5-Day Ski Touring – 3 Days in Camp & 2 Days by Snowmobile

Five days, two ways to go ski touring – from a wilderness tent camp to ski & snowmobile adventures through the Arctic mountain landscape.

Vast distances, impressive mountains and almost endless possibilities for ski touring – this is Svalbard. What makes it unique is the setting: an open Arctic landscape, only very few people and vast, untouched wilderness stretching as far as the eye can see. And there is something special about being able to say you have skied at 78 degrees north.

For the first three days, we stay in a tent camp in a snowmobile-free area close to Longyearbyen. Here, surrounded by Arctic silence,  we quickly settle into expedition mode, with ski touring possibilities right outside the tent. For the final two days, we strap our skis to the snowmobiles and extend our range – heading to where the snow is best. Five days with Svalbard as our playground, together with one of our experienced ski guides.

The order of activities on this trip is intentional. The mountains around Longyearbyen offer excellent ski touring, and having our wilderness camp as a base allows us to spend three full days in the mountains. Along the way, the group and guide get to know each other and get a feel for the current snow and weather conditions. After the camp, we change the way we access the mountains and use snowmobiles to open up an even wider range of possibilities for our final two ski days. Combining ski touring and snowmobiling is typical of Svalbard and an Arctic twist on ski touring that you will not find in many other places.

Day 1 – Expedition start: Over Trollsteinen to camp

We meet in Longyearbyen in the morning, where we start with an equipment check and go through the plan for the coming days. Everything we need for three days in the mountains is packed and prepared before we set off.

While our luggage, food and camping equipment are transported directly to camp by snowmobile, we set off on skis. Our first objective is Trollsteinen, 850 metres above sea level. On the way up, we move through varied Arctic mountain terrain and cross the snow-covered Larsbreen glacier. It is approximately five kilometres to the summit. From the top, the landscape opens up, with views across glaciers, valleys and the mountains surrounding Longyearbyen.

From here, we leave civilisation behind. Instead of skiing back towards Longyearbyen, we descend the opposite side of the mountain, skiing straight down towards our wilderness camp. By the time we arrive, our luggage is already waiting for us. We set up the tents and prepare camp for the days ahead. This will be our home for the next two nights.

Day 2 – A full day on skis from camp

We wake up already surrounded by mountains. There is no transfer and no drive from town – after breakfast, we can put on our skis and start the day's tour directly from camp.

There are several peaks to choose from close to camp, giving us plenty of options without having to travel far. This flexibility allows us to choose the mountain and route that best suit the conditions on the day.

Ski touring in Svalbard is about more than reaching a summit or finding a good descent. It is also about travelling through a vast, open landscape, where glaciers and wide valleys connect the mountains. There is no tree line here, and the views can stretch for miles. And when the skins are packed away, it is finally time for some great turns back towards camp.

Back at camp, we prepare dinner together and settle into our heated communal tent – a warm place to eat, dry equipment, relax after a full day outside. Life in camp is an important part of the experience, and everyone is expected to share the practical tasks that come with living in tents. We are also travelling in polar bear habitat. For this reason, we maintain a polar bear watch throughout the night, shared between the participants and the guide.

Day 3 – Lars Hiertafjellet and back to Longyearbyen

After breakfast, we prepare for our final day with camp as our base. Our planned objective for the day is Lars Hiertafjellet, 878 metres above sea level. We pack down camp and set off for one final ski tour, making the most of our time during the first part of our trip.

From Lars Hiertafjellet, we can ski down towards Longyearbyen, finishing our three days in the mountains with one last descent. As always, the exact route depends on the current weather, snow and avalanche conditions, and the guide may adjust the plan if necessary.

After three days in the mountains and two nights under canvas, we return to Longyearbyen. If you have booked only the camp, your adventure finishes here. For those continuing with the full five-day programme, two very different – and exciting – ski touring days are still ahead. Now it is time to load the skis onto the snowmobiles.

Day 4 – Ski & Snowmobile: extending our range

After three days exploring the mountains close to Longyearbyen, it is time to increase our range! We strap our skis to the snowmobiles, and this is where the scale of Svalbard really comes into play. The snowmobiles allow us to cover large distances through wide valleys and across the Arctic winter landscape, opening up mountain areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach on a day trip. 

After around an hour of driving, we can already be far from town, surrounded by glaciers, snow-covered peaks and seemingly endless possibilities for skiing. Where we end up depends on the conditions that day. The guide uses his local knowledge to choose the area and mountain.

We park the snowmobiles, click into our skis and continue under our own power. And one descent does not necessarily mean the ski day is over. Depending on the conditions, our chosen terrain and the pace of the group, there may be time for several runs. With the snowmobiles waiting below, we can move on to another slope or mountain and go again. We will return back to Longyearbyen at around 17:00.

Day 5 – One final ski day

On our final day, we head out again with our skis on the snowmobiles and set course for a new valley and a new summit.

We put on our skis and begin the final ski tour of the trip. Once at the top, all that remains is to get ready for the descent – and enjoy a few final turns in Svalbard before heading back towards Longyearbyen.

After five days, we have experienced two very different sides of ski touring in Svalbard: first, the simplicity of living in a wilderness camp and waking up with the mountains right outside the tent; then, the freedom of using snowmobiles to travel further into the landscape and explore new areas. Five days, plenty of vertical metres and hopefully many great new memories.

Difficulty: 4/5
Departure: 29.04. – 03.05.2027
Group size: 4 –10 participants
Minimum age: 18 years; 16 - 17 years upon request
Accommodation included: 2 nights in our wilderness camp

Who is this trip suitable for?

This trip is suitable for experienced ski tourers with good physical fitness who are comfortable skiing in varied snow conditions in ungroom terrain, from wind-packed and icy snow to powder. Experience from skiing on groomed slopes alone is not sufficient. Most of our skiing takes place on slopes below 30°, although we may encounter steeper sections depending on the route and snow conditions.

No technical ski mountaineering skills are required, although ski crampons may be useful on some tours. You should be prepared for long days in the mountains, changing weather and Arctic winter conditions. The focus is on enjoying great ski touring in the Arctic wilderness, exploring untouched mountainsides and sharing the experience with like-minded people.

No previous snowmobile experience is required, but drivers must hold a valid driving licence.

Included in the price

• 5 days with an experienced ski guide
• 3-day Ski Touring Camp
• 2 nights in shared tent in our wilderness camp
• 2 days of ski & snowmobile
• All meals, snacks and drinks in camp
• Warm lunch and hot drinks on the ski & snowmobile days
• Snowmobile, snowmobile clothing and fuel on days 4 and 5
• All transportation related to the trip
• Search and Rescue Insurance

Snowmobile: Drivers must hold a valid driving licence for a car, motorcycle or snowmobile. The snowmobile is insured with a deductible of NOK 10,000.

Minimum group size and booking

The trip consists of our 3-day Ski Touring Camp, followed by two days of ski & snowmobile. The Ski Touring Camp requires a minimum of 4 participants and can also be booked separately. The ski & snowmobile days can be added for NOK 4,500 per person, per day, based on a minimum of 4 participants. If fewer than four participants would like to join the ski & snowmobile days, it may still be possible to arrange them for an additional cost.

If you would like to join the 5-day trip, you can book the 3-day Ski Touring Camp online. We will then add the two ski & snowmobile days to your booking manually. Simply send us an e-mail for that.

Accommodation in Longyearbyen

Accommodation in Longyearbyen is not included in the tour price and needs to be booked separately. We recommend Guesthouse 102 in Nybyen. Guests joining our expeditions receive a 10% discount on private rooms. Send us an e-mail to get the discount code.

Mandatory avalanche equipment*

• Avalanche beacon
• Shovel
• Probe

*Can also be rented from us for NOK 450, -

What to bring

• Touring skis*
• Ski boots
• Poles
• Skins
• Ski crampons – if you have crampons that fit your skis, we recommend bringing them
• Helmet
• Sleeping bag*
• Personal clothing suitable for Arctic winter conditions

A detailed packing list will be sent upon booking.

Ski equipment can be rented for NOK 1,100. Sleeping bags can be rented for NOK 600. We currently do not have ski crampons available for rent.

Important information

On Svalbard, weather, snow conditions and safety considerations always determine where we can go. The itinerary is therefore indicative, and routes and objectives may change at short notice depending on weather, wind, visibility, snow conditions and avalanche risk. The guide chooses tours according to the group's abilities and the current conditions. 

We are also travelling in polar bear habitat. If a polar bear is present close to our camp or in an area where we plan to travel, we will adjust our plans to avoid disturbing the animal and to maintain a safe distance. In rare cases, this may mean moving or leaving the camp and completing the remaining programme as day trips from Longyearbyen instead.