Description
The Svalbard Ski & Sail Expedition is the ultimate Arctic ski touring experience. With the help of a ship, we sail from Longyearbyen along the north/west coast of the Spitsbergen archipelago.
On this trip you will experience untouched nature, wild animals and spectacular skiing from 600-1200 m high peaks directly above the sea.
Quick Facts
- 7 days cruise
- 6 days ski tour/ship to shore shuttle
- 7 overnight stays
- 10 clients, 2 IFMGA mountain guides, 3 staff (cook, captain, machinist)
- Skier’s breakfast/lunch package/hot after ski soup/2 course dinner
- Svalbard has about 2600 inhabitants and about 3500 polar bears.
Program
Svalbard and its archipelago of fjords and islands offer vast wilderness and fantastic terrain for ski touring. Along the north/west coast of the island of Svalbard there are endless possibilities. Depending on weather and snow conditions we plan the route. Below is an example.
Day 1
Friday. Meet in Longyearbyen at 16:00 and transfer down to the harbor. Before dinner, the captain will brief us on the safety routines on board. The guides will brief us on conditions and plans for the coming days. After dinner we will sail to our first destination.
Day 2 to 5
Depending on the current weather conditions our tour plan is flexible. St.Jonsfjord, Kongsfjord, Krossfjord and Magdalenefjord are possible destinations. Also a ski tour on the island Prins Karls Forland will bring unforgettable experiences. We start each day with a hearty skier’s breakfast. We prepare sandwiches and thermoses for the ski tour every morning. When we return from our daily ski tour, lunch is served. After a debriefing and an after ski drink, we sail to our next destination. During the trip we have time to experience the Arctic landscape and wildlife. At this time of year we will also experience the midnight sun, which can bring 24 hours of sunshine!
Day 6
Ski tour in the nearby fjords of Longyearbyen. In the afternoon we return to the port where we spend our last night on board.
Day 7
Friday – departure day. We leave the ship at 09:00 at the latest. Possible flight to home town early Saturday morning.
Travel & Overnight Stay
Trip
Flight to Longyearbyen from Oslo.
Overnight stay
The Ulla Rinman was built and used as an ice-going rescue ship for the Swedish Sea Rescue Association. She has the highest ice class, is built with steel up to 25 mm thick and can break sea ice. The ship was in service with the Swedish Sjoräddningen until the mid-1990s and has since been used for research and tourism expeditions as well as for various film projects.
