Skiing Expedition to Ny-Ålesund — Spitsbergen

This 15-day expedition programme takes you to the area of the northernmost year-round settlement in the world, through completely untouched and unspoiled High Arctic wilderness: camping in polar bear territory, with a mandatory polar bear watch at night; ski trekking on sea ice and glaciers; powerboat transport across the fjord; mountains and mountain passes; and the remote mining towns of Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund.

You need expedition experience to take part in this adventure.

We have now been doing expeditions in Svalbard for more than a decade, and many guests have been asking about new routes and longer trips. So, for the ski expedition season of 2026, we were very happy to announce this new itinerary, taking a group all the way to the northernmost year-round settlement in the world: Ny-Ålesund.

Ny-Ålesund used to be an active coal mine, but from the beginning it was a staging ground for groundbreaking expeditions, especially towards the North Pole. The Swedish balloon expedition led by Andrée started from here — but most importantly, this was the place from which the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and the Italian Nobile set forth with the airship "Norge" and flew across the Arctic Ocean to Alaska, becoming the first (confirmed) humans to see the North Pole. Today Ny-Ålesund is a thriving research station, the northernmost of its kind in the world.

How we travel

The trip starts with boat transport to the sea ice in Ymerbukta on the northern side of Isfjorden — a beautiful one-hour boat ride before we put our skis on for the first time. We climb up onto Esmarkbreen, and from this point we travel on glaciers all the way to Kongsfjorden. During the trip we are in polar bear country all the time, which means that, to ensure safety and comply with local regulations, we all take part in keeping the camp safe while we sleep, by having one person awake all the time during the night. To be alone in the total stillness under the midnight sun is an experience for life.

We travel up to the high glacier plateaus, through mountain passes, and make our camps along the way. We aim for the "famous" mountains of Tre Kroner (the three crowns), but the specific route is kept flexible to ensure the best conditions for travel. From Ny-Ålesund we are picked up by boat and taken on a beautiful boat ride back to Longyearbyen — with a good chance of seeing wildlife like walrus, or even the great blue whale.

Who can join

This trip is a demanding expedition: both the weather and the terrain can be challenging. We do not recommend this trip for first-timers on a ski expedition — for you we recommend one of our other trips before heading out on this one.

Good to know

Please be aware that the programme might be turned around to start in Ny-Ålesund, depending on ocean conditions for the long boat ride.

For 2027 we are planning a North–South expedition on Spitsbergen — please get in touch if this is of interest.

In Longyearbyen you are lodged at a guesthouse; single rooms are available for an additional NOK 900 per night, NOK 2 700 for the three nights. On the nights in tents, teams of 2 to 3 persons share one tent. We would encourage you to stay a few extra days in Longyearbyen to explore the town and its surroundings — and to stay one or more days after the trip as a margin for weather-related delays coming back from the ice.

Day by day plan

Day 1

Arrival in Longyearbyen. Your guide will meet you at a local guesthouse, where you will stay the first two nights. You will meet the rest of the group and be served dinner. Your guide will go through the programme for the trip and the skiing route.

Your guide will also go through your personal outdoor equipment with you, to make sure you have everything you need for the trip and that the equipment meets the standards the Arctic environment requires.

Day 2

After breakfast we do the last preparations and pack all our equipment for the trip. You will be teamed up with 1 or 2 other expedition members, with whom you will work together and share a tent on the trip. You will also be shown how to put up your tent and how to use some of the equipment you will be using. There will be time to make your final personal preparations and adjustments before the journey starts, and your guide will go through safety routines, skiing routines and how to handle the dog in the best way possible (if we can bring one!).

There will be time for some last-minute shopping and some time to look around in Longyearbyen. Lodging at the guesthouse.

Day 3

After breakfast the trip starts. We are transported by boat across Isfjorden. This scenic fjord on the northern side of the great Isfjorden is our gateway into the real Arctic wilderness. When we arrive on the other side, the boatman puts us safely on to the solid ice in front of the glacier. From here we work our way towards land and up on to the glacier. This evening is the first night in tents.

Day 4

When we wake up, it will be to the stunning view from the glacier and the surrounding mountains. Most of this day is an easy uphill, until we reach the plateau at about 500 metres above sea level.

Days 5–13

Full days on the glacier plateau. We make our way across this vast, flat glacier landscape. Up here the winter is still going strong — we can get hard winds and low temperatures, or fabulous mild and sunny days. No matter what kind of weather, this great landscape gives us a real taste of how big and impressive Arctic nature can be.

Day 14

Last day on the ice. We pack up our camp as usual and start our way down the glacier front, through the moraine landscapes and on to the sea ice. Around lunchtime the boat is there to pick us up, and we travel back to Longyearbyen. If conditions, time and the scientists allow, we make a short stop in Ny-Ålesund itself, or cruise close past the settlement by boat. After arriving at the port in Longyearbyen we are all transported back to the guesthouse for a hot shower and a good dinner.

Day 15

Breakfast and journey home. The weather can vary during the day, and with respect to the safety of our guests we reserve the right to make any necessary changes to our trip. We always recommend allowing for weather delays when booking flights.

The price includes

• Guides
• All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 15 — except lunch and dinner on day 2
• Some equipment — specified in the equipment list
• 3 nights' lodging in Longyearbyen
• 11 nights in tents
• Search and rescue insurance

Not included

• Travel to and from Longyearbyen
• Extra activities in Longyearbyen
• Lunch and dinner on day 2
• Personal equipment — please check the equipment list
• Snacks between the meals — we recommend sweets, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, cheese, dried meat and the like
• Travel insurance
• Any unforeseen expenses due to delays caused by weather or safety considerations