5 Days • 4 Nights
Longyearbyen & the Fjords: Arctic Short Break
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Exploring Longyearbyen, the northernmost town on Earth, is a fascinating highlight of this short break. Longyearbyen is unlike anywhere else, a tiny, colourful frontier town of 2,000 people set amid glaciers and jagged peaks at 78 degrees north, where polar bears outnumber residents and you leave your shoes at the door of every building. You wander its rows of brightly painted wooden houses, visit the excellent Svalbard Museum with its superb displays on Arctic wildlife and the coal-mining and trapping history, browse quirky shops and outfitters, and savour a surprisingly cosmopolitan dining scene, from Arctic char to reindeer. The atmosphere is warm, wild and utterly individual.
- A boat trip to a calving glacier and an abandoned mining town is a spectacular highlight of this journey. One of the great day adventures from Longyearbyen is a boat trip across the vast Isfjorden to the head of a fjord, where a great tidewater glacier plunges into the sea in a wall of blue and white ice, calving with cracks and thunder into the water. You cruise slowly beneath it, dwarfed by its scale, then visit an eerie, fascinating abandoned Soviet-era mining town, either Pyramiden, with its statue of Lenin and ghostly buildings, or the still-inhabited Russian settlement of Barentsburg.
- Cruising beneath teeming bird cliffs in search of Arctic wildlife is a wonderful highlight. On a wildlife boat safari from Longyearbyen you cruise the fjords and coast in search of the abundant life of the Svalbard summer. You pass beneath vast cliffs where thousands of little auks, guillemots, kittiwakes and puffins wheel and nest in a spectacular, deafening colony, watch bearded and ringed seals hauled out on the ice, and keep constant watch for beluga whales, which often gather near the glacier fronts, and even the possibility of a polar bear on a distant shore. Arctic terns dive overhead and the scenery is sublime.
- Hiking the Arctic tundra with an armed guide is an adventurous, beautiful highlight of this break. To truly feel the wilderness of Svalbard you must set foot on the tundra, and a guided hike from Longyearbyen takes you out into the wild valleys and ridges around town, always with an armed, expert guide for polar-bear safety. You walk amid a surprising carpet of Arctic flowers, saxifrage, mountain avens and Svalbard poppies, past grazing reindeer and the burrows of Arctic fox, up to a ridge or old mine for sweeping views over the glaciers, fjords and peaks. The silence, space and beauty are profound.
- The endless light of the midnight sun or the bright Arctic snows make Svalbard magical year-round. This short break is wonderful in both the great Svalbard seasons. In the summer, from June to August, the sun never sets, and the town, glaciers and fjords glow around the clock in a soft, golden, endless light that makes boat trips and hikes possible at any hour and lends everything an otherworldly beauty. In the bright winter and spring, from February to May, the land lies under deep snow, and the adventures turn to snowmobiling, dog sledding and hunting the aurora across dark, star-filled skies. Both are unforgettable.
- Above all, this short break offers an easy, beautiful taste of wild Svalbard, ideal for those short on time. You do not need a long cruise to feel the magic of the High Arctic, and this relaxed break, based in Longyearbyen, offers a wonderful, accessible introduction. Over five days you explore the world's northernmost town, take a boat trip to a calving glacier and an abandoned mining town, cruise beneath teeming bird cliffs, and hike the tundra in true polar-bear country, all warmed by the camaraderie of this tiny frontier community. The combination of wild beauty, abundant wildlife.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 5-day journey.
Your Arctic short break begins as your flight from Oslo or Tromso descends over glaciers and jagged peaks to land at Longyearbyen, the northernmost town on Earth, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Svalbard is one of the last great wildernesses on the planet, and its wild beauty is felt from the moment you arrive. Spend the rest of the day settling in and finding your feet in this quirky frontier town, perhaps strolling among its colourful wooden houses, browsing the outfitters, or relaxing at your hotel. This evening, a welcome dinner introduces you to the surprisingly cosmopolitan local cuisine, from Arctic char to reindeer, and to the adventures ahead. In summer the sun never sets, and the strange, endless golden light is enchanting. As you settle in, the magic of the far north takes hold. Rest well, ready to explore town and the fjords tomorrow.
Today you get to know Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost town, on a guided tour. You wander its rows of brightly painted wooden houses set amid the glaciers and peaks, learn the remarkable story of this coal-mining settlement turned Arctic research and tourism hub, and visit the excellent Svalbard Museum, with its superb displays on the polar bears, whales, seals and birds of the archipelago and its coal-mining and trapping history. You might see the old mine workings and cableway towers, browse quirky galleries and shops, and stop for coffee and cake in a cosy cafe. In the afternoon you are free to explore further at your own pace. The town's warm, wild, individual character is captivating. As the day ends, savour dinner in one of Longyearbyen's fine restaurants. Rest well, for tomorrow you head out across the fjord to a calving glacier.
Today you take a full-day boat trip out across the vast Isfjorden into the heart of the Svalbard wilderness. You cruise the great fjord, watching for seals, seabirds and beluga whales, to the head of a fjord arm where a magnificent tidewater glacier plunges into the sea in a wall of blue and white ice, calving with cracks and thunder as you cruise slowly beneath it, dwarfed by its scale. You then visit the eerie, fascinating abandoned Soviet-era mining town of Pyramiden, with its statue of Lenin, ghostly buildings and grand old cultural house, guided through its strange, frozen-in-time streets, or the still-inhabited Russian settlement of Barentsburg. A hot meal is served aboard or ashore. The combination of ice, wildlife and history is unforgettable. As the day ends, you cruise back to Longyearbyen. Rest well after a spectacular day in the fjords.
Today you get close to the wildlife and wild landscapes of Svalbard. In the morning you take a wildlife boat safari along the fjords and coast, cruising beneath vast cliffs where thousands of little auks, guillemots, kittiwakes and puffins wheel and nest in a deafening colony, watching bearded and ringed seals on the ice, and keeping watch for beluga whales and Arctic fox. In the afternoon you set out on a guided tundra hike with an armed, expert guide, walking the wild valleys and ridges around town amid Arctic flowers and grazing reindeer, up to a viewpoint over the glaciers and fjords, in true polar-bear country. The silence, space and beauty are profound. As the day ends, you return to Longyearbyen, exhilarated by your Arctic adventures. This evening, savour a final dinner in town. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow.
After a final morning in Longyearbyen, perhaps a last stroll among the colourful houses or some souvenir shopping for Arctic crafts, you are transferred to the airport for your flight south to Oslo or Tromso and your onward journey. You leave having felt the wild beauty of Svalbard, the quirky northernmost town on Earth, the great calving glacier and eerie abandoned mining town, the teeming bird cliffs and seals of the fjords, and the wild Arctic tundra amid reindeer and flowers in true polar-bear country. The images stay vivid long after you land, the blue wall of the glacier, the deafening bird colonies, the endless golden light, and the brightly painted houses beneath the peaks. Svalbard offers wild beauty, abundant wildlife and easy adventure in abundance even in a short visit, and you depart already dreaming of a return to the top of the world, perhaps next time on a full expedition cruise.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 4 nights accommodation in Longyearbyen hotels and expedition ship cabins with daily breakfast and a welcome dinner
- Zodiac landings, shore excursions and scenic cruising as per itinerary
- Guiding, wildlife spotting, lectures and briefings with an expert polar expedition team
- Airport and land transfers in Longyearbyen, plus loan of rubber boots and expedition gear for landings
- Return flights between Oslo or Tromso and Longyearbyen, a guided Longyearbyen town tour, a full-day glacier and Pyramiden or Barentsburg boat trip, a wildlife and bird-cliff boat safari, and a guided tundra hike
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Optional extra excursions and activities
- Mandatory Arctic travel insurance with medical evacuation cover
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Svalbard sits under the unique Svalbard Treaty and is technically visa-free, open to all nationalities, but there is no direct international access, so you fly via mainland Norway, which is part of the Schengen Area; that means many travellers need onward and return transit through Schengen and must meet Norway's entry rules, and non-Schengen nationals may need a double-entry or multiple-entry Schengen visa. A passport valid for at least three months beyond travel is required, and we confirm the exact, current process for your nationality
- Currency: The currency is the Norwegian Krone (NOK); Svalbard, like the mainland, is almost entirely cashless, and cards, contactless and mobile payments are accepted everywhere in Longyearbyen, from hotels and restaurants to shops and outfitters, so you rarely need cash. The far north is expensive, though Longyearbyen is a duty-free zone, which makes some goods cheaper; we advise budgeting for meals, drinks and optional excursions
- Best time to visit: June to September is the summer expedition-cruise season, with the midnight sun, open fjords, calving glaciers, huge seabird colonies and the best wildlife, and late summer opens the pack ice and the chance of a full circumnavigation; February to early May is the bright winter and spring season for snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice caves and the aurora, while the deep polar night from November to January is dark, cold and quiet
- Language & etiquette: Norwegian is the official language, but English is spoken universally and fluently, so communication is effortless. Longyearbyen is a small, tight-knit, international community with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere; it is a long-standing local custom to remove your shoes when entering homes, guesthouses, the museum and many public buildings, a tradition from the coal-mining days, and tipping is modest and not expected, though appreciated for good service
- Getting around: There are only about fifty kilometres of road around Longyearbyen and no roads between settlements, so travel is by expedition ship and Zodiac in summer, and by snowmobile, dog sled or boat in winter and spring; nearly all trips beyond town are guided. Flights arrive at Longyearbyen airport via Oslo or Tromso, and we arrange all transfers, connections and the seamless logistics of your Arctic journey
- Health & safety: Svalbard is remote, wild and one of the safest communities anywhere in terms of crime, but the environment demands respect; polar bears range across the entire archipelago, so anyone leaving the Longyearbyen settlement must travel with an armed, trained guide, and our expeditions always do. The cold is extreme, weather changes fast, and there is limited medical care, so we insist on comprehensive travel and evacuation insurance and provide expert guides and specialist gear
- Culture & environment: Svalbard is a pristine, strictly protected Arctic wilderness, and roughly two-thirds of it is national park or nature reserve; you must never disturb wildlife, pick plants, or remove anything, even fossils, bones or historic artefacts, all of which are protected by law. Longyearbyen blends its coal-mining heritage with modern research and a warm, quirky community spirit, and respecting the fragile land, wildlife and cultural remains is central to every visit
- Power & practicalities: Power is 230V with European two-pin type C and F plugs, so bring an adapter; connectivity in Longyearbyen is excellent, but there is little or no signal once you sail into the fjords and pack ice, which is part of the magic. Dress in warm layers year-round, bring windproof and waterproof outerwear, hats, gloves and sturdy boots, and we advise on and provide the specialist clothing needed for landings and winter activities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this short break suitable if I have limited time or am new to the Arctic?
Absolutely. This break is designed for travellers who want a genuine taste of Svalbard without committing to a week-long expedition cruise. Based comfortably in Longyearbyen, it offers day boat trips to glaciers and wildlife and a guided tundra hike, all at a relaxed pace with expert guides. No previous polar experience is needed, only warm layers and a sense of adventure, and we provide advice and loan gear where required. It pairs beautifully with time in Oslo or Tromso, and can be extended with extra excursions or, in winter, snowmobiling and dog sledding.
Will I see a polar bear on this land-based break?
Possibly, but there are no guarantees. Polar bears range across the whole archipelago, and sightings from boat trips or distant shores do happen, which is exactly why every hike outside Longyearbyen travels with an armed, trained guide. However, the best polar-bear encounters come on expedition cruises that reach the pack ice, so a land-based break is more about glaciers, birdlife, seals, whales, reindeer and the wild landscapes than guaranteed bear sightings. If seeing polar bears is your priority, we would recommend adding or choosing one of our Spitsbergen expedition voyages.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included on land in Longyearbyen, and expedition voyages are full board, with all meals, snacks and hot drinks served aboard the ship, from hearty breakfasts before landings to three-course dinners as the ship cruises the fjords. Svalbard's kitchens make the most of Arctic and Nordic produce, from Arctic char and reindeer to cloudberries and freshly baked bread, and where meals in Longyearbyen are left free we recommend the town's excellent, surprisingly cosmopolitan restaurants.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Expedition cruises are small-group by nature, sailing with a limited number of guests and an expert team of guides, naturalists and lecturers, which is what makes the landings, Zodiac cruises and wildlife spotting so rich; land-based activities in Longyearbyen run as small guided groups, and private guides, charters and tailor-made arrangements can be organised throughout. Every guide is trained, armed for polar-bear safety and passionate about the Arctic, bringing its wildlife, glaciers and history vividly to life.
Do I need a visa for Svalbard?
Svalbard itself is visa-free under the Svalbard Treaty and open to all nationalities, but because you can only reach it by flying through mainland Norway, which is in the Schengen Area, your Schengen transit rules apply; some nationalities travel freely, while others need a double-entry or multiple-entry Schengen visa to return through the mainland. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality and help arrange everything so your journey is seamless.
Is Svalbard safe to visit?
Svalbard is extremely safe in terms of crime, and our expeditions are run by seasoned polar professionals to the highest safety standards. The real considerations are the wilderness itself: polar bears roam the whole archipelago, so all trips outside Longyearbyen travel with armed, trained guides; the cold is extreme and the weather changeable; and the region is remote. We provide expert guiding, thorough briefings, specialist gear and careful planning, and require comprehensive travel and evacuation insurance, so you can enjoy the Arctic safely.
When is the best time to visit?
It depends on what you want. June to September is the summer cruise season, with the midnight sun, open fjords, calving glaciers, vast seabird cliffs and the best wildlife, and late summer offers the pack ice and a chance to circumnavigate Spitsbergen. February to early May is the bright winter and spring season for snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice caves and the Northern Lights, while the deep polar night is dark and quiet. We advise on the ideal timing for your interests.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the length and style of your voyage, combine an expedition cruise with days in Longyearbyen, add a winter programme of dog sledding, snowmobiling and aurora hunting, arrange photography-focused departures, sea kayaking or luxury cabins, and tailor the balance of wildlife, glaciers, history and adventure. Ships, cabins and departures vary by season and sell out early, so we plan well ahead. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal Arctic journey through Svalbard.
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