Arrival to Longyearbyen

Today after arriving from the airport, you’ll be picked up and taken to your hotel.

After checking in, we recommend having a short walk in town, and maybe having a nice dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Walrus Safari (3 hours)

ATV Safari (3 hours)

You’ll start this day with a trip to Borebukta bay and pay a visit to these odd animals with long teeth! Those rare animals that you can see only so far north. From there you’ll continue and experience the Arctic cultural and natural landscape up close with ATVs. Together with skilled, certified guides, you will get to know Longyearbyen's mining history, as well as the island's rich flora and fauna. 

These two tours are in our favorite list for summer tours and gives a good contrast between being on the water and on land. 

More information about the daily tours:

Walrus Safari (3 hours)

Throughout history, the walruses on Svalbard have been subject to intense hunting. There were only a few hundred of them left in 1952, when they became a protected species. Since then, the population has recovered sharply, and the walrus is finally a common sight again. Join us on a trip to Borebukta bay, and pay a visit to these odd animals with long teeth! As with all wild animals, we cannot guarantee that we will see them, but the chances are good.

The "Kvitbjørn" Boat

We start the tour by crossing the majestic Ice Fjord with our brand-new closed hybrid boat «Kvitbjørn». This 14.9-meter-long boat is very comfortable, with a modern design and innovative hybrid engine. After approximately one hour we find ourselves in Borebukta. Here it is usually nice and quiet, and the sea is calm. In Borebukta, we will use the electric motor to get a completely silent propulsion. This gives us the unique opportunity to experience wildlife without disturbing.

Walrus - an interesting animal

Walruses can be seen all year round on Svalbard. They often rest on ice floes, but during the summer and autumn you can also see walrus colonies relaxing on beaches and small islets. They tend to stick to specific locations where access to food and resting places are conveniently combined. Walruses are extremely social animals and usually appear in groups. After hunting for food in the sea, they pull up on land or ice floes to rest together with the herd. Here they like to lie close together – or even on top of each other!

Included in the trip

Transport from/to the accommodation.

Boat driver and guide with necessary safety equipment

Hot drinks and buns fresh from the bakery (cinnamon bun, etc.)

ATV Safari (3 hours)

How about doing your sightseeing on a four-wheeler?

Welcome to the contrast-filled polar summer. In the spring, the birds occupy the area between SSU and the dog yard. Countless birds will nest here during the short, hectic summer, and it is also from here the guided tour with ATV starts. The midnight sun colors the mountains in beautiful, warm tones until mid-August, when autumn and the polar night gradually take over for the long, bright nights. In the autumn you get a completely different, but just as beautiful play of colors where the sunset paints the sky in beautiful pastels.

On the way into Adventdalen to Breinosa and mine 7, we stop at various cultural monuments that testify to a 100-year-long era of mining. Here you can also get acquainted with the Svalbard reindeer that often graze on the nutrient-rich soil in the swamp area along the road. The fox also sneaks in this area, hoping to find food among thousands of birds and eggs, and together this constitutes an important eco-community. Do not forget to look down, because even though Svalbard at first glance feels barren, the swamp area is often filled with beautiful, colorful, small plants.

Well up at the lookout point on Breinosa, we enjoy the view towards the Isfjord before we drive back towards the city. On the way home, we stop at Svalbard Husky to greet a group of energic and social sled dogs, who are happy to receive cuddles from their guests.

Wildlife and glacier with a catamaran boat (7 hours)

An evening with food, drinks, and polar bears conversation (3 hours)

Today you’ll explore nature to the fullest, with amazing glaciers, wildlife, and scenery you can only see in Svalbard. The boat trip takes you through magnificent landscapes, to Billefjorden and the glacier of Nordenskiöldbreen. From there, you’ll continue to Camp Barentz, where you’ll have a nice dinner, drinks as you wish, and hear some unknown stories about Svalbard.

This day, after a long boat tour, where you’ll see a lot of the amazing views that Svalbard offers, you’ll end the day with a relaxing tour with dinner and drinks. This makes it a great match.

More information about the daily tours:

Wildlife and glacier with a catamaran boat (7 hours)

Unique nature experiences

The conditions on Svalbard change a lot throughout the year, and a trip under the midnight sun in May will be different from when the polar night approaches in October. Regardless of the season, you can expect unique experiences in beautiful Svalbard nature. Early in the season, parts of the Billefjord may still be covered in ice. By the use of only the electric motor, we will then silently follow the ice edge where the opportunity to see wildlife is great! Here we will also enjoy the mesmerising glacier front of Nordenskiöldbreen. In addition, we will see the ghost town Pyramiden from a distance, and drive by the bay Skansbukta.

The catamaran's hybrid-electric engine and specially designed propellers minimize the noise and vibration. This not only takes you closer to nature; More importantly, the surrounding wildlife is less disturbed by our presence.

A more sustainable boat tour

MS Bard is a new and groundbreaking catamaran for day cruises, specially built to leave the smallest footprint possible in the vulnerable Arctic nature. When we approach glaciers, wildlife or settlements, it will run silently on electric propulsion. At higher speeds we use a hybrid solution, where we run both an electric motor and diesel engine at the same time. In that way, we get the speed up whilst reducing the diesel consumption.

The boat has a contemporary, Norwegian design that contributes to the serene experience on board. You are free to move on several outdoor decks or enjoy the views from inside, through massive panoramic windows. Comfortable lounges are available outside as well as indoors. On board you will find a café and bar with a diverse selection of snacks and drinks.

Included

Transfer to/from the harbor in Longyearbyen

Boat trip with guides on board

A light dish: Vegetarian lentil soup

All necessary safety equipment

An evening with food, drinks, and polar bears conversation (3 hours)

THE DISCOVERER OF SVALBARD

Camp Barentz boasts an amazing location at the foot of the mountain, Breinosa, right below Mine 7. One of the buildings at the camp, Barentz Hus, is a copy of the cabin that the discoverer of Svalbard, Willem Barentz, overwintered in on Novaya Zemlya in 1596. Here, far from town, you can take in the stunning Svalbard landscape. At Camp Barentz, we often see Svalbard reindeer, and even grouse and foxes if you are lucky. Our knowledgeable hosts are also on watch in case a polar bear should appear.

As we arrive at the cozy wooden cabins we will be met by the evening’s host. Good drinks and a delicious homemade reindeer bidos will be served, together with campfire coffee and dessert. Welcome to a real Svalbard meal!

LEARN ALL ABOUT THE POLAR BEAR

After your tasty dinner, it is time to learn more about the King of the Arctic. With everyone sitting around the open fire in the cabin, the host will share information and photos about our most famous residents. You are guaranteed to learn something new about polar bears, and you may also here a few tall tales. After the presentation there will be time to take photos of the stark landscape, before returning to civilization.

Departure from Longyearbyen

Every good thing must come to an end, but we hope it is not your last time visiting Svalbard. Today, you’ll be picked up from your hotel to the airport and start your journey back home.