• Things to Do
  • Destinations
  • Plan Your Trip
  • About Greenland
  • Events
Visit Greenland
  • Home
  • Things to Do
  • Destinations
    • All destinations
    • North Greenland
    • Disko Bay
    • Destination Arctic Circle
    • Capital Region
    • South Greenland
    • East Greenland
    • The National Park
  • Plan Your Trip
  • About Greenland
  • Articles
  • Events
  • Cruise
  • Practical Questions
  • Package tours & providers
  • Your Local Travel Agency
  • Contact
  • Search
  • An Eternity of ski touring. Photo by Fredrik Schenholm.

An Eternity of ski touring

Fjords, glaciers and endless ski touring possibilities in Maniitsoq.

“We need to go to Greenland!” I was barely awake when Fredrik called me way too early one morning. Having two small children the adventure photographer Fredrik Schenholm is used to getting up with the early birds.

“I have been thinking”, he said. “Greenland must be amazing, and it can’t be too hard to set up something ourselves”, he continued.

"Our dream of ski touring in Greenland had materialized into something to remember for life, beyond all expectations." - Frederik Schenholm, the author

Continues further down the page...

Package Tours

Greenland Travel: Short Break! Winter days in fantastic surroundings

Greenland Travel

SHORT BREAK! Winter days in fantastic surroundings

Go dog sledding, walk on the ice cap and see the impressive Russel Glacier. Get a break from your busy days with a winter adventure

FROM €875
Arctic Hiking and Expeditions: East Greenland Mini-Expedition

Arctic Hiking and Expeditions

East Greenland Mini-Expedition

The spectacular snow and ice-covered landscape of eastern Greenland is the setting for this short expedition from Kulusuk Island.

FROM €2,131
Show More

Planning an adventure

Said and done, we started planning for a Grenland adventure focusing on simplicity, powder skiing, glaciers and fjords. Soon to join the planning was the fellow journalist and adventurer Martin Letzter and former snowboarder – nowadays a dedicated ski tourer – Tom Seeman. We got in contact with some locally knowledged people which made it easier for us to establish a rough plan for the whole adventure.

Adapting to Greenland

It is Tuesday morning and just before we boarded the plane at Copenhagen airport we got a phone call from our local guide Sören Lyberth.
“The forecast for tomorrow does not look good so I suggest we leave already tonight as soon as you arrive in Maniitsoq”.

The original plan was to spend the evening at Hotel Maniitsoq and have a soft start on Wednesday, shopping for groceries and supplies before heading out with the boat towards the Eternity fiord. But plans are only good if they can be adapted to the circumstances and the stop over time in Kangerlussuaq was used to prepare the shopping list. So two hours after the arrival in Maniitsoq we were already on our way towards a week in the beautiful wilderness of Western Greenland.

  • Where:

    The peninsula north of the Eternity fiord

  • What:

    Base camp ski touring

  • When:

    April/May

  • How to get there:

    Flights from Copenhagen to Maniitsoq. Boat transfer to the peninsula with Maniitsoq Tour Boat ApS.
    Book flights at www.airgreenland.com. Book boat transport at www.mtb.gl.

  • Primus gas:

    Yes, available in Maniitsoq

  • Groceries:

    Yes, available in Maniitsoq

  • Accomodation:

    Hotel Maniitsoq. Book at hotelmsoq@greennet.gl

Predicting the snow

West Greenland is known for good off-piste skiing between April and early June. At the same time, as the weather can be overwhelming sunny with powder snow, it can as well be windy and raining.

Even though the weather can vary, it is somewhat more stable than one could foresee due to the very large inland. In April there is obviously a better chance for powder snow, but it can also still be quite cold If you prefer spring snow, May might be the month to go. But as always there is no easy choice and mountain weather is hard to predict so you just have to pick your date and hope for the best.

“No, there is no chance to break through with the boat”

After a two hour long boat ride, having passed the magnificent ski touring haven of Hamburgerland, we closed in towards the intended camping site just to realize that the fjord was covered with too thick an ice layer. “No, there is no chance to break through with the boat”, our driver Sören firmly said.

Again the importance of having adjustable plans was shown and we turned around and headed towards our second option on the south shore of the peninsula. At nine a’clock in the evening we were left alone on the shoreline while the snow started to fall.

Being just south of the Arctic circle the light is not a problem at this time of the year so the basecamp could quickly be established curiously spectated by an arctic fox on one side of the valley and its hunted rabbit on the other side.

Skiing in the real stuff

“Wake up all you tired travellers, breakfast is served in the apse!”, Tom shouted way too early on Wednesday morning. But all the tiredness was quickly swept away as we saw our surroundings. It was crystal blue water and stunning white mountains as long as our eyes could see.

Ski resorts nowadays very often compete with Ski-in-ski-out accommodation. But this was the real stuff.

Powder snow, large glaciers, magnificent alpine peaks

Stepping into the ski gear at the door step of our tents, we had a close to endless access to ski tours in all different grades of difficulty. The coming days, Greenland welcomed us in a way we could only have dreamt of with cold powder snow, large glaciers, magnificent alpine peaks and deep-blue fjords sparkling from the sunshine.

The mountains are perfect for ski-touring, easy accessible with several good runs down from each summit. The peninsula offers rides in all aspects which is good if one want to find good snow independent of recent weather while at the same time minimize the risk of avalanches.

There are several glaciers on the peninsula and we passed some of them roped in. All in all an adventure like this is quite easily arranged and if you have sufficient mountain experience, it is not as far away as you might believe.

Unlimited Maniitsoq

The alternative is to join the tours with one of the several good helicopter guiding companies or Ski & Sail companies located around Maniitsoq.

They provide guides who know the area and are able to pick the best ride for current conditions. What is for sure is that there is room for everyone! Ski-touring in the surroundings of Maniitsoq is unlimited in the number of available mountains and incredible runs and not the least overwhelming scenery.

Tenting in winter

As strange as it might sound camping in the winter is actually better than in the summer. You can use the snow to flatten the ground where you want to sleep, you can dig yourself some extra height in the tent apse, make a real nice outside kitchen out of snow and there is plenty of water all around you. However it might be cold so you need a tent, sleeping equipment and a stow suitable for winter conditions.

Also, take your time. The weather and snow conditions can vary from day to day. And staying over a week made us even take time for some relaxed days in the basecamp, reading and building ourselves an igloo, fully enjoying being out in the wild far from the stress of our day to day lives.

Beyond expectations

“How does it look?”, Johan shouted. “Not too bad…”, Martin replied, and then pointed his skis down the steep part of the glacier. A few moments later he showed up some 500 meters below us with a promising snow plume behind him in each super G turn heading towards the fjord.

The last day could not have been more perfect. Clear blue sky, no wind and fantastic powder snow. Our dream of ski touring in Greenland had materialized into something to remember for life, beyond all expectations.

Local providers

Maniitsoq Tour Boat sailing in sunny weather in Summer. Photo by Mads pihl - Visit Greenland

Maniitsoq Tour Boat

Maniitsoq, Postboks 140
3812,
Phone: +299 52 02 96More information
Old colonial buildings that serves as the local museum today. Photo by Maniitsoq Museum

Maniitsoq Museum

Maniitsoq, Illunnguit 11,
3912,
Phone: +299 81 31 00More information
Hunter aiming with hunting rifle in Greenland. Photo by Major Hunting

Major Hunting

Nuuk, Jonathan Petersens vej 11,
3900,
Phone: +299 52 08 41More information
Hotel Maniitsoq 01

Hotel Maniitsoq

Maniitsoq, Ajoqinnguup Aqqutaa 19,
3912,
Phone: (+299) 813 035More information
Hotel Heilmann Lyberth frontside in Maniitsoq, Greenland. Photo by Hotel Heilmann Lyberth - Visit Greenland

Hotel Heilmann Lyberth

Maniitsoq, Ivissuit 3,
3912,
Phone: +299 81 35 35More information
Ski touring with Shifting Ice in Greenland

Greenland Extreme

Sisimiut, Mukkup Aqquserna 10,
3911,
Phone: +299 55 45 00More information

Load more

Explore related articles, offers and tour providers:

  • Culture vs Nature
  • Destination Arctic Circle
  • Maniitsoq
  • Natural Experiences
  • Providers
  • Regions
  • Ski Touring
  • Sports & Events
  • Things to do & About
  • Towns & settlements
  • Winter

By Fredrik Schenholm

Fredrik Schenholm is a adventure photographer capturing skiing across the world.

https://visitgreenland.com

Editors' pick

Stella Davidsen Olsen from Kangerlussuaq. Dogsledge musher. Photo by Aningaaq R. Carlsen, Visit Greenland

Know the story of Greenlandic women

Greenlandic women have always played a decisive role in society, and we will highlight them in celebration of International Women’s Day, 8 March.

  • #All destinations
  • #Anytime
  • #Anywhere
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #In The Spotlight
  • #Meeting Greenlanders
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
Two snowmobilers on pause in Sisimiut. Photo by Kim Insuk - Visit Greenland

Fulfil your winter wishes in April in Greenland

Come and visit Sisimiut in April and enjoy dogsledding, Arctic Sounds, and Arctic Spa that you have been longing for.

  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Disko Bay
  • #Dog Sledding
  • #Festival
  • #Inuit Culture
  • #Meeting Greenlanders
  • #Music
  • #Natural Experiences
  • #North Greenland
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Sisimiut
  • #Snowmobiling
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
  • #Winter
Immersing overwelmed by the surroundings. Photo by Aningaaq Rosing Carlsen - Visit Greenland

Editor’s guide: How to spend 4 days in East Greenland

An occupational hazard as an editor is that I read about and collect the most beautiful bucket list destinations, and East Greenland has long been one of mine.

  • #Boat Tours
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Dog Sledding
  • #East Greenland
  • #Kulusuk
  • #Natural Experiences
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Snowmobiling
  • #Tasiilaq
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Tiilerilaaq
  • #Towns & settlements
  • #Winter
Paninnguaq Pikilak. Inuit tattoos. Photo by Aningaaq Rosing Carlsen - Visit Greenland

A guide to Inuit Tattoos in Greenland

Inuit tattoos have had a revival in recent years, with many young people, among others, breathing life into the traditional lines. However, it has deep roots in Inuit communities, both spiritually and culturally.

  • #All destinations
  • #Anytime
  • #Anywhere
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Inuit Culture
  • #Meeting Greenlanders
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
More related articles
FEEDBACK
Visit Greenland

About Visit Greenland

Behind Greenland's largest travel site is the Visit Greenland that is 100% owned by the Government of Greenland, who is responsible for marketing the country's adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world's largest island.
The VisitGreenland.com website is created by Visit Greenland and Kathart Interactive.
The Privacy Policy for Visit Greenland

Frequently Visited Pages

  • Things to Do
  • Destinations
  • Nature & Climate
  • When to go
  • Greenlandic Culture
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Other Websites By Visit Greenland:

  • Travel Trade
  • Cruise Call List
  • Media Database

Newsletter

Receive inspiring stories, travel deals and news from Greenland via email.

SIGN UP HERE

GREENLAND – contact us:

Mon. - Fri: 8 am - 4 pm

Visit Greenland
Hans Egedesvej 29
P.O. Box 1615
3900 Nuuk
Greenland

Direct phone Greenland:
(+299) 34 28 21

info@visitgreenland.com
111863

Scroll to top