SVALBARD

GUIDED SKI & SPLITBOARD EXPEDITION

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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 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 incredibly 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, boat, or skis.

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 sunlight and the possibility of shredding around the clock.

2026 DATES

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ITINERARY ONE: APRIL 10-18

5-6 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

ITINERARY TWO: APRIL 18-26

5 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

DETAILS

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Our first Svalbard expedition in 2015 was a remote basecamp style of experience that absolutely blew everyone’s minds. While the ski and sail program has become hugely popular and we’ve felt pressure (i.e. received many requests) to offer it as an option, we continue to see a lot of benefits and added adventure to basecamp-style trips. So, we’re sticking to our roots.

What to expect? Traveling by snowmobile caravan across the vast arctic wilderness, deciding as a group on the ideal camp location, and working together to literally build our home for the week: a styled-out camp which will feature a heated community/dining/chilling tent (replete with plush reindeer skins to sit on) and separate sleeping tents (3 people per 4-man tent). As a team, we’ll share in polar bear watch every night, and let it be said there’s nothing like spending some solo time on a glacier under the midnight sun! And since we won’t be limited to daytime hours for skiing, that opens up the possibility of touring or ripping the snowmobiles away from camp after dinner to tick off more lines at the literal midnight hour. It’s guaranteed these experiences will imprint as some of your most memorable moments of all time.

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 two peaks in particular—both slotted with couloirs, perfectly illuminated by the morning light on one side and the midnight sun on the other. While incredible, the couloirs weren’t always safely rideable, 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 taking it to the next level with a brand new location that is about as remote and wild as it gets, surrounded by Svalbard’s highest peaks.

ITINERARY ONE: BÜNSOW LAND

(Visit TopoSvalbard and search “Bünsow Land”)

Following two very successful Bünsow Land sessions last spring, we’re stoked to go back. The only change we’re making for 2026 is pushing the dates a little earlier to take advantage of the most unreal light conditions possible. The midnight sun typically returns around April 20, and it doesn’t get any more stunning than the timeframe immediately before, when the sun hovers low on the horizon—only occasionally dipping below—providing golden hour lighting 24 hours a day. The location is not super far from Longyearbyen (~3.5 hours by snowmobile), but despite offering endless, jaw-dropping terrain is rarely visited for skiing. The other great thing is that it puts us into position to spend our last field night in Pyramiden—a wildly fascinating abandoned Russian mining settlement that is now seeing a bit of a renaissance with a hotel, restaurant and bar. Think finding yourself in an arctic ghost town after 5 nights basecamping, settling into a warm hotel with an unmistakable Russian vibe, touring creepy buildings straight out of a movie where everything was completely left behind decades ago, and of course arm wrestling random Russians over vodka shots in the hotel bar. At least that was the experience for last year’s clients, and everyone raved about it. One thing is for sure: it’s a recipe for a really fun end to the trip, and in addition to the totally unique cultural experience, there's also plenty of skiing to be done right outside of town. The itinerary offers four full and two half days skiing from camp (half days will be the arrival day and the day we transfer to Pyramiden), plus a half day skiing from Pyramiden before transferring back to Longyearbyen. On all days at camp there will be the potential to ski lines around the clock under the midnight sun.

For your nights in Longyearbyen, we’ve arranged lodging at the iconic local hotel, Mary-Ann's Polarrigg (arrival night), and at the swankier Radisson Blu (final night). As this is a busy time of year on Svalbard, rooms have already been booked and we’ll also help arrange reservations for the group at some of Longyearbyen’s best restaurants, of which there are many!

ITINERARY TWO: ATOMFJELLA

(Visit TopoSvalbard and search “Atomfjella”)

After considering Atomfjella as a potential basecamp location for years, we’re finally doing it. This is the Svalbard you've seen in movies like those from Jeremy Jones (Further), Xavier De Le Rue (Degrees North), and others. These are the “ultimate” mountains of the far north: jagged peaks, massive couloirs, and the highest summits. The itinerary is intentionally scheduled to be the later one, as the midnight sun will be just 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 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 the transport days will also be mindblowing—speeding across 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. And whereas most winter tourist visits to Svalbard involve only snowmobiling, that's just the​ beginning for us! With summits ranging from 1,400 to 1,700m in elevation, this is literally the pinnacle of skiing on Svalbard. The itinerary offers five full days skiing from camp, and on all of those days there will be the potential to ski lines around the clock under the midnight sun.

For your nights in Longyearbyen, we’ve arranged lodging at the iconic local hotel, Mary-Ann's Polarrigg (arrival night), and at the swankier Radisson Blu (final night). As this is a busy time of year on Svalbard, rooms have already been booked and we’ll also help arrange reservations for the group at some of Longyearbyen’s best restaurants, of which there are many!

GUIDES

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Both of our 2026 Svalbard itineraries will be lead guided by Spanish-born/Chamonix-based IFMGA Guide, David Pujol. Our Norway-based partners will be providing our tail guide as well as camp staff (cook/manager) who are both well-versed in arctic safety and snowmobile travel on Svalbard, for a guide-to-client ratio of 1:2. Our partners have extensive experience supporting logistically-complicated expeditions throughout Svalbard, and this will be our third year collaborating with them. Meet our guides.

SAFETY

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POLAR BEAR SAFETY

Polar bears set Svalbard apart 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. At night, the entire team will share in a bear watch rotation.

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

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CAMP SETUP

The Arctic is no place for a weak camp setup. Our basecamp infrastructure includes a heated community/dining/chilling tent (replete with plush reindeer skins to sit on) and separate sleeping tents (3 people per 4-man tent). At each camp we’ll prepare an “arctic toilet”—a simple (or sometimes elaborate) snow hole with lee walls.

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 or premade in Longyearbyen and boiled in the 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.

BOOKINGS

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ITINERARY ONE: USD $7,775/PERSON

5-6 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

ITINERARY TWO: USD $7,975/PERSON

5 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

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ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS

ITINERARY ONE: Participants will need to arrive in Longyearbyen (airport code LYR) on April 10. We will return to Longyearbyen by evening on April 17 for departures on the 18th.

ITINERARY TWO: Participants will need to arrive in Longyearbyen (airport code LYR) on April 18. We will return to Longyearbyen by evening on April 25 for departures on the 26th.

PRICE INCLUDES

40 Tribes Lead Guide; Tail guide and camp staff (cook/manager) provided by our partners; Airport transfers if arriving/departing on specified dates and flights; 2 nights hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen: Mary-Ann's Polarrigg for the nights of April 10 (Itinerary One) and April 18 (Itinerary Two), and Radisson Blu for the nights of April 17 (Itinerary One) and April 25 (Itinerary Two)—breakfasts included; 1 night hotel accommodation in Pyramiden for the night of April 16 (Itinerary One); Snowmobiles and snowmobile suits; 5 (Itinerary One)-6 (Itinerary Two) nights basecamp accommodation in 4-season sleeping tents with a heated community/dining/chilling tent; All meals, coffee/tea and snacks at camp; Polar bear protection managed by our guide team; Norwegian Search and Rescue coverage for emergency support/evacuation to Longyearbyen/Tromsø; 5-6 days of epic guided skiing/splitboarding!

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Airfare and baggage fees; Lunches and dinners in Longyearbyen; Dinner in Pyramiden (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.