EXPEDITION CROSSING GREENLAND | MAY & JUNE 2028
From coast to coast across the ice sheet
On skis hauling a pulk across the Greenland ice sheet, fully self sufficient.
The story of this expedition
From Brussels you travel via Iceland to the west coast of Greenland. A helicopter drops us at the edge of the ice sheet, and from then on there is only one direction: east. Ahead of you lies an ice plain the size of a continent, more than two kilometres thick, where nothing will change except the weather and your own mind.
You travel on skis with a pulk behind you, a sled carrying everything you need. Eight to ten hours a day, in fixed blocks, with short breaks. It is repetitive, exhausting and surprisingly meditative.
The ice sheet rises to well over two thousand metres in the middle. So you climb slowly, for days, without ever seeing a mountain. The air thins, the cold deepens and the wind grows more constant the higher you get.
There is no horizon, no contrast and not a single point of reference. Only white, in every direction. That is exactly what makes this expedition the mentally hardest we offer: there is nothing to hold on to except your routine and your team.
We deliberately choose May and June: the classic window when temperatures are bearable, the light is almost permanent and the snow conditions on the ice sheet are at their most workable.
The story of
this expedition
From Brussels you travel via Iceland to the west coast of Greenland. A helicopter drops us at the edge of the ice sheet, and from then on there is only one direction: east. Ahead of you lies an ice plain the size of a continent, more than two kilometres thick, where nothing will change except the weather and your own mind.
You travel on skis with a pulk behind you, a sled carrying everything you need. Eight to ten hours a day, in fixed blocks, with short breaks. It is repetitive, exhausting and surprisingly meditative.
The ice sheet rises to well over two thousand metres in the middle. So you climb slowly, for days, without ever seeing a mountain. The air thins, the cold deepens and the wind grows more constant the higher you get.
There is no horizon, no contrast and not a single point of reference. Only white, in every direction. That is exactly what makes this expedition the mentally hardest we offer: there is nothing to hold on to except your routine and your team.
We deliberately choose May and June: the classic window when temperatures are bearable, the light is almost permanent and the snow conditions on the ice sheet are at their most workable.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the very first day you are fully self sufficient. There is no resupply, no stopover and no way out except forward. We melt snow for water, cook inside the tent and work to a daily rhythm we hold for the whole traverse.
You learn to hold the same rhythm day after day, melt snow for your water and cook inside the tent, guided by an experienced X- Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition is equipped with satellite phones, GPS tracking, safety procedures, an evacuation plan and local support in Greenland.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Guided by real expedition leaders.
You step into nature, away from the
beaten track, but always with the certainty of experienced guidance
and safety first.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold
WFR certificates and have
years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition is equipped with satellite phones, GPS tracking, clear safety procedures, a fully developed evacuation plan and local support in Greenland.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the very first day you are fully self sufficient. There is no resupply, no stopover and no way out except forward. We melt snow for water, cook inside the tent and work to a daily rhythm we hold for the whole traverse.
You learn to hold the same rhythm day after day, melt snow for your water and cook inside the tent, guided by an experienced X-Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
We let no one step into the unknown unprepared.
An expedition of this calibre starts months in advance. The preparation programme consists of an individual phase and a group phase.
Individual phase
Starts immediately after registration. You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to start moving like an expedition member. You gather your expedition gear using the packing list (do not buy anything yet: bring what you already have to the kick off). And you share your medical information, because the best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong.
Group phase
Starts 3 to 6 months before departure with the kick off: a full day on which you meet your team, taste the expedition atmosphere and take the first steps as a group. There we plan the follow-up moments together and the WhatsApp group starts. Training includes, among other things: getting to know the group and roles, physical screening and analysis, a personalised training schedule, technical and resilience training, gear, nutrition and sleep setup, and a final check.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
As seen in
Picture this: thirty days in which the landscape never changes, a sled grinding along behind you over hard sastrugi, and a sun that circles without ever setting.
During the Crossing you discover what happens when every stimulus falls away: no decisions except to keep going, no distraction except your own mind, and a team that becomes the only constant in a world of white.
Picture this: thirty days in which the landscape never changes, a sled grinding along behind you over hard sastrugi, and a sun that circles without ever setting.
During the Crossing you discover what happens when every stimulus falls away: no decisions except to keep going, no distraction except your own mind, and a team that becomes the only constant in a world of white.
Frequently asked questions
This expedition demands the toughest preparation in our entire range: thirty consecutive days hauling a pulk in polar conditions. You do not have to be an elite athlete, but you do have to be willing to train with purpose for months. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted sessions) we build your level up to expedition standard in 3 to 6 months. The intake determines whether this is the right moment for you.
Very safe within the limits of what a polar expedition is. We work with WFR certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, GPS tracking, evacuation plans and clearly defined safety protocols for cold, crevasses and polar bears.
The full expedition programme, equipment, the helicopter transfers, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the complete preparation programme of 3 to 6 months. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Frequently asked questions
This expedition demands the toughest preparation in our entire range: thirty consecutive days hauling a pulk in polar conditions. You do not have to be an elite athlete, but you do have to be willing to train with purpose for months. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted sessions) we build your level up to expedition standard in 3 to 6 months. The intake determines whether this is the right moment for you.
Very safe within the limits of what a polar expedition is. We work with WFR certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, GPS tracking, evacuation plans and clearly defined safety protocols for cold, crevasses and polar bears.
The full expedition programme, equipment, the helicopter transfers, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the complete preparation programme of 3 to 6 months. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Ready for thirty days on the ice?
Taking an option is free and without obligation; your spot is only confirmed after the intake.
Koen De Leeuw
Expedition leader | Element X
“A long traverse is above all an exercise in routine. There is nothing to force and nothing to distract you, so everything comes down to your daily rhythm and your team. That is why our preparation spends more time on the mind than on the legs.”
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