Arctic Expedition Through Svalbard in Winter

I generally avoid tours and group travel but the logistics and safety issues of winter camping in the Arctic (cold! polar bears!) put this beyond my ability to do alone. This solo traveler was fully converted and charmed by the wonderful group of adventurous people on this trip! Much Better Adventures seems to attract warm-hearted people with a can-do and want-to-learn spirit -- it made being in an epic place even more special. The outfitter in Svalbard was excellent: they earned our trust in their skills, knowledge, situational assessments. (Plus they were fun to be around!)

I have dreamed of the arctic for a very long time and always wanted it to be a very in-depth, the White Silence sort of immersive experience for me. So the idea of camping out in the snow sounded perfect. I was happy with the itinerary of the trip, I thought it included quite a lot within the rather small time period. The hikes and treks were very well organised and thought through. All of the guides for all activities were knowledgeable and attentive, but not too restrictive. All of the necessary gear could be provided and borrowed, which can be quite reassuring. Almost a week in Spitsbergen can mean that you experience all sorts of weather - I got everything from -16 to +2 with all the variants of precipitation and wind all in 8 days. And even though it'd be nice to have the predictable sun and crispy cold every day, these weather variations brought their own fun and some unforgettable moments!! Now for the fitness - as a very young and fit person, I found bits of it very challenging. I would say that you do not fully understand what it takes to pull the weighted pulka all the way to/from the camp before you get there. It is doable but you will question your choices in a few stretches of the hike hahahah! Just prepare mentally that it will be a proper challenge and get ready to push through!

Everybody in our group was a solo traveller so we did not know each other before the trip, but had an amazing time together! Besides the experience itself doing most of the bonding, the guides on the camping trip, Michael and Tørus (apologies if I'm misspelling it) were amazing at facilitating even more conversation.

Both of them also made the camping experience relatively easy with how they were very responsive and caring. And with good coffee too!

Overall, despite some very physically exhausting bits I am overjoyed with this trip!! Now, only a couple days upon return I already find it difficult to recall the tough parts but feel extremely happy that I went for the trip. Def recommend

What a great trip! The itinerary, the guides and the fellow explorers created a brilliant trip.

The ice cave on the first day is an amazing experience and gives you a chance to see how your clothing choice works. If you are claustrophobic you may need to be brave - the entry is narrow and steep (with a rope handrail), and inside the caves you need to move on hands and knees in some places due to low headroom.

The three day trek is core to the trip and was a unique adventure. The pace is easy and you cover about six miles each day with plenty of stops. The sleds slide easily but do require some effort on the uphill sections.

The communal tent and toilet tent are already set up at the camp site and you bring your sleeping tent, sleeping bag and personal clothing in a kit bag (or dry bag) on the sled. On the middle day you need a small/mid size back pack as the tents and sleds stay in place.

You will see snowmobilers, skiers, dog sleds and other groups in the distance on occasions.

Breakfast is a variety of breads, cereals, tea and coffee, lunch is a freeze dried meal and diner is cooked by the two guides that accompany you (typically a Reindeer stew or similar). I took a few snack bars, but didn't need all of them as the food provided was fine.

Your one hour polar bear watch during the night fly's by, at this time of year it does not get completely dark, just twilight and the scenery is bathed in a magical light.

For me the most challenging thing was the general dampness - whilst you are warm while you are moving, you will cool down in camp, so fresh clothing is important. The communal tent has a fire and got up to 20 centigrade, but frost forms on the inside of the sleeping tents and if you brush it with your head, it falls on you and your sleeping bag which adds to the general dampness. You typically keep a few layers on in your sleeping bag, and I had a balaclava plus a woolly hat. For our week, the temperature was around -12 centigrade, but any wind makes it feel noticeably colder, the Norwegian weather website yr. no is really useful.

The snowmobiling on the last day was a fun way to finish the trip. It was surprisingly intense as the established tracks you drive on are rutted and bumpy in places. You can always go pillion if you do not want to drive - but you will miss out on the fun of driving.

The guides were different for each of the activities, but were all excellent.

When we were in Longyearbyrn the group generally ate out together in the evening, as there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. The accommodation is a hostel rather than a hotel (no en-suite), but no worse for that.

All in all, it was a great trip with lots of incredible memories.

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Beyond any expecations! What an incredible trip.

A unique and incredible experience in this magical place. The scenery is breath-taking and photos cannot do it justice. You do need to be willing to sacrifice a level of comfort but the reward is an incredible experience of the Svalbard wilderness. Having the right kit makes a big difference so pay heed to the advice of the guides and ask if you're not sure. The hike on the first day is a good opportunity to test out your kit and adjust if necessary before you go camping.

Had an amazing time! Would highly recommend this trip. From the cave trip, to the camping, hiking.. the lot, thoroughly enjoyed!

The only thing I’d suggest is to bring your own sleeping bag

What an amazing adventure. Day 1 was a fairly gentle introduction to the week with an uphill hike out to the ice caves. Beautiful scenery and amazing caves with lovely guides. Next was the wild camping. With a pulka weighing upwards of 15kg, we headed out into the Arctic wilderness for a really challenging, but utterly amazing 3 days of hiking through amazing scenery, scaling small mountains and wild camping in breathtaking surroundings. Throughout we were lucky to be guided by Jonatan and Philipp - both very experienced, knowledgeable and supportive guides. They helped us with our layering, advised re managing the very low temperatures, kept us going with an endless supply of snacks, dug sheltered sitting areas in the snow for our short lunch breaks and cooked some really good hot meals (Reindeer stew with mash and chicken curry and rice) Polar bear watch was an amazing hour both nights - I loved the solitude and Arctic silence, whilst catching sight of some local wildlife meandering nearby. The views were breathtaking. We then had another long trek with our Pulkas back into civilisation with yet more amazing views and more local information from our knowledgeable guides. Our last planned day together was a really fun day spent on the snowmobiles. Great views, great speeds and great fun! After a brilliant day on the snowmobiles we said our thank yous and goodbyes to our guides and as a group we then hired the local sauna to round off our week with a ‘Polar Plunge’ to complete the full Arctic experience. Overall I would 100% recommend this trip for everyone’s ‘bucket’ list. As long as you make sure you are physically fit, mentally prepared for the extreme cold conditions, have the correct kit and are up for the challenge. We arrived a couple of days early and went on a boat trip which was a proper eye-opener to the cold. (As well as another great experience which we paid for separately) It prompted a trip into town where the shops sell everything needed for the climate. Your guides can also sell/rent equipment. Thank you MBA!

This was a great trip, but don't underestimate it! If you are a regular hiker then fitness wise you should be ok but its the cold that makes it challenging. A really good experience and the guides felt more like friends by the end if it. I would recommend decent kit (Toes were toasty in the Sorel Boots) also getting there a day earlier to test out your equipment and layers in the town. A good likeminded group made the trip even better. At the hotel town is more of a 30 minute walk, not always desirable in the cold after a long day but the restaurant opposite was decent. The group tent was also a good setup to get warm whilst camping! All in all not a walk in the park for the faint hearted.

I’m sitting here writing this, watching the snow covered mountains of Svalbard in the background. This trip is highly recommended if you want an introductory adventure in the arctic.

It’s fair to call this trip challenging. To enjoy it, you’ll need a good level of fitness - enough to walk up a moderately steep slope in the snow, pulling a 15+kg sledge behind you. There are a good number of hills, and quite steep paths, and you’ll need to climb them in snow shoes.

There is an extensive kit list, but it’s worth remembering you’ll be dragging your stuff (at least what you don’t leave in storage at the company warehouse) along with you. One additional change of clothes (baselayers, socks, etc) is a reasonable minimum for camping on top of a good down jacket (ideally thick expedition style), a mid layer fleece and a windproof outer. Good insulated boots (big enough to allow some insulating air space around you foot) and thick wool socks are essential, though they can be hired / bought for a small fee from the company. Snacks are provided by the company and wet wipes are not practical at minus 26oC, though hand warmers are fantastic. The guides cook dinner at the campsite - genuinely good hot meals and extra calories to boot.

The guides are very good and highly experienced. They push you to do your best, though it is also important to recognise your limits and state clearly if there is a something beyond your comfort zone, since there is an assumed level of risk associated with some activities. Overall they’re very happy to listen and accommodate as is practical.

At the end of a fantastic trip, snowmobiling rounds things off perfectly. It’s cold - Ski goggles and a good buff are essential! Travelling through some of the most stunning landscape I’ve ever seen at 90kph is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

I strongly recommend this trip, but prepare well for it!

Svalbard was truly a different experience to what I had imagined and I cannot recommend it enough!

Camping in -25, climbing a frozen peek, zipping across Svalbard on a snowmobile I cannot decide which part of this trip was the best, Im already tempted to go back in Summer!

One thing I would suggest is hiring gear, it was very straightforward and meant we were well prepared even for polar bear watch. Oh and also go to the husky cafe, it was as good as it sounds!

Svalbard really is a phenominal place and like nothing else I've ever experienced. The pictures really don't do justice to how incredibly beautiful, unique and harsh the environment is.

Our trip took place during an unseasonably cold spell which meant our nights camping were done so in -26C. Although I felt relatively prepared having meticulously followed the kitlist, that level of cold definetely takes some adjusting too and you certainly have to accept some degree of discomfort. The guides did a great at teaching us how to get warm and stay warm overnight and were fantastic at keeping the camp running even with a few logistical issues.

My big piece of advice would be to really focus on your kit. We hired lots of the more technical kit as recommended by Much Better Adventures and it meant we had great quality gear without having to pay a huge expense to buy it ourselves. Longyearbyen also has some great sports shops which you can easily find any last minute bits you might need.

There were so many incredible moments and highlights from this trip that it's hard to narrow them down. -The first venture out to the ice cave is really exciting and a nice taster of what to expect in the cold. -The second day at camp included a hike to the peak of Trollsteinen which has absoluetly breathtaking views. -Incredible views down the valley into Longyearbyen whilst pulling your pulka back to civilisation after the hard days camping. -Snowmobiling to Tempelfjorden in the sun felt out of this world and was a brilliant change of pace from exploring on foot.

This trip definetely has a big element of type 2 fun but it was an absoluetly incredbile experience like no other.

This was an experience of a lifetime for me, in a special place, which sometimes I felt I had all to myself, particularly when I was up on polar bear watch at 4.00 in the morning. I would rate this as 5 stars, but there were some things that didn't run quite right for me, and I believe in being honest, hence the rating. Day 1 - more time could be spent on an initial briefing here, with a kit check, to allow people time to purchase additional items, and to understand why they need them. Maybe ask people to arrive a day earlier even. Day 2 - trek to an ice cave. Very interesting day with our guides Phillipe and Albert, who were very knowledgeable and accommodating. Day 3 - trek out to wild camp. Led by our guides Niklas and Jonatan, a challenging snowshoe hike to our campsite. Comments here on possibly starting the day a bit earlier, and not spending much time on a lunch stop. Alternative choice of route possibly? We did get to bed late, but that allowed us to see a beautiful Aurora Borealis display. Day 4 - day in camp, with a short hike. Jonatan and Mirko working very hard keeping everyone comfortable and active. Day 5 - hike back to Longyearbyen. In keeping with the other days, very cold (-25 deg C)and sunny. Very enjoyable after a relatively easy day beforehand. Route choice perfectly selected to bring us back to the guesthouse. Day6 - snowmobile trip out to Tempelfjorden. Good briefing beforehand, with lots of spare kit available if needed.

Svalbard is amazing. The expedition was fantastic. Slightly let down by the accommodation. It’s the furthest guest house in town away from the town and nothing to write home about.

It’s completely worth doing this trip but be aware the weather is very harsh and makes everything 20 times harder. Be warned.

There are many things to say, This experience is based on someone who adventured with no prior outdoor/camping experience, in their 30s with median fitness levels.

Firstly I recommend adventurers to try to 'overprepare', kit will make or break this trip. Also understanding why it works can help a lot (e.g. principles of windproofing, managing water, and leaving some air space within gear for insulation). I was not the most prepared however the guides made sure I was able to make the most out of what gear I had. I've never worn contact lenses before, but I think they are a must if the weather is as cold as it was on our trip (-26C) - glasses will freeze/fog, wearing goggles over glasses is not always practical. Svalbard is a beautiful wilderness with most of the locals being wisened to outdoor activities and managing the cold, outdoor lifestyle seems to be a big driver as to why they are there! They can give great tips on preparation if you arrive early.

The trip: The activities were well planned, with day 1 being a bit of a taster/preparation check (beautiful scenery in the ice cave)- I got cold so knew I had to buy more clothes, Longyearbyen is well suited for finding any gear you need. I think the trip could've benefitted from giving us more time to find gear. Pulling the pulka to the campsite was amazing, a real physical challenge- there were some logistical issues at the campsite but they were prioritised and resolved by the guides accordingly, safety was put first and the camping trip was successful. Though I personally didn't complete the camping part- I felt I didn't have enough gear to get through two nights, the guides made a contingency plan for this. Snowmobiling was exceptional- again, I recommend contact lenses for practicality, covering 100km+ definitely gives you time to feel you have a good level of competency on a snowmobile.

It was great to work through the adventure with a group of 10, with different strengths and weaknesses, leading to us forming a strong bond and leaving us with a group sense of achievement.

This trip has left me with many memories and has taught me a lot about camping and preparation for outdoor trips, it has served as an inspiration to develop my fitness and outdoor skills. I would recommend it to anyone willing to be challenged in an unforgiving environment.

This was an incredible trip to experience the magical beauty and remoteness of Svalbard - I wasn't ready to leave on day 7! The guides were fantastic at keeping us safe, sharing their passion for life on Svalbard and working non-stop to give us the best experience possible.

The glacial ice cave was a great introduction to the week and allowed us to get a feel for the cold (-26C).

The snowmobile experience was phenomenal - it was a first for me and felt like being part a Ridley Scott alien movie, flying down a highway of ice on the frozen fjord surrounded by the most spectacular scenery as the sun set.

The hike up to the Trollsteinen viewpoint led by Mirko was another highlight which was stunningly beautiful and really gave a perspective of the vast landscape of Svalbard.

For the most part, the camping was a fantastic experience (with the Northern Lights even paying us a visit) although the group did have some issues on the first night. To quote one of the guides, you are expected to put up with a certain level of discomfort. The camping experience definitely has an aspect of type two fun associated with it.

Having the right equipment is critical. From my perspective, I paid a lot of attention to the defined kit list but struggled to get the correct gloves before the trip. Even after a shopping trip to London, the warmest mittens I could find were insufficient on day 1 and required buying something more suitable in Longyearbyen. My advice would be, if you are struggling to find the right equipment before the trip, rather than waste money, wait and buy the optimal kit in Longbearbyen as it is very well equipped and you'll get excellent advice from the locals. Perhaps even arrive a day early with this in mind.

The one recommendation I would suggest to tweak the trip is to provide a safety briefing and kit inspection on day one. I fully appreciate it is down to us to come prepared with the correct equipment but there will be gaps in a group of 10. Making sure everyone has the correct kit to be safe and comfortable for the trip on day one would likely save time in the long run. Also, some advice on what level of cold is to be expected vs what carries the risk of frostbite etc and strategies for dealing with the cold could be shared at the beginning.

A few last tips:

I carried around a mass of clif bars for the week which were too frozen to eat! Although the guides did a great job of keeping us topped up with snacks, if you want to bring your own, I'd recommend a simple, large squared chocolate bar. These are also quite nice for breaking apart and sharing around.

If the temperature is as cold as we experienced it (-26C), you may find it too cold to bother using a proper camera. You may benefit from leaving it behind and saving weight.

One of the best lessons Mirko gave us was to get active and use your body to generate heat before getting into a cold sleeping bag or camp boots. I think this is a much better strategy than faffing around with hand warmers etc.

Many thanks to my fellow much better adventurers, the guides and locals of Longyearbyen for the trip of a lifetime.

An incredible adventure with highs and lows that made it all the better. Don't underestimate this one as it is tough camping at such low temperatures, we had -25°c which was on the colder side but very manageable with the right gear!

It was incredible seeing and feeling the landscape during the hike and camp, and then rounding off the trip with a comparatively comfortable snowmobile trip.

The guides were absolutely excellent, Jonatan, Nikolas and Mirko were absolutely brilliant during the camp and managed to keep alive a group of very inexperienced campers, in very hostile conditions - a feat that some may not quite appreciate!

A fulfilling and challenging trip, I'd recommend to anyone wanting to push their boundaries and experience something they likely won't find anywhere else.

This was a unique and unforgettable trip that was equally challenging and inspiring providing a fascinating introduction to the polar wilderness. The expedition and camp was a real test of resilience in the biting, inescapable cold and is not to be underestimated, but it also provided a real insight into life as a polar explorer. The local guides were first class and their knowledge and enthusiasm was infectious. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and was copious reward for all the exertion.

Just amazing, from start to finish this trip had everything. It was hard work and challenging at times, not for the faint hearted but wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The guides were excellent, lots of fun and very knowledgable and nothing was too much trouble. Svalbard is a magical place and so glad we got to experience it, can highly recommend this trip but you will need to ‘embrace’ the cold

I had the absolute best time on my trip to Svalbard, it met all of my expectations and really was a fantastic experience for my 40th birthday celebrations.The snow cave was really cool, the wild camp and polar bear watch just magical and just challenging enough to satisfy me, and the snowmobile safari a fun way to end the week.

Svalbard was magical, this place is unlike anywhere else I've been and was a wonderful, challenging and inspiring experience. The camping expedition was definitely a challenge, you will be very cold at times and trying to get to sleep in sub-zero temperatures was tough but completing the expedition and hiking back into Longyearbyen with the stunning views surrounding made all of that worth it! My best tips would be to pay close attention to the kit list, bring hand/foot warmers and listen to the guides advice. If you need better clarity on what to bring then contact the guides through the booking system.

An incredible trip in an incredible location.

We had the most amazing guides and our group got on so well. A mix of couples and singles, it was brilliant.

The food was delicious, we never went hungry. We also really valued that stove in the communal tent!

It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but also one of the best! I'd 100% do it again :)

Exploring Svalbard on foot and snow mobile was an amazing experience. The monochrome landscape is surreally beautiful and the relaxed arctic camp life in harmony with nature is a great opportunity to reset and fully focus on the experience of this trip.

Fabulous trip. The guides Eva and Niclas were knowledgeable, approachable, hard working and great fun. I found the experience was much easier than expected, in part due to their level of preparation and the benign weather. My suggestion would be to make it a 4 day trip and use the snowmobile trip to see if everyone is kitted out correctly. If necessary the ice cave trip could be an add on.

An incredibly unique adventure that was challenging but also enormously fun and inspiring! The local guides were exceptional both in terms of their knowledge and energy and in ensuring the group's safety at all times. Nothing compares to the experience of dragging your pulka through the deep snow, sleeping under canvas in the sub-zero conditions, and circling the camp in the dark on polar bear watch. The day trips to the ice caves and the fjords via snowmobile were also incredible. You definitely need to come prepared to face the tough conditions, both mentally and physically, but the rewards are great!

Absolutely incredible trip. The local guides are fantastic and the ice caves, camping/hiking and the snow mobiling were all brilliant. Camping in the Arctic is an amazing experience but is definitely not for the faint hearted!

A life changing trip of childhood dreams that delivered in every way possible and more than I could have ever have imagined.

Svalbard is a beautiful and spectacular place and this MBA trip allows you to experience the very best of it. I've been dreaming of visiting Svalbard since I was a boy, and this tour fulfilled every hope and expectation - and more!

What an amazing experience! I can't recommend it enough. There are not words I can find to describe how stunning the scenery in Svalbard was. There were so many highlights but just a few included- the polar bear watch overnight, seeing the northern lights and the snowmobile trip. All the guides were excellent and the other guests were all great company too and we had a lot of laughs!

This trip was the best experience of my life to date. Exceptional from start to finish with some nice little unexpected surprises thrown in that kept us with a huge smile on our face the whole way around. The group were a great laugh, which really put the icing on the cake. Two particular experiences will stick in the mind forever - standing out on polar bear watch in the middle of the night soaking in the majesty of the scenery; and observing the Northern Lights dancing flirtatiously over a nearby mountain before we descended into an ice cave to sleep for the night.