Fast, secure, risk-free booking guaranteed.
May through June
Oslo is 3 hours away by plane
7 days
Beginner to advanced
Journey to where Norway meets the North Pole and you’ll find the Svalbard archipelago, home to some of the coolest ski runs and Arctic backdrops in the world. Starting in Longyearbyen, the northernmost permanently inhabited settlement, embark on a week-long ski odyssey under the 24-hour Midnight Sun, during which you’ll tour untouched summits, shred untracked lines, and explore places no one’s ever seen before. From mild cruisers to bone-chilling couloirs, skiers of all skill levels will find a run of their own. And the best part? You won’t have to share the slopes with anyone. Find out more about skiing in Svalbard from Rob Coppolillo, AMGA/IFMGA Guide.
Sample the unique mix of Arctic corn and perfect spring powder
With 24 hours of sunlight, you’ll get the most out of your days on the slopes
New, untracked areas become accessible as summer progresses and the ice melts
Enjoy seven days of sailing and ski touring under the Midnight Sun! Make way to Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost settlement, join a seasoned local guide, and chase the freshest lines on the island of Spitsbergen aboard the cozy and spacious Nanuk sailboat. Your guide will adapt the touring to your group’s goals and abilities. All you have to do is enjoy the views and pick the most exciting slope you want to shred!
Pack your gear and get transferred to the Longyearbyen harbor. Board the Nanuk, a spacious sailboat built for Arctic expeditions, and head for the waters of Spitsbergen, Svalbard! Spend your touring days chasing some of the most pristine powder in the world, skiing everything from low-angle lines and mild bowls to technical chutes. Once you’re done with the slopes, retreat to your cozy sailboat to take in the solemn atmosphere, enjoy Norwegian delicacies, or share a drink with your crew!
Important note: Depending on the weather and the group’s wishes, every day may vary. There are two options regarding the schedule: the first one is that you go out for the day with a packed lunch and do several lines or one long climb and descent. The second option is going out in the morning, coming back to the boat for lunch, and then heading back once again.
The navigation from one location to another will be discussed and decided on the spot depending on the conditions, both for skiing and navigating. Although nice weather can never be guaranteed, May in Svalbard brings generally stable and quite good weather.
After a week of Arctic adventures, return to the Longyearbyen harbor. You’ll have more than enough time to explore the northernmost town in the world. Visit the Svalbard museum or the local brewery, go on a ski safari, or enjoy a dog-sledding expedition!
My favorite part of the experience was getting to know Sigurd, the guide, and hearing about all his local adventures. He did a great job arranging all the details for the trip, making it a safe, fun, and enjoyable day in the backcountry of Svalbard. I would highly recommend Sigurd as a guide and feel like I made a new friend. If you visit, remember the weather changes pretty quickly so leave yourself a day or two of flexibility for unpredictable conditions.
Backyard is a great partner during your tour planning, as well at they’ll give you a great tour experience. Their prices are fair and our guide, Loup, was great, both in terms of knowledge and personality. We went for a ski touring trip by snowmobile and had a great trip despite of stormy weather.
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
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.
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.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For clothing, we recommend bringing:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
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:
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.
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 pricing:
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
For regular dates, 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.
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.
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!
Sail and explore the Svalbard archipelago on a spacious and comfortable 15m / 50ft Nanuk aluminum sailboat that will welcome you back each day after hours and hours of exploration on foot. The boat is equipped with warm and welcoming cabins for up to 6 guests, a covered outside cockpit, two saloons and two bathrooms. Feel cozy as you are securely at anchor in a protected and stunning bay.
Enjoy full meals on board, including some typical local Svalbard dishes. Each meal will be packed with proper nutritional ingredients and hydration to carry with you as you head for the slopes. Relax and enjoy dinner with your group onboard and share experiences as you plan your next adventure.