North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail

Hiking and sailing on historic Rembrandt van Rijn

For guests who want the most intimate firsthand experience of the Arctic, this activity is designed specifically for them. Our Hike & Sail Rembrandt van Rijn voyages allow you to explore the coasts and inlands of the ruggedly beautiful, wildlife-rich landscapes of north Spitsbergen.

Not only will you enjoy the intimate atmosphere on board, but along the way you may encounter such iconic species as reindeer, Arctic foxes, and a variety of seabirds.

How does the hiking activity work?

Our experienced expedition guides divide participants into two groups of no more than 33 people, based on interests and physical fitness. Local conditions permitting, guides will then lead one to two hikes per day, ranging from two to three hours in the morning and/or afternoon.

How physically demanding are the hikes?

We aim to ascend and descend approximately 200 meters (650 feet) of altitude per day, depending on the area. There are no paths where we hike, so you will be traveling over rugged terrain and small hills. You do not need to be an expert hiker, but good health and stamina are required. For safety reasons, guides may remove guests from hiking groups if they feel their health is in question.

Do I need to bring any special gear?

We will provide snowshoes if required, but we recommend you bring sturdy ankle-high hiking boots and gaiters. Hiking poles with snow plates are also required.

Are the hikes safe?

Yes, all hikes are in pre-scouted areas far from dangerous terrain. The guides who accompany hiking groups are always armed with rifles and keep a constant lookout for polar bears.

Please note: local conditions determine the program

As with all our itineraries and activities, the final program is entirely dependent on local weather, wildlife, and the general safety conditions as assessed by the expedition leader. The route map in the itinerary outlines a possible but not final plan.

Snowshoeing in the Arctic and Antarctica

There really is no better way to take in a new place than by exploring it on foot. With that in mind Oceanwide Expeditions offers you the chance to explore your way inland from the Polar shorelines with a wide variety of snowshoeing expeditions built for everyone. From the casual explorer to the hard-core snowshoe-er.

Do I need to be experienced? How physically fit do I need to be?

For the basic walks you just need to be in reasonably good shape and health. The snowshoe activities last usually somewhere between 2 and 6 hours. Keep in mind that there are no paths and that you will be travelling over fairly rugged terrain and will be taking on some hills.

There are usually 1 to 3 different types of walks offered per landing ranging from a casual stroll to a challenging hike. In the Antarctic the longest hike takes about 2 hours while in the Arctic the longest hike can last a full day (we send you off with a packed lunch).

We do reserve the right to suggest that a passenger try another activity if it seems like they will not be able to enjoy a particular hike. This is done partly for the enjoyment of the other passengers and partly for safety concerns – if there is a health incident there is no help beyond basic first aid in the vicinity.

Our experienced guides will be able to recommend a particular hike to you based on your fitness level. If you have any questions at all about your health or skills please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, we’d be more than happy to help you sort out your concerns.

Do I need to bring snowshoes?

Not at all. We’ll provide you with MSR lightweight snowshoes that easily attach to rubber boots or sturdy hiking boots. If you join us on our ships Plancius, Ortelius or Hondius we also provide the rubber boots at no extra cost.

However, you do want to bring clothing that is suitable for the changeable weather of the Polar Regions. Layers are your friend – you’re going to get hot as you work your way around the tundra and you’ll want to be able to shed a layer or two without losing a big percentage of your elemental protection. With that in mind we suggest:

• Hiking/walking poles.

• Rubber boots that are high enough to get you from the Zodiac to the shore and have a good gripping sole for the shore landings and walks. (Boots are provided on Plancius, Ortelius and Hondius).

• A waterproof bag (especially for cameras) – you’re likely to get splashed during the Zodiac ride from the ship to the shore.

• Straps for tying snowshoes onto your back or backpack.

• Ankle-high sturdy hiking boots for the actual treks and for wearing snowshoes.

• Sunblock.

• You might want gaiters (knee-high waterproof protection) to keep your lower legs dry while hiking.

• Sunglasses.

• A backpack (25 litres is a good size).

• Thin under-socks (to stop blistering) and thick over-socks. (Bring some dry spares as well.)

• A 1-litre water-bottle.

• Thermal under-gloves (fleece finger gloves) and warm outer-gloves or mittens (you might want a spare set of these as well).

• A turtle-neck or neck gaiter.

• A urine-collection bottle (regulations forbid leaving human waste behind in the Antarctic). Try looking for something like a wide-opening Nalgene bottle (they sell specialised versions for ladies at outdoor shops).

• Thermal underwear.

• A fleece jacket or vest.

• A down jacket or spare fleece jacket.

• A breathable (e.g. Gore-Tex) jacket and trousers.

• Trekking trousers.

• A warm fleece hat.

• You might also want to bring along binoculars, and a Thermos bottle.

Don’t bring regular cotton clothing like t-shirts or jeans if you can avoid it because if it gets wet (either from outside moisture or sweat) it will stay wet – not a good thing in a cold environment.

Do the hiking and snowshoe activities cost more?

No, they are covered in the cost of your cruise with us.

Are the hikes safe?

Generally speaking, the hikes are as safe as hikes anywhere else that involves rugged terrain and hills. You will, however, be facing the cold of the Polar Regions.

Every hike group is accompanied by a specialist guide. In the Arctic, especially around Svalbard, your group’s guide will be carrying a rifle due to the possible threat of polar bears.

All of the walks are in areas that are outside of glaciated terrain. Treks inside these glaciated areas bring people into contact with crevasses and are therefore considered mountaineering. These mountaineering trips are always accompanied by at least one UIAGM-certified mountain guide.

Hiking in the Antarctic

We should make a special note regarding the Antarctic hikes in that the hiking options are more limited than the Arctic thanks to the terrain. There are however plenty of hiking opportunities on the nearby islands in the Weddell Sea, on the South Shetland Islands, and on South Georgia Island. On South Georgia one has the chance to trace the final section of the explorer Shackleton’s famous walk.

Zodiac cruising in the Polar Regions

​Our voyages are primarily defined as explorations and we spend as much time ashore as possible. We can be flexible, taking advantage of wildlife opportunities by using our zodiacs for both landings and cruises. Our knowledgeable guides assist on these outings, providing detailed information. This is supplemented by lectures on board which covers topics such as wildlife, nature and history.

Zodiac cruising instructions

The proper handling and usage of Zodiac landing craft, is crucial for exploratory voyages. These rubber boats are ideal for our operations. They have shallow drafts, and contain six air-filled compartments which give them impressive floatation and weight carrying abilities. The compartments are connected by valves, which allow the internal air pressure to be regulated, and they will still float even if one (or several) compartments become deflated. With these safe, durable and dependable boats we can land in many, normally inaccessible sites; Such as, beaches, shallow river banks, rocky outcrops, coral reef flats, ice floes, etc., as well as more conventional places; such as, docks, sea walls and jetties.

Passengers, however, must be aware of certain regulations involving the Zodiacs in order to assure adequate safety in our landing operations.

• The Zodiac driver is in charge of the boat and its operations. Please follow his or her instructions at all times.

• Always wear the provided zodiac safety vests when travelling in the Zodiacs. This is for your safety, and is required at all times while in the Zodiacs regardless of weather or sea conditions.

• Always accept the helping hand of crew-members and Zodiac drivers when stepping into or out of the Zodiacs at the ship’s gangway or ashore. Keep both hands free for this operation, and use the preferred ‘sailor’s grip’; i.e., grip each other by the wrist, because this gives a much stronger grip than just holding hands.

• Minimize the number of separate articles taken along with you when using the zodiacs. Backpacks are ideal for consolidating such diverse objects as cameras, binoculars, rain gear, extra shoes, etc. Carryon items may be handed to the boat handlers before embarking or disembarking. Keep both hands free.

• Never smoke in the Zodiacs. This is hazardous because there are exposed fuel tanks connected to the outboard engines. Lit cigarettes are also hazardous to the rubber construction of the boats.

• All landing conditions will be announced beforehand; i.e., ‘wet’ landings (these may require getting your feet wet by wading ashore), ‘dry’ landings (these make use of a dock or other object with which one can step ashore directly), and expected weather conditions.

• Never disembark or embark the Zodiac over the wooden transom (stern) when the boat is backed onto a beach. Oncoming waves may suddenly push the boat higher onto the beach, knocking the careless passenger with the uplifted engine and propeller, or crushing an exposed foot with the very heavy transom. During ‘wet’ landings one may safely get in or out of the boat by first sitting on the rubber pontoon and then swinging one’s leg over the side. Always wait for instructions from the driver during landings.

• One should always use a weatherproof bag (or bring along a small plastic bag) to protect non-waterproof items; such as, cameras and binoculars, from sea spray (or rain) when in the Zodiacs.