SVALBARD

GUIDED SKI & SPLITBOARD EXPEDITION

—

The Arctic. At 74 to 81º North, the Svalbard archipelago is located above the Arctic Circle, midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. There isn’t a word describing Svalbard that we don’t love: remote, unknown, extreme, mountainous, cold. It’s estimated that around 300 polar bears live year-round on the island group, with closer to 3,000—equaling the permanent human population—traveling the sea ice in the Barents Sea region. Svalbard has only a few settlements, which are populated mostly by Norwegians and Russians. The largest settlement and capital of Svalbard, Longyearbyen, is bustling these days with researchers, biologists and of course adventure seekers and skiers. As you’d expect in Norway, the tiny “metropolis” offers very nice hotel and restaurant options, where you’ll find items like reindeer and whale on the menu. Outside of Longyearbyen, it’s legally required that you carry a firearm at all times for polar bear protection, and in the winter there are no roads, meaning the only way to access and explore the vast and predominantly glaciated wilderness is by snowmobile, dog sled, skis, or boat.

Come spring the frigid temperatures of the arctic winter begin to ease up and it’s prime riding season on Svalbard. April in particular is a special time of year on the islands, with stunning light conditions resulting from the return of the midnight sun, a 4-month period when the sun never sets. During the first half of April, just before the arrival of the midnight sun, it’s pretty much sunrise/sunset all day long—perpetual golden hour with the mountains bathed in pink and purple. Starting later in April the sun literally never dips below the horizon, meaning 24-hour daylight and the possibility of shredding around the clock.

2026 DATES

—

ITINERARY ONE: APRIL 10-18

7 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

ITINERARY TWO: APRIL 18-26

7 DAYS RIDING/10 DAYS TOTAL

DETAILS

—

Our first Svalbard expedition was in 2015. It was a remote basecamp style of experience that absolutely blew everyone’s minds. It’s a different experience than the ski and sail option, perhaps more “extreme” in a lot of ways, and, for now, we continue to see a lot of benefits and added adventure to this style of trip and don’t plan on changing :) We’ll travel by snowmobile to access our destinations, decide as a group on the ideal camp location, and then literally build our home for the week, featuring a heated community/dining/chilling tent with reindeer skins to sit on, and separate (unheated) sleeping tents, with 3 people per 4-man tent. As a team, we’ll share in polar bear watch every night—guaranteed to be an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life. And there are other memories that will never fade, like touring away from camp after dinner to tick off lines literally at the midnight hour!

For ten years (2015-2024) our camp was in the same location, southwest of Longyearbyen in Nordenskjøld Land National Park. The location was selected for immediate access to a handful of dramatic peaks, two of which are literally slotted with couloirs, perfectly illuminated by the morning light on one side and the midnight sun on the other. While absolutely mindblowing, conditions in said couloirs weren’t always appropriate for riding, requiring us to travel further up the main glacier for other objectives. In 2025 we decided to pioneer a new location, and ran two back-to-back sessions from the same camp. Clients. Were. Stoked. So much so that we are offering the same location again in 2026. And for our second 2026 itinerary, we are proposing an even newer location—one that is about as remote as you can get, surrounded by the highest peaks on Svalbard. Additional details about both itineraries are below.

ITINERARY ONE: BÜNSOW LAND

See TopoSvalbard and search “Bünsow Land.” First pioneered in 2025, we’ve decided we need to go back. The beauty of the location is that it's not super far from Longyearbyen (~3.5 hours by snowmobile), but is rarely visited for skiing. The only major change we’re making for 2026 is intentionally pushing the dates a little earlier to precede the return of the midnight sun. Midnight sun on Svalbard (when the sun never sets) typically begins around April 20, and the time frame immediately before provides unreal light conditions. With the sun so low on the horizon (only occasionally dipping below), it's golden hour light conditions 24 hours a day. This location also puts us into position to spend the last night in the field in the abandoned Russian mining settlement of Pyramiden—an otherworldly place that is seeing a bit of a renaissance with a hotel, restaurant and bar. Guaranteed this will make a really fun and unique end to the trip! Think finding yourself in an arctic ghost town after 5 nights basecamping, settling into a warm hotel room, touring creepy buildings straight out of a movie where everything was completely left behind when the mines closed decades ago, and of course arm wrestling random Russians over vodka shots in the hotel bar. At least that was the experience for our 2025 clients. Everyone raved about their time in Pyramiden. There's also plenty of skiing to be done right outside of town.

The itinerary offers 5 nights and 4 days skiing from camp, plus 1 night and 1 day skiing from Pyramiden. On all days there's the possibility of skiing into the night under the midnight sun. Day 1 (April 11) will start with snowmobile transportation from Longyearbyen to Bünsow Land, where we'll establish basecamp and still have plenty of time to get a tour in. Days 2-5 (April 12-15) will be full days skiing from camp. On Day 6 (April 16) we'll break down camp and transfer to Pyramiden. On Day 7 (April 17) we'll likely ski for a chunk of the day before heading back to Longyearbyen.

Lodging in Longyearbyen will be at Mary-Ann's Polarrigg for the night of the 10th and then ending at the Radisson Blu for the night of the 17th.

ITINERARY TWO: ATOMFJELLA

See TopoSvalbard and search “Atomfjella.” After considering these mountains as a potential basecamp location for years, we’re finally doing it! Atomfjella is the ultimate spot on Svalbard and is the Svalbard you've likely seen in movies like those from Jeremy Jones (Further), Xavier De Le Rue (Degrees North), and others. Jagged peaks, steep couloirs and the highest summits. This itinerary is intentionally scheduled to be the later itinerary, as the midnight sun will be a little higher off the horizon and temperatures will have hopefully ticked up by a degree or two ;) Travel between Longyearbyen and Atomfjella will be an expedition in and of itself: 6-7+ hours of overland (snowmobile) travel each way, meaning that two of the seven days are essentially fully dedicated to travel to/from and setting up/breaking down camp. Of course our transport days will also be mindblowing—speeding across the frozen fjords, through glacially-carved valleys, past distant reindeer herds, and across the massive glaciers that are jutted with the peaks of the Atomfjella Mountains. With summits ranging from 1,400 to 1,700m in elevation, this is literally the pinnacle of skiing on Svalbard.

The itinerary offers 6 nights and 5 days skiing from camp. Day 1 (April 19) will be spent getting to Atomfjella and setting up camp. Days 2-6 (April 20-24) will be full ski days, and again, weather permitting there will be the potential to ski lines around the clock under the midnight sun. Day 7 (April 25) will be spent breaking down camp and traveling back to Longyearbyen.

Lodging in Longyearbyen will be at Mary-Ann's Polarrigg for the night of the 18th and then ending at the Radisson Blu for the night of the 25th

GUIDES

—

Both of our 2026 Svalbard itineraries will be lead guided by IFMGA Guide, David Pujol. Our Norway-based partners will be providing a tail guide as well as camp staff (cook/manager) who are both well-versed in arctic safety and snowmobile travel on Svalbard, for a 1:2 guide-to-client ratio. Our partners have extensive experience supporting logistically-complicated expeditions throughout Svalbard, and we’ve worked together for the last 3 years. Meet our guides.

SAFETY

—

POLAR BEAR SAFETY

Polar bears separate Svalbard from other mountainous regions of the world. Our guides take this danger very seriously. On both itineraries guides will be equipped with flare guns and large game hunting rifles at all times. For Itinerary Two we will additionally be equipped with a trip wire system, or, if desired or deemed necessary due to bear sightings in the area, the entire basecamp crew will share in a bear watch rotation that allows for an uninterrupted night’s sleep every other night.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Both itineraries include Norwegian Search and Rescue insurance, and guides will have satellite phone communication with emergency service providers based in Longyearbyen. Norwegian SAR is some of the most advanced in the world and boasts Super Puma and Sea King helicopters that can fly in the most challenging conditions.

CAMP SCENE

—

CAMP SETUP

The Arctic is no place for a weak camp setup. Our basecamp for Itinerary Two will feature a spacious and super comfortable kitchen/dining/chilling tent, heated by wood stove, along with separate 4-season sleeping tents.

CAMP FOOD

Svalbard’s geography and climate may be fully unsuited for growing food, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to eat well! Breakfasts and dinners will be prepared from scratch and served hot by our camp guides—nothing dehydrated, reheated or served out of a bag. Lunches will be dehydrated, as it’s great to premix these in a thermos to throw in your ski pack. There will also be plenty of snacks available at all times. For serious coffee drinkers, we should mention that we are too!

BOOKINGS

—

ITINERARY ONE: USD $6,425/PERSON

7 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

ITINERARY TWO: USD $6,225/PERSON

7 DAYS RIDING/10 DAYS TOTAL

—

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS

ITINERARY ONE: Participants will need to arrive in Longyearbyen (airport code LYR) on April 7. We will return to Longyearbyen by evening on April 14 for departures on or after the 15th.

ITINERARY TWO: Participants will need to arrive in Longyearbyen (airport code LYR) on April 29. We will return to Longyearbyen by evening on May 7 for departures on or after 8th.

PRICE INCLUDES

ITINERARY ONE: 40 Tribes Lead Guide and local Tail Guide; Airport transfers on specified arrival and departure days; 2 nights hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen—nights of April 7 and 14—breakfasts included; 6 nights hotel accommodation in Barentsburg—nights of April 8-13—breakfasts included; Snowmobiles (2 passengers per) and fuel for the entire trip; Pack lunches; Polar bear protection managed by local guides; Norwegian Search and Rescue coverage for emergency support/evacuation to Longyearbyen/Tromsø; 7 days of epic guided skiing/splitboarding!

ITINERARY TWO: 40 Tribes Lead Guide and local Tail Guide; Dedicated camp staff including camp cook and camp manager; Airport transfers on specified arrival and departure days; 3 nights hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen—nights of April 29, 30 and May 7—breakfasts included; Snowmobile transport between Longyearbyen and the basecamp location (drop off and pick up)*; 6 nights basecamp accommodation in 4-season sleeping tents with a separate kitchen/dining tent heated by wood stove; All meals, coffee and snacks at camp; Polar bear protection managed by local guides; Norwegian Search and Rescue coverage for emergency support/evacuation to Longyearbyen/Tromsø; 7 days of epic guided skiing/splitboarding!

*As mentioned above, another option is to keep the snowmobiles with us at camp for the duration of our stay, for use to access further zones. To commit to this we’d need everyone in the group on the same page and there would be an additional cost of ~$850/person.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Airfare and baggage fees; Lunches and dinners in Longyearbyen; Dinners in Barentsburg (Itinerary One); Medical/evacuation insurance (for onward emergency transport from Longyearben/Tromsø, if required); Alcohol; Tips for guides.

BOOKING POLICY

A 20% deposit is required to secure your spot, with the remainder due 4 months prior to the expedition start date. Our cancellation/refund policies can be found here.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Our general terms & conditions can be found here.

RELEASE & WAIVER OF RIGHTS

All participants are required to sign our Release and Waiver of Rights.