Trip Overview
Length:
11 days
Difficulty:
3/ 5
Price:
€ 5000
Location:
Svalbard, Norway
Dates:
TBA
What makes this trip special
- Ski at 80 degrees North
- A wilderness ski adventure in the land of the Polar Bear
- Ski corn snow in late May
- Ski under the midnight sun
- A yacht based ski adventure
The Tour
An 11 day ski touring trip in Northern Svalbard. We’ll use a 73ft Steel hulled Schooner as a support vessel, it will take us the North West corner of Svalbard a mountainous and glaciated region that offers superb ski touring and ski mountaineering.
At 80 degrees North we’ll have the option of skiing at any time of day and will endeavour to ski under the Arctic sun.
The Place
Svalbard is an island archipelago, jointly administered by Norway and Russia and located half way between Norway and the North Pole it is about as far north as is possible to ski tour. It’s also a wildlife haven, home to a large population of Polar Bears, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and transient whales.
With 70% of the islands covered by glaciers and with towering mountains on it’s Western Shores, Svalbard is the perfect place for a late spring ski trip.
The Weather
The weather in Svalbard can be temperamental. The Spring and the summer normally experience stable weather patterns with light winds and periods of sun. The average temperature in May is -5 Deg C to 0 deg C.
What's Included
- 10 nights onboard a Sailboat
- All meals while onboard the sailboat
- 1-4 Guide to client ratio
- Dedicated skipper and crew
- Sailing instruction
What's Not Included
- Flights to Longyearbyen
- Travel Insurance
- Airport Transfers
- Ski Equipment
- Avalanche Equipment
- Alcohol
- Accommodation in Longyearbyen
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Longyearbyen, we’ll board the Skydancer in the afternoon. After moving onboard and going over the safety briefings we’ll lift the anchor and set sail.
Day 2 – 10: Our exact itinerary will be determined by weather, ice and snow conditions. We aim to travel up the West Coast stopping into several fiords skiing as many lines as we can. We’ll finish on the north west corner before returning to Longyearbyen.
Day 11: Disembark from the yacht in the morning.
Yacht
The Yacht
Peter the 1st is the perfect expedition yacht. She is a 60 foot, steel hulled, fully rigged motor sailor registered as a commercial – Category 0 (zero – Unrestricted) vessel. She carries a comprehensive range of safety, operational and navigational equipment. A 180hp Gardner diesel engine powers the vessel and she is equipped with 1 zodiac tender. She sails beautifully and has a powerful engine to push her along at 8+ knots when needed.
She completed the first unassisted transit of the North West and North East Passage in a single season. She has been meticulously maintained and refitted.
Yacht Specs
Yacht type – Bermuda Sloop
Length – 18m or 60ft
Breadth – 5m or 16ft
Number of Guest Births – 6
Number of Bathrooms – 1
The Cabins
The yacht can accommodate 6 guests. There are four cabins plus one birth midship. The forward cabin can accommodate 4 people, the three rear cabins can each accommodate 2 people. Cabin allocation is determined by the needs of the group. Each cabin has some storage and hanging space as well as a 220 volt charging station to keep your electronics topped up.
The Living Spaces
Peter the 1st features a heated saloon with seating for 9 people. There’s also a heated pilot house where guests can enjoy the scenery in relative comfort. There’s one bathroom with a sink and shower.
Route Map

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the skiing like in May in Svalbard?
What is the weather like in Svalbard in May?
Are Polar Bears a concern
Trip Reviews
Application Form
Once you’ve filled out our online application form we will contact you within 24 hours. Our follow up email will include the detailed trip notes.
We’ll also send you a medical form. This helps us make any necessary preparations, it does not exclude you from the trip. To secure the booking we require a 500 Euro deposit for each person. If you’d prefer to contact us directly we can be reached at info@expeditionengineering.com or at +12502662515
We’d be happy to discuss different trip options and help you find the perfect expedition holiday.
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