The information that we provide is for UK passport holders.

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

For other nationalities, please refer to your own Government website for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice for each country visited before travel.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations.

GHIC / Medical cover

UK residents should carry a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland. This is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is vital when travelling overseas.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

The currency for part or all of this holiday is the Euro.

The temperatures at this time of year (April / May). can vary from 3 / 4 to about minus 15 degrees Celsius.

In April, Svalbard experiences a transition from the long polar night to the beginning of the midnight sun. The sun starts to appear more and more during the day, and the length of daylight gradually increases throughout the month. By the end of April, the sun will stay visible for nearly 24 hours.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

Specific Insurance with the BMC is required for this trip. Details of this will be sent with booking confirmations.

Svalbard Crossing – Client Equipment List

This list includes additional guidance (in brackets) to help you prepare for your expedition.

We’ll go through your full layering system and kit set-up during the UK-based training weekend, including demonstrations.

Key

E – Essential  O – Optional  R – Rentable & Essential

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Client-Supplied Equipment

Personal Clothing

☐ 3 x Sock system that works for you in these environments with your boot set up. Example: 2 x thin liner socks, 3 x mid-thickness wool socks, 2 x underwear. We’ll discuss further during the UK training course. (E)

☐ 1 x pair vapour barrier socks (E)

☐ 2 x long sleeve base layer tops (merino or synthetic), or 1 short and 1 long depending on preference (E)

☐ 2 x long johns/thermal leggings (merino or synthetic) (E)

☐ 2 x winter weight softshell trousers (bibbed or adjustable waist, snow gaiters, roomy over boots) (E)

☐ 1 x synthetic or down gilet (E)

☐ 1 x fleece or softshell (ideally with hood for versatility) (E)

☐ 1 x medium weight insulated jacket (ideally with hood) (E)

☐ 1 x waterproof hard-shell jacket with hood (with ventilation zips) (E)

☐ 1 x waterproof hard-shell trousers with full-length side zips (must fit over boots) (E)

☐ 1 x expedition weight down jacket (R)

☐ 1 x fluffy hat (e.g. Fjällräven Nordic Heater) (E)

☐ 1 x warm winter hat (E)

☐ 1 x buff or neck gaiter (E)

☐ 1 x balaclava (E)

☐ 1 x face mask (optional, one will be provided for the skidoo phase) (O)

☐ 1 x ski goggles (category 4, or reactive 2–4 lenses) (E)

☐ 1 x sunglasses (category 4 with side protection, or reactive 2–4 lenses) (E)

☐ 2 x liner gloves (E)

☐ 2 x midweight gloves (one mitt, one glove ideal) (E)

☐ 1 x waterproof, bulky, very warm mitt with inner and outer layers (R)

Personal Equipment

☐ 1 x Gaiters if not built into trousers or boots (E)

☐ 1 x insulated mountaineering or winter-specific boot (Baffin-style) (R)

☐ 1 x insulated boots for tent and sleeping use (R)

☐ 1 x Snowshoes (e.g. MSR Lightning Ascents – avoid TSL-style) (R)

☐ 1 x Ski poles or trekking poles with large baskets (R)

☐ 1 x Multi-tool or knife (e.g. Leatherman Squirt, for general use and emergency egress from tents) (E)

☐ 1 x Avalanche transceiver (R)

☐ 1 x Avalanche probe (R)

☐ 1 x Shovel (R)

☐ 1 x Crevasse rescue kit (harness, carabiners, prusik loops, ice screws) (R)

☐ 1 x Ice axe (lightweight) (R)

☐ 1 x Crampons (lightweight) (R)

Organisation System

☐ 1 x system for organising pulk (e.g. mix of dry bags, packing cubes, Ortlieb boot bag) (R)

☐ Dry bags (various sizes) – bring extras to adapt organisation as needed (E)

☐ 1 x Down sleeping bag rated to at least -30°C comfort + silk liner. (Some may double bag) (R)

☐ Extra dry bags (O)

Sleeping System

☐ 1 x Full-length foam mat (R)

☐ 1 x Inflatable insulated mat (e.g. Exped DownMat) (R)

☐ 1 x Sleeping bag liner (E)

☐ 1 x Head torch with lithium batteries (bring spares or charging option) (E)

☐ 1 x Earplugs and sleep mask (24-hour daylight) (O)

Eating, Drinking & Toilet

☐ 1 x Insulated mug with lid (E)

☐ 1 x Spoon or spork (E)

☐ 2 x 1L Nalgene bottles – one for drinking (insulated cover), one as pee bottle (Shewee optional) (E)

☐ 2 x Stanley Thermos flasks (1L minimum) (E)

Personal Care

☐ Personal first aid kit and blister care (Leukoplast zinc oxide tape, not generic brands) (E)

☐ Sunscreen and lip balm (e.g. Blistex, Uvistat 50, P20 sun cream) (E)

☐ Biodegradable toiletries and personal medication (E)

☐ Travel towel (for accommodation in Longyearbyen) and wipes (E)

Admin & Extras

☐ Passport (E)

☐ Travel insurance certificate (E)

☐ Medical certificate or fitness declaration (if required) (E)

☐ Power bank (minimum 20,000mAh, e.g. Anker) (E)

☐ Book or journal (O)

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Group-Supplied Equipment (Provided)

☐ Pulk, hauling poles and harness system

☐ Hilleberg Keron 3GT tent

☐ MSR XGK stove, pot (with handle), and fuel

☐ Polar bear safety equipment (rifle, flares, IceBear tripwire system)

☐ Group first aid kit and emergency comms

☐ Group repair kit (snowshoe, tent, walking pole, pulk, general repairs)

☐ Expedition daily ration pack

☐ Permit for travel outside the D10 zone on Svalbard