Coast to Coast, skiing across the Arctic Wilderness

Departure dates :

April 22nd and 25th, 2027

The expedition starts with a snowmobile transfer from Longyearbyen to Tempelfjorden. We drive about 65 kilometres, and even though the ski trip hasn’t begun yet, the wilderness experience most certainly has! It is a beautiful ride. Your guide decides the best drop-off location at Tempelfjorden and we are on our own once we arrive. When the motor sound of the returning snowmobiles has faded out, it is just endless, snow-covered wilderness around us. We put on our skis and set course for the east.

Throughout our journey towards the east, our route takes us past massive glaciers, with beautiful nunataks like Panoramaberget and Skinnluva which press up from the ice. Nunatak is a Inuit word, and means ‘mountain which comes through a glacier’. They are free from ice, since the snow on them gets blown away, and they stay pointy since the ice cannot reach them to wear them down. Around the nunataks, however, the ice can be several hundred metres thick.

Sleep in tents, we will take shifts during the night to do polar bear watch. Since the sun never sets at this time of year, you will get a truly unique experience of the midnight sun, sitting awake and taking in this peaceful moment.

On the last day, we arrive at the east coast: one of the locations with a great chance to spot wildlife. Here we get transferred back to Longyearbyen with the snowmobile.

Itinerary

Please note that you must be in Longyearbyen the day before the program starts.

Day 1

Your guide will meet you and your fellow expedition members at the hotel reception at 10:00 am. We then head down to our expedition centre to prepare for the upcoming adventure together. Your guide will give the group a thorough briefing, and introduction to the use of the camp kitchen, equipment, pulkas and tents – before packing everything ready for our adventure into the wilderness.

We will be transported by snowmobile from Longyearbyen to Tempelfjorden – where we embark on our expedition, heading East towards the Von Postbreen glacier. This is where we will set up camp for the night.

Day 2

We will generally break camp at around 09:00 am each day, and set up a new camp at 4:00–5:00 pm. This means that every day will be a full day of skiing, but we will make some stops along the way to eat, drink, and enjoy the majestic landscape.

Today we continue up and across the massive glacier Von Postbreen. Up at the pass, we will reach 659 m above sea level. As we head to the east, our route takes us past massive glaciers, with beautiful mountains which press up from the ice. We will set up camp for the night at the pass at Panoramaberget, which has a fantastic view of Von Postbreen.

Day 3

Today’s stretch will take us down the glacier, Hayesbreen, and we will make our last camp at the base of it. If we are lucky, we may see the King of the Arctic – the polar bear – somewhere in the distance.

Day 4

On the fourth and last day, we will reach the coastline again. We arrive at the bay Mohnbukta, where we follow the massive glacier front. This is a really impressive natural experience. Around lunchtime, we will be met by our kind colleagues on snowmobiles, who will give us a ride back to Longyearbyen again.

Please note: All times can be changed. The program may be adjusted on short notice, should weather or snow conditions require it. The tempo of the expedition will be set according to the conditions and the participants’ physical strength.