Backcountry Skiing in Norway
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Get ready for untracked summits jutting into the cobalt sky, unique life on board, and 1,000-meter corn or pow runs that end in the deep-blue sea—Svalbard rewards the adventure skier with a surprise every day. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime destination, especially on a ski and sail expedition. Guests will arrive in the village of Longyearbyen via a short flight from Oslo. Even sitting at 79 degrees north at the edge of the Arctic Circle, Longyearbyen offers excellent restaurants, beautiful shops, and hidden nightlife. Just outside of town, dog teams take intrepid tourists onto the ice, where Arctic fox hunt mice and polar bears try to surprise the sleeping seals. Committed ski-tourers will find beautiful runs within sight of town, under 24 hours of daylight.
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Make the most of your trip to Svalbard with this 3-night package before setting sail! You can add this at checkout. This is what you can expect:
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This Svalbard expedition is ideal for intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers. Every day, you will travel 10-20 km (6-12 miles), with tour lengths ranging from 1,100-1,500m+ (3,609-4,921 ft). All participants should feel comfortable on black level resort runs as you will be skiing on glaciated terrain with variable snow conditions. Your guides, Tom Wolfe and Chris Gnieser, will help assess your skill level and adapt the trip to your needs.
Due to the terrain, location and length of tour, this adventure is for intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers. If you’re just starting out, we recommend heading out for some intro touring with a guide and gaining some backcountry experience.
Liability waivers are a standard part of all guided outdoor adventures. Recently, the requirements have become a bit more rigorous for ACMG guides—meaning that you’ll need to agree to the signing of the waiver at the time of booking.
Prior to booking, we ask you to review the waiver. During the checkout process, you’ll have to acknowledge the risks and agree to the signing of the waiver. You are required to bring a printed copy on the trip.
Please note that signing and agreeing to the terms of the waiver is required in order to join this adventure. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us prior to booking.
Clothing list
Snow Safety Equipment
Travel Equipment
Personal Equipment
Glacier Gear list
If you have any questions regarding the equipment list, feel free to contact us prior to booking.
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Longyearbyen and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
A certified ski guide will take all of the guesswork out of your time in the backcountry. From tour planning to route selection, terrain management, avalanche safety, and gear knowledge, your guide’s expertise and backcountry experience will ensure you have an unforgettable ski touring adventure.
It doesn’t matter your skill level, whether you’ve never backcountry skied or you’re seasoned on the slopes, skiing with a guide has its advantages. Your techniques will sharpen, you’ll learn how to navigate terrain safely, make smart decisions, and most of all, you’ll remain safe in unfamiliar terrain.
Group sizes & pricing
Minimum age requirements
Mitigating avalanche risk is paramount for any excursion in the backcountry — that’s why it’s best to tour with a guide! Rest assured, your guide will set objectives that are attainable for the weather conditions on that particular day. Of course, inclement weather can always get in the way of backcountry skiing, but your guide will know the best course of action to take if the weather takes a turn.
On the rare occasion of truly bad weather, your guide will present you with suitable, safe alternatives. The most common practice is to move to a nearby location if it exists, or to reschedule your backcountry ski tour to a more favorable day.
If backcountry skiing is not possible on your scheduled day and no options presented are viable, you will be issued a full refund.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
To get to Svalbard, most people fly into Longyearbyen, the largest city on the Norwegian archipelago where your adventure begins. There are daily flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo, Norway, but we encourage you to book early. Norwegian Air flies from Oslo, while SAS arrives from Stockholm.
Your guide will transfer you from the airport to your accommodation. During the evening you will have a briefing with your guides and find out the rest of the details.
Secure your spot for set dates with a 50% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, so pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!
If you need to cancel a reservation, please do so in writing (best by e-mail). Once your booking is confirmed, you and your Guides enter into financial obligations and they cannot refund payments or release you from your contractual obligations. Therefore, it is highly recommended buying cancellation insurance to cover your losses for the case that you can’t participate or have to interrupt your trip “for any reason”.
Your guides do reserve the right to change guides, particular lodging or the itinerary or venue should unforeseen circumstances (guide sickness, hut or route closing etc.) force them to do so or should the physical condition of the participants, weather or mountain conditions make a continuation as planned too risky. Your guides will not be deemed to be in default for any delay or failure to perform their obligations under this agreement resulting from acts of God, the elements, war, acts of government, civil or military authorities, natural calamities, catastrophe, fire, flood, accidents, epidemics, shortage of transportation, or any other like events beyond our reasonable control.
