Tour type: Cross country skiing tour from hut to hut
What’s included: Guide, food for 8 days, accommodation and luggage transfer
Departures: Group request only
Duration: 8 days
Accommodation: Hut and hostel
Meeting point: The domestic airport in Reykjavík
Group size: 5 to 12 participants.
Language: English
Walking per day: 6-8 hours
Note: This tour can also be offered as a private departure.
Cross country skiing adventure with support on Ammassalik Island
The Ammassalik Island in East Greenland is the perfect destination for a winter cross country skiing adventure. Its magnificent mountains, sharp granite peaks and snow covered glacier calottes decorate the landscape looming above the fjords dotted with icebergs. The friendly atmosphere of the local Inuit population and the assurance of great amount of snow make this one of the best winter adventures one can experience. On this tour we will cross the Ammassalik Island from Tasiilaq to the Sermilik Icefjord, visit the hunters village Tiniteqilaaq and admire the view to the main Ice shield of the Greenland Glacier, the world’s second largest ice mass. All our gear will be transported for us so you only have to carry your daypack. To ensure the comfort of this tour we will stay in BASIC huts after spending our days out exploring the beauty of the Arctic world.
Total distance: 90 kilometers (55 miles)
Altitude: 0 – 500 meters (0 – 1640 feet)
Walking/Skiing per day: 6-8 hours
Maximum ascent: 450 meters (1640 feet)
Not included: flight from Reykjavík – Kulusuk – Reykjavik (can be added on the first and last day of the trip), Personal equipment, insurance and expenses.
Accommodation in Reykjavík can be added.
Note the tour is for group request only.
If you have questions, please check our FAQs. If you do not find the answer please contact us: booking@greenland.is
Day 1: Reykjavík-Kulusuk-Tasiilaq
From Reykjavík airport we take the flight to Kulusuk, arriving in the early afternoon. From Kulusuk we take a boat or helicopter transport to Tasiilaq according to conditions. We settle in at our accommodation in the late afternoon and if time allows us we go exploring the town of Tasiilaq and its surroundings on our skis.
Day 2: Tasiilaq-The lake area
We get our gear together for a transport before we put on our skis on and head out in to this Arctic wonderland. We head into the middle of Ammassalik Island to the mountains and the lake area skiing on the snow covered frozen lakes between the granite peaks. Our first hut is on the edge of the innermost lake.
Night in a hut.
Skiing: 6-7 hrs
Day 3: The Lake area- Sermilik fjord
A fresh morning start takes us up the slopes to the shoulder of the Mittivakkat glacier. We then turn west over the mountains getting a great view over the Sermilik Ice Fjord, and down. Our hut is right on the edge of the fjord, with fantastic view towards the fjord and its thousands of icebergs.
Night in a hut.
Skiing: 5-7 hrs
Day 4: Sermilik fjord – Tiniteqilaaq
From our huts we turn towards the north east and head up along the coast in the direction of the village of Tiniteqilaaq. On our way we thread through some valleys and skirt mountains that become higher and sharper as we approach the main land. When we reach the northern side of Ammassalik Island we ski across the frozen straight between Ammassalik and the main land to the small settlement of Tiniteqilaaq. We will have dinner at a local family, which offers a unique opportunity to get to know the Inuit culture. Night at local house.
Skiing: 5-7hrs
Day 5: Tiniteqilaaq – The lake area
After a nice stay in the cosy village we start out by crossing the frozen strait again following the dog sledge tracks. Enjoy the view of the mountains to the north east. Then we will start the ascent to cross the glacier on the northern part of Ammassalik Island, where we will reach an altitude of about 500 m. Then we head down into a valley and then up to a small pass before arriving to our hut at the lake area, where we will spend the night. Accumulated altitude gain today will be around 700m.
Night in a hut.
Skiing: 6-7 hrs
Day 6: The lake area -Tasiilaq
We start this day by following the valley and the small lakes, then crossing the big lake, Imertivaq, before we reach the frozen fjord of Kong Oscars Havn. We have now crossed Ammassalik Island and Tasiilaq awaits us on the other side. We will enjoy a nice warm meal and a cosy night at our guesthouse.
Night in a guest house.
Skiing: 6-7 hrs
Day 7: Tasiilaq
A free day to explore Tasiilaq and the Inuit everyday life and a security day should the weather delay our process in the days before.
Night in a guest house.
Day 8: Tasiilaq-Kulusuk-Reykjavík
– Equipment list for Cross Country Skiing Tours (Cross Country skiing / Nordic Skiing)
For your own wellbeing and safety we strongly suggest following the advice of our equipment list, this includes having good quality rain-gear, tops and bottoms! Also respect that cotton clothing is not appropriate for any strenuous outdoor activity. Modern outdoor clothing is by far more comfortable and will greatly improve your experience.
Boots and Clothing:
Other gear:
Ski equipment:
Optional gear:
Should you have any questions regarding this equipment list or the equipment on our tours feel free to contact incoming@mountainguides.is. Our Gear Lexicon also contains more information on clothing and gear for this tour.
