Second day-trip course to prepare for long snowkite crossings
Highlights
- Michael Charavin, the French-speaking specialist in expedition snowkiting
- The second part of preparation for long snowkiting expeditions, on a touring circuit
- A diversified practice site with generally good wind conditions
- Small groups of 3 to 4 participants
Guided by Michael Charavin, one of the world's most experienced polar expedition snowkiters, we reach Berlevag, Norway, for an intensive kiting adventure. This program is Mika's second preparation course for major polar snowkiting expeditions (Greenland, Antarctica...). In this second part of the program, which includes the first, with daily returns to the base, we are setting off on a multi-day itinerary. We will be cruising across the peninsula from west to east. Our days are spent outdoors, with daily sessions lasting several hours. The "intensive" nature of such a trip guarantees a high volume of practice and rapid progress. And kite skiing becomes a way of traveling through the wilderness of the Far North... The aim this time is to put ourselves in the conditions of an unsupported crossing.
Overview
We are well beyond the Arctic Circle, at over 70° north latitude, on the shores of the Barents Sea, in the land of reindeer and northern lights, and just a stone's throw from Russia, on the plateaus and hills of the Varanger Peninsula. We depart from Berlevăg in the north-west, arriving in or near Vardo in the east of the peninsula. This is a holiday with a clear cruising spirit, the aim this time being to put us in the conditions for an unsupported crossing and to give us the keys needed to carry out major polar expeditions by aerotow.
We discover and experience the unique sensation of moving freely with the winds over dozens of kilometers.
Itinerary
DAY 1: FLIGHT TO KIRKENES
Day 1
Flight to Kirkenes via Oslo. Arrival the same day. Welcome and transfer to hotel for the night.
DAY 2: BERLEVAG
Day 2
We take the bus from Kirkenes to Berlevăg, the starting point of our expedition.We prepare our pulkas.
DAYS 3 TO 8: CROSSING THE PENINSULA FROM WEST TO EAST
Day 3
Our expedition begins! We cross the peninsula from west to east. We start from Berlevăg and arrive near Vardø or Kiberg. This program is conceived as the second part (the first is planned as daily short trips around the base) of our preparation for long snowkiting expeditions (Greenland, Antarctica...). The aim of these two preparatory stays in Norway is clearly to give us the "baggage" to be able to carry out a Greenland expedition. Thereis no secret about it: we are going to have to practice, and the Norwegian sessions are ideal for that.
Our first objective is to manage to cross the peninsula in the allotted time, experimenting with all the components of a snowkiting multi-day itinerary. Our second objective is to introduce small freeride sessions (without pulkas) in sectors of our choice, depending on wind conditions, topography and overall progress. Roaming implies self-sufficiency in this region, where there are no refuges. So we will be spending nights in tents. This is an important aspect of our stay, which gives it the status of a small expedition.
We adapt the itinerary if necessary to current circumstances (weather, aerology and group capacity). We also bear in mind that short transitions on "seal skins" are likely. For the whole group, we take four hitches, each consisting of two pulkas positioned side by side, to pull all our equipment (meals, wings, sleeping bags, tents, clothing, etc.).
We take this opportunity to discover a new facet of the snowkiting Eldorado that is the northeastern tip of Norway. For the record, there are more kilometers between the Varanger peninsula and the Hardanger plateaus than there are between the latter and Paris. We are at the gateway to the Arctic. At these latitudes and at this time of year, there is every chance of seeing an aurora borealis!
NB: to ensure that the time spent on our two preparation sessions is as beneficial as possible, we seriously encourage you to do or redo a few sessions on water and/or snow in the meantime. If you have a few outings under your belt, the time spent in Norway will be all the more effective and rewarding. Two short preparatory stays is not a long time to spend preparing an expedition to Greenland. Try to multiply your sessions as much as possible, and you will gain time.
DAY 9: BACK TO OSLO
Day 9
We take the bus from Vardø or Kiberg, depending on where our crossing ends, to Kirkenes airport. We fly back to Oslo.
Day 10: RETURN FLIGHT
Day 10
We return to the airport for our international flight home.
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Guiding
Michael Charavin, specialist guide of polar and boreal regions and snowkite (see description above).
If for reasons beyond our control and duly motivated, Michael could not guide the group, then he would be replaced by another experienced polar snowkite guide. The benefits would not be changed, the conditions of the trip would be identical and this change would not constitute a valid reason for cancellation.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Technical difficulty
Snowkiting level: intermediate
This program is aimed at people who already practice snowkiting and is not intended for beginners. It is important to already be autonomous in snowkiting. This means knowing how to rig, launch and land your kite without the help of another person, whatever the circumstances; knowing how to progress in all points of sail, i.e. crosswind, upwind and downwind. We deliberately focus on touring, alternating between phases of pure cruising and freeride sessions, with occasional specific workshops to help you progress in particular situations. The diversity of the terrain means that we can offer a wide range of terrain to suit all levels. But if each participant is at the right level, outings can be optimized and numerous loops completed. For kiters in the "autonomy" phase, the "intensive" nature of such a trip is a guarantee of rapid progress. Do not hesitate to ask us, as a short preparatory stay in France may be all you need to qualify. If you are a beginner or even ab initio, we can work with you to define the best way to progress and arrange for you a beginner's course in snowkiting.Regular practice of kitesurfing ensures that the participant has a good knowledge of how to handle the sail, which, combined with a good level of downhill and/or backcountry skiing, means that the discipline can be approached with a definite advantage. We organize snowkiting courses as part of our École de l'Aventure (Adventure School), enabling you to improve your skills.
It is worth noting that in this part of Norway, the atmosphere can really be "Far North" (low temperatures, unstable weather). As we are exposed to it H24 throughout our stay, we can say that this is a real "small" expedition.
Meeting point
Meet Michael Charavin on the spot.
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you need tickets that can be modified.
Accommodations
Hotel accommodation in Kirkenes and Oslo and guesthouse accommodation in Berlevăg and Vardø or Kiberg (depending on the arrival of our expedition).
For the crossing itself, the 5 nights are spent in tents (2 and/or 3-person expedition tents).
Meals
In Kirkenes, Oslo, Berlevăg and Vardø or Kiberg (depending on the arrival of our expedition), breakfasts are taken in the accommodations (except on the last day, due to a very early departure from the hotel). Lunches are in the form of picnics and snacks.
During the crossing, our dinners and breakfasts will be taken in our tents. Lunches will be taken "on the go" or during hearty breaks, depending on progress.
Transfers / Transport
Meet at Kirkenes airport on Day 1 for bus transfer to our activity site.
Transfers between Kirkenes and Berlevag, then between Vardø and Kirkenes, are by regular bus service and/or minibus cab.
Please note that the road to Berlevag may be temporarily closed in very bad weather conditions. In such cases, the road service may temporarily close the access road (such closures are rare, and are usually limited to a few hours).
Group size
The group is composed of 3 to 4 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided at the end of this document to allow you to check that you are taking what is needed. We can rent your kite equipment, even a wing if necessary. The number and size of these groups should be specified with your guide. All collective and logistical equipment is provided.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we commit ourselves not to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 0,84 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €25 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Michael Charavin, kiter and polar guide
Born in 1970, Mika has been a state certified guide since 1999, snowkite instructor, guide in the polar regions since 2003 and is part of the IPGA – International Polar Guide Association, which brings together the best polar guides in world. He has been snowkiting in boreal and arctic regions for 20 years and has traveled more than 15,000 kilometers on expeditions in this way. He is one of the few polar guides specializing in this practice.
He is one of the very first to have crossed Greenland by snowkite from south to north-west (2,300 km in 2008) then to have completed a circumnavigation of the Greenland ice sheet (5,067 km in 2014). He becomes on this occasion (and until 2019) the author of the longest trip ever undertaken on skis and independently. It is also innovative in its way of practicing snowkiting in the mountains (the most complex playground there is for this activity), by combining ascents of summits and crossings of massifs.
Called up in 1994, he spent fourteen months as a technical aid volunteer in the French southern and Antarctic Lands, on the Kerguelen archipelago, where he contributed to various eco-ethological studies and the restoration of subantarctic ecosystems. Then in 1996-1997, he crossed 8,000 kilometers by mountain bike through the highlands of southern Latin America, from the Bolivian Amazon to Tierra del Fuego, passing through the Altiplano, the deserts of Sud-Lipez and the Puna of Atacama, Patagonia...
From 1999, his taste for the wilderness, isolated, austere and cold regions, became even more refined: he turned resolutely towards the Nordic regions, and invested his energy in carrying out committed and stripped down ski expeditions: 1,800 kilometers and four months of itinerant skiing across Scandinavia (from south to north) in 2000; various raids and several hundred kilometers in the central, western and southern regions of Spitsbergen in 2001 and 2002; attempted east-west crossing of Greenland in 2003...
Always driven by a deep passion for the great ski crossings of the polar or subpolar regions, he nevertheless modified his approach to these environments from 2006: to the rigor necessary for the logistical, technical and mental preparation of such expeditions, he now wishes add performance and technicality, key notions, according to him, in the realization of great raids, in particular in the extreme environments which are the large ice caps. It is also a way of reintroducing a playful dimension into an activity that is fundamentally devoid of it...
In total, he has supervised numerous trips, on skis, on foot or by sea kayak, to Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Spitsbergen, Alaska and the French southern lands...
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
Dates currently being programmed
Alert me as soon as you set a datePrice includes
- Bus and cab transfers in Norway
- All accommodation
- All meals (with the exception of two dinners in Kirkenes, on the first and last evening)
- Collective equipment: walkie-talkies, satellite phone, first-aid kit
- Guided by a specialist in snowkiting in these boreal regions
Price does not include
- International return flight to Kirkenes (via Oslo)
- Meals and drinks in restaurants or during transport
- Kite equipment (sails and accessories) and personal gear
- Excess baggage charges and ski equipment check-in, if any
- Additional costs in the event of flight changes
- Any train transport required in the case of a downwind or transfer to an alternative spot
- Expenses related to changes in the schedule of your stay (additional nights' accommodation, air supplements)
- Meals other than breakfast, lunch and dinner as per program
- Any personal communications by satellite telephone (to be paid locally)
- Drinks and personal expenses (sightseeing, cabs, souvenirs, dry-cleaning, etc.)
- Travel and expedition insurance (cancellation, assistance, evacuation and repatriation) valid for snowkiting.
- PCR tests and any other health-related charges imposed by France, Norway or the EU.
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.