Svalbard Ski & Sail

Itinerary

We meet in Longyearbyen on the first day of the trip at Mary Ann’s Polarrigg. There will be a group meeting at 16:00 to discuss the next day’s tour. You can arrive as late as the afternoon of Day 4; note that embarkation is at 16:00. We will be done with the trip on the morning of the last day, which is Day 11, disembarking at 09:00.

Day 1: Arrival at the airport in Longyearbyen from Oslo (with SAS or Norwegian Airlines) in the early afternoon (usually one overnight required in Oslo). Transfer to our Hotel and time to check out the town including a visit to the “Polarmuseum”.

Day 2-3: Ski touring day trips close to town and return to our hotel

Day 4: Potentially another shorter ski touring trip from town or a visit to an ice cave (4 hrs). Arrival day for those participants who chose to participate in the boat trip only. Embarkation is at 16:00, followed by a quick safety briefing. Departure from pier usually around 17:00.

Day 5 – 10:
We usually only sail one hour to our first ski tour in the Isfjord; harbours like Ymerbukta or Tryghamna. From there, we continue to sail along the West Coast of Spitzbergen to sample the best ski touring and peak ascent the group of islands has to offer. In May and June the sun will be with us for 24 hours in Svalbard, which leaves a lot of flexibility for our departures. After each day of skiing we return from the shoreline by Zodiak motor boat back to our Yacht, where the smell of dinner will usually welcome us. We usually finish the day on 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 usually around 4 PM. Farewell dinner on the boat.

Day 11: We bid farewell to our yacht and crew in the morning. Disemarkation is after a final breakfast onboard, at 09:00 after settling bar tabs and gratuities. You will need to arrange transfers to a hotel or to the airport, depending on your destination post-trip, by taxi or bus. Don’t worry about this until you get to Svalbard — arrangements can be made at the last minute.

Svalbard Ski and Sail Logistics

This year’s Svalbard Ski and Sail trip starts in Longyearbyen on Svalbard. There are usually multiple daily flights between Longyearbyen and Oslo, Norway.

If you choose to only participate in the boat portion of this trip, you must arrive in Longyearbyen at the latest on Day 4 (see Itinerary tab). We will be boarding the boat at around 4:00 pm. Unfortunately in 2023 both airlines servicing Longyearbyen chose to cancel flights on Saturdays, which requires booking a hotel room for an extra night. This last night accommodation is not included in your trip fees, as it was unanticipated when we scheduled our 2023 trips. We recommend Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg, Basecamp Spitzbergen or Gjestehuset 102 as great options for that last night.

There is an optional 3 days of ski touring offered (see above Itinerary tab for dates). If you arrive in Longyearbyen on Day 1 then you can participate in all three pre-sail ski tours, but you can also arrive later than that if you like. Please advise us of your intentions so we can make hotel bookings and other arrangements.

When you book your return flight, the best option is to book a flight (even a very early one) from Longyearbyen on the last day (see Itinerary tab)

AiRport Hotel Transfers

Covid information

Please consult our up-to-date Covid Response Info page for details on travel to Norway and Svalbard during covid. Scroll to near the bottom for specifics.

Booking your flights & Oslo hotel

There’s no fast way to get to Svalbard. That said, I do have some hard won advice.

First of all, please bring your boots as carry-on. Do not put them in your checked baggage. Many things can be purchased or rented in the case of lost baggage but not boots. We also suggest you bring your sk touring pack with a set of clothing and transceiver (check your shovel and probe as these are things that can be loaned to you easily).

Finding a good deal on a good flight itinerary to Longyearbyen takes a bit of work. Book well in advance of your trip. Be careful of using the discount sites as additional luggage fees — charged for each leg of your trip potentially — can be pretty hefty. You will need two 23-kg bags so factor that into your planning.

Look for and spend a bit of extra money if necessary to get flights with shorter (<4 hr) stopovers and as few connections as possible.

We have chartered two sailing vessels for 2025. Good old s/v Noorderlicht (NO) will be with us for yet another season. The Noorderlicht has proven to be an ideal vessel for a ski and sail trip. She is 50 m (150 ft) long and has a capacity for 12 passengers and 7 crew. Not too big but also not too small either. Spending a week on a boat it’s nice to have lots of room to move around and a variety of friends to mingle with throughout the week. A captain, second mate, third mate, cook and expedition coordinator are Swan Expedition’s staff who will ensure a successful and safe voyage. Built in 1910 she is older than the Titanic, and evidently a lot tougher too! New for 2025 is a reduced passenger capacity, a result of new regulations by the Norwegian government. Chris Gnieser will be Expedition Leader on Noorderlicht for the 2025 season. Click here for more information about Noorderlicht from the owner’s website.

The s/y Qilak (NO) is the latest addition to our Svalbard ski and sail program. After a successful pilot expedition with Qilak in Northern Norway in 2023 we are excited to be back on this beautiful yacht for 2025. At just over 20 m (67 ft) Qilak has been turning heads for completely different reasons. The 66ft/20.07m Qilak – her name is Inuit for the sky or celestial sphere – was built in 2018 by KM Yachtbuilders in Makkum in the Netherlands on a commission by retired Belgian air force pilot Philippe Carlier. KM has a reputation for specialising in tough, uncompromising, custom-designed yachts for long distance cruising and has attracted many experienced clients. If there were an award for brutalism in naval architecture Qilak would surely be on the podium. Her stark, purposeful, bare aluminium features look ideally suited to her creator’s plans to seek out high latitudes expedition adventure. While smaller than the Noorderlicht she is unamatched for modern quality and comfort, truly unique in the class of 20m sailing yachts. Qilak is ideal for small group private charters of up to 9 guests. Tom Wolfe will be Expedition Leader on Qilak for the 2025 season. Click here for more information about Qilak from the owner’s website.

Finally, the s/v Rembrandt van Rijn (RVR) will return to our Svablard trip lineup for 2026. Rembrandt is the largest and most comfortable ship running Ski and Sail trips in Svalbard and offers an unparalleled level of class and comfort. Features include a spacious dining room, a bar, private baths in each cabin, cabin upgrades, and two large zodiacs for rapid shore transport. With a crew of 11 the Rembrandt is capable of sailing 24 hours a day, which gives her a greater range potential. It’s not uncommon to see her in the northernmost fjords of Spitzbergen on the second day of a week-long ski and sail trip! Above all, she is still a beautiful, classic sailing boat. Rembrandt van Rijn is a three-masted schooner built in 1924 as a fishing lugger and has served as a coaster and schooner under the flags of the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Panama.

This is categorized as a Classic Pace trip.

• Day trips boat-based
• Peaks between 700m – 1200m asl
• Up to 1500 m climbs / descents / day
• Glaciated terrain
• Often variable snow conditions

Our Trip Ratings Page outlines more specifically how we rate our trips.

Will covid cause problems with travel?

We operated our 2022, 2023 and 2024 trips with no significant issues and anticipate the same in 2025 and beyond. Currently there are no restrictions for traveling due to Covid. Sawback does, however, have a Sickness Policy. Please be sure to read it carefully.

Please bring a mask with you on the plane. We strongly recommend using it for your air travel — especially if you are seated next to someone who’s hacking and coughing. You really don’t want to arrive sick for this trip.

What if my luggage gets lost en route to Svalbard?

These days lost baggage seems to be part of the airlines’ business model. While rare, it does happen to one or two guests each season. Here’s a couple of tips to reduce the chances your bags will be delayed:

1. Skis are most likely to arrive on time if they are packed in smaller sized ski bags without additional items. Additional items with your skis increases the chances of the bag getting searched and delayed.
2. Smaller, soft sided baggage (e.g. duffels) seems to be more likely to make it on time.

And here are a few tips to help minimize the consequences of lost baggage:

1. Bring your boots as carry-on. Seriously, one day you will be very glad you did. Rental boots are no substitute for your own boots.
2. Bring your daypack filled with your ski clothing and beacon. Your shovel and probe can go in your checked baggage as this is stuff that’s easy enough to rent in Svalbard.
3. Make sure you have travel insurance that will cover the cost of additional rentals and clothing purchases in the event of delayed or lost baggage.

If you do end up in Longyearbyen without one or more of your bags, you’ll obviously need to come up with replacements. SportCenteret, located in Longyearbyen, has a small selection of excellent rental touring skis. And there are many shops that sell high quality outdoor clothing.

What is included with the trip fee?

Included: 7 nights yacht rental with crew, harbour fees, permit fees, UIAGM / IFMGA mountain guides, multi-course dinners and breakfast on board.
Pre-trip land-based ski touring: 3 additional days guided ski touring and excursions out of Longyearbyen, 3 x Hotel B&B.
Not included: Air travel, alcoholic beverages, lunches and dinners in Longyearbyen, hotel in Oslo en route

What will the snow and weather be like?

Mid April to May 25 is the season for Svalbard Ski and Sail trips. The temperatures are mild and stable, with lows typically around -5°C and highs around +2°C. We have seen lows as cold as -15 in April and highs up to +8 in late May so come prepared for a wide range of conditions.

The snowpack is typically stable and snow surfaces are pretty variable. Skiing of the spring corn variety can be found, as can crusts of all descriptions and what we call “Arctic Pow” (faceted snow that is fun to ski). The weather is typically dry (good for skiing on the treeless landscape!) but true powder snow comes with infrequent storms, especially in the first half of the season. While there is 24-hour daylight the sun never creep so high above the horizon as to cause the same kind of intense radiation you get elsewhere so the snow stays remarkably preserved.

Earlier than mid-April we have to fight with fast and drift ice in the fjords. Later than May 25 the snowline begins to recede from the melting shorelines, and as of 2025 the Governor of Svalbard has imposed landing restrictions, especially in the National Parks, that limit ski and sail programs to the point that we no longer offer trips past this date. However, it is true that good skiing exists in Svalbard well into June on the countless glaciers.

“Will we get a chance to take photos of Polar Bears?” / or: “Will we be attacked by Polar Bears?”

The short answer to both questions is “No”. While it is possible we will see polar bears on this trip it is highly unlikely. Many tourists travel to Svalbard with the goal of seeing polar bears, and join trips that specifically go into the polar bear’s prime habitat — which is north into the pack ice. The goals of our trip are simple: to get the best possible skiing accessible by sail boat. This means sticking to the ice-free waters further south. As a result, I have to disappoint those of you hoping to see polar bears.

At the same time, polar bear safety is always an important consideration. There will always be at least one person in each group carrying a rifle as well as flare guns (a type of bear deterrent). Since we move from place to place and do not camp on land, there is also no chance of enticing a bear over time into our midst.

The reports we hear every couple of years about encounters with polar bears on Svalbard are either with habituated bears close to the towns or far north with tour groups actually seeking out polar bear encounters. Unfortunately in each case the end result has been the destruction of a bear who is usually emaciated, desperate and close to death already.

Will we see the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights season ends in April in Svalbard. It’s not that they don’t exist after that time, but the midnight sun makes it impossible to see them!

What are snacks like?

We provide you with a variety of snacks, but bring your own if you’re fussy.

Is there hot water available for tea, etc.?

Yes!

Should I bring a helmet?

Helmets are not mandatory but are recommended.

Can I charge my devices?

There are plenty of charging outlets. Just be aware it’s Euro-outlet (2-prong) 220V which works with just a plug adapter for USB chargers, phones, heated socks — but not your hair dryers!

Can we pay with a credit card for tips/wine/souvenirs on the boat?

Yes you can use a credit card to pay for misc items on board. Cash is always preferred for tipping.

Speaking of tipping, do you have guidelines for that?

• Ship’s crew: Consider 200 EUR if you feel the ship’s crew has done a great job. They ask that you please bring cash for this in EUR, and not Norwegian Krones.
• Guiding staff: Consider 5% of your trip fee for a job well done, and 10% if we significantly exceeded your expectations (i.e. provided you with repairs or rental gear at no cost, made a special effort to accommodate you, etc.) Cash is preferred (CAD or USD if possible) but you can also send money electronically via our payment portal, pay.sawback.com (it’s your choice, credit card or transfer. Note that credit cards incur a 2.7% fee whereas bank transfers ensure all the cash arrives in our bank account with no fees!
• Restaurants in Svalbard: there is no tipping culture in Norway, and tipping is not expected. However, 5% is a welcome gesture for excellent service.

Is there Laundry on the boat? Sink for Socks and underwear?

There is no laundry available on the boat so bring lots of extra socks and underwear. There are sinks and showers you could use in a pinch.

Should we bring an ice ax?

Ice ax and boot crampon use is not part of our regular program. If you are coming with a group that is motivated to do steeper lines then boot crampons and an ice axe is an idea. But I don’t want to tell you to bring them and have you disappointed if we don’t use them. I have never had the need (and don’t list them on the equipment list for Svalbard), but once or twice I’ve had to modify our route where boot crampons would have made a difference. I think you can discuss this as a group — we will have a great week of skiing without the spiky things, but they could potentially open up possibilities. Feel free to contact us if your group is in this category.

How much personal and storage space is there on the boat?

There is room for storing extra stuff in a hold on the boat. Cabins are double occupancy and are also quite small for storing extra gear. Bring small duffels (50-70L max) to make sure they fit under the bunks.

Boat Shower? Hot water? Polar dip? Towel?

Towels are provided. There’s plenty of hot water and shower facilities (four showers in total). There will also be an opportunity for a polar dip if you’re so inclined!

How do we dry our gear?

There is plenty of heating on the Noorderlicht and there are numerous radiators and places where you can dry your gear. The engine room is also occasionally made available if we have an especially wet day. We also recommend you bring along a piece of thin (2-3 mm) cord to fashion a drying rack in your room.

Do I need rubber boots?

In fact we’ve never needed them. The guides might get their feet wet pulling/pushing the Zodiac onto/off shore but everyone else uses a little wooden step to keep dry.

Is there Wi-Fi on the boat?

No there is no internet access available on the boat. However, Norwegians are big fans of cellular coverage and you might be surprised to get a strong enough cell signal to check your messages from time to time, especially in the first and last days of the sailing trip.

Can I buy a SIM card in Norway?

If you want to avoid roaming charges but still have cell data or make phone calls, it is very difficult to simply pick up a SIM card in Norway. We recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo with the Norway “Local eSIM”  plan. This will let you check email and do messaging and internet calls with services like WhatsApp, Messenger, iMessenger, etc. Do this before you leave home (best done with Wi-Fi available) so that it’s ready to go when you arrive. Setup can be a bit tricky but Airalo has decent how-tos.

Be sure to turn off you regular SIM before you enter the roaming space so you don’t pick up roaming charges. If you want to make and receive phone calls then we recommend the Hushed App, which gives you a virtual phone number (Canadian, UK and US numbers are available) at affordable rates.