Trip Overview
Length:
11 days
Difficulty:
3/ 5
Price:
$8295 CAD + GST
Location:
Svalbard, Norway
Dates:
2023 - April 26-May 6 - Full
May 10-20 - Full
May 17 - 27
What makes this trip special
- Ski at 80 degrees North
- A wilderness ski adventure in the land of the Polar Bear
- Ski corn snow in late May
- Ski under the midnight sun
- A yacht based ski adventure
The Tour
An 11 day ski touring trip in Northern Svalbard. We’ll use a 150ft Steel hulled Schooner – The Noorderlicht to explore this northern frontier. It will take us up the West Coast of Spitsbergen a mountainous and glaciated region that offers superb ski touring and ski mountaineering.
At 80 degrees North we’ll have the option of skiing at any time of the day and will endeavour to ski under the Arctic sun.
The Place
Svalbard is an island archipelago, jointly administered by Norway and Russia and located half way between Norway and the North Pole it is about as far north as is possible to ski tour. It’s also a wildlife haven, home to a large population of Polar Bears, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and transient whales.
With 70% of the islands covered by glaciers and with towering mountains on it’s Western Shores, Svalbard is the perfect place for a late spring ski trip.
The Weather
The weather in Svalbard can be temperamental. The Spring and the summer normally experience stable weather patterns with light winds and periods of sun. The average temperature in May is -5 Deg C to 0 deg C.
What's Included
- 7 nights onboard a Sailboat
- All meals while onboard the sailboat
- 1-6 Guide to client ratio
- Dedicated skipper and crew
- Sailing instruction
- 3 Nights at a BnB in Longyearbyen
What's Not Included
- Flights to Longyearbyen
- Travel Insurance
- Airport Transfers
- Ski Equipment
- Avalanche Equipment
- Alcohol
- Dinner in Longyearbyen
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Longyearbyen, check into a BnB in the afternoon. Explore the town and the museum in the evening
Day 2: Ski tour close to town, BnB stay
Day 3: Ski tour close to town, BnB stay
Day: 4: Ski tour in the morning, board The Noorderlicht in the afternoon, perform safety briefings and depart in the evening
Day 5 – 9: Ski tour each day from the boat, our exact itinerary will be determined by weather, ice and snow conditions. We aim to travel up the West Coast stopping into several fiords, skiing as much as we can. We’ll finish on the north west corner before returning to Longyearbyen.
Day 10: Ski tour in the morning, transit back to Longyearbyen in the afternoon.
Day 11: Disembark from the yacht in the morning.
Yacht
The Yacht
The Nooderlicht is the perfect vessel to support a ski expedition in Svalbard. It’s steel hull allows us to enter ice filled bays and fiords. While it’s size and charm ensures a comfortable ski adventure. She’s equipped with 10 guest cabins each with 2 single bunk bed style births, a small bar, library and 2 salons (dining rooms). The deck space is massive and provides lots of room to quietly take in the incredible beauty of Svalbard while we transit through the northern waterways.
Launched in 1910, she’s already lived several lives before refitted for tourism purposes. She has a charm and character that can only be gained from years of service. As a platform to run ski trips she’s perfect, there’s lots of space for organize equipment and people. At the end of each day we meet in the bar for a celebratory drink, before enjoying a marvellous meal cooked by the onboard chef.
Yacht Specs
Yacht type – Three Mast Schooner
Length – 50m or 150ft
Number of Guest Births – 20
Number of Bathrooms – 4
The Cabins
The yacht can accommodate 20 guests in 10 cabins. Each cabin has 2 single beds as well as a sink and also contains lots of storage and hanging space as well as a 220 volt charging station to keep your electronics topped up. There are four shared guest bathrooms each with a hot water shower.
The Living Spaces
There is two salons, one on each level of the boat where we’ll enjoy delicious meals cooked by our onboard chef. It’s also a great area to quietly read a book or edit photos. There is also a library and a bar.
Photo Gallery
Route Map
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the skiing like in May in Svalbard?
What is the weather like in Svalbard in May?
Are Polar Bears a concern
Trip Reviews
Application Form
Once you’ve filled out our online application form we will contact you within 24 hours. Our follow up email will include the detailed trip notes.
We’ll also send you a medical form. This helps us make any necessary preparations, it does not exclude you from the trip. To secure the booking we require a 1000 Euro deposit for each person. If you’d prefer to contact us directly we can be reached at info@expeditionengineering.com or at +12502662515
We’d be happy to discuss different trip options and help you find the perfect expedition holiday.
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