noorderlicht polar bear cruise

Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen - Ski & Sail

  • Overview
    This ski & sail expedition in Spitsbergen will be carried out by the sailing vessel Noorderlicht. These beautiful vessel will bring you to the remotest places around Spitsbergen where you can climb snow covered alpine mountains and ski downhill. The Ski & Sail program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who can master skiing techniques in ascent and descent in challenging snow covered alpine terrain. A typical day will involve ski climbs on mountain tops which are in average 700-850 m high and downhill skiing from there (actual accumulated altitude climbed over the course of a day can exceed 1000 m and more).
    Duration: 8 days
    Passengers: 20 passengers
    Embarkation Point: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
    Disembarkation Point: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
    Physical rating: Soft Adventure
    Fly/Cruise: Cruise only
    Single Supplement: 1.7x twin rate or share options
  • Itinerary
    • Day 1 - Longyearbyen, Svalbard; Embarkation Day

      After arriving in Longyearbyen, the ‘capital’ (actually the administrative centre) of Spitsbergen, you may wish to visit the Svalbard Museum which has an interesting collection on the history of Spitsbergen, the mining industry and polar exploration In the evening we sail, setting course for Trygghamna where we will see the remains of a 17th century English whaling station and an 18th century Pomor hunting station, which we will visit the next morning.

    • Day 2/7 - Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen - Ski & Sail

      The Ski & Sail program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who can master skiing techniques in ascent and descent in challenging snow covered alpine terrain.

      A typical day will involve ski climbs on mountain tops which are in average 700-850 m high and downhill skiing from there (actual accumulated altitude climbed over the course of a day can exceed 1000 m and more). An accurate routing cannot be determined in advance because weather, sea conditions and avalanche situation will influence the final layout of the program which will be in the benefit of all passengers onboard.

      The map outlines a possible (but not final) route in the greater region Kongsfjorden, Isfjord and Prins Karls Forland. This route plan serves as a rough guide only. The (ski) program and the itinerary of the vessel will be adjusted to the prevailing conditions, thus the daily program may differ considerably from the illustrated directions sketched.

      The complete program (at sea and on land) is dependent on the local weather, sea ice and snow conditions, the availability of landing sites, encounters with wild animals (polar bears) on land, and the avalanche situation.

      On board the ship the expedition leader makes the final decision on the necessary program adjustments on the day of the excursion. Flexibility is paramount in expedition cruises. Ski mountaineers bring their own equipment.

    • Day 8 - Longyearbyen, Svalbard; Disembarkation

      Departure by scheduled flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo.

    Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your captain and expedition leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.

  • Adventure Activities

    Ski Mountaineering

    Ready to go further? Gain higher vistas? Explore where almost nobody has ever gone before? Our ski mountaineering excursions will take you where you want to go. You’ll explore rugged peaks and majestic mountains in a rugged fjord system.

    ​This special interest will appeal to ski mountaineers, snowshoe hikers and nature lovers. Ski mountaineering will be led by officially recognized mountain guides and parallel to that we offer snowshoe walking to non-skiers.

    USD$ 440 per person

    Endless Arctic nights

    Svalbard is the Arctic North as you always dreamed it existed. This wondrous archipelago is a land of dramatic snow-drowned peaks and glaciers, of vast icefields and forbidding icebergs, an elemental place where the seemingly endless Arctic night and the perpetual sunlight of summer carry a deeper kind of magic. One of Europe's last great wildernesses, this is also the domain of more polar bears than people, a terrain rich in epic legends of polar exploration.

    The Polar Bear

    To many people, the polar bear is the Arctic. The sight of such an impressive silky white bear wandering the frozen Arctic seas in search of seals symbolizes the cold, isolated nature of the Arctic so well. Polar bears are marine mammals because they spend so much of their lives away from land. In the high Arctic where there is always some sea ice to travel on, polar bears range over ice floes in the pack ice hunting seals all summer. In some areas (e.g. southern Hudson Bay, southern Svalbard) they are simply forced to come ashore. Polar bears rarely venture inland.

  • Inclusions

    All meals on board

    Onboard your expedition all meals are included and prepared by our chefs. Meals are prepared to a restaurant standard and to cater for most diet requirements.

    All Zodiac excursions

    During the course of your expedition, you will have direct access to our onboard expedition team. Our expedition team members are a wealth of information, they have backgrounds in exploration or science based backgrounds. Our teams will usually comprise of naturalists, historians, geologists and ornithologists.

    Your expedition team members will expertly guide you off the ship and provide you with firsthand knowledge about the geology and wildlife of the region. Back onboard the vessel, team members hold lectures about their studies or the wildlife that was seen during the course of the day.

    Inclusions / Exclusions

    Included in your Expedition

    - Comprehensive pre-departure material
    - AECO and government fees
    - Port taxes
    - Free use of rubber expedition boots
    - All shore excursions and lectures
    - All accommodation and meals on board

    Not included in your Expedition

    - Arrival and departure taxes
    - Pre and post-cruise travel
    - Any airfare whether scheduled or charter flights
    - Internet / Wifi & Phone
    - Beverages
    - Passport & Visa expenses
    - Gratuities
    - Laundry
    - Mandatory waterproof gear not provided
    - Baggage / cancellation / interruption and medical travel insurance
  • Map
    Screen shot 2017 06 28 at 1.53.48 pm
  • Gallery
  • Vessel

    NOORDERLICHT

    The ‘Noorderlicht’ was originally built in 1910 in Flensburg, Germany as a three-masted schooner. For most of her existence she served as a light-vessel on the Baltic. In 1991 the present owners purchased the hull and re-rigged and refitted her thoroughly, under the rules of “Register Holland”. The ‘Noorderlicht’ now has a well-balanced two-masted schooner rig and is capable of sailing the seven seas, and is therefor well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offer good open deck viewing areas, also when under sail. The 2 inflatable rubber crafts (zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas. The qualified captains have a great experience of the oceans. Together with the rest of the crew, they will do everything possible to ensure that you have a wonderful and unforgettable journey. The ‘Noorderlicht’ provides accommodation for 20 travellers in comfortable twin cabins. All cabins have upper and lower berths, a cupboard and wash basin with hot and cold water. Shared shower (4) and toilet (5) facilities are conveniently located. All cabins have a small hatch in the ceiling which vary in size, except cabin 6 which has a small, locked porthole in the ceiling but ventilation slots in the door. On occasion and depending on weather situation those hatches will be opened by the crew to allow fresh air ventilation of the complete lower deck (including cabin 6) while passengers go ashore.

    Features & Facilities
    • Sailing ship
    • Observation decks
    • galley
    Key Facts
    Luxury star rating: 3
    Guests #: 20
    Crew #: 5
    Ice Class:
    Speed: 7
    Refurbished:
    Technical Specs
    Year built:
    Length: 46m
    Width: 6
    Draft:
    Tonnage: 300
    Registry: Netherlands
    Elec Outlets: 220V / 2 Round Pin
Check Voyage Dates, Pricing and Availability
All available dates
Ready to book your expedition?

We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.

  • Confirm your booking today with just USD$ 1,000 per passenger.
  • Pay your 25% deposit 5 day later.
  • Final payment due 120 days prior to departure.

Twin Shared Inside

29 Apr 2018 - 06 May 2018
USD$ 3,050pp
USD$ 3,050pp