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After optional touring and resting in Longyearbyen, join Rob, Tom, the boat crew and chef, and board the 150-foot Noorderlicht, a two-masted gaff-rigged sailing yacht. Captain Floriss and his 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 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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- Day 1: Arrive at the airport in Longyearbyen from Oslo in the early afternoon. Transfer to the hotel. You’ll have enough time to check out the town and maybe visit the Polarmuseum.
- Day 2-3: Go out ski touring with the guide, somewhere close to town, and return to the hotel.
- Day 4 (embarkation day, i.e., arrival for those who didn’t choose the package): Potentially, you’ll be able to do another shorter ski touring trip from town or visit an ice cave (4 hours). Embarkation begins at 4pm, departure from pier usually around 5pm.
Included in the package:
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- Accommodation for 3 nights at a hotel or B&B
- 3 breakfasts
- 2 or possibly 3 days of ski touring out of Longyearbyen
Not included in the package:
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- Flights and travel to Longyearbyen
- Alcoholic beverages
- Lunches and dinners
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Here’s a sample itinerary for your reference. Please note that this is just a guideline; the actual route may vary based on weather, snow, and sea ice conditions.
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Make your way to Longyearbyen from Oslo and meet at the jetty at 4pm. This is when you’ll meet the crew, have a safety briefing, have your cabin assigned, and then set sail!
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We’ll anchor in Trygghamna for the day—this is a bay with many tour and peak options, such as Lagmanstoppen and Sten De Geer.
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Today we’ll enjoy a beautiful circuit tour with an option on Drotsetten; Lowzowfjellet. This is a beautiful ski zone providing fantastic circuits, peaks, and steep fall line skiing.
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Let’s visit the world’s northernmost community! You can expect excellent traverses across the peninsula, separating Kongsford from the Vorlandsundet with great ski objectives. A museum visit and a stop at the northernmost post office and general store are a must. That’s likely how we’ll end the day and then we’ll return to our boat.
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This classic ski zone features an otherworldly ambiance beneath sea cliffs, where nesting birds soar above a beautiful fjord fringed by glaciers and seracs.
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This long, narrow island is home to a national park and some of Svalbard’s most spectacular ski tours. From the high points, you can gaze one way across the Greenland Sea and the other toward the icy interior of Spitzbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. On our way back to Isfjord, we’ll keep an eye out for walruses, which are often found resting in places like Poolepynten and Sarstangen.
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On our return to Isfjord, we’ll explore the fantastic tours in Ymerbukta, Colesbukta, and Borebukta. Our day concludes with a scenic sail back to Longyearbyen, followed by a special dinner at 7:30pm and a final night aboard our boat.
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An early morning taxi will take you back to the airport for a 7:30am flight. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely morning with an 8am breakfast, take a stroll around town, and catch a flight back to Oslo at noon or later, depending on the schedule.
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Included:
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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
Add-ons:
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- Pre-trip 3-night package (more info in the itinerary)
Not included:
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- Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
- 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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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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- Day 1: Arrive at the airport in Longyearbyen from Oslo in the early afternoon. Transfer to the hotel. You’ll have enough time to check out the town and maybe visit the Polarmuseum.
- Day 2-3: Go out ski touring with the guide, somewhere close to town, and return to the hotel.
- Day 4 (embarkation day, i.e., arrival for those who didn’t choose the package): Potentially, you’ll be able to do another shorter ski touring trip from town or visit an ice cave (4 hours). Embarkation begins at 4pm, departure from pier usually around 5pm.
Included in the package:
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- Accommodation for 3 nights at a hotel or B&B
- 3 breakfasts
- 2 or possibly 3 days of ski touring out of Longyearbyen
Not included in the package:
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- Flights and travel to Longyearbyen
- Alcoholic beverages
- Lunches and dinners
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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.
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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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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.
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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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