Snowkite: from discovering kite-powered gliding to the ultimate expeditions

Your snowkite progression: from the Alps to Greenland 

At Expeditions Unlimited, snowkiting isn't just one activity among others. It's our DNA.
We are a team of guides, explorers and passionate riders. Lifelong devotees of skiing and board sports, lovers of the great polar expanses, obsessed with untouched lines and limit-pushing crossings. We understood long ago that snowkiting was THE key to going where no one else goes, breaking free from distances and redefining the very notion of exploration.
Our expertise is built on thousands of kilometres travelled across the Arctic, on dozens of guided expeditions, on an intimate knowledge of katabatic winds, mountain aerology and the ever-changing conditions of the Far North. It rests on experienced guides like Michael Charavin, a member of the IPGA (International Polar Guide Association) and a pioneer of the great kite-powered crossings.

But our strength also lies in our teaching approach. We build logical progressions, solid learning paths and carefully managed skill development. From the beginner discovering their first pull in the Alps to the self-sufficient kiter crossing 1,600 kilometres of the Greenland ice cap, we support every step. We provide the latest-generation equipment, we teach expedition techniques, and we pass on our attention to detail and our commitment to safety.

Snowkiting opens the doors to the planet's greatest white deserts, from Greenland to Antarctica. It turns constraint into play, effort into pleasure, distance into pure sensation. From your first ride at the Col du Lautaret to the full crossing of Greenland. We have charted four itineraries. From first initiation to the ultimate expedition. 

So whatever your level today, one question remains: how far do you want to go?

2-day course at the Col du Lautaret in the Hautes-Alpes: discovering the traction kite

The Col du Lautaret, perched at 2060 metres above sea level in the heart of the Alps, is the ideal site to discover snowkiting. This legendary pass, swept by steady winds and offering vast snow-covered expanses from December to late April, makes for the perfect learning ground. Over two intensive days, we guide you through a complete introduction to the traction kite: understanding the wind window, launching and landing your kite safely, and managing your first pulls. Then, with skis on your feet, you let yourself be towed for the very first time. We then work on piloting in motion, power control and speed management. The intensive nature of this course, in a very small group of no more than three participants, ensures rapid progress. We lend you all the latest-generation kite equipment. You leave with the technical foundations you need and, without a doubt, the urge to go further towards the great polar expanses.

Snowkite progression © Sébastien Royer

Hardangervidda: skill-building on the Norwegian high plateaus 

We head to Finse in Norway, on the northern edge of the Hardangervidda plateau, for an intensive ten-day kiting adventure. Finse, perched at 1222 metres, can only be reached by rail. The landscape unfolds as a vast mosaic of frozen lakes, valleys and glaciers. Lake Finsevatnet, four kilometres long and almost always windy, offers an ideal surface for carving long tacks at full speed. The ascent of the Hardangerjökulen glacial dome allows for extraordinary "mountain"-style tours covering several dozen kilometres in just a few hours. Each day we set out on star-shaped routes from our comfortable accommodation with a private cook! Sessions lasting several hours follow one another every day. You make rapid progress across all points of sail: crosswind and downwind. Snowkiting truly becomes a way of travelling through the wild expanses of the Far North.

Discover our kiting adventure in Finse, Norway 

Snowkiting in Finse © Michael Charavin

The Nordkinn and Varanger peninsulas: exploration at the end of the world for experienced kiters 

Guided by Michael Charavin, we set off on a "road-snowkite-trip" to the far north-east of Norway, beyond 70° north latitude, on the shores of the Barents Sea. We explore the deeply indented Varanger and Nordkinnhalvøya peninsulas, which offer terrain perfectly suited to snowkiting and unique vantage points over the fjords and the ocean. More than anywhere else in Norway, snowkiting here takes place in an atmosphere that is both Far North and maritime. The "road trip" is built around changing accommodation and Hurtigruten ferry transfers, making it possible to discover the magnificent landscapes and small fishing ports of this far-flung corner of the world. Each day, we kite across very different areas. This is an exploratory trip with a "trekking" spirit, featuring itinerant sessions improvised on the spot according to conditions. This way of operating ensures rapid and enjoyable progress. You arrive as intermediate kiters and become explorers. A programme that we alone offer.

Discover our snowkite exploration of the Nordkinn and Varanger peninsulas in Norway

Varanger Peninsula © Mickael Charavin

South–North crossing of Greenland: the ultimate expedition for expert kiters

Guided by Michael Charavin, we set out to cross the Greenland ice cap from south to north by snowkite: nearly 1500 kilometres from Kangerlussuaq to Qaanaaq. Only two agencies in the world undertake such a journey. The duration of our expedition should be around thirty days depending on the wind. We travel in complete self-sufficiency with pulkas weighing nearly 90 kilos! The start is gradual, but as soon as we reach the katabatic winds, the magic happens: pulled by our kites, we can cover up to 200 kilometres on some days. But there are also storm days with winds of 100 km/h when we stay inside the tent. This adventure calls for a real team spirit and serious commitment in the face of cold down to −30 °C and total isolation. This programme demands excellent kite-handling skills: you know how to rig, launch and land in all wind strengths, and you can perform kiteloops in light wind on a 15 m² kite. Dedicated weather router and 24-hour medical hotline. We guarantee departure for 1 person and up to a maximum of 3.

Discover our ultimate expedition in Greenland

South–North crossing of Greenland © Matthieu Tordeur