What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guidesHotel & Camping
4 nights in a guesthouse, 3 nights at a wilderness campMeals
All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinnersEquipment
Everything you need to camp, kayak and glacier hikePermits
All permits and entry feesSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 10 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Hike amongst towering fjords and to the top of Fuglefjella, known for its epic seabird colonies, on a true Arctic adventure
Kayak beside majestic walls of ice – looking out for seals, whales and walruses – and clamber across the Esmark Glacier
Take turns on polar bear watch, camp out in the wilderness and brave the ‘polar plunge' – a (quick) dip in the Arctic Ocean
Key Information
Day 1
Arrive in Longyearbyen
Touch down in Svalbard – home to Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost city – and get your first glimpse of the Norwegian Arctic. The rest of the day is yours to explore and there are plenty of daylight hours to do so: 24 to be exact! The streets in Longyearbyen have no names, cats are completely banned and reindeer wander freely through the town. Join the rest of the group for a briefing, then grab some dinner in a local restaurant (dinner isn't included today, but your host will book a table for the group so you can get acquainted).
If you arrive early there's plenty to enjoy in Longyearbyen before your trip starts; see the FAQs and Optional Extras below for more information.
Day 2
Get your first taste of hiking in the Arctic
Hiking
Lace up your boots to hike up Sarkofagen Mountain, where you will experience the perfect silence of the Arctic. Enjoy the spectacular views over Longyearbyen, with mountains and glaciers as far as the eye can see, before hiking back down in time for dinner and a good night's rest.
Day 3
Ymerbukta Wilderness Camp and the Esmark Glacier
Kayaking
The weather in the Arctic can have a big impact: whilst wilderness camping your guides will adjust the plan according to the conditions, so the itinerary as described will remain fluid.
Board a boat to reach the wilderness camp at Ymerbukta – eyes peeled for Arctic wildlife (you may spot polar bears, walruses, seals and up to 13 species of whale – including the blue whale, the largest creature on earth). Settle into camp before embarking on a sea kayaking expedition, providing that conditions are favourable. Hug the shoreline as you make your way to the towering Esmark Glacier. You may even witness the glacier calving, signalled first by a loud, crackling noise like thunder, followed by huge ice falls that create amazing colours and waves in the water. Return to camp, prepare dinner together and end the day around the campfire.
Polar Bear Lookout: Tonight you'll have the unique and unforgettable experience of being on polar bear lookout. After a full safety briefing, keep watch over the silence and stillness of the Arctic wilderness, watching for polar bears in the distance as your fellow adventurers sleep.
Day 4
Glacier hiking
Hiking
After breakfast, you'll get kitted out with a harness and crampons and head out for a full day of hiking on the Esmark Glacier (weather permitting). Navigate untouched ice, deep crevasses and snow bridges, stopping for lunch on the way to take in the views of the fjords and mountains. Back at camp, it’s time for another dinner by the campfire and a chance to reflect on an incredible day, before pulling your next polar bear lookout shift.
Day 5
Wilderness hiking
Provided conditions are good you'll hike to the peak of Värmlandsryggen for a full Arctic panorama of fjords, mountains, plains and glaciers. Maybe tonight you'll pluck up the courage to take the 'polar plunge' – a quick dip in the ice-cold waters. Later in the evening, savour your last meal around the campfire and pull another polar bear lookout shift as you soak up the unique place you've called home for the last few days.
Day 6
Back to Longyearbyen
Clear camp, head out for a short hike and then take the boat back to Longyearbyen. From the water, you'll be able to spot the Russian settlement of Barentsburg along the way, also passing by the abandoned mining town of Grumant and a steep cliff home to thousands of nesting sea birds. In Longyearbyen, you can find a local restaurant for dinner and enjoy a night back in civilisation.
Day 7
Hiking the Fuglefjella bird mountains
Hiking
After a comfortable night's sleep at Gjestehuset, you'll drive out to Bjørndalen and set foot towards Fuglefjella and Pilarberget – known as the 'bird mountains' thanks to the flocks of birds who nest here during the summer. This spectacle can only be seen in summer, before the birds fly back south in autumn. Hike for a few kilometres, cross a river, then climb steeply up Fuglefjella (look out for reindeer and arctic foxes along the way). Standing atop one of the largest 'bird mountains' in the area, you'll find a wide plateau that plunges into the Isfjorden. On a clear day, you can spot Ymerbukta beyond the fjord.
Day 8
Goodbye, Arctic
Say farewell to Longyearbyen and the Arctic, returning to Svalbard Airport in time for your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Guesthouse in Longyearbyen
Catch any flight on Day 1
Ends
Guesthouse in Longyearbyen
Catch any flight on Day 8
Transfers
The airport shuttle costs around £8/$10 and links up with all flight arrivals and departures. It will take you directly to your guesthouse on Day 1 and get you back to the airport any time on Day 8 for your flight home. It takes a maximum of 10 minutes to get from the airport to your accommodation, and you can pay by credit card (cash is not accepted in Svalbard). For more information, see the Svalbard tourism website.
Travel options
Both Norwegian and SAS offers flights to Svalbard Airport (LYR) in Longyearbyen throughout the summer. We recommend flying to Oslo in Norway and getting a connecting flight from Oslo to Svalbard Airport, which takes around three hours.
On some occasions, there is no same-day flight connection from the UK to Svalbard Airport (LYR) on the tour start date (Sunday). If this is the case, we recommend looking at connecting flights departing a day earlier (Saturday) and booking a pre-tour night in Longyearbyen. Alternatively, you might like to split the journey and spend a night in Oslo en route.
If you arrive early there is plenty to enjoy in Longyearbyen before your trip starts. You can also choose from a range of excursions that can be pre-booked with your host in advance: see FAQs and Optional Extras for more information.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3 – Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6 – Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Longyearbyen has plenty of restaurants for you to explore with international food options, including the world's northernmost sushi bar! At the wilderness camp, breakfasts will consist of bread, ham, cheese, eggs and bacon, cereals or oatmeal, tea, coffee and 'polar bread'. Lunches, meanwhile, will be dry-pack expedition-style lunches, heated on stoves in the wilderness and accompanied by hot drinks and biscuits. You can make extra sandwiches each morning to bring with you if you want a particularly large lunch. Dinners will be homemade and vary depending on what ingredients are available: tacos, pasta or a variety of stews are possibilities (including Norwegian reindeer stew).
Vegans, vegetarians and most food allergies can be catered for, but please let your host know of any dietary requirements in advance. If you have a food allergy or intolerance, please be specific in terms of the severity and whether traces or cross-contamination are an issue.
What is the accommodation like?
Longyearbyen
You'll stay at Gjestehuset 102, a warm and friendly guesthouse which offers huge breakfasts. Gjestehuset 102 was previously the Millionaires’ Mansion, reserved for the best and most experienced miners. The guesthouse is just a 15-minute walk out of town, and there is also an excellent restaurant opposite.
In the wilderness
You'll stay in a twin-share tent at a private wilderness camp in Ymerbukta. All your camping equipment is provided, although you will need to bring your own sleeping bag (or hire one from your host). There is a toilet tent as well as a heated expedition mess tent with benches, a table and stoves for cooking and drying clothes. Needless to say, there is no electricity or WiFi at the camp.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, a private room can be booked for the four nights spent in Longyearbyen, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
This trip has been rated as Moderate
You'll need to have a decent level of fitness and a serious sense of adventure. There are several full days of hiking (sometimes using crampons and harnesses) and sea kayaking. No previous experience of kayaking is necessary but ideally you will have experience of at least a day hike on uneven terrain. You will be expected to do Polar bear lookout in shifts at night time while at the wilderness camp.
Please also read the following FAQs: What does Polar bear lookout entail? What about Polar bears being killed by tour guides? What's Plan B in case of bad weather or a Polar bear near camp? Cold Climate: What factors should I consider?
What will I need to carry?
You'll only need to carry a daypack (35+ litres) during the days of activity. Your main luggage will be transported for you to storage before you leave town and you will need a larger duffle bag or backpack to take to the wilderness camp. You will have to carry this yourself for approximately two hundred meters when you arrive in camp.
Svalbard experiences a long period of midnight sun, during which the sun never sets. Average summer temperatures in Svalbard range between 3–7°C (37-44°F), while at certain times during the 'polar summer' it can reach as high as 12°C (54°F). However, it can also see negative temperatures as well, so you also need to be prepared for temperatures down to around -5°C (23°F).
Arctic experience
A beautiful place with gorgeous views from the hikes and a lovely kayaking experience. The guides were good and professional. We were disappointed not to be able to camp at the wilderness camp due to the presence of polar bears, but understood the reasons. However plan B of camping near the airport was more disappointing as we missed the adventure of the wilderness camp and polar bear watch which was a significant part of the trip. The alternative hikes and kayak were lovely just not what we were expecting.
Rugged landscape at the end of the world
A fabulous trip. Beautiful landscapes and a great bunch of people. Plenty of reindeer and a few foxes, but surprisingly didn't see any marine life. The 24 hour daylight meant plenty of time for activities, though it messed with sleep patterns. Weather was warm and for obvious reasons it doesn't get any colder in the evenings. Need to accept flexibility in itinerary - we missed out on the wild camping due to polar bears in the vicinity. But they did a great job of making an alternate plan. Guides were great and food was good and plentiful. Highlight was a 22km kayak trip with a lunch and nap in the tundra. Movement is very restricted and you can't leave Longyearbyen without a guide.
Amazing Arctic Experience
Had so much fun on this trip, the guides were great and I especially loved that we were often joined by their dogs as well. The variety of terrain you get to experience, wildlife you get to see, and activities you get to do makes for a fantastic experience.
As a warning: if the group is unable to stay at the wilderness camp for weather (or polar bear sighting in our experience) the back-up camp they put you in is VERY underwhelming - we were at a campsite in front of the airport with the terminal towering above the tents....However, our guide Kaisa did an amazing job of making up for this bad accommodation with some extra special hikes and a great kayak trip that we would not have been able to do from the wilderness camp.
Beautiful landscape, great activities
Get on this trip with no expectations and try to be flexible. Svalbard is a wild place where animals and weather can change your plans suddenly but the beauty is, it has so much to offer that you will not be bored. Our guide Kaisa was absolutely fantastic and her dog made the best companion.
Great trip
Really everything about the trip was great, especially our two guides. The only exception was the hostel. This was one of the most wasteful energy inefficient buildings I have ever come across. The heating was on full time and there were everywhere non-functional heating controls, so half the windows of the hostel were constantly open to reduce the temperature. Such shocking waste is ironic given that for the rest of the trip we are hearing messages about climate change, receding glaciers and the struggle of the polar bear. (I understand the hostel is owned by the same company as SWA the main tour provider).
It was an amazing holiday
It was an amazing holiday all through out. A spectacular opportunity to be out in the wilderness (true escapism) with the safety and support of the guides. All the guides were amazing and really enthusiastic about Svalbard, especially Mirko and Torus. They were a good team - felt safe all the way through and they tailored the days depending upon the group Really well organised.
Fantastic adventure
The trip was an absolute blast! Perfectly organised, full of great activities with knowledgeable and lovely guides! The whole group really bonded and we had an amazing time. The experience really let's you feel the remoteness of the place, switch off with the nature. The camp is incredibly comfortable and we were spoiled with the food. The views were amazing, the activities were varied and fun. During my night polar bear watch I was joined by a friendly arctic fox! It was everything I hoped for and so much more! I'm really looking forward to going back!