Crossing Svalbard

Crossing Svalbard in the far north of our amazing planet is home to polar bears, frozen landscape and is one of the most unique adventure destinations on the planet.
Do you want cover specific Polar training, Polar navigation, defense against Polar bears, sea ice travel? This is the trip for you. Achieving this crossing in the Arctic will leave you wanting more remote and challenging landscapes like Greenland or Antarctica. This journey to the north reaches of the planet, leads you into a world of cold.
Crossing Svalbard is achieved on ski’s. We will be crossing Svalbard pulling all our equipment in bulks, setting in camps on the wild glaciers that cover the whole Island. To get the most out of our Svalbard crossing trip, we recommend physical training 4/5 times a week and some previous Nordic skiing is necessary and important. Running, walking in the mountains, walking with a backpack or dragging tires is the best way to prepare for this trip. We can also suggest a training program for you.

We have a great team of highly qualified staff, ex-military and special forces to lead the way. From Oslo in Norway you can fly into Longyearbyen and over night in a local guesthouse for a few nights to sort through gear, food and pulks prepared for the 8 day crossing of Svalbard. We will also do a training day on the ice near Longyearbyen. Once the team is ready we will move by snowmobile to the start of the skiing route. We will cover specific Polar training skills, Polar navigation, defense against Polar bears, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Daily Distances

Day 1

You should be looking to arrive in Longyearbyen in Svalbard today. There are flights direct from Oslo Gardermoen to Longyearbyen. We can help you get the right flights into Svalbard. Once arriving you will be picked up from the airport and stay at a guesthouse for two nights. Today is a training day, you can get your ski’s out and warm up the legs for the long crossing of Svalbard. You will also have the chance to go through all your gear, separate group equipment and get your sled/ pulk ready for the following days start on the ski.

Day 2

Today is a training day, you can get your ski’s out and warm up the legs for the long crossing of Svalbard. You will also have the chance to go through all your gear, separate group equipment and get your sled/ pulk ready for the following days start on the ski.

Day 3

Today will travel to the east coast of Svalbard by snowmobile. Once we arrive on the east coast we are underway. This is it, we are skiing! we start making our way back towards Longyearbyen on the west coast.

Day 4

We will be skiing across Svalbard for the next 7 days. We will help you develop specific winter skills for polar and cold weather travel. We will cover a wide range of techniques used in winter snow travel, helping you become more self sufficient in Polar navigation, polar bear safety, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Day 5

We will be skiing across Svalbard. We will help you develop specific winter skills for polar and cold weather travel. We will cover a wide range of techniques used in winter snow travel, helping you become more self sufficient in Polar navigation, polar bear safety, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Day 6

We will be crossing Svalbard. We will help you develop specific winter skills for polar and cold weather travel. We will cover a wide range of techniques used in winter snow travel, helping you become more self sufficient in Polar navigation, polar bear safety, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Day 7

We will be Crossing Svalbard.We will help you develop specific winter skills for polar and cold weather travel. We will cover a wide range of techniques used in winter snow travel, helping you become more self sufficient in Polar navigation, polar bear safety, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Day 8

We will be Crossing Svalbard.We will help you develop specific winter skills for polar and cold weather travel. We will cover a wide range of techniques used in winter snow travel, helping you become more self sufficient in Polar navigation, polar bear safety, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Day 9

We will be Crossing Svalbard.We will help you develop specific winter skills for polar and cold weather travel. We will cover a wide range of techniques used in winter snow travel, helping you become more self sufficient in Polar navigation, polar bear safety, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Day 10

We will be Crossing Svalbard.We will help you develop specific winter skills for polar and cold weather travel. We will cover a wide range of techniques used in winter snow travel, helping you become more self sufficient in Polar navigation, polar bear safety, sea ice travel, camp craft and camping routines.

Day 11

We aim to arrive back in Longyearbyen today. We will sort out all the kit, shower, relax and celebrate our success. We will overnight at the guesthouse in Longyearbyen.

Day 12

Today you will transfer to the airport for your return flight to Olso and onward journey home.

  • A little bit more about the Crossing Svalbard

    This is an action packed week of Polar travel in one of the world’s remote regions. We will make sure that you are prepared both physically and mentally as well as to make sure that you have trained with and bring the necessary gear and equipment that will make your Svalbard crossing an enjoyable and successful adventure.

    Your experience on the unspoiled Svalbard will help you feel like you are at the end of world. No tourist, trails or life. Possibly some Polar bears. The best time to make this journey is March to May. Touring across Svalbard will give you the greatest freedom to see some superb wonders of creation. You will be seals, walrus, arctic foxes, birds and polar bears, while skiing across the marvelous and striking scenery of Svalbard.

    Our expedition consists of 9 days on skis, crossing Svalbard from east to west. You will haul your own equipment in a sled, and share some of the communal group equipment. Every night on the crossing will be spent in tents. This is your chance to learn what it is like to be on tour in winter conditions in the Arctic. This trip is unique in itself but might leave you wanting more. Crossing Svalbard is a perfect ‘stepping stone’ for those looking at completing longer ski journeys, like crossing the Greenland icecap or skiing full distance to the South Pole. The cost of this training start from $5,500




What people said

  • James Green

    Svalbard Crossing 2014

    I have been fascinated with polar travel since my early twenties, read book after book about explorers. I wanted to sample some of that for myself. I found Ian online and his passion was infectious. I initially wanted to climb Kilimanjaro but after talking about my goals, I started planning a Norway training trip and then Svalbard crossing. Svalbard was the great challenge and experience I was looking for. I felt like I was crossing the Antarctic. Cold conditions, Polar bear, ice, mountains and the experience of a lifetime.

  • Francis Myers

    Svalbard Crossing 2014

    Crossing Svalbard was an amazing experience, great set up and service, excellent preparation and training advice. Ian Taylor Trekking’s service was by far the best I have used. Svalbard was not on the cards for me, but after doing some winter skills training in Norway in 2012, I was really keen to develop these skills and experience more winter cold conditions. Svalbard was the place and what a journey. Challenging, fun and a real adventure.

Ready to go?

Does this information excite you to take the next step towards achieving your goals of crossing Svalbard. If so, get in touch today.

We pride ourselves on making sure that our clients have every opportunity to succeed in the mountains, including professional training advice, gear lists and video links on how to pack your bag, and much more.

We are always available to answer any questions you may have by email, phone or skype, so contact us today!

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