Svalbard Polar Medicine Expedition

Svalbard

21 April 2027 10:00 - 28 April 2027 09:00

Set yourself a new challenge in the High Arctic.

This expedition takes you deep into the remote wilderness of Svalbard, where you’ll travel 18 – 25km per day on cross-country skis, haul your own pulk, establish camps in the snow, and operate in one of the most demanding environments on Earth. Designed for those with existing winter expedition experience, it’s an opportunity to test your skills, resilience, and decision-making in a landscape where cold, isolation, and terrain shape every day.

Difficulty level

Level 5: Expedition

Experienced cross-country skiers only.
Expect 18–25km per day, long expedition days, pulk hauling, Arctic conditions and overnight polar bear watch duties.

Not got the required experience?

Explore the Polar Medicine Course instead.

Your Teaching Faculty

Chris Imray

Consultant Vascular & Renal Transplant Surgeon, Professor, Expedition & Wilderness Medicine

Jamie Pattison

Winch Paramedic, Mountain Rescue Team Leader

Kasper Jæger

Guide & Expedition Leader

Modules

Day One

You’ll begin in Longyearbyen with expedition orientation and preparation, meeting your teaching faculty and guides before entering the field. The focus is on pre-expedition planning, kit preparation, and team organisation, ensuring everyone is equipped and aligned for safe polar travel. Teaching introduces expedition structure, risk awareness, and the foundations of operating effectively in Arctic environments.

Day Two

After final expedition preparations, you’ll transition from the built environment into the wilderness, beginning travel by ski from the outskirts of Longyearbyen. Learning centres on expedition readiness, load management, and movement in polar terrain, as you apply planning and preparation principles in real conditions. Your first night in the field introduces the realities of cold-weather camping and self-sufficiency.

Day Three

The expedition settles into its rhythm with a full day of skiing through remote Arctic valleys. Teaching focuses on campcraft and expedition routines, including tent systems, stove management, water production, and efficient camp setup. Medical learning is integrated into daily expedition life, reinforcing how routine decisions impact safety, health, and performance in cold environments.

Day Four

The terrain becomes more complex as you move into mountainous and glaciated environments. Learning centres on operating safely in higher-risk terrain, combining physical movement with technical awareness and environmental risk management. Teaching is reinforced through practical application, as you manage exposure, fatigue, and decision-making while travelling and living on glacial terrain.

Day Five

With a full day based on the glacier, the emphasis shifts toward applied expedition medicine and practical skills development. Teaching focuses on managing medical problems in extreme cold, prolonged field care considerations, and adapting clinical decision-making to remote environments. Skills are consolidated through repeated practice, discussion, and reflection within the expedition setting.

Day Six

As the expedition continues through vast Arctic valleys, learning centres on endurance, pacing, and sustained expedition leadership. You’ll refine your ability to manage teams, assess risk dynamically, and maintain medical oversight during prolonged travel days. Teaching reinforces how terrain, weather, and human factors interact to shape safety and outcomes in polar expeditions.

Day Seven

The final expedition phase challenges you to integrate navigation, teamwork, and decision-making as you cross mountain passes and transition back toward civilisation. Learning focuses on expedition closure, safe extraction, and maintaining vigilance until the very end of the journey. This stage reinforces the importance of consistency, communication, and leadership during high-fatigue phases.

Day Eight

The course concludes back in Longyearbyen with structured debriefs and reflection. Teaching consolidates medical learning, expedition decision-making, and leadership insights gained throughout the journey. You’ll review key lessons, clinical cases, and team experiences, ensuring you leave with a clear understanding of polar expedition medicine and your own performance in extreme environments.

Carole

Svalbard 2025 Attendee

I truly enjoyed this course and expedition, and felt like it pushed my own limits in a way that previous courses haven’t. The breadth of experience of the faculty was truly inspiring, and likely something that won’t quite be replicated for some time. Although I definitely had moments where I wondered why I was pushing myself so much, in retrospect I now feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have been part of the experience. I have learnt many invaluable lessons, and already cannot wait to plan a similar expedition. I am also grateful to have met so many like-minded participants, many of whom will likely remain friends.

William

Svalbard 2025 Attendee

I just want to re-inforce how unbelievable our instructors were – they were an unbelievable team, who worked so so well together.

Ronald

Svalbard 2025 Attendee

Everybody gelled and cooperated well, great team spirit! Everybody did their best. Svalbard’s Foreverland polar landscapes are unforgettable.

What's Included?

Field-Based Expedition Training

Teaching is delivered through a real Arctic expedition, with skills developed through continuous practical application rather than lectures or artificial scenarios.

Expert Faculty & Local Guides

You’ll be supported by World Extreme Medicine faculty alongside experienced polar guides with extensive Arctic and expedition backgrounds.

Accommodation, Meals & Expedition Equipment

Your fee includes accommodation, meals during the expedition, skis, boots, poles, tents, and shared expedition equipment.

Please note that Dinner on the first and last nights of this expedition are not included.

CPD & Certification

This expedition has been awarded 19.5 CPD hours by RCSEd.
On completion, you’ll receive a certificate of attendance recognising your training in polar expedition medicine.

Book Now

GBP £4,445.00

In stock

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this expedition right for me?

This expedition is designed for healthcare professionals and students with previous winter expedition experience who are ready to operate in a demanding Arctic environment. Participants should be comfortable with cross-country skiing at pace, winter camping, hauling a pulk, and spending long days travelling through remote terrain in cold conditions.

This is not an introduction to polar travel. If you are looking to develop foundational cold-weather and polar skills, we recommend joining our Polar Medicine Course before considering this expedition.

If you’re unsure, we recommend using the Course Fit Checker or booking a discovery call.

Do I need previous polar experience?

You should be comfortable operating in cold environments and have previous experience of expedition-style living, including winter camping and travelling in remote terrain. Participants must have prior cross-country skiing experience and be capable of covering sustained distances while hauling a pulk.

You don’t need to be an elite skier, but you should be confident skiing at pace in winter conditions. Participants should also be prepared for long days in the field, camp duties, and overnight polar bear watch responsibilities as part of expedition life.

What level of fitness is required?

A high level of physical fitness is essential. Participants should be prepared to travel 18 – 25km per day on cross-country skis while hauling a loaded pulk, with some days involving up to 550m of vertical ascent. Days can exceed 12 hours and conditions can be physically and mentally demanding. This expedition does not require elite athletic performance, but you must be capable of sustained effort over multiple consecutive days in a remote Arctic environment.

What kit do I need to bring?

Temperatures can reach -30°C, so correct kit is critical. A detailed kit list will be provided on booking and must be followed closely.

Poor kit preparation may limit your ability to participate fully. If you have any questions about equipment, the team is happy to advise.

Where will we be staying?

You’ll spend the majority of the course living in expedition tents in the field. Accommodation in Longyearbyen is included at the start and end of the course.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance covering Arctic expedition activities is mandatory. You’ll be required to confirm insurance details before the expedition begins.

I have another question

If you wish to learn more or have any additional questions, we invite you to book a 30-minute discovery call with our team.

→ Click here to book a discovery call.

The call will be with the team who organise our courses and work closely with our medical teaching faculty. They’re best placed to explain what our attendees really get out of attending a course with us.

You can choose between a video or voice call — whatever suits you best.

Prefer email? Then feel free to contact us.

Your Safety

The comprehensive curriculum and field scenarios are carefully designed to push your limits while mitigating risks.

We take every precaution to keep participants safe by:

Rigorous gear checks before all expedition days
Mandatory evacuation insurance policies
Close coordination with local emergency responders

Svalbard Polar Medicine Expedition

Svalbard