Guides
Extreme North
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the arctic sea, just 1,000 km from the north pole. Svalbard is made up of four main islands and around 150 smaller islets. The total land mass is an area of around 62,000 square kilometers, and there are no other neighbours bar the surrounding Arctic Ocean. The ice-blue, arctic landscape is the most notable characteristic of Svalbard where more than 60% of the area is covered by glaciers.
We explore Svalbard’s western and northern coastal regions between the high latitudes of 77-80 degrees north, visiting new areas every day. The highest point rises to 1,717 m asl, and the mountains we typically ascend are between 500m and 1,200 m asl. We’ll cover on average between 1,000 and 1,400 vertical meters per day. Here the permafrost goes deep, and the environment is very mountainous.
We travel at night on our boat, M/S Origo. Following breakfast we gear up and will be transferred between boat and shoreline on fast RIBs. We’ll ascend to the summit of a peak, and ski down completely untouched runs, crossed only by the tracks from arctic foxes, reindeer and polar bears. During this time of year the sun never sets, giving us long, bright days and the opportunity to ski for as long as we want without risk of getting benighted.
Oscar Wahlund
Svalbard
Svalbard is a Norwegian group of islands in the Arctic Ocean. The largest island is called Spitsbergen. The landscape is unique and the wildlife exciting. There are around 2,800 permanent inhabitants here, and the chief administrative officer, entitled “Sysselmannen”, have their residence in Longyeabyen, the capital. The town was founded in 1906 by John Munroe Longyear. Other hamlets on Svalbard are Barentsburg, Ny-Ålesund and Svea. There are over 50 different nationalities represented on Svalbard, and the main sources of employment are the university and an active coal mine, known as Coal Mine #7.
Accommodation
In partnership with Arctic Guides we are based on the expedition ship M/S Origo. The ship is constructed specifically for difficult ice conditions and is equipped with modern navigational tools and safety equipment designed for arctic waters. She has operated in the seas around Svalbard for the last 30-odd years and its crew has amassed a considerable amount of experience on how to get us to where we need to go in the safest possible way. M/S Origo offers cosy living in double cabins and exquisite cuisine.
Travel
We leave Stockholm Arlanda in the morning, via Oslo and land in Longyearbyen after lunch. On arrival we’re picked up by pre-arranged transfer taking us directly to the harbour where M/S Origo is moored, a short 5 min drive. We’ll have around two hours in the town of Longyearbyen to stock up on snacks and drinks and have a look around before we cast off. The return journey reverses the same path a week later, via Oslo, and we leave Longyearbyen early afternoon, arriving back at Stockholm Arlanda late evening.
Itinerary
SAS May 25th, Stockholm, Arlanda – Longyearbyen 07:45-14:00 (via Oslo)
SAS June 2nd, Longyearbyen – Stockholm, Arlanda 14:45-22:25 (via Oslo)
Equipment
Weather and sea conditions will dictate the duration of our ski days. We’ll ascend between 600 and 1,500 meters per day. Ratio: max 6 guests per guide.
- Very good fitness is required, capable of sustaining an ascent rate of 400m/h
- Off-piste skiing in all conditions, on slopes up to 35-40 degrees
- Experience with ski touring technique and equipment, how to walk and kick-turn with climbing skins
- Age limit 18 years old (16 years old if accompanied by legal guardian)
Mandatory Equipment
- Skis with touring bindings
- Climbing skins, contour-cut to your skis
- Ski boots
- Ski poles with baskets of a diameter of at least 6cm
- Avalanche transceiver (not analog), shovel, probe. Check batteries.
- Helmet
- Avalanche backpack with inflatable airbag, 25-40l capacity
- Shell jacket and trousers. Wind-, and waterproof.
- Mid-layer in wool or fleece
- Insulated jacket. Synthetic or down. Alternatively an extra fleece.
- Base layer, top and long-johns. Wool or synthetic
- Ski socks, wool
- Underwear, wool or synthetic
- Gloves or mittens, one pair of thick, one pair of thin
- Hat and balaclava or Buff to cover your face
- Sunglasses and goggles
- Sun cream
- Water bottle
- Head torch
- Passport and money
- Travel insurance
- Hand sanitiser
- Personal snacks (chocolate, nuts etc) for touring
Svalbard specifics
- Harness (for glacial terrain)
- 1 screw gate karabiner
- Ski crampons (Harscheisen)
Good to have Svalbard
- Thin windproof/soft shell jacket
- Soft shell trousers
- Extra base layers
- Extra underwear (wool/synthetics)
- Extra ski socks (wool)
- Day wear/civvies
- Normal shoes
- Thermos
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Mobile phone and charger
- Toiletries bag
- Ear plugs
- Blister tape
Always aim to minimise weight when packing.
If you’re missing some of the equipment listed above, we’ll be happy to help arrange equipment hire or purchase. Contact us on info@pureskitouring.se for details.
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Video
Reserve
Itinerary
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A unique opportunity. IFMGA-certified mountain guides, our own ship with a chef. A joint arrangement between Pure Ski Touring and Arctic Guides. Welcome!
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Package, including flights
- Del i dubbelhytt (2020 års pris)
- 54 500 SEK
Included
- 6 days’ ski touring with certified IFMGA mountain guide
- Avalanche safety training with certified IFMGA mountain guide
- Ski touring technique skills with certified IFMGA mountain guide
- Equipment orientation with certified IFMGA mountain guide
- Personal account access to Pure Ski Touring’s website
- Accommodation in a double cabin, M/S Origo, 8 night
- Breakfast, lunch and evening meal, 8 days
- Snacks, 8 days
- Guided tour of Longyearbyen, 2h
- Bedding, towel and cleaning on checkout
- Air travel, Stockholm Arlanda – Longyearbyen return
- Checked luggage, 23kg and carry-on 8kg
- Sport equipment luggage, 23kg (skis, poles and boots)
- Return transfer, Longyearbyen Airport – M/S Origo mooring
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Monday, May 25th
- 07:45 Take-off from Stockholm Arlanda Airport
- 14:00 Arrival, Longyearbyen Airport, Svalbard (via Oslo)
- Pre-booked transfer whisks us to the harbour where our boat is moored
- Check-in on M/S Origo, followed by dinner
- 16:00 We cast off from Longyearbyen harbour to begin our 6 days of Arctic ski touring
- Our floating home for the trip will sail during the evening and night to the start point of tomorrow’s skiing.
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Tuesday, May 26th - Monday, Jun 1st
- 07:00 Breakfast buffet is served in the salon, and we each make up a lunch pack
- Following breakfast our RIB will run us ashore for today’s objective - ski touring from sea to summit.
- We’ll enjoy full days in this fabulous arctic mountainous region with our guides.
- We eat our packed lunches on the mountain every day, and we’ll typically return to our ship late in the afternoon.
- The chef serves up After Ski on deck on our return with great, varied snacks for us to enjoy.
- On the last day, a local guest who has lived here for the last 23 years, has been invited to give a talk on Svalbard’s very interesting history.
- 19:00 A plentiful dinner buffet is served up, with everything from meat dishes to just-caught fish (if we’re lucky).
- Varje kväll serverar vår kock oss en riklig middagsbuffé på allt från kött till nyfångad fisk (om vi har tur).
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Tuesday, Jun 2nd
- During the night, we’ve arrived back at Longyearbyen harbour
- 07:00 Breakfast buffet is served in the salon
- 09:00 Check-out from M/S Origo, followed by a short walk into Longyearbyen and some free time for sightseeing.
- 12:45 Gather at the museum from where our booked bus transfer takes us to the airport
- 14:45 Take-off from Longyearbyen Airport
- 22:25 Arrive Stockholm Arlanda Airport (via Oslo)
