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After optional touring and resting in Longyearbyen, join Rob, Tom, the boat crew and chef, and board the Qilak, a sturdy yacht. Your guide and the crew know which fjords offer sensational skiing, how to get there, where to anchor, and how to show the gang a good time. You will be ski touring every day after lifting anchors in Longyearbyen. Skiing days last from 5 – 9 hours. All in all, an amazing adventure and a trip of a lifetime!
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Make the most of your visit to Svalbard with this 3-day extension! You can add this option upon checkout.
After your arrival at the airport in Longyearbyen from Oslo, your guides will transfer you to the hotel. Spend the first day exploring the town and Polarmuseum, and learn about the history of Svalbard. On the second day, ski tour close to town and return to the hotel for an après-ski. Spend the third day discovering the area around Longyearbyen on skis or try out a snowmobile tour to the town of Barensburg, a small Russian mining town, before you retire to your hotel and get some well deserved rest!
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Arrive at the airport in Longyearbyen from Oslo and your guides will transfer you to the hotel. Around 4 pm, board the yacht and go through the safety briefing with your group and guides. The departure is usually around 6 pm.
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It usually takes only one hour to sail in the Isfjord to the first ski tour. From there, you will be sailing along the West Coast of Spitzbergen to sample some of the best ski touring in the world and peak ascent the group of islands. In May and June the sun shines for 24 hours in Svalbard, which leaves a lot of flexibility for departures. Discover harbours like Ymerbukta or visit the small pubs nestled in industrial arctic harbour towns north of 79°.
Gradual, scenic climbs give way to long, beautiful runs back to the water. And best of all, the warm, comfortable boat awaits tired skiers at the end of the day. After each day of skiing, return from the shoreline by a Zodiac motor boat back to the yacht, with the smell of delicious dinner welcoming you.
Finish off your day on the deck with a glass of wine, enjoying the contrast of the sea and the magnificent mountainscape with the everlasting sun above the horizon. Arrival back in Longyearbyen is usually around 4 pm. Enjoy your last evening and join your group for a farewell dinner on the boat.
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Bid farewell to the yacht and crew in the morning after breakfast and head back to the airport.
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What you get in this adventure:
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- Experienced, certified ski guides with extensive knowledge of the area
- 8-day ski & sail adventure in Svalbard
- Accommodation for 7 nights aboard a boat (Noorderlicht, Qilak, or Rembrandt van Rijn—check out “Book now” for dates and prices)
- Harbour fees and permits
- Breakfast and multi-course dinners on board, lunch supplies
What’s not included:
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- Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
- Pre-trip 3-day extension — available to add upon booking
- Single supplement — available to add upon booking
- Trip insurance
- Air travel
- Alcoholic beverages
- Dinners in Longyearbyen
- Hotel in Oslo en route
- Guide gratuities — optional
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Rembrandt van Rijn is the largest one of the Svalbard expedition ships, offering an unparalleled level of class and comfort. Built in 1924 as a fishing lugger, Rembrandt is a gorgeous, three-masted schooner with great potential and a crew of 11—meaning that it’s capable of sailing 24 hour a day, and your guides will aim to travel further north with this one. It’s not uncommon to see her in the northernmost fjords of Spitzbergen on the second day of a week-long trip!
The ship features a spacious dining room, a bar, cabin upgrades, and two large zodiacs for rapid shore transport. Rembrandt can accommodate up to 29 guests throughout 9 twin cabins with a porthole, 6 twin cabins without a porthole, and one triple cabin with a porthole. Each cabin comes with its own private shower and a toilet, so maximum comfort and privacy are guaranteed.
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As the latest addition to this Svalbard adventure, the Qilak (Inuit for the sky or a celestial sphere) was built in 2018 and it’s known as a super rugged yacht for fast, high-latitude cruising. Her sleek, purposeful, bare aluminum design is perfectly crafted for tough expeditions. At just over 20 m (67 ft), it’s smaller than Noorderlicht, but unmatched in modern quality and comfort—there’s even a fully functioning sauna onboard!
The Qilak can accommodate up to 9 guests. There are 5 twin cabins with shared facilities, and one of the cabins will be shared with a guide.
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The Noorderlicht is a 150-foot (50-meter) long, three-masted schooner, which has proven to be an ideal vessel for this adventure. This magnificent boat prides itself on over 100 years of history—originally built in 1910, she served in WW2 and is now an expedition boat. With her, you’ll sail countless coves and experience the archipelago the way it’s meant to be experienced! There’s 7 crew members on board who’ll make sure you have a seamless experience.
Though the Noorderlicht has capacity for 20 passengers, due to new regulations in Svalbard, only 12 guests can join—meaning that it will be very spacious, perfect for moving around and mingling. There are 6 twin cabins onboard with shared facilities.
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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 1100-1500m+ (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.
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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.
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Clothing list
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- Wool or synthetic socks and liner socks
- Long underwear top — synthetic or wool
- Light fleece or wool sweater
- Wind shell — nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type jacket
- Waterproof breathable jacket
- Warm insulated jacket — down or synthetic
- Long underwear bottoms — synthetic or wool
- Multipurpose stretch nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type pants
- Waterproof breathable pants
- Warm hat — wool or synthetic
- Brimmed cap for sun protection
- Face warmer — scarf, neck tube or balaclava (optional)
- Light gloves — wool, synthetic or leather
- Insulated gloves or mitts with waterproof outer shell
- Spare gloves or mitts
- Handkerchief for blocking the sun (optional)
Snow Safety Equipment
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- Avalanche beacon with good batteries (and spares)
- Shovel
- Probe (2.4m or longer preferred)
Travel Equipment
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- Skis or split board
- Ski strap
- Ski or snowboard boots
- Poles
- Climbing skins
- Skin wax (or a candle)
- Ski crampons — mandatory
- Binding repair kit to fix your personal travel setup
- Ski helmet
Personal Equipment
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- Pack (30-40 litres)
- Sunglasses (both orange and dark lenses help a lot for travel in all conditions)
- Goggles (orange lenses)
- Sunscreen and lip cream (SPF 30+)
- Head lamp with good batteries
- Insulated water bottle or thermos (1-2 L)
- Lunch bag or container
- Personal blister kit (i.e: Leukotape-P and Compeed/Second Skin blister pads)
- Pocket knife — optional
- Camera — optional
- Binoculars — optional
Glacier Gear list
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- Harness — fitted for over your ski clothing
- Locking carabiners (x2)
- Non-locking carabiners (x2)
- Prussik cord (5m x 6mm) —optional
- Sewn sling (120cm) — optional
- Lightweight ice axe — optional, don’t bring if you don’t have one or don’t like steep skiing
If you have any questions regarding the equipment list, feel free to contact us prior to booking.
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All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
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- Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe can be rented from Sport Centeret Svalbard
- Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from Sport Centeret Svalbard
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.
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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.
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Group sizes & pricing
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- For this adventure, the maximum number of participants is 29 for Rembrandt van Rijn, 12 for the Noorderlicht, and 9 for the Qilak.
- You can join this adventure on your own or in bigger groups until all the spots are taken. Single supplement is available to add upon checkout, but only for the Noorderlicht and possibly Rembrandt van Rijn. For the Qilak, due to very limited space single supplement is not an option.
Minimum age requirements
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- Everybody over the age of 18 is welcome to book this ski tour adventure.
- Minors may be permitted to join the tour on a case-by-case basis. If you plan to ski with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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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.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their 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.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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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.
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