8 Days
Intermediate
6 people
English, Italian
Svalbard Ski and Sail, Ski mountaineering in the land of the white bear, on board of a fantastic sailing ship.
Svalbard Ski and Sail is a lifetime experience. Sailing on board of the fantastic Rembrandt Van Rijn ship we will arrive at the bays of Svalbard islands, lands of glaciers and polar bears. We will climb from the sea to the summits with the skins of seal, then descend skiing in the snows to the north of the world, well beyond the Arctic polar circle!
We will sail aboard the ship between fjords and bays, and we will leave from the sea for our ski mountaineering trips that will develop through glaciers. The difficulty of the trips will be medium, the differences in height between 1000 m and 1400 m, the snow should be dusty. Ski mountaineering, however, is only a part of this journey, which can in all respects be considered a cruise. Unique scenarios in a glacial land would suffice to justify the trip, but with a little luck it will be possible to meet wildlife such as whales and cetaceans, seals, walruses, arctic foxes, reindeer and certainly many birds. And why not, also the Polar Bear, better by observing it from a distance!
The Svalbard islands, also known as Spitsbergen, are an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, located between the 74th and 82nd north, and is one of the most populated lands north of the planet, with about 2500 residents. There are no roads, except the small center of Longyearbyen, you can move on foot, by sled or by boat. The climate of the Svalbard islands is decidedly polar, along the coast slightly attenuated by the presence of the sea, especially on the west coast, lapped by the current of the gulf. In summer, temperatures reach 5-6 ° C.
The symbol of the Svalbard Islands is the Polar Bear, which is present, according to one of the most accredited censuses, with about 3000 specimens! Virtually one per inhabitant! The Polar Bear is constantly hungry and therefore aggressive and dangerous. The statistics do not report aggressions to groups of ski mountaineers, the most frequent are the attacks on the campers during the night. However it is essential to move armed, with the primary intention to remove the Polar Bear, but with the possibility to defend itself, firing if absolutely necessary.
Superb sailing ship, three trees with 30 passengers on board, the Rembrandt Van Rijn is a boat dedicated to tourist travel and therefore equipped in all respects for this. All the logistic support, breakfast, dinner, showers, rest, etc. takes place on board, with a comfort clearly superior to a generic alpine refuge. The cabins accommodate two people and are equipped with a shower and a private bathroom, there is also a large dining room and a bar area. The most fascinating area is the bridge, with the three trees and sails that are deployed as soon as possible. In fact, the Rembrandt Van Rijn will normally sail by motor, but as soon as the wind is favorable, the sails will be unfolded and we will move in silence with the same techniques used in the sea for centuries.
The leading Guide is a fully certified IFMGA Montain Guide.
You can book this activity in any date/dates within the availability periods. We tailor your experience to meet your every need, from your fitness level to your skiing ability.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for any other question/information.
Flight Italy – Oslo, overnight in the city.
Flight Oslo – Longyearbyen, transfer aboard the ship. Operational and safety briefings, then start the tour.
Every day ski mountaineering excursion on the Svalbard mountains.
Transfer to the airport and return flights Oslo-Longyearbyen and Oslo-Italy.
Member Since 2023
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