Ski & Sail Svalbard is a program to enjoy skiing in this Arctic archipelago with the comforts of moving on a sailboat between its wild fjords and glaciers. With expert Polar Mountain Guide.
Sailing to the bottom of a mountain, putting on your skis on the beach, riding your touring skis to the top and skiing down the other side of the mountain to the next beach, where our sailboat will pick us up. This is Ski and Sail SVALBARD.
We travel through the Norwegian Arctic of Svalbard, starting from Longyearbyen towards the North along the West side of the archipelago. The best of Svalbard lies outside its best-known fjord, the Isfjorden. Once we leave it behind we enter the pure Arctic, we lose the mobile signal and we can disconnect completely.
The ascents that we complete during our trips will be planned together, according to the group’s ability level, the weather and the general conditions. After our daily ascents, we set out for the next fjord and prepare for the next day.
Svalbard is the territory of the Polar Bear, an animal that we want to see, but from a distance. A whole series of protocols must be followed each time you go ashore and our guides are certified and trained to maintain the safety of the group in the event of encounters.
The sailboat used for this trip is a 23 meter steel sailboat with all the amenities to explore the Arctic. It has 6 cabins and 5 full bathrooms with shower and hot water. Its interior is very cozy with a living room with panoramic views from where you can rest and contemplate the landscape after a day of skiing.
On the trip there will be a mountain guide for every 6 participants, so if it is a large group we can divide according to objectives and level. We will have a captain and assistant who are experts in Arctic navigation between ice and will be responsible for the safety and well-being on board the sailboat.
All food during the week is included and all participants will help with cooking tasks. The only expenses apart from the trip will be air flights and if on the last day the group decides to go out to dinner on arrival in Longyearbyen. There are daily direct flights to Svalbard from Oslo with Norwegian and SAS.
We have about 3 annual Ski&Sail Svalbard departures which are at the end of May and beginning of June. Some are 7 days of travel and others are 9 days. Spots for this trip fill up very quickly even 8-12 months in advance.
Day 1
Welcome aboard! We meet at Longyearbyen pier at 2:00 p.m., settle on the boat and get to know each other. Before hoisting sails, we get to know the boat and the equipment, and go over the safety routines on board. The first night we cruised a few miles to prepare for the first day of skiing the next day.
day 2
The most famous and visited fjord in Svalbard is Isfjorden. On each arm of this fjord system are Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, Pyramiden and other smaller uninhabited places. It is the largest fjord and is surrounded by many great ski mountains, and we will spend the day skiing here in the mountains before sailing further north.
Day 3
Just north of Isfjorden we enter Forlandsundet. There are mountains on both sides of the strait here and we have plenty to choose from. If it’s windy, we can hide in St. Jonsfjorden and find some nice big mountain slopes to ski here. If the sea is calm, we may even be able to disembark at Prins Karls Forland, a special place in itself.
Day 4
Further north, on the northwest coast, we reach Ny-Ålesund, a small settlement with scientific bases located 79 degrees north. Kongsfjorden is the name of the fjord system that surrounds this small settlement with very good ski terrain and large glaciers that melt into the fjord.
Day 5-6
It was the landscape and mountains around the northwest corner and Smeerenburgfjorden that first gave Spitsbergen its name. When the Dutchman Willem Barents was the first European to discover the archipelago. This explains why the archipelago first received its name Spitsbergen (land of the pointed peaks), as here in the northwest we find some of the most alpine landscapes in all of Svalbard. We will spend a couple of days at the northern end of the island.
Day 7
Eventually we will have to turn south again towards Longyearbyen, but we will spend a day skiing on the way south. Preferably in one of the fjords on the northwest coast, which we didn’t have time to visit on the way north.
Day 8
After a few days of skiing, which we hope will be fantastic, on the northwest coast, we hoist sails and head south again. If the weather is better, we will take this sailing day further north early in the week. We prefer to move more slowly towards the south. The best thing about being on an expedition is that the weather decides and we can adapt to make the most of it!
Day 9
The last morning we woke up anchored somewhere in Isfjorden. Here we skied for a few hours in the morning before covering the final miles to Longyearbyen. On the way to the dock, we pack, clean the boat, to be ready for the end of the trip no later than 16:00. Thanks for a fantastic Arctic skiing and sailing expedition!
For this Ski and Sail trip, a correct level of off-piste skiing and previous ski touring activity (randonnee / ski touring / backcountry skiing) are required. Depending on the physical and technical level of the participants and the snow and weather conditions, the mountain guide will adapt the outings for maximum enjoyment. Do not hesitate to contact us to jointly evaluate if you have the right level of skiing.
Navigation is almost always done inside the fjords, so we rarely find waves. We will carry out part of our sailing and all the members of the group will be able to learn all the techniques and maneuvers on board.
As mountain professionals we not only seek the greatest enjoyment, but also the highest degree of safety possible during the activities. For this we will have personal safety equipment, communication and a sufficient first-aid kit. It is advisable to be in possession of accident and rescue insurance (everything and that in Norway rescues are free). It is essential to follow the instructions of the guide at all times to guarantee the maximum safety of the group. On the first day we carry out DVA practices to ensure that everyone has sufficient knowledge to carry out the activity.
The safety material to navigate will be delivered upon arrival and in the same way a briefing will be carried out to guarantee maximum security throughout the trip.
A list of material will be provided to the participants. Although it is very similar to the material required to carry out activities in the Pyrenees or Alps. It is essential to have DVA, shovel and probe.
The sailboat is fully equipped with heating to be comfortable inside both when eating and sleeping. They also have a drying area to ensure that before the next ski ride all the equipment is dry and warm. The meals will be made on board among all the members of the group. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know in the registration form and we will take it into account
Good connections to Longyearbyen with regular Norwegian Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines flights to Oslo.
Sailing and ski touring are environmentally friendly activities. We try to navigate as much as we can and use the engine as little as possible.
Ski & Sail trips are in high demand and sometimes it is difficult to get places if you do not book a little in advance. We encourage you to book as far in advance as possible. Do not book flights until we inform you that we have enough participants.
Take advantage of receiving free access to our entire platform for 75 days when you book this trip. We advise you to take the following courses before your trip to enjoy the experience to the fullest:
*Price subject to small variations due to the NOK-Euro exchange rate.
Climbing Campus with Daila Ojeda
