GREENLAND HELI SKIING PROGRAM
Heli skiing in Greenland is not your average heli skiing vacation; it’s a unique adventure to a beautiful country of traditional culture and environmental extremes. The powder starts at sea level so it’s easy to measure the length of your runs that start from the top of the rugged mountains which rise out of the ocean. The fast and quiet B2 Astar helicopters are in stark contrast to the long-established Inuit villages that they fly over on the way to another perfectly pitched ski run.
ULITMATE HELI-SKI TERRAIN
There is a huge variety of terrain to choose from on the islands in the Ammassalik region of southeast Greenland. You can ski tight, narrow chutes after warming up on steep, open mountain faces. There are routes that wind past rock outcropping and cliffs before smoothing out for a high speed race to the helicopter. If you prefer rolling glacier descents or wide moderate valleys those are easy to find as well. On most runs you’ll be able to see icebergs floating in the blue-green water of the fjords and as you ski to the water’s edge their size is much more impressive than when viewed from the mountain summits.
The spring months of April and May are a great time to heli skiing in Greenland because the snow is deeper on the glaciers and more stable on the peaks. The Arctic sun is also shining much longer, giving the opportunity to catch the best conditions during longer ski days. Endless runs in smooth spring corn snow are one of the best features of Greenland heli skiing.
CUSTOM HELI-SKI EXPERIENCE
The groups and programs for our Greenland sessions are custom made and we work hard to combine expectations and abilities into cohesive teams. Total number of days, the amount of heli time, and the number of skiers per helicopter are all dependent on fitting the desires of the guests for that session. Call us for more info and we’ll help put together the best option for you.
The Kulusuk Hotel is our peaceful home base and is well furnished but not elaborate. The dining room might become your favorite place of all, partly because of the large buffet meals, but mainly due to the fabulous views of the fjords and the sea ice floating in the water. From the many windows you may even be able to pick out some of your ski runs for the next day. The hotel has everything you need for a comfortable stay including a souvenir shop and a well stocked bar.
This area of Greenland is below the Arctic Circle but is still subject to predictably cold and wintery weather. Average temperatures during the winter months range from -7 to 0 degrees Celsius (20-32 Fahrenheit) and a breeze is almost always blowing. However, there are also times when a high pressure system comes off the Greenland Ice Sheet, and it can be wind free and sunny for days in a row.
NOT JUST HELI-SKIING
One of the most unique parts of Greenland heli skiing is experiencing the culture of this isolated country. Our hotel is a 20-30 minute walk to the town of Kulusuk which still functions as a hunter gatherer community, even using dog sleds for hunting, and is a very interesting place to visit. With enough pre-planning we can also arrange an overnight trip to a small Inuit village and get a firsthand experience of their society. If the weather prevents the heli from flying, there is very good ski touring right outside the doors of our hotel, and we have rental gear available so you don’t have to bring your own.
If you’re ready to take on this adventure, give Powder Guides a call today and let us make the arrangements easy for you. Air access to Greenland connects through Iceland and generally requires an overnight stay in Reykjavik. We’re familiar with the complexities of travel in this region and will make sure your schedule allows for a smooth journey. We can also coordinate additional days in Iceland, and make arrangements for activities there before or after your heli-ski week.
