The Five Glaciers

Degree of difficulty

• A good level of fitness is required for this adventure. The actual difficulty of the trip is shaped by the weather conditions. 

Arctic accommodation

• Accommodation for the trip is provided by a combination of camping, and comfortable guesthouses.
• Guesthouse accommodation offers 2, 3 or 4 bed rooms, hot showers and heating.
• Camping is in 3 man tents per two people, with a spacious tent provided for taking meals and communal space.

Svalbard sustenance

• Full board is provided throughout the trip, with the exception of one evening meal in Longyearbyen
• Breakfasts will be hearty, with plentiful tea and coffee
• Lunches are of a picnic style, to be prepared from a buffet style arrangement each morning
• Evening meals take the form of three courses, utilising fresh produce where possible, and as many fruits and vegetables as is possible in this remote environment.

Clothing to bring

• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket (with a hood, Gore-Tex/Nikwax or equivalent)
• Waterproof trousers (Gore-Tex/Nikwax or equivalent)
• Warm gloves and a hat
• Thermals – long sleeved top & long johns
• Fleece/jumper
• Suitable underwear, t-shirts and walking trousers
• Thin socks and thick socks (we recommend bringing 3-4 pairs of thick socks)
• Sunhat and sun cream
• Sunglasses (UV 400)
• Your swimming stuff (for the pool or sauna options)

Equipment to bring

• Sleeping bag liner
• Mini toiletry kit and toilet roll
• Any personal medication
• Water bottle/flask
• Small rucksack to use as a day bag
• Head torch & spare batteries (although it is nearly always light in the summer)
• Small towel

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Svalbard Airport
Longyearbyen
9170
Norway

Getting to Svalbard

• To reach Longyearbyen, there are direct flights from Oslo provided by SAS and Norwegian Airlines. Direct flights do not operate every day of the week so you may need to spend a night in Oslo before continuing your journey the next day.
   
• To reach Oslo from the UK, there are direct flights with British Airways from Heathrow and Norwegian Airlines have direct flights from Gatwick and Edinburgh. SAS have direct flights from Manchester.

The five Glaciers Itinerary

• Day 1 | Arrival to Longyearbyen

  Arrival in Longyearbyen, transfer to the hotel in the city.

• Day 2 | Ymerbukta

  Scenic boat trip across Isfjord. Kayaking from the bay of Ymerbukta. Time to practice sea-kayaking skills, before paddling to the Ymerbukta Glacier.

• Day 3 | Bore Bay

  Kayak trip to Bore Bay, home to Bore Glacier and Nansen Glacier.

• Day 4 | Boheman mining history

  Hike through the Boheman Cape flatlands amongst reindeer. Walk through the tundra to discover the mining history of the region.

• Day 5 | The moors of Boheman

  Hiking through the Boheman moors, exploring tundra and permafrost zones. 

• Day 6 | Wahlenberg

  Explore the incredible Wahlenberg Glacier before journeying to Svea Glacier, the largest and most active glacier in the region.

• Day 7 | Svea Bay

  The first of two days exploring the Arctic realms of Svea Bay. Sublime kayaking amongst wildlife and icebergs.

• Day 8 | Svea Bay

  Further adventures in Svea Bay.

• Day 9 | Svea to Longyearbyen

  Heading back to Longyearbyen. Either a final walk across the moraine, or a final paddle through the ice filled waters.

• Day 10 | Departure

  Dependant upon flight times, chance to explore the town of Longyearbyen before taking a transfer to the airport to return home. 

Included

• All transfers as detailed in the itinerary
• Accommodation, including two nights in a guesthouse in Longyearbyen
• Free walking tour of Longyearbyen
• All technical camping gear
• All sea-kayaking equipment
• Full supervision by an experienced professional guide
• Full board except for a last evening meal in Longyearbyen (day 10)
• Boat trip across Isfjord - Longyearbyen to Ymerbukta
• Boat trip Svea Glacier to Longyearbyen

Group equipment provided

• 'Tepee' style mess tent with table, stools and cooking equipment
• 'Ortlieb' water belts
• Sarsat beacon
• VHF radio
• Heavy calibre rifle
• Alarm gun
• Mini-flares and penjectors for each group member
• First aid kit

Individual equipment provided

• Suitable tent per 2 people (3 man dome tent for maximum space & comfort)
• Self-inflating sleeping mat
• Suitable synthetic sleeping bag ( -6°C)
• Aluminium thermos flask per 2 people
• Helly Hansen fleece lined salopettes for kayaking and ashore
• Tandem sea kayak with directional rudder (per 2 people)
• Gore-tex dry suit with integrated warm fleece liner
• Pair of kayak pogies
• Spray deck
• Life jacket with two pockets
• Neoprene balaclava
• Pair of ‘croc’ style shoes/sandals

Not Included

• Flights to Longyearbyen
• Travel insurance
• Your personal trekking gear
• Your personal medication
• The final evening meal in Longyearbyen (approx. £25)
• Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
• Accommodation on day 10, as a midnight departure for the airport is required

This trip takes responsibility seriously and ‘goes the extra mile’ to ensure that your presence in this country is entirely positive.

Central to this is

• Caring for the crew
• Caring for the local environment
• Caring for the local communities

All guides and partners are hand picked to ensure that every aspect of your trip operates to the highest standard and reflect the strong values, ethics and joy of travel.

This commitment to Responsible Travel is mutually beneficial without compromising the countries and communities touched or the depth and uniqueness of your adventure.

Key values of this trip

• Leave nothing behind
• We’re the visitors, let’s be respectful at all times
• Deliver a breathtaking experience
• Let’s benefit local communities and environments

Let’s help keep these wonderful places precious.

Porters and crew

All crew are paid proper wages and are treated with respect and dignity. This trip with IMEC, IPPG and KPAP, all not-for-profit organisations that focus on improving the working conditions of porters.

Friends of Conservation

Travellers are given the opportunity to mitigate some of the environmental impacts of flying by supporting community and conservation initiatives.

Travellers Against Plastic

This trip is a proud supporter of the Leave No Trace and Travellers Against Plastic campaigns, which help educate travellers on the impact of travel and provide practical guidance for enjoying the outdoors responsibly.

Costs