The Lyngen peninsula is located above the Arctic Circle, latitude 69N and 70N. It has stupendous scenery, with glaciers between vertical snow-covered peaks reaching 1’800m. The Lyngen peninsula and the numerous islands around it, combined with the flexibility of being based on a sailboat, offer an endless choice of unmarked powder skiing domains overlooking the deep blue fjords.

Mid-March to early May allow for balanced conditions and accessibility, with excellent snow coverage and quality provided by the Northern Latitudes and milder weather conditions – temperature and visibility wise – than earlier in the season.

We welcome you onboard to comfortably settle in, get acquainted with the crew and boat, check gear and go through safety briefings. The first evening we will be setting sail headed north through the Grøtsund and towards the Ullsfjord, Sorfjord and the Lyngenfjord, a 6 to 8-hour beautiful sailing ground through the fjords under the midnight sun, before we set anchor.

For ski-mountaineering, the peaks range between 800 and 1’500m, scattered between the Lyngen peninsula and a variety of islands, with typical ascents from 4 to 9km, 4 to 8h. Slope gradients are mostly below 25-30 degrees over glacier plateaus, but we can reach as much as 40 degrees and deep powder if we opt for gorges and the steeper lines.

Sailing time between the different anchorages will range from 1h to 3h depending on the selected ski area and weather conditions.

The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is situated to the north of the Norwegian mainland, latitudes 74N to 81N, between the Greenland Sea and the Barents Sea.

”The northern end of the ocean” mentioned in the 12th century Icelandic chronicles, it is nearest it is feasible to sail and land to the North Pole, the starting point for many of the greatest adventurers that raced to reach the northernmost point on Earth.  It remains one of the remote frontiers of the planet.

65% of the archipelago is covered by ice, a rugged cruising area, most spectacular and contrasting. As our guide Daniel Farquharson puts it “One of the magical things about skiing in Svalbard is the constant proximity of glaciers. Everywhere you look, they are calving into the sea. There are few things more magical than skiing down from a summit which meets the sea”

There are no roads connecting inhabited areas, nor the fjords that are the keepers of our preferred ski domains.

The ideal season to reach fjords free of icepack and benefit from best snow conditions begins mid-May and will typically extend to mid or end of June. We will be sailing and skiing the west coast, mainly in both shores of the Kings Bay (itself sheltered from oceanic swell by the 50 nm long Prins Karls island) and the various fjords and shores of Isfjorden.

As we navigate into the fjords, a magnificent array of peaks and glaciers will appear close us, a skier’s dream playground immersed into Arctic scenery. The ski-touring routes involve peaks ranging from 500 to 1’100m and 4h to 8h tours.  

Fauna in the Svalbard is most protected, with 20 natural parcs the home of Arctic wildlife. Gliding silently over water on our sailboat we will approach the wildlife unobtrusively, crossing paths with thousands of birds that migrate in the summer, walruses, bearded seals, whales, deer, polar foxes and with the imposing polar bear.

You will be welcomed back onboard in a cozy and comfortable environment, securely at anchor in a protected bay. Your gear and ski clothing will be taken care of by the crew, making sure they are dry and ready for the next morning.

Getting a rest in your spacious cabins with individual restroom, shower and heating system, or enjoying the views surrounding the anchorage, you will find the environment to relish the day’s experience and properly relax ahead of dinner.

Ours is a culinary experience as well. Our first mate and chef will propose gourmet cuisine and typical local dishes assorted with a selection of quality wines, bearing in mind the nutritional requirements of outdoor activity. To store energy and recover properly we will carefully prepare meal packs with proper nutritional ingredients and hydration to carry with you as you head for your climb, and you will be treated with après-ski recovery snacks that will make you return eagerly onboard.

Evenings onboard become a special time for camaraderie and sharing experiences, planning the anchorages and ski lines along your voyage.