Ski touring in Spitsbergen, Svalbard

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Friday 5th May in Oslo mid-afternoon for the flight to Longyearbyen

Very comfortable sailing ship, with fully equipped twin berths cabins with hot and

cold water and a 220v powerpoint, showers and toilets. Below deck saloon and galley, upper deck

lounge and open bar. Three course evening meal, breakfast with freshly baked bread, cakes and snacks.

Large viewing deck outside.

The price is per person excluding flights. Flights are approximatively €500 from the main European cities to Longyearbyen via Oslo. We are going to travel with SAS from Geneva to Oslo and Longyearbyen, Companies NORWEGIAN or SAS. You can of course book flights from other airports

Although the guide ratio is 1:6, we can be up to 18 participants with 3 guides on the boat!

- Formalities: Passport valid for more than 6 months for EU citizens.

- Porterage: All skiing days are completed with a backpack.

- Local transports: Minibus or taxis for all ground transfers, zodiacs to go ashore.

- Payment: €1850 at booking. The balance of €2000 to be paid at least one month before departure.

- Technical equipment included: an avalanche transceiver (ARVA) and mountain harness, basic group pharmacy. The rest of the equipment is not included.

- All meals in general are included. Not included: personal drinks and snacks to be taken while skiing (dried fruits, nuts, cereal bars, energy bars or drinks, chocolate…), drinks at the ship’s open bar, dinner and drinks in Longyearbyen on the first night.

- Insurance: We recommend that you to take out insurance "Cancellation - Emergency Assistance - Repatriation" of the type offered by the "French Alpine Club", “Ski Club of Great Britain” or the “British Mountaineering Council”, even if the payment with certain credit cards may offer partial insurance.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

- Backpack: You will use this bag for cabin luggage on the plane and each day skiing. The bag should not be large (approximately 30 litres) and it should contain heavy or fragile items and items that you may need between check-in at the departure airport and arrival at the destination airport. For example: cameras, jacket, books, magazines, personal medication, toiletries, etc. We strongly recommend that you carry your ski boots with you in the cabin in this bag or another shoe bag. During the trip you will use this

backpack every day – it will contain all you need while skiing and your picnic lunch. The guide will tell you what you will need to take with you at each stage.

- Check-in bag: This bag will be checked in at the airport. During the stay in Spitsbergen it will remain on the boat in your cabin and contains the material that you won’t be using during the day. The bag should not weigh more than 20 kgs (in accordance with the airlines’ luggage allowance). Skis are usually subject to a supplement for oversize luggage. We ask you to adhere strictly to the weight allowance for luggage.

- Ski equipment: Touring skis with touring bindings, “skins”, “couteaux”, crampons, standard ski poles, ski touring boots with Vibram sole (recommended). We will lend you mountain harnesses and an ARVA.

- Clothing: Dress in the system we call ‘three layers”: Base layer in a synthetic, moisture wicking fibre (but not cotton). A second layer comprising polar fleeces or pullovers and/or a sleeveless or sleeved down vest (bring 2 top layers and 1 bottom layer). The third layer is a windbreaker (top and bottom). These are garments made of microporous fabric such as Gore Tex (trousers with a side zip opening will provide better ventilation during the climb). Three pairs of wool or terry socks, ski gloves, mittens, sweatshirts, ski hat, cap.

- Personal medical kit: Any medicines you take normally, vitamin C or multi-vitamins, painkillers - aspirin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or similar, Imodium and Ganidan or similar, an 8-day course of broadspectrum antibiotics (on prescription), anti-inflammatories, stretchy self-adhesive bandage

(Elastoplast), a selection of plasters and disinfectant compresses and second skin or Compeed (protection against blisters available in chemists).