Spitsbergen South to North
The full length expedition
Skiing the length of Spitsbergen — from the southern tip to the northernmost cape — is the biggest challenge in the Svalbard archipelago. From sea ice to glaciers, valleys to polar plateaus, the terrain shifts almost daily. So does the weather.You will pass standing trapper huts and old whaling sites, ski through some of the most pristine country left in the high Arctic, and cross polar bear ground from start to finish. By the end, you'll have crossed 80° North under your own steam.
Duration: 30–34 days on the ice, plus travel and preparation days
Distance: Approximately 570 km on skis with pulks (around 6,000 m of elevation change)
Group size: 1 guide and up to 6 participants
Departure point: Longyearbyen, Svalbard
End point: Verlegenhuken (northernmost point of Spitsbergen), pick-up back to Longyearbyen
Dates 2027:Trip 1 — meet-up Wednesday 10 March 2027 (fully booked)
Trip 2 — meet-up Tuesday 16 March 2027 (spaces available)Price: NOK 147,500 per person (deposit NOK 20,000)
EXPEDITION FACTS
Expedition Details
We meet in Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard. The next day and a half is spent on final preparations and packing, before we are driven by snowmobile to Liestølbreen glacier, at the edge of South Spitsbergen National Park.
From there, the first job is to ski 120 km south to Sørneset — the lowest point of latitude on Spitsbergen. We are one of the very few outfits who start the crossing from the southernmost point of the island. This is where a proper, complete south-to-north traverse begins.
The Route
Once we reach Sørneset, we turn the skis 180 degrees and head north. Ahead lies a 480 km route through wild, rugged country — mountain passes, icefalls, sea ice, and polar plateaus. The weather runs from mild low-pressure systems to crisp, cold days. Expect snowstorms and hard wind, and also days of strange, otherworldly calm in one of the last great frontiers on the planet.
WEEK BY WEEK
Week 1. Get to Sørneset. The starting point sits 120 km south of the snowmobile drop-off on Liestølbreen.
Week 2. Head north across the sea ice of Isbukta, or tackle the icefall at Isryggpasset depending on conditions. The goal by the end of the second week is to return to the edge of the South Spitsbergen National Park, where we also collect the food and fuel depot we left earlier.
Week 3. Sleds get lighter, bodies stronger, routines sharper. We pass the old Svea mine site and head for the Lomonosov plateau. If we're on schedule and the forecast is with us, we may attempt to summit Newtontoppen — at 1,717 m, the highest peak in the Svalbard archipelago.
Week 4. Onto the mighty Veteran Glacier, which opens the gate to the vast Asgardfonna. We make a short stop at the historic Polheim hut — the name means "Home at the Pole" in Norwegian — and then ski the last half-marathon out to Verlegenhuken, the northernmost point of Spitsbergen. Coffee, chocolate, and a wait for the pick-up. Then back to Longyearbyen for a warm shower and a tasty burger at Kroa :-)
This timeline is conservative. If weather and conditions are good, we may finish earlier than planned — and occasionally later. Return tickets that can be changed are a good idea.
SAFETY
The route includes partly roped travel across glaciers, with full crevasse protocol on the major sections. Polar bear protocol applies throughout the trip — Spitsbergen is bear country from end to end. Satellite communications run for the duration. The guide carries the safety rifle required by Svalbard regulations.
TRAINING AND PREPARATION
This is a serious expedition, and to enjoy it to the full you need to arrive prepared. How to prepare varies from trip to trip and person to person, so we provide individual training advice where it's needed.
As a general benchmark: you should be able to carry a 20 kg backpack for 8 hours, several days in a row. That's an easy thing to measure. Actual training is a mix of cycling, jogging, gym work, hiking with a pack, and tyre-pulling. It isn't where you train that matters, but that you train. The more hours, the better.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
An experienced guide. All general equipment: tents, navigation, sleds, pulling harness, communications, and the safety essentials including polar bear protection. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the moment we leave town until we are back. And all the advice you can use in the build-up. Just call :-)
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Travel to and from Longyearbyen
Food and accommodation in Longyearbyen before and after — choose what suits you, though we're happy to recommend where we stay
Personal equipment: underwear, jacket, trousers, socks, hoods and mittens, sleeping bag and mattress, personal bags, skis and boots, thermos, drink bottles, cutlery
Travel, cancellation, and medical evacuation insurance — these are required
If you have allergies or intolerances, let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly. Any unforeseen delays, weather, or route changes may also lead to extra cost.
MEALS
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included from the moment we leave civilisation until we are back in town. Breakfast is Børge's enriched porridge plus coffee or tea. Lunch and snacks during the day come in many short stops — we eat and drink small amounts often, rather than one long break. Dinner is Real Turmat / DryTech expedition food.
Note: this trip includes lunch (most other trips don't), since the length of the expedition makes it impractical to expect participants to carry 30+ days of their own snacks.
SIGNING UP / DEPOSIT / INVOICE
The Booking Form gives you a place in the queue. We then send a deposit invoice — non-refundable per our Travel Conditions. Once paid, your place is confirmed. Three months before the start, we send the final invoice with the remaining balance.