Description
This program is designed for experienced ski mountaineers who have mastered ski techniques both for ascent and descent in challenging snow-covered alpine terrain. A typical day involves ski climbs on mountaintops averaging heights of 700—850 meters (2,300—2,800 feet) and downhill skiing from those points. Accumulated altitude you might climb over a given day can exceed 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).
Skiing
If you want to join the skiing there is a supplement of £450 per person
Trip Name
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Yacht
Length: 49.5 metres
Passenger Capacity: 33
Built / refurbished: 1900's / 1994 / 2011
Rembrandt van Rijn is a three-masted schooner with origins as a 1947 herring lugger, later rebuilt for passenger voyages and fully modernised to meet current safety standards. Its compact size, shallow draft, and renewed navigation systems make it well suited to navigating the channels, fjords, and smaller islands of the Arctic. Open deck space supports uninterrupted viewing under sail or engine power, while Zodiacs extend access to remote shorelines. Cabins are simple and functional, all with private facilities, arranged across triple, twin inside, and twin porthole layouts.
The ship carries a maximum of 33 passengers with a small, experienced crew and two guides, creating an informal, close-knit environment. Daily landings focus on wildlife, geology, and natural history, with itineraries adjusted to conditions for maximum time ashore. Meals are straightforward and served buffet-style, and the vessel maintains an expedition-first profile without luxury positioning. Rembrandt van Rijn’s advantage lies in scale: the ability to move quietly, land efficiently, and create an intimate sailing-based expedition experience.




