Escorted Tours
Upon arrival at Svalbard Airport, your driver will meet you in the Arrivals Hall holding a sign with your name on it. After locating your driver, you will be transferred from the airport to the hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver. Later, depart on a Longyearbyen in a Nutshell Guided Tour (Duration: 2 Hrs). Enjoy a Guided Taxi Tour around Longyearbyen, which offers a good dose of local knowledge, an overview of the various attractions and, most importantly, an introduction to the general history of Svalbard. The tour takes you past local Mines, Research areas, the Town Centre, the Church and near the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (150 metres away). Along the way, there will be stops for photography, allowing you to capture the unique surroundings. Wildlife varies with the seasons and during the Polar Night you might be lucky enough to witness the magical Northern Lights dancing across the sky. The driving route may be adjusted in case of closed roads or bad weather. This evening enjoy a 4 Course Gourmet Dinner with Wine pairing at Funktionærmessen Restaurant. Located in the Funken Lodge Hotel, this restaurant provides a fine dining experience that is unmatched in Longyearbyen. The kitchen presents intriguing flavour combinations inspired by international cuisine. Enjoy a culinary journey while admiring the stunning views over Longyearbyen. This is a historical dining place, which has always been connected with high quality. It was here that the Mining Company’s office workers enjoyed their meals and the panoramic outlook over Longyearbyen, Hiorthfjellet and Longyearbreen. The restaurant has returned with a new menu and furnishings, but the history, the views and the exceptional quality of the experience remain. Meals: Dinner
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This morning, enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing on a Walrus Safari Boat Tour (Duration: 4 Hrs). We start this tour by crossing the majestic Ice Fjord in a brand new closed hybrid boat 'Kvitbjørn'. After approximately one hour, we find ourselves in Borebukta. This area is a popular spot for Walrus colonies. As we move slowly through the Bay, we ensure a quiet and respectful approach, giving us a unique opportunity to observe the wildlife without causing disturbance. 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! We will stay on the boat throughout the tour, but spend plenty of time outside on the aft deck. Here, you really get close to nature. After some hot drinks and freshly baked buns, we set course back to Longyearbyen again. PLEASE NOTE: This Tour is part of a Group. Tonight, enjoy a 6 Course Dinner with Wine pairing at Willem's Cabin. Enjoy local produce with perfectly composed wines, while you get to learn more about the discovery of Svalbard. All this far away from Town, surrounded by the most beautiful Arctic wilderness. Willem’s Cabin is located at Camp Barentz, a unique Wilderness Camp at the end of Adventdalen. Surrounded by beautiful Mountains and Reindeer roaming freely, you will have an intimate experience with Svalbard's wild nature. At Willem’s Cabin, a private Chef prepares exclusive local ingredients for you. The menu features delicacies such as Seal and Cod from Isfjorden and Reindeer from Nordenskiöld Land. An authentic dining experience where the host takes you on the journey of the ingredients, from nature to plate. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Breakfast will be served at the hotel before departing on a Wildlife and Glacier Hybrid Catamaran Tour (Duration: 6 Hrs 30 Mins). We are proud to present a sustainable alternative for exploring the Fjords of Svalbard. Join a trip with the hybrid electric catamaran MS Bard, which takes you through magnificent landscapes, to Billefjorden and the Glacier front of Nordenskiöldbreen. Today, a bus will pick you up and take you down to the Harbour, where MS Bard is waiting. The conditions on Svalbard change a lot throughout the year and a tour under the midnight sun in May will be different from when the polar night approaches in October. Whatever the season, you can expect unique experiences in beautiful Svalbard nature. On the MS Bard, the engine and propellers are specially designed to minimise the noise and vibration. This not only takes you closer to nature, but the surrounding wildlife is less disturbed by our presence. Early in the season, parts of Billefjorden 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 beautiful glacier front of Nordenskiöldbreen. In addition, we will see the ghost Town Pyramiden from a distance and drive by Skansbukta, a bay with a lot of interesting history. The boat has a contemporary, Norwegian design that contributes to the serene experience onboard. 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. Onboard you will find a café and bar with a diverse selection of snacks and drinks. On this tour, you will be served a delicious Vegetarian Lentil Soup. PLEASE NOTE: This Tour is part of a Group. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast
This morning after breakfast, you will depart the Hotel and join a Sarkofagen and Glacier Hike (Duration: 6 Hrs). What could be better than experiencing Svalbard's unique landscape from a mountain top? Sarkofagen is one of the characteristic Mountains around Longyearbyen and from the top you will be able to see the Town from a bird's eye view. Surrounded by magnificent views in all directions, this is a hike you should not miss! Your Guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive to the starting point of the tour, Nybyen, the most Southern point of Longyearbyen. From here, you don’t need to take many steps before you find yourself surrounded by wilderness. The route goes up through the valley, over Longyearbreen (the 'Longyear Glacier') and up towards Sarkofagen. There is no obvious path to follow as we make our way towards the Glacier, as the moraine changes from year to year. The moraine landscape looks more like a moonscape than the Mountains you might have seen elsewhere in Norway. As if the landscape wasn’t alien enough, you can also stumble over 60 million year old Fossils here. Over thousands of years, the Glacier has pressed into the Mountain, moving rocks and gravel into the moraine, which brings Fossils into the light. The terrain is rocky, steep and uneven at times. However, your Guide will keep a steady pace, so that everyone can keep up and enjoy the surrounding nature. The Glacier crossing is easy, as it is a stable Glacier and there is no need to use ropes. Remember to keep an eye out for wildlife. There is a good chance that we may spot a Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan or two, which is a little larger than the mainland Grouse. These birds have no natural predators here, which means they are not easily scared. Once we arrive at the top of Sarkofagen, enjoy the view over Longyearbyen, a delicious expedition lunch and something hot to drink. Afterwards, we head back down to Town. PLEASE NOTE: This Tour is part of a Group. This evening, enjoy a Gourmet Dinner at Huset Restaurant. Welcome to a unique dining experience in one of the most iconic buildings in Longyearbyen, Huset. The building has served many purposes throughout the years, such as a Church, School and even as a temporary Hospital. Today, it is home to Huset Restaurant. The kitchen prepares an exquisite 14 Course tasting menu featuring Nordic flavours with nearly all ingredients sourced locally from Svalbard and the Arctic region. In collaboration with trappers and hunters at Farmhamna, Bellsund and Akseløya, the restaurant receives local Svalbard produce such as bearded Seal, Reindeer and Ptarmigan. The Chefs at Huset Restaurant are renowned for their romantic creativity. This is not only a unique dining experience for Svalbard but also the rest of the world. You have the option to pair the set 14 Course tasting menu with a Wine or Juice package, carefully curated by the knowledgeable Sommelier. Alternatively, you can choose from the extensive Wine list, Huset is home to Scandinavia's largest Wine Cellar with over 6,000 bottles within its walls. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning. Afterwards, depart on a Visit to a Coal Mine (Duration: 3 Hrs). Longyearbyen has a long and rich history as a Mining Town and one of the most exciting parts of this history can be experienced in Coal Mine 3. Here, you can explore the past and learn more about the history of mining. The history of mining in Longyearbyen goes back to the beginning of the 20th Century, when the first miners came here to extract coal. Mining was the cornerstone of the Town's existence and it helped shape society and the economy for many decades. The mining work was hard and dangerous, but it also created a strong community and a unique culture among the inhabitants. Mine 3 is one of the most iconic Mines in Longyearbyen and it is open to visitors who want to learn more about the history of mining. Here are some good reasons why you should make the trip: • A trip to Coal Mine 3 gives you a unique opportunity to delve into the history of mining in Longyearbyen. You will learn about the challenges the miners faced, the harsh conditions they worked under and how they helped build society. • The trip into the Coal Mine gives you an exciting experience of moving through the narrow tunnels and experiencing the miners' reality up close. It's a different experience that will give you a new perspective on life in a Mining Town. It is worth noting that the tunnels are spacious and it is optional if you want to try to crawl in the narrow passages where the coal itself was extracted. • Mining has had a big impact on the culture and identity of Longyearbyen. Visiting Coal Mine 3 gives you the opportunity to understand how this history has shaped society today. PLEASE NOTE: This Tour is part of a Group. Enjoy some free time before departing on an ATV Safari (Duration: 2 Hrs 30 Mins). This tour with an ATV is a fun adventure in the contrast filled Polar Summer. It’s like a Snowmobile on wheels! During the tour, you get to enjoy gorgeous nature, countless nesting birds, as well as get a great dose of local history. Your Guide will pick you up at the Hotel and take you to an expedition centre. Here, you will be provided with an overall, boots, helmet and goggles. After a briefing on how to operate the ATV, it is time to head out on the roads! We drive into Adventdalen (the ‘Advent Valley’), towards the mountain Breinosa and Mine 7. Throughout the tour, 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 Arctic Fox also tends to sneak around in this area, hoping to find food among thousands of Birds and Eggs. 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 filled with beautiful, small plants. At the viewpoint up on Breinosa, we enjoy the view towards Isfjorden before we drive back towards town. On the way home, we make a pitstop at Svalbard Husky to greet a group of energetic and social sled dogs, who will be happy to receive cuddles from us. A valid driver’s licence for car or motorbike is required to drive an ATV. Remember to bring it with you on the tour. The Guide will check each passenger's driver's license and will refuse participation if the driver's license is not valid. We advise you to dress in warm woollen underwear, warm outer pants and a solid woollen jumper under the overall that you get to borrow. Included in the tour: • Transfer to/from your pre-chosen hotel. Please be ready outside in front of the hotel’s main entrance, where you will be picked up, at the time specified in your itinerary. • Overall, boots, helmet and goggles to use during the tour. • Guide with all necessary safety equipment. • Hot drinks and biscuits. • Search and rescue insurance. PLEASE NOTE: This Tour is part of a Group. Enjoy dinner on your own at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before check-out. You will be transferred to the airport in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver for your onward journey or return flight home. Meals: Breakfast
Tour Prices are per person twin share in Australian Dollars. Conditions apply and group tours are subject to change and availability. Prices are subject to currency fluctuations. (ns)
