Greenland Ski & Sail Expedition

There’s no better way to discover the rugged West Greenland than by going on a sailing and skiing expedition. The area offers a huge variety of ski objectives and terrain—couloirs, high summits, traverses, loops, gentle glacier skiing, both powder and corn snow… We could stay there for months and there would always be something new to discover! Setting sail from the colorful Maniitsoq harbor, we’ll spend 8 days in totally remote wilderness, go out skiing for the day, and then return to our comfy ship. Our Greenlandic captain, crew, and chef will have everything covered for a spectacular expedition!

Angela Bueckert
Angela Bueckert
ACMG Ski Guide, SKGABC Level 4 Kayak Guide, Whitewater kayak instructor

Adventure highlights

  • Freedom to ski & sail wherever
    With a sturdy ship as our base, we can cruise wherever we want to, and ski tour in different spots every day
  • Sea to 2,000-meter summits
    Spectacular views are guaranteed, and we’ll even be able to scale 2,000-meter (6,560-foot) peaks
  • Life on board
    The rugged west coast of Greenland is best experienced from the sea, and we’ll get a good feel of life on board
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Itinerary

Wake up, eat a hearty breakfast, go out ski touring, and return to the sailboat—rinse and repeat! This is what our all-inclusive West Greenland ski & sail expedition will look like, with every day taking us to a new, exciting area. With the M/V Kisaq, our comfortable and sturdy ship, we’ll sail the icy waters of Greenland and move to different ski objectives every day. A welcoming Greenlandic crew, captain, and chef are here to make our stay as comfortable and memorable and possible. So all you’ve got to do is fly to the lovely and colorful Maniitsoq, and once you set your foot on the ship, just kick back and relax.

  • The following itinerary should be seen as an approximate guide only. Please note that the weather, ice conditions, logistics, and unforeseen circumstances can cause alterations to the itinerary. Other than that, Matt and Angela love exploring new places on every single trip, no two trips are alike, so the itinerary is very loose! With 10 guests and 2 guides, it’s also possible to split into two groups to accommodate different ability and fitness levels.

    To get some rest before your expedition, it’s best to plan your flight from Copenhagen to Maniitsoq a day before it starts.

  • We’ll all meet up in the Maniitsoq harbor and board the M/V Kisaq ship. Let’s get settled and comfortable, and then we’ll do a safety briefing and move up north. The afternoon is reserved for some ski touring, so after an avalanche safety briefing, we’ll get the first feel of Greenlandic snow on skis. As the day draws to a close, we’ll return to the boat.

    Meals: Lunch and dinner
    Accommodation: M/V Kisaq ship
    Skiing: 5 km (3 miles), 3 hours
    Elevation gain: 800 m (2,625 ft)

    Four skiers in West Greenland
  • We will spend three days exploring the Island of Hamborgerland. It’s got an abundance of couloirs, excellent glaciated terrain, and rocky spires. There’s also easily accessible terrain—and lots of objectives as well—so the island will not disappoint!

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: M/V Kisaq ship
    Skiing: 10-15 km (6.2-9.3 miles), 8 hours
    Elevation gain: 1,500-1,800 m (4,920-5,900 ft)

    Steep skiing in West Greenland
  • Let’s head north to the Eternity Fjord and enjoy the complex glaciated terrain, 1,000-meter-tall (3,280 ft) cliff faces, and spectacular views all around us. We’ll summit a variety of peaks during these two days, and descend past seracs and ice fields. 2,000-meter (6,560-foot) peaks are everywhere here, and many of them could be our ski objectives!

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: M/V Kisaq ship
    Skiing: 12-15 km (7.5-9.3 miles), 8 hours
    Elevation gain: 1,500-1,800 m (4,920-5,900 ft)

    Slope of West Greenland expedition
  • For our final ski day, we’ll make our way down south and find a great ski objective! Savoring each and every step and turn, we’ll make the most of our last ski day. As the day draws to an end, we’ll cruise back to the Maniitsoq harbor for the night.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    Accommodation: M/V Kisaq ship
    Skiing: 10-15 km (6.2-9.3 miles), 8 hours
    Elevation gain: 1,500-1,800 m (4,920-5,900 ft)

    Sea to summit in West Greenland
  • After the final hearty breakfast prepared by our amazing chef onboard, pack up and disembark the boat. Our tour comes to an end, but if you’d like to stay longer and explore the area, we’ll gladly give you recommendations! If not, head to the airport.

    Meals: Breakfast

    Lounge area, West Greenland boat
Adventure brochure
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Meet your guides

Angela Bueckert
5.00
Angela Bueckert
ACMG Ski Guide, SKGABC Level 4 Kayak Guide, Whitewater kayak instructor
ACMG Ski Guide, SKGABC Level 4 Kayak Guide, Whitewater kayak instructor
Angela’s enthusiasm for sharing new experiences with her guests is ever-present. She has been guiding water-based expeditions for over 15 years, and she’s guided sea kayaking expeditions in Iceland, Greenland, Palawan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Antarctica, South Georgia, The Falkland Islands, Alaska, Svalbard, Myanmar, Kamchatka… She has also led ski touring trips throughout British Columbia. Angela has a passion for multi-day expeditions around the globe.
Matt Edwards
5.00
Matt Edwards
ACMG Ski Guide, SKGABC Sea Kayak Guide, ISA Surf Instructor
ACMG Ski Guide, SKGABC Sea Kayak Guide, ISA Surf Instructor
Finding out what’s around the corner or at the top of the next mountain has taken Matt to some of the remotest places on the planet. He’s been organizing and guiding custom adventures for guests all over the world, for over a decade. Matt has been to Antarctica, Fiji, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Greenland, Iceland, Kamchatka, Alaska, and Northern Canada. He has a genuine passion for adventure, a wicked sense of humor and a love of life.
Expedition Engineering
5.00
Expedition Engineering
Expedition Engineering
Expedition Engineering offers custom-designed tours that blend the best of local cultures with adventure travel, exploration, and being in tune with nature. Apart from their focus largely being on fun and discovery, they care even more about their clients’ safety—Expedition Engineering staff has the highest level of certifications available in the guiding industry. They’ve pioneered expeditions to some of the farthest flung corners of the world, including Raja Ampat, East Greenland, Myanmar, and Anctartica.

All-inclusive expedition

5.00(5 reviews)
M
Mary Jane Carroll

Our West Greenland experience was a trip of a lifetime! The beauty of the landscape is remarkable and the skiing was beyond anything I imagined. Our guides were fantastic and knew all the good zones to hit per the conditions and group objectives. The Kisaq crew went above and beyond, making the trip extra special. I will remember this trip for the rest of my days.

C
Claire H

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!

M
Marcelo F

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!!

Show all reviews
5.00(5 reviews)
M
Mary Jane Carroll

Our West Greenland experience was a trip of a lifetime! The beauty of the landscape is remarkable and the skiing was beyond anything I imagined. Our guides were fantastic and knew all the good zones to hit per the conditions and group objectives. The Kisaq crew went above and beyond, making the trip extra special. I will remember this trip for the rest of my days.

C
Claire H

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!

M
Marcelo F

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!!

T
Thomas M

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.

C
Cristina M

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!

Things to know

  • What you get on this adventure:

      • An experienced, local ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • 8-day West Greenland ski & sail tour
      • Accommodation for 7 nights aboard the M/V Kisaq boat
      • Dedicated skipper and crew
      • All meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8

    What’s not included:

      • Flights to and from Maniitsoq, Greenland
      • Airport transfers
      • Ski touring equipment (skis, skins, poles, ski crampons, ice axe)
      • Avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, probe, shovel)
      • Alcoholic beverages
      • Guide gratuities — optional
      • Travel and medical insurance — recommended
  • To participate in this West Greenland ski & sail expedition, great fitness and ski touring experience is mandatory (except for private trips). You’ll spend about 8 hours in the mountains every day and climb between 1,500 and 1,800 m (4,920-5,900 ft) per day. Keep in mind that with 10 guests and 2 guides, it’s also possible to split into two groups to accommodate different ability and fitness levels.

    You should be an advanced skier, able to ski any black diamond at a ski hill in various ski conditions. Ideally, you should be regularly doing ski touring trips. In terms of preparation and physical condition, running and walking up the stairs is the best workout. You should also have an adventurous spirit and recognize that the weather can greatly influence what you can and can’t do on a given day.

  • Clothing list

      • Down jacket
      • GoreTex jacket
      • GoreTex pants
      • Hut booties
      • Three pairs of ski socks
      • Two pairs thermals
      • Lightweight touring gloves
      • Thick ski gloves
      • Down pants (nice for dog sledding, not necessary though)
      • Hat
      • Casual clothing for the guesthouse
      • Hiking boots for walking around Kuummiut

    Gear

      • Ski helmet
      • Skis or split board with touring bindings
      • Lightweight harness
      • Two locking carabiners
      • One ice axe
      • 2-6 m of 6 mm cordelette (optional)
      • Ski or snowboard boots and ski crampons
      • Adjustable ski poles
      • Climbing skins
      • Skin wax (or a candle)
      • Binding repair kit to fix your personal travel setup
      • Avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, probe, shovel)

    Personal equipment

      • Daypack large enough to carry things you might need throughout the day (40L)
      • Large duffel for all your equipment (no hard cases!)
      • Sunglasses
      • Goggles
      • Sunscreen and lip cream (SPF 30+)
      • Head lamp with good batteries
      • Insulated water bottle or thermos (1-2 L)
      • Personal blister kit (i.e: Leukotape-P and Compeed/Second Skin blister pads)
      • Personal medication
      • Pocket knife — optional
      • Camera — optional
  • Weather
    The weather in West Greenland is fairly mild. Temperatures range between -5 to +5°C. Generally, high pressure moves in during the spring, bringing sunny skies and light winds, but it’s possible to get days with precipitation. Still, May is one of the few months in Greenland with the lowest average precipitation.

    Skiing conditions
    You can expect powder on north aspects and spring or corn snow on more south-facing aspects. Almost all the terrain is glaciated, and there’s a variety of terrain for everyone—couloirs and summits, traverses, loops, gentle glacier skiing…

  • No, your guides do not offer equipment rental for this West Greenland Ski & Sail expedition. Please note that ski rental options in Greenland are very limited. Make sure your equipment arrives in the area safely and on time. You should be familiar with your avalanche equipment and already have used your ski touring equipment prior to the trip.

  • Group sizes and pricing

      • For this West Greenland ski & sail expedition, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 5:1. Two guides will lead this adventure.
      • It takes a minimum of 8 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 10 participants.
      • This trip is suitable for non-skiers as well—there are plenty of other activities to enjoy in West Greenland!
      • The tour is confirmed 3 months prior to the departure at the latest. That’s also the cut-off time for booking the tour.
      • This adventure can be organized as a private tour, where your guides will tailor the experience to your group’s abilities and expectations. If you’d like to book a private tour, contact us to make arrangements.

    West Greenland ski & sail expeditions can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

    Min. age requirements

      • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • The starting point of your West Greenland ski & sail expedition is Maniitsoq harbor in Greenland. To get to Maniitsoq, it’s best to first fly into Nuuk International Airport (GOH). There are direct flights from Copenhagen Airport (CPH) to Nuuk. Once there, take a domestic flight to Maniitsoq Airport (JSU).

    You’ll meet your team on Day 1 of the tour in the Maniitsoq harbor, where your ship will be waiting for you. Please plan to arrive in Copenhagen and fly to Maniitsoq a day prior to the start of this adventure.

    Note that 2026 dates may need to be tweaked due to flight schedules for 2026 not being available until May 2025. Please refrain from making any travel arrangements until the dates are confirmed by your guides!

  • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

    With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

    If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

  • Deposits

    You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

    Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!

      • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
      • Once the dates are set, you can confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total amount.
      • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.

    Cancellations

    Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

    Basic

      • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
      • For cancellations 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 0-89 days before the trip, there is no refund.

    Flexible

      • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
      • For cancellations 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 60-89 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.

    Super Flexible

      • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
      • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  • 57hours partners with Redpoint Travel Protection, offering you a fully integrated program with a single point of contact for all your needs, from emergency services to travel assistance and protection claims. We highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive protection policy from Redpoint, which will protect you both before and during your travels. Before your departure, your investment is protected by the trip cancellation benefit. Once you depart, your policy provides coverage for trip interruption, medical assistance and rescue, baggage loss, trip delay, and more. Once you complete booking with 57hours, we'll create bespoke quote for you (and your group), making sure you're fully protected for the adventure ahead.
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