Long polar crossings and traverses

Greenland is not part of the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa does not grant entry; access is governed by Danish rules specific to Greenland. Citizens of many countries, including those of the European Union, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days, but this varies by nationality. Svalbard is open to all nationalities without an entry visa, though field activities are subject to strict regulations enforced since January 2026. For the Canadian Arctic (Nunavut), entry requirements also depend on your passport; an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is typically required for nationalities that do not need a Canadian visa. Always check with the relevant consular authority for your nationality before booking, as rules can change.

Yes. Crossing the Greenland ice cap requires a permit from the Greenlandic authorities, obtained through the ExpeditionsGreenland portal; this is handled as part of the expedition logistics. In Svalbard, all field activities outside inhabited areas must be notified to the Governor of Svalbard (Sysselmesteren); updated field safety regulations came into force in January 2026, including a future requirement to use approved Svalbard guides from July 2027. In the Canadian Arctic, specific authorisations linked to Nunavut parks and the territories crossed may apply depending on the route. All necessary administrative steps are integrated into expedition preparation.

Frostbite is the most common hazard: extremities, the face and any skin exposed to wind are particularly vulnerable during long days on the move. Gradual hypothermia is also a real risk, especially after getting wet, after prolonged rest stops or if caloric intake drops. Dehydration is frequently underestimated in cold environments, where thirst is suppressed but fluid loss through breathing and effort remains high. A medical check-up and consultation with a specialist in polar or wilderness medicine before departure helps identify any contraindications and ensures an appropriate medical kit is prepared.

Standard travel insurance, even with a sports extension, typically does not cover fully autonomous polar expeditions. Specialist insurance covering search and rescue costs, helicopter or aircraft evacuation from remote locations, medical repatriation and overseas medical expenses in extremely isolated areas is essential. For expeditions lasting 30 to 35 days in polar regions, 'extreme expedition' policies with unlimited rescue cost coverage are strongly advised, alongside a personal COSPAS-SARSAT or Iridium emergency beacon. Specific coverage requirements are communicated during expedition preparation.

Polar evacuation is fundamentally different from an emergency in an inhabited area: helicopter rescue is impossible beyond certain distances or in bad weather, and response times can stretch to several days. Prevention and autonomous field management of emergencies are therefore the priority, backed by appropriate medical equipment. If evacuation becomes necessary, an alert is triggered via satellite phone or personal locator beacon, and coordination is handled with the relevant rescue coordination centres (JRCC in Europe, RCC Canada). A 24-hour medical hotline is available throughout every expedition to support informed decision-making from the field.

Much of Svalbard is protected as nature reserves and national parks: disturbing wildlife is prohibited (polar bears must be kept at a minimum distance of 300 m in summer and 500 m in spring), all waste must be carried out, and removing any natural material is forbidden. In Greenland, the routes crossed fall within the Northeast Greenland National Park, the world's largest, where equivalent no-impact rules apply. In the Canadian Arctic, Nunavut park regulations govern the areas traversed. These environmental rules are briefed before every departure and are non-negotiable throughout each expedition.

All crossings in the catalogue are rated 'difficult', except for the south-to-north Greenland snowkite crossing, which is rated 'extreme'. The primary physical demand is sustained endurance over a month: 30 to 35 consecutive days of skiing on uneven snow surfaces while pulling a pulk weighing 25 to 35 kg, in temperatures that can reach -30 °C to -40 °C depending on the area and season. Several months of structured training, running, cross-country skiing and strength work, is expected. Polar training courses are available to validate the technical fundamentals and assess readiness before committing to a crossing.

The south-to-north Greenland crossing is explicitly reserved for autonomous snowkiters capable of riding independently in all conditions, including strong winds and whiteouts. This is a non-negotiable prerequisite for that expedition. The three other crossings in the catalogue, Greenland west-to-east, Svalbard and the Canadian Arctic, are all ski manhauling expeditions and require no snowkiting skills whatsoever. Snowkite training courses are available for those looking to progress towards kite-propelled expedition projects.

Prior experience in a polar or high-altitude winter environment is strongly recommended: winter bivouacking, nordic ski touring, and managing cold and wet conditions in the field. It is not necessary to have completed a major crossing before, but having participated in a short polar expedition (one to two weeks) or a polar training course means arriving with the essential reflexes, managing equipment, camping in extreme cold, pacing effort over long days. The ability to recognise early signs of frostbite and hypothermia is indispensable.

The catalogue currently lists four programmes. The Greenland west-to-east ski pulk crossing covers approximately 550 km over 34 days from Kangerlussuaq; it is the most accessible long crossing, with easy technical difficulty and groups of 4–5 participants from €15,500. The south-to-north Greenland snowkite crossing (approximately 2,000 km, 35 days, 2–3 participants, from €39,000) is designed for experienced snowkiters seeking an extreme exploration project. The Svalbard south-to-north ski pulk crossing (35 days, 4–6 participants, from €13,000) traverses Spitsbergen in its entirety. The Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic (400 km over sea ice, 30 days, 4–6 participants, from €12,000) offers an Arctic experience well off the tourist radar.

Ski manhauling crossings take place in Arctic spring, typically from March to May, when the polar day allows long daily stages, temperatures remain cold enough to keep the snowpack firm, and conditions are most stable. The Svalbard crossing departs in late March, the Northwest Passage in early April, and the Greenland west-to-east crossing in late April. The south-to-north Greenland snowkite crossing also takes place in April–May to catch the katabatic winds from the ice cap. Arctic summer is avoided: warm temperatures turn the snow soft and wet, making pulk travel very demanding and significantly slowing progress.

Prices in the catalogue range from €12,000 (Canadian Arctic, 30 days) to €39,000 (Greenland south-to-north snowkite crossing, 35 days). The Svalbard crossing starts from €13,000 and the Greenland west-to-east crossing from €15,500. These prices generally include guiding, field logistics (food, collective equipment, local transport, accommodation before and after the crossing), permits and authorisations, and the weather routing and 24-hour medical hotline services. International flights and personal insurance are never included and remain the participant's responsibility.

Beyond the expedition price, budget for international return flights (variable depending on origin and destination), specialist insurance covering rescue and evacuation in extreme environments, personal technical equipment (nordic touring skis, pulk, grand-froid sleeping bag, technical cold-weather clothing, boots), any pre-departure medical consultations, and visa fees or electronic travel authorisations if applicable to your nationality. For the snowkite crossing, your own kite equipment must be provided if you do not already own it. A detailed equipment list is provided during expedition preparation.

Groups range from 2 to 6 participants depending on the expedition, each accompanied by an experienced polar guide. For the Greenland west-to-east crossing, guiding follows the tradition established by Dixie Dansercoer's school. Guides are selected for their specific experience of the areas traversed, their command of polar techniques, ice cap navigation, weather management, wilderness first aid, and, for snowkite expeditions, their expertise in kite handling under Arctic conditions.

Each expedition is supported by an experienced polar weather router, accessible from the field via satellite communication. This service allows the team to anticipate favourable windows and plan stages accordingly. A specialist medical hotline is available 24 hours a day to advise the guide and participants in the event of an emergency or health concern. Both weather routing and medical assistance are included in the price of all crossings in the catalogue.

The routes on offer are not signposted tourist trails: the full circumnavigation of the Greenland ice cap (approximately 5,000 km) and the planned Antarctic loop from Novo via the South Pole, Vostok and the Argus Dome (over 5,000 km) remain extremely rare achievements worldwide. Even the more established programmes, the Northwest Passage crossing or the full Svalbard traverse, are demanding expeditions far from frequented routes, requiring genuine autonomy and rigorous resource management. Respect for the environment traversed, packing out all waste, not disturbing wildlife, minimising impact on some of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth, is a non-negotiable part of every project.