Russell Glacier is the western outlet of the Greenland Ice Sheet, flowing down to about 25 km east of Kangerlussuaq, a wall of ice 50-60 metres high, grinding forward roughly 25 metres a year.
It's one of the few places on Earth where you can drive to the foot of a continental ice sheet outlet and within an hour have crampons biting into glacier ice.
Tours usually run a full day. Tell us when you'd like to come and we'll plan the route and the timing.
Photo by Jorgo Kokkinidis - Visit Greenland
Photo by Humbert Entress - Visit Greenland
Photo by Aningaaq R Carlsen - Visit Greenland
Glacier ice doesn't look like winter ice. At depth it's a saturated, almost luminous cyan, brightest looking down into a meltwater pool or the throat of a moulin. The colour comes from compressed glacier ice that's been losing air bubbles for centuries. It's distinctive enough that one glance and you know you're not looking at frozen lake water.
Russell Glacier is advancing, not retreating, by about 25 m a year, unusual for Greenland, and a reason it's so heavily studied. The ice sheet immediately behind it, however, is losing mass faster than at any point in the last 12,000 years. The face you walk to is both moving forward and being fed less from behind.
Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
The first dozen steps on glacier ice feel awkward, then the foot learns the rhythm of planting each crampon tooth, and the surface goes from "slippery" to "sticky." Beneath you, running water is constant on hot afternoons. In shaded corners there's absolute silence.
Photo by Alex Savu - Visit Greenland
Every glacier day is unique, shaped by what the ice is doing that week, the weather, and your group's experience on crampons. We can build the trip around how much time you want on the ice and how technical you'd like the route to be: a gentle walk across smooth glacier surface, a longer route exploring moulins and meltwater pools, or a more demanding traverse.
Some trips lean into the texture, slow stops at meltwater pools, photography in the blue light of a moulin, hands-on with the ice. Others lean into the scale, covering ground, getting up the glacier, standing back from the wall.
Tell us when you'd like to come and what kind of day you'd like. We'll arrange the kit, the timing, and the pace.
Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland
Everything you need to know about this tour — from key details to what you can expect during the experience. If you can’t find your answer here, we’re always here to help.
No, flights to and from Nuuk are not included in the package. Our guests are responsible for booking their own airfare, although we are happy to help if there should be any questions regarding dates, schedules and so on. However, once you arrive in Nuuk, everything else is taken care of—including accommodations, transfers, guided fishing, meals at camp, and all excursions. The only additional expenses during your stay are dinners at Nuuk’s restaurants on arrival and departure days, giving you the chance to experience Greenland’s local dining scene before and after your time at Camp Isua.
Yes, the meal (Fish and dish)is included. Drinks are not included in the tour price, and are paid for directly at the restaurant.
Share your travel plans and preferred dates — our team will review availability and get back to you with the best options.
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