Best for Explorers - 5 days (Summer)
ABOUT THE TRIP
A Thrilling 5-Day Summer Expedition to Svalbard!
Calling all explorers! This 5-day adventure is tailor-made for those who want to experience Svalbard’s raw beauty and wildlife in a concise, action-packed itinerary. Designed for travelers seeking thrilling encounters, stunning landscapes, and unique day tours, this journey hits all the highlights for the ultimate Arctic summer experience.
What You’ll Experience:
- Close Encounters with Arctic Wildlife – Walrus Watching and Bird Safaris: Your journey kicks off with two unforgettable wildlife excursions. Get up close with the Arctic’s lumbering walruses as they rest on shores and swim in icy waters, a truly rare and mesmerizing sight. Then, join a bird safari where you’ll witness Svalbard’s diverse seabirds, from striking puffins to Arctic terns, all amidst breathtaking fjord backdrops.
- Scenic Boat Trips through Pristine Arctic Waters: Svalbard’s fjords and coastal cliffs are like nowhere else on Earth. Embark on boat trips that reveal hidden coves, towering glaciers, and dramatic landscapes, all while keeping an eye out for seals and whales that roam these northern waters.
- Magnificent Hiking Adventures Across the Arctic Tundra: The Arctic summer is perfect for hiking! Explore Svalbard’s vast, wild tundra on guided treks where you’ll cross rocky landscapes, see unique Arctic flora, and marvel at panoramic views that seem to stretch endlessly. Each hike offers a new perspective of Svalbard’s untamed beauty.
Why This Trip is Best for Explorers:
For five packed days, this trip delivers the most thrilling and scenic highlights of Svalbard’s summer. Each day’s activities are thoughtfully planned, allowing explorers to connect with the Arctic on an unforgettable level. You’ll capture moments of natural wonder, take in iconic landscapes, and enjoy experiences that capture Svalbard’s spirit of adventure and exploration.
Ready to dive into an Arctic journey that will awaken the explorer within? Join us for these five days of exhilarating, Arctic-summer discovery in Svalbard!
Start Your Journey Here!
Reserve online
Schedule
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DAY 1 - Arriving in SvalbardList Item 1
You arrive in Svalbard! Ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience?
After landing, you can take your time exploring the special town of Longyearbyen, taste the delicious food the town's restaurants offer, don't miss it!
After a good meal, take a stroll down the snowy lanes and enjoy Longyearbyen's fascinating mountains and the beautiful ocean near town.
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DAY 2 - Wildlife and Glacier Boat Trip and a Special Dinner CruiseList Item 2
Wildlife and Glacier Cruise onboard MS Bard
A bus will collect you and transport you to the harbor, where MS Bard awaits. Conditions on Svalbard vary greatly throughout the year, offering unique experiences in the beautiful Svalbard nature, whether under the midnight sun in May or as the polar night approaches in October.
Traveling aboard the hybrid electric catamaran MS Bard ensures minimal noise and vibration, allowing for a closer connection to nature while minimizing disturbance to wildlife.
Early in the season, parts of Billefjorden may still be blanketed in ice. Utilizing only the electric motor, we silently follow the ice edge, offering excellent opportunities for wildlife sightings. Along the way, we'll marvel at the breathtaking glacier front of Nordenskiöldbreen. Additionally, we'll catch a distant glimpse of the ghost town Pyramiden and pass by Skansbukta, a bay steeped in intriguing history
Dinner Cruise Under the Midnight Sun
From April to August, Svalbard experiences 24-hour sunlight. The sun shines brightly both day and night, creating an unusual and captivating experience. On this evening tour, we'll sail out on Isfjorden, cruising past endless mountain vistas. Alongside a delicious dinner in these stunning surroundings, there's a good chance you'll spot some wildlife. The fjords are typically teeming with seabirds, and if we're lucky, we might even see a whale or two.
You'll travel on the hybrid electric catamaran MS Bard. Its specially designed engine and propellers minimize noise and vibrations, allowing us to get closer to nature and ensuring minimal disturbance to the surrounding wildlife.
During the cruise, you'll be served a three-course dinner. The meal is enjoyed indoors, where you can take in the breathtaking views through large panoramic windows. You’re also welcome to explore several outdoor decks, which offer comfortable seating areas.
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DAY 3 - Sarkofagen Hike and Walrus WatchingList Item 3
Sarkofagen Hike - To the Unknown
Our route takes us through the valley, traversing Longyearbreen (the 'Longyear Glacier'), and onwards towards the majestic peak of Sarkofagen. Along the way, there is no established path to follow, as the ever-changing moraine landscape presents a rugged terrain reminiscent of a lunar landscape. Amidst this otherworldly scenery, keep an eye out for 60-million-year-old fossils, uncovered by the glacier's gradual movements over millennia.
Throughout our ascent, keep watch for sightings of Svalbard rock ptarmigans, a unique bird species adapted to the Arctic environment and devoid of natural predators on the island. Their presence adds to the enchantment of our journey, offering glimpses of the wildlife that thrives amidst this pristine landscape.
Upon reaching the summit of Sarkofagen, revel in the breathtaking panorama stretching before you, featuring sweeping vistas of Longyearbyen below. Here, we'll indulge in a delicious expedition lunch and savor hot beverages, soaking in the tranquility of our surroundings before beginning our descent back to town, where our unforgettable adventure concludes.
Walrus Safari to Borebukta onboard Kvitbjørn
Our adventure begins with a crossing of the majestic Isfjorden (the ‘Ice Fjord’). After approximately one hour, we'll reach the tranquil bay of Borebukta. Known for its serenity and calm waters, Borebukta is a favored spot for walrus colonies. In this bay, we'll utilize the electric motor for silent propulsion, providing us with a unique opportunity to observe wildlife without disturbance.
Walruses can be spotted year-round in Svalbard. While they often rest on ice floes, during the summer and autumn, they also frequent beaches and small islets in colonies. These colonies typically gather in specific locations where access to food and resting spots are conveniently situated. Walruses are highly social animals, often appearing in groups. After foraging in the sea, they haul themselves onto land or ice floes to rest alongside their herd, often lying close together or even atop one another.
Throughout the tour, we'll remain on the boat but spend ample time outside on the aft deck, providing you with an up-close encounter with nature. After indulging in hot beverages and freshly baked buns, we'll set our course back to Longyearbyen.
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DAY 4 - Trip to the Bird Cliffs and an ATV Safari
Boat Trip to the Bird Cliffs
Our journey commences by charting a course westward on Isfjorden, leading us to the iconic Fuglefjella, or the 'Bird Mountain'. Nestled between Longyearbyen and Barentsburg, this majestic bird cliff towers above a narrow stone beach, soaring 500 meters high and serving as a seasonal home to thousands of migratory birds. Among the most prolific inhabitants are the Brünnich’s Guillemots, with colonies exceeding 100,000 pairs scattered across the archipelago.
Our next destination unveils the enigmatic ruins of the abandoned Russian mining town, Grumant, frozen in time since 1961. It's a surreal experience to envision the remnants of what was once the largest settlement on Svalbard, nestled amidst the rugged mountainside. Following a brief interlude at Grumant, we journey onward to Hiorthhamn, situated across the fjord from Longyearbyen.
Hiorthhamn, another abandoned mining town, harbors echoes of its bustling past with remnants of barracks, a blacksmith, stores, and other mining infrastructure. With a touch of imagination, you can conjure the vibrant community that once thrived here. Depending on timing and weather conditions, we may disembark here before commencing our return voyage to Longyearbyen.
ATV Safari (Driver's License Required)
Our route takes us into the heart of Adventdalen, also known as the Advent Valley, towards the majestic mountain of Breinosa and the historic Mine 7. Along the way, we'll make several stops at cultural monuments that bear testament to Svalbard's rich mining heritage, providing insights into a century-long era of industrial activity. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of the Svalbard reindeer, which often graze in the nutrient-rich soil of the surrounding swamp area. Additionally, be on the lookout for the elusive Arctic fox, known to frequent the region in search of food among the nesting birds and their eggs.
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DAY 5 - Departure from SvalbardList Item 4
You leave Svalbard after an unforgettable trip :)
After seeing the beautiful scenery of Svalbard, the unique wildlife and animals home to the archipelago (and hopefully a polar bear), you had back to the airport, with a smile full of experiences and a satisfied mind.
What's Included?
Included
- Transfer from/to accommodation in Longyearbyen
- A simple expedition lunch
- Hot drinks and biscuits
- Guide with all necessary safety equipment
- Search and rescue insurance
- Loan of flotation suit, life jacket and goggles (if needed)
Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Travel Insurance
- Luggage handling
