SAIL AND SKI-MOUNTAINEERING OFF THE BEATEN TRACKS ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

SAIL & SKI

"We are not restricted by roads, size, range or depth. Weather permitting, we enjoy the ultimate freedom to sail, anchor and disembark pretty much anywhere, in a small group, without disruption to the surrounding nature"
Co-Founder and skipper Lionel Lemonchois

Climbing and skiing off the beaten tracks above the Arctic Circle in the Lyngen Alps or daring to reach the northernmost latitudes of the Svalbard – the closest it is feasible to sail and land to the North Pole – you will be exploring genuinely remote domains accessible only by sea, and then only by combining in one team a world class skipper, our IFMGA professional mountain guides and first mate / chef on a highly comfortable and thoroughly prepared boat:

Small group

Limited to 6 guests on our 22m / 73 ft Garcia sailboat, for unhindered space and comfort. The boat is thoughtfully adapted to host and embark-disembark skiers and their gear, making the entire operation smooth and safe.

Remote and magnificent ski terrain

Virtually endless choice of ascent and descent lines thanks to the variety of the domains, excellent snow coverage and quality. Being based on our sailboat, weather permitting we can sail to, anchor and disembark pretty much anywhere.

Thrilling Alpine Experience

You will be guided by our professional IFMGA mountain guides . With more than 10 years of experience in the Lyngen Alps and Svalbard, they provide an intimate understanding of the local weather patterns, snow conditions and lines to opt for the most enjoyable spots in safety.

Prioritizing Safety in Adventure

As we are well into the territory of adventure, we have well established safety protocols aboard and onshore, as well as defined high standards of safety gear.

  • All

  • LYNGEN ALPS

  • SVALBARD

LYNGEN ALPS

The Lyngen peninsula is located above the Arctic Circle, latitude 69N and 70N. It has stupendous scenery, with glaciers between vertical snow-covered peaks reaching 1’800m. The Lyngen peninsula and the numerous islands around it, combined with the flexibility of being based on a sailboat, offer an endless choice of unmarked powder skiing domains overlooking the deep blue fjords. Mid-March to early May allow for balanced conditions and accessibility, with excellent snow coverage and quality provided by the Northern Latitudes and milder weather conditions – temperature and visibility wise – than earlier in the season.

Departures

23
March 2024
fully booked
31
March 2024
fully booked
8
April 2024
fully booked
16
April 2024
fully booked
24
April 2024
fully booked
22
March 2025
SPOTS AVAILABLE
30
March 2025
SPOTS AVAILABLE
7
April 2025
LAST SPOTS
15
April 2025
5 SPOTS
23
April 2025
SPOTS AVAILABLE
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SVALBARD

The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is situated to the north of the Norwegian mainland, latitudes 74N to 81N, between the Greenland Sea and the Barents Sea.
”The northern end of the ocean” mentioned in the 12th century Icelandic chronicles, it is nearest it is feasible to sail and land to the North Pole, the starting point for many of the greatest adventurers that raced to reach the northernmost point on Earth. It remains one of the remote frontiers of the planet.

Departures

11
May 2024
fully booked
18
May 2024
fully booked
25
May 2024
fully booked
1
June 2024
fully booked
10
May 2025
fully booked
18
May 2025
fully booked
26
May 2025
LAST SPOTS
3
June 2025
6 SPOTS
Request Booking

The Lyngen peninsula is located above the Arctic Circle, latitude 69N and 70N. It has stupendous scenery, with glaciers between vertical snow-covered peaks reaching 1’800m. The Lyngen peninsula and the numerous islands around it, combined with the flexibility of being based on a sailboat, offer an endless choice of unmarked powder skiing domains overlooking the deep blue fjords.

Mid-March to early May allow for balanced conditions and accessibility, with excellent snow coverage and quality provided by the Northern Latitudes and milder weather conditions – temperature and visibility wise – than earlier in the season.

We welcome you onboard to comfortably settle in, get acquainted with the crew and boat, check gear and go through safety briefings. The first evening we will be setting sail headed north through the Grøtsund and towards the Ullsfjord, Sorfjord and the Lyngenfjord, a 6 to 8-hour beautiful sailing ground through the fjords under the midnight sun, before we set anchor.

For ski-mountaineering, the peaks range between 800 and 1’500m, scattered between the Lyngen peninsula and a variety of islands, with typical ascents from 4 to 9km, 4 to 8h. Slope gradients are mostly below 25-30 degrees over glacier plateaus, but we can reach as much as 40 degrees and deep powder if we opt for gorges and the steeper lines.

Sailing time between the different anchorages will range from 1h to 3h depending on the selected ski area and weather conditions.

The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is situated to the north of the Norwegian mainland, latitudes 74N to 81N, between the Greenland Sea and the Barents Sea.

”The northern end of the ocean” mentioned in the 12th century Icelandic chronicles, it is nearest it is feasible to sail and land to the North Pole, the starting point for many of the greatest adventurers that raced to reach the northernmost point on Earth.  It remains one of the remote frontiers of the planet.

65% of the archipelago is covered by ice, a rugged cruising area, most spectacular and contrasting. As our guide Daniel Farquharson puts it “One of the magical things about skiing in Svalbard is the constant proximity of glaciers. Everywhere you look, they are calving into the sea. There are few things more magical than skiing down from a summit which meets the sea”

There are no roads connecting inhabited areas, nor the fjords that are the keepers of our preferred ski domains.

The ideal season to reach fjords free of icepack and benefit from best snow conditions begins mid-May and will typically extend to mid or end of June. We will be sailing and skiing the west coast, mainly in both shores of the Kings Bay (itself sheltered from oceanic swell by the 50 nm long Prins Karls island) and the various fjords and shores of Isfjorden.

As we navigate into the fjords, a magnificent array of peaks and glaciers will appear close us, a skier’s dream playground immersed into Arctic scenery. The ski-touring routes involve peaks ranging from 500 to 1’100m and 4h to 8h tours.  

Fauna in the Svalbard is most protected, with 20 natural parcs the home of Arctic wildlife. Gliding silently over water on our sailboat we will approach the wildlife unobtrusively, crossing paths with thousands of birds that migrate in the summer, walruses, bearded seals, whales, deer, polar foxes and with the imposing polar bear.

You will be welcomed back onboard in a cozy and comfortable environment, securely at anchor in a protected bay. Your gear and ski clothing will be taken care of by the crew, making sure they are dry and ready for the next morning.

Getting a rest in your spacious cabins with individual restroom, shower and heating system, or enjoying the views surrounding the anchorage, you will find the environment to relish the day’s experience and properly relax ahead of dinner.

Ours is a culinary experience as well. Our first mate and chef will propose gourmet cuisine and typical local dishes assorted with a selection of quality wines, bearing in mind the nutritional requirements of outdoor activity. To store energy and recover properly we will carefully prepare meal packs with proper nutritional ingredients and hydration to carry with you as you head for your climb, and you will be treated with après-ski recovery snacks that will make you return eagerly onboard.

Evenings onboard become a special time for camaraderie and sharing experiences, planning the anchorages and ski lines along your voyage.