Arctic Circle Expedition
Overview
| Prior experience? | None required |
| Departure date: | 2023 FULLY BOOKED 2024:11th-18th Feb |
| Duration: | 8 days (incl. travel), 6 days on snow |
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Maximum group size: | 12 participants |
| Full costs: | €2,490 + flights (€450). Fees payable in installments |
| Additional costs: | Flights, Travel Insurance, any additional excursions |
Highlights
- High above the Arctic Circle
- Based in a remote cabin
- Back Country Skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Camping in the Arctic winter
- Northern Lights potential
- Stunning sunsets
What’s included
- All in-country fees.
- Pre-departure training in advance of the trip
- All specialist equipment hire: skis/sleeping bags/jackets etc
- All meals
- Internal transfers
- Accommodation
- Expert tuition & guiding
Arctic circle Expedition
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to push yourself, learn new skills and survive the extreme cold of the arctic regions. Arctic Circle Expedition.
2024 dates now available: 11th to 18th Feb 2024.
We believe in small groups where everyone gets the chance to learn plenty of new skills. Business experts might say that it’s counterproductive but our aim is to get you to a level where you have can undertake your own expeditions having learned the necessary skills, confidence, and ability to risk assess.
We provide all specialist equipment required: -26 degree sleeping bags, sleeping mats, jackets, mitts, skis, ski boots, poles and more. We don’t want you having to purchase the equipment you may not use again or will get very little use from in the future.
Covid Promise: if we have to cancel this expedition due to covid restrictions we will refund all our fees.
Zoom briefing and training day in Wicklow in advance of the trips is included, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the guides and get hands-on with some of the kit.
Flights: you can book your own online but we recommend you use our travel partner. If you book your own online make sure that package is included in the price as many comparison sites do not include this.
Our Arctic Circle Expedition gives you the opportunity to spend 6 days on the snow. We move on back-country skis with an opportunity to snowshoe also. You don’t need any experience, our expert guides are there to support you in your learning. Your main objective is to learn the skills required to spend a night camping out in the Arctic Winter. We will pull all our kit on sleds as we ski to the campsite. Full costs for this expedition are: €2,490 + flights (approx €450). This includes all meals, internal transfers, accommodation and all specialist equipment hire: snowshoes, down jackets, arctic sleeping bags etc. Click below to reserve your space today. You can pay the balance in installments.
Arctic circle Expedition: Accommodation
Our experiences are based in a cozy cabin in Northern Scandinavia. Expect rustic hostel-style accommodation in mixed bunk rooms. Daily chores are part of the expedition team experience.
Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Tromso Airport to accommodation, evening welcome & dinner.
Day 2: Safety Briefing followed by a presentation on how to stay warm in extreme environments.
Introduction to back-country skiing, the basics
Lunch at the cabin
Introduction to snowshoeing
Day 3: Ski to a remote shelter for lunch. Skills sessions en-route.
Day 4: Longer ski and snowshoe day, taking a pulk (sled) with us for pulling practice.
Day 5: (Bad weather day) Prep for overnight- tents, stoves and packing pulks.
Day 6: Depart on skis to a remote arctic campsite.
Day 7: Return to cabin. Dry kit. Farewell dinner.
Day 8: Depart.
This is everyone’s number 1 concern! You don’t need to be super fit but the fitter you are the more you’ll get from it. You need to be able for 5-6 continual days of activity. Each day gets harder than the previous. Imagine going for a short walk today, then tomorrow doing something a bit longer and the after a bit more again and so on.
8 Days for the Expedition. The first day will be spent traveling to Northern Scandinavia, 250km north of the Arctic Circle. We then have 6 days on the snow. The last day is spent traveling back home.
No experience is necessary but fitness is important. It would certainly help but we don’t expect everyone to have experience. Back-country skiing is different than downhill. The skis are much narrower and you wear what feels like a chunky hiking boot. It’s more about technique and efficiency than speed. Full tuition will be provided over the first 4 days on the Arctic Circle Expedition.
Included in your expedition fees is the hire of specialist cold weather clothing and sleeping bags. You’ll need to bring thermal clothing, warm fleeces, a hat and gloves, boots etc. More details will be provided on our training sessions, however, we are endeavoring to cover as many costs as possible in the expedition fees so you won’t have to invest in specialist equipment.
We have space for 10 to 12 participants.
The expedition fees are €2,490. Flights are extra. You can arrange your own flights but it’s important to note that unless you do so through a travel agent you will have very little support if there are problems with flights. You can fly from Ireland, UK or anywhere in the world but we ask that you are on the flight into Tromso on day of arrival. Please note that there will only be one transfer provided to and from Tromso to our accommodation.
Insurance (see below).
Warm clothing, outdoor boots, etc this is all kit you probably have already, if not we can advise on how to best purchase, we offer all participants a 15% discount in our store.
It is essential that all participants take out additional insurance for the expedition. This should cover repatriation to your home country and rescue fees. Let us know if you need details on insurance companies. Your policy must cover Europe and have ‘guided cross-country skiing as an activity. We also advise that you apply for your EHIC (formally E11). As this is serious undertaking participants must be aware that the risk of cold injuries and ski-related injuries is higher.
Lead Guide is Ronan Mullen who has worked in the outdoors professionally for over 25 years. Ronan is an extreme weather expert and has explored many areas in Scandinavia, Morocco, the Alps and beyond. He is also European Expert in Mountain Rescue. Renowned Outdoor Chef and Guide Kieran Creevy will also be joining us. Ronan is a Level II Arctic Guide and both Ronan and Kieran and International Mountain Leaders, highly qualified to lead groups all over the world. Arctic Circle Expedition.
The expedition will be based in a cosy cabin heated by wood stoves. The accommodation can be best described as hostel-style, with communal bunk rooms. There is a toilet indoors and another in a building outside. There is running water and basic showering facilities.
This expedition is no walk in the park, you will need to be fit but you have time to build your fitness and we will provide you with a personalised fitness program to get you ready.
‘Brilliant trip, great fun and got me to the point where i can now push on to longer trips and ski independently with confidence. Couldn’t have ask for more!’
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