SPITSBERGEN
Sailing trip to Spitsbergen: skiing, boating and Arctic exploration
Embark on an adventure to Spitsbergen, the jewel of the Svalbard archipelago, aboard an expedition sailboat
Spitsbergen Cruise – between sailing and hiking in the heart of the Arctic
Embark on a one-of-a-kind Spitsbergen cruise aboard a comfortable sailboat designed as a true floating refuge. Far from the typical tourist routes, these expeditions combine sailing and ski touring in Spitsbergen, offering total immersion in one of the Arctic’s wildest territories.
Each sailing expedition to Spitsbergen with KAMAK is designed to maximize discovery while remaining flexible to weather and glacial conditions.
Spitsbergen Cruise: An Arctic Immersion
Daily landings allow for exploration of Svalbard on skis or on foot. Hikes in Svalbard are tailored to the group’s abilities and the terrain. They offer the opportunity to walk in pristine, silent nature, along glacial fronts, or to reach summits offering spectacular panoramic views of the fjords.
Spitsbergen Expeditions 2026
Spitsbergen Spring - Ski Mountaineering Touring #1
From April 23 to 30, 2026
- 8 days / 7 nights, 6 days of skiing
A discovery trip, combining skiing and sailing.
Starting and finishing in Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen Spring - Ski Mountaineering Touring #2
From May 1st to 8th, 2026
- 8 days / 7 nights, 6 days of skiing
A discovery trip, combining skiing and sailing.
Starting and finishing in Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen Spring - Ski Mountaineering Touring #3
From May 9 to 17, 2026
- 8 days / 7 nights, 6 days of skiing
A discovery trip, combining skiing and sailing.
Starting and finishing in Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen Spring - Ski Mountaineering Touring #4
From May 18 to 31, 2026
- 14 days / 13 nights, 12 days of skiing
- €6400
A special discovery stay led by Jean BOUCHET , combining skiing and sailing over a period allowing for a variety of exploration.
Starting and finishing in Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen Spring - Ski Mountaineering Touring #5
From June 1st to 14th, 2026
- 14 days / 13 nights, 12 days of skiing
- €6400
A special discovery stay led by Jean BOUCHET , combining skiing and sailing over a period allowing for a variety of exploration.
Starting and finishing in Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen Summer - Hiking and Exploration #1
From June 15 to 26, 2026
- 12 days / 11 nights, 10 days of hiking
- €4900
A nature hiking trip in a paradise for observing Arctic wildlife.
Starting and finishing in Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen Summer - Hiking and Exploration #2
From June 27 to July 8, 2026
- 12 days / 11 nights, 10 days of hiking
- €4900
A nature hiking trip in a paradise for observing Arctic wildlife.
Starting and finishing in Longyearbyen
🧳 Practical information:
The price includes:
- Navigation and use of the boat
- The trip will be led by Jean Bouchet, a high-mountain guide, or a partner guide.
- The full crew (2 skippers + cook)
- Full board (meals, wines and moderate drinks)
- Safety equipment
- Equipment for shore excursions (zodiac, kayaks)
The price does not include:
- International flights and transfers
- Insurance (cancellation, repatriation)
- Personal expenses and hard liquor
- Individual ski touring equipment
An Arctic climate tempered by the Gulf Stream
Spitsbergen represents the Arctic crown of Norway. Located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, one might assume that the climate there is extremely cold. Thanks to the warm current extending from the Gulf Stream, Svalbard enjoys a surprisingly mild climate, despite its position north of the Arctic Circle. The weather remains very changeable, but the seasons are well-defined.
Exceptional and protected wildlife
The archipelago is home to a rich and diverse Arctic fauna, protected by 20 nature reserves and 7 national parks, covering more than 65% of the territory. Walruses have been protected here since 1952 and polar bears since 1973, an unmistakable symbol of Svalbard. Here, every day offers the possibility of an encounter with iconic wildlife – reindeer, walruses, seabirds, and even polar bears.
Spectacular landscapes of Northwest Spitsbergen
Between mountains, fjords and glaciers, the Northwest of Spitsbergen offers spectacular landscapes:
- fjords bordered by ice fronts,
- icebergs drifting at sea,
- jagged peaks and alpine valleys.
It was this impressive relief that inspired Willem Barents in 1596, when he gave these lands the name Spitzberg, meaning “pointed mountains”.
Possible starting points
Cruises generally depart from Longyearbyen, the small capital of Spitsbergen, before heading to different areas depending on conditions and the season:
- The west coast, more sheltered and rich in wildlife.
- The great glacial fjords of the south.
- The open landscapes of the north, wilder and more isolated.
An experience somewhere between navigation and exploration
The cruise alternates between sailing and hiking on land. Each evening, the sailboat anchors in a calm bay, offering a unique atmosphere for admiring the ever-changing Arctic light. These expeditions combine the adventure of a Svalbard cruise with the close-up experience of polar landscapes offered by ski touring or hiking—an ideal combination for discovering this extraordinary region.
Svalbard, a unique place to observe polar bears
Svalbard is one of the best places on earth to photograph polar bears in their natural habitat. The intimate size of the boat allows for close-up observations that would be impossible on a larger, traditional cruise. In the land of seals, walruses, reindeer, and polar bears, every sea voyage offers unique moments. You will be able to observe up close:
- Arctic reindeer,
- Arctic foxes,
- polar bears,
- walruses and seals,
- as well as thousands of seabirds nesting on the cliffs
In the evening, this observation is enhanced by the midnight sun which skims the horizon, dressing nature in a very special light.
Life on board
KAMAK can accommodate 10 passengers on board, in addition to the crew (3 sailors including 1 cook)