WG SPECIALIZATION
ARCTIC

The Wilderness Guide Level 2 – Arctic Specialization is an advanced, intensive training program for professional guides ready to push their skills, resilience, and leadership to the limit. Designed for those who aspire to operate confidently in polar and sub-polar environments, this course takes you into Arctic mountains, through Nordic terrain, and across the vast expanses of sea ice.

Delivered in a single annual edition, the program combines 28 days of field training with online learning sessions, ensuring participants arrive equipped and ready to make the most of their time in the Arctic. The field component is divided into three modules: Winter Safety & Rescue in the Pyrenees, focused on developing advanced safety and rescue techniques in winter conditions; Arctic Mountain Environments in Sarek National Park; and Sea Ice Environments on the Baltic Sea, both conducted as real Arctic expeditions where participants apply, enhance, and expand their skills while continuing to learn in authentic field conditions.

Encampment of the ewes Arctic course in a flat snow surface

Throughout the training, you will refine your expedition leadership skills, practice winter travel techniques with skis, pulkas, and snowshoes, and gain the technical expertise to navigate and guide safely in some of the most challenging environments on Earth. From glacier travel and crevasse rescue to risk assessment on sea ice, the program will equip you with the ability to plan, lead, and adapt in real Arctic conditions. You will also learn to evaluate ice and avalanche hazards, interpret polar weather systems, and manage the wellbeing of a group under prolonged exposure to extreme cold.

Expect unpredictable weather, long travel days, physical exertion, and the mental demands of leading in remote, unforgiving landscapes. But also expect the reward of operating in breathtaking Arctic settings, the companionship of working alongside other experienced guides, and the confidence that comes from knowing you can perform at the highest professional standard.

Three participants drilling into the ice

The WG2 Arctic course merges the hard skills needed in the wilderness with the soft skills needed to create memorable experiences for guests. This course offers you a personal and leadership learning journey as well as technical training in wilderness expeditions, survival, risk assessment and rescue practices, wildlife observation and tracking, interpretative guiding, expedition planning and organisation.

Upon succefull completion, you will receive the Wilderness Guide Level 2 – Arctic Specialization Certificate, recognized by the Wilderness Guides Association (WGA) and issued by the European Wilderness Education School (EWES).

This certification is both a recognition of your competence and a gateway to joining an international network of Arctic and wilderness professionals.

Participant of the ewes Arctic course checking the distance between points

Wilderness Guides Certifications Guide

Taught in English, B2 required

Taught in the wilderness, good shape required

Maximum participants per course 8

WGA Level 1

NEXT COURSE DATES

5 online sessions (dates TBC)

January 9th - 16th, 2026 - Pyrenees, Spain

February 6th - 26th, 2026 - Arctic, Sweden

Winter Safety & Rescue

Refugi La Pleta del Prat, Tavascan, Spain

8 Days

Winter training to build the technical safety foundations for Arctic guiding

Arctic Mountain Environments

Stora Sjöfallet & Sarek National Parks, Sweden

2 prep days + 8 Days

Apply and expand your skills on real expedition conditions

Sea Ice Environments

Baltic Sea, Luleå, Sweden

2 prep days + 7 Days

Focus on safe travel, group management, and adaptability in dynamic sea ice conditions

Module 2

Module 3

Module 1

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

01

Learn to lead multi-day expeditions in Arctic mountain and sea ice environments with effective decision-making and clear communication.

02

Build resilience, adaptability, and ethical responsibility while leading and collaborating effectively in multi-guide expedition settings.

03

Acquire the skills to plan, organize, and execute complex Arctic expeditions, integrating logistics, route design, resource management, and contingency planning for changing conditions

04

Identify, evaluate, and mitigate hazards such as unstable ice, avalanche terrain, and extreme cold, implementing preventive strategies and on-site
safety protocols to minimize risk.

05

Train in advanced rescue operations, including crevasse extraction, avalanche response, and emergency evacuation, applying both technical
systems and coordinated team procedures.