Price start from :
$
3,750
Contact Us
08 May 2025 - 15 May 2025
8 Days/7 Nights
Longyearbyen - Longyearbyen
This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered ski techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves ski climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700—850 meters (2,300—2,800 feet) and downhill skiing from those points. Accumulated altitude you might climb over a given day can exceed 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).
Description
Important Note: All plans are just for guidance. The program might change based on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings depend on site availability, permissions, and environmental concerns as per AECO rules.
Introduction
This program is for experienced ski mountaineers who are skilled in both climbing and descending in tough, snowy mountain areas. Each day usually includes climbing mountains that are about 700 - 850 meters (2,300 - 2,800 feet) high and then skiing down from those points. You might climb over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in a single day.
Route and Flexibility
We can't set an exact route ahead of time because of changing weather, sea conditions, wildlife, and avalanche risks. The map shows a possible route in the areas of Kongsfjorden, Isfjord, and the east side of Forlandsundet, but this is just a rough guide. The expedition leader will make the final call on daily changes. Being flexible is very important for this kind of cruise. Ski mountaineers need to bring their own gear.
Possible Regions
- Kongsfjorden
- Isfjord
- East side of Forlandsundet
Highlights You Might Experience
Blue Whale
Barnacle Goose
Beluga Whale
Arctic Skua
Arctic Fox
Arctic Tern
Black Guillemot
Atlantic puffin
Bowhead Whale
Brunnics Guillemot Guillemot
Fulmar
Fin Whale
Bearded Seal
Glaucous Gull
Grey Phalarope
Hooded Seal
Ivory Gull
Harp Seal
King Eider
Killer Whale
Humpback Whale
Kittiwake
Little Auk
Northern Bottlenose Whale
Minke Whale
Pink-footed Goose
Polar Bear
Long-tailed Skua
Ringed Seal
Ptarmigan
Sperm Whale
Walrus
White-Beaked Dolphin
Svalbard reindeer
Activities You might Participate
Cabins and Pricing
Triple Private Porthole
1 upper/lower berth + 1 lower berth
Complete Cabin
USD
11250 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
3750 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Private Inside
1 upper / lower berth
Complete Cabin
USD
8000 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
4000 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Twin Private Porthole
1 upper / lower berth
Complete Cabin
USD
9400 Price for the complete cabin, fully occupied.
Sharing Cabin
USD
4700 Share your cabin with others for the best price.
Map
IMPORTANT
EXCLUDED
INCLUDED
- Flights to the embarkation point and from the disembarkation point.
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Meals ashore.
- Personal health Insurance for Medical, Accident and Repatriation/Evacuating.
- All personal expenses, including but not limited to laundry services, bar beverages, and excess internet usage charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
FAQ
Can I join your trips if I am in a wheelchair or disabled?
- Unfortunately, we're only able to provide voyages to passengers who meet a certain level of physical ability. Rough seas, rugged terrain, and physically demanding weather conditions are all commonly encountered during our voyages, which can at times be challenging even for people in peak physical fitness. The added difficulty of a wheelchair or other physical disability, therefor, could prevent us from making safe and timely shore landings, which in turn may undermine our voyage schedules and potentially put other passengers at risk.
What is the difference between an ice-strengthened ship and an icebreaker ship?
- An ice-strengthened ship is a ship made of steel. These ships are made to get through the ice at Antarctica and the Arctic. Nowadays, most of the ships that cruise to Antarctica and the Arctic are ice-strengthened ships. Ortelius and Plancius are both are ice-strengthened ships. Ortelius has the highest ice-class notation (UL1 equivalent to 1A) and is therefore very suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. Plancius has an ice-class notation of 1D. Icebreakers are needed if there is a trade route to keep ice free, if there are military reasons for patrolling in areas with heavy sea ice or if you need to work in heavy ice conditions, particularly in winter. Icebreakers are expensive to build and very expensive in fuel to run (sometimes powered by gas turbines or a nuclear generator). They are uncomfortable to travel in on the open sea.
What forms of payment do you accept when making a reservation?
- We accept payment via bank transfer, Wise or credit card (Mastercard and Visa). When paying with a credit card, we have to pass on a credit card fee.
What form of payment do you accept on board?
- Aboard Hondius, Ortelius, Plancius, and Rembrandt van Rijn, refreshments and souvenirs will be charged to your cabin. The day before disembarking, you can settle your bill with the hotel manager and pay by Visa or MasterCard, Diners Club/Discover, Union Pay, or cash (Euro or USD). The prices and standard currency on board all of our vessels is the Euro.
What is the temperature and weather like in Svalbard?
- The weather in Spitsbergen differs per area and location. Although snow can occur throughout the year in Svalbard, the North Atlantic Current helps provide Svalbard with warmer temperatures than many other areas within similar latitudes. However, strong winter breezes, low pressure and the combination of wet sea air and cold polar air can lead to rapidly changing weather conditions, especially during the winter months. During the winter season, the temperature in Spitsbergen can can drop to -16 to -12 degrees Celsius (3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit). Adding in the wind chill factor means the weather can feel much colder. July is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius (37 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit). We therefore recommend that you bring a variety of warm clothes for your Spitsbergen cruise.
What wildlife can I see in Spitsbergen?
- Your cruise to Spitsbergen will come with an enormous amount of opportunity to spot wildlife. Polar bears are obviously the main attraction regarding wildlife. There are six national parks throughout Spitsbergen, and Svalbard alone is known to contain, Polar bears, reindeer, Arctic fox, numerous birds (such as guillemots and little auks) and several high Arctic seal species inhcluding the iconic Walrus. You might also encounter a variety of whales including the largest of them all: the Blue whale.
Will there be a fuel surcharge for my trip?
- We reserve the right to apply a fuel surcharge. If a fuel surcharge is applicable, you will be informed. Please see our Terms and Conditions section 4.2 for details.
When was the Rembrandt van Rijn built?
- The sailing vessel Rembrandt van Rijn was originally built as a herring lugger in 1947, then rebuilt in the Netherlands in 1994.
What will be provided during the ski mountaineering excursion?
Basic mountaineering equipment for glacier travel will be provided free of charge: ropes, carabineers, harnesses and ice axes.
For whom is the ski mountaineering activity organized?
This activity is only for experienced ski mountaineers who want to reach some of the higher peaks we visit during our polar expeditions.
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