A Week of Sailing and Skiing in Svalbard

Things to know

• Covid measures in Svalbard, Norway

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. 

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Svalbard, Norway, please refer to the official information about international travel to Norway.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

• What’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Seven days of sailing and ski touring
    • Transportation to and from the hotel
    • Sailboat accommodations for the duration of the ski tour
    • All meals on board
    • Search and Rescue insurance for the whole tour
    • Safety equipment

  What’s not included:

  • • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
    • Transportation to Longyearbyen
    • Hotel accommodations in Longyearbyen
    • Meals in Longyearbyen
    • Activities in Longyearbyen
    • Alcoholic beverages on board
• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 7 full days, covering miles of complex Arctic terrain every day. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

  For the enjoyment and safety of everyone involved, participants must be approved to participate in advanced backcountry skiing tours either through a previous trip with the guiding service or through recommendations.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner-friendly, meaning anyone with solid blue-level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis, or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
    • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
    • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe
      • Harness for glacier travel (for advanced touring)

  For clothing, we recommend bringing:

  • • 2 merino wool underwear long-johns
    • 2 merino wool underwear t-shirts
    • Fleece jacket and thin down jacket
    • Wool sweater
    • Big down jacket
    • Shell jacket & shell pants
    • 4 pairs thin merino wool socks & 2 pairs thick wool socks
    • Beanies and buffs
    • 2 pairs of gloves (1 thick, 1 thing) & glove liners
    • Warm mittens
    • Inside shoes for onboard the boat
    • Leisure clothing for the boat

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Water-resistant duffle bag to pack all your belongings in (90+ liters)
    • Backpack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
    • Helmet
    • Sunglasses and ski goggles
    • Water bottle and 1L of water
    • Sunscreen and lip balm
    • Personal medication
    • Toiletries
    • Blister plasters and sports tape (if you’re prone to blisters or sprains)
    • Camera — optional
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent it with your guides upon request or from the following store:

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe from Sportscenteret Svalbard.
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from Sportscenteret Svalbard.

  Ski rental locations are in Longyearbyen and should be picked up the night before your outing. You can also rent gear with your guides. Contact us to make arrangements.

• What’s the weather like?

  Although there can never be guarantee of sun, May in Svalbard brings relatively good and stable weather. You’ll sail from point to point and go skiing depending on the weather conditions. Your guide will make sure to maximize your skiing time.

  Regarding temperatures, it’s generally around -10°C (14°F) at sea levels with a variability throughout the day. Naturally, the nights are colder and temperature can vary depending on the altitude. Check out our clothing and equipment recommendations. We recommend packing more than you need, because the weather can come in quickly, and a sunny morning can soon become a stormy afternoon.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing:

  • • For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 5:1. A minimum of 3 participants is required for the tour to run.
    • If joining alone, you’ll be placed with peers that share a similar level of experience.
    • Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors above the age of 16 may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.
    • Minors under 16 are not allowed to join this tour.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. 

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to one hundred twenty (120)  calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund. 
    • For cancellations ninety (90) to one hundred nineteen(119)  calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking. 
    • For cancellations seventy five (75) to eighty nine (89)  calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount paid when Booking. 
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund.
    • Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.
• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to this ski tour in Svalbard, most people fly into Svalbard Airport near Longyearbyen, the largest city in the archipelago and the starting point of this tour. 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.

  Flying to remote Svalbard takes a while, so plan your journey ahead, and spend a day in town before departure on this tour. Your guide will organize for a minibus to transport you and your gear to your hotel in Longyearbyen.