Highlights
Overview
Ymerbukta, Nansen, Bore, Wahlenberg and SvΓ©a. Five remarkably different glaciers in one epic adventure.
This journey of discovery is a chance to explore a selection of Svalbard’s finest fjords, glaciers and tundra. Designed to be a challenging expedition-style trip that rewards those brave enough to take it on with an incredible immersion in the unique Arctic environment.
Explore the coastlines and glacier walls by kayak, listen to the thundering noise of the collapsing ice falls mixed with the shrill calls of Arctic terns and paddle among electric blue icebergs in freezing waters.
Sleep under canvas in beautiful and utterly remote locations, hiking through pristine wilderness and testing yourself against the elements on this once-in-a-lifetime expedition as close to the North Pole as many will ever go.
Route Highlights
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Fjords and glaciers
Explore the finest Arctic scenery, a land of phenomenal glaciers and wild fjords.
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State of the art equipment
Benefit from experienced guides and state-of-the-art equipment to be safe in the wilderness.
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Arctic wildlife
Kayak alongside basking seals with sea birds fishing in the waters.
In pictures
- Mountain
- Newcomers
- Average fitness
- Solo
- Couples
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
- Transfers
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.
- Hill
- Mountain
- Beach
- Ferry
The five Glaciers Itinerary
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Day 1 | Arrival to Longyearbyen
Arrival in Longyearbyen, transfer to the hotel in the city.
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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.
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Day 3 | Bore Bay
Kayak trip to Bore Bay, home to Bore Glacier and Nansen Glacier.
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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.
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Day 5 | The moors of Boheman
Hiking through the Boheman moors, exploring tundra and permafrost zones.
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Day 6 | Wahlenberg to Svea Glacier
Explore the incredible Wahlenberg Glacier before journeying to Svea Glacier, the largest and most active glacier in the region.
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Day 7 | Svea Bay
The first of two days exploring the Arctic realms of Svea Bay. Sublime kayaking amongst wildlife and icebergs.
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Day 8 | Svea Bay
Further adventures in Svea Bay.
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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.
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Day 10 | Departure
Dependant upon flight times, chance to explore the town of Longyearbyen before taking a transfer to the airport to return home.
- Accommodation
- Equipment
- Guides
- Meals
- Transfers
Included
- All transfers (as per full itinerary)
- Accommodation, including two nights in a guesthouse in Longyearbyen
- All technical camping gear
- All sea-kayaking equipment
- Full supervision by an experienced professional guide
- Full board meals during the expedition
- Return boat trip across Isfjord
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
- 2 meals in Longyearbyen on first and final evenings (approx. £25 per meal)
- Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Carbon offset
- Plastic bottle free
This trip takes responsibility seriously and ‘goes the extra mile’ to ensure that your presence in this country is entirely positive.
Central to this
- 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.
- Age 18 & over
- Between 2-10 in group
- Private group option
- ABTA
- ATOL
Costs
Deposit
£679.80
Price per person (inc deposit)
£3499.00
Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot based on 1,090 reviews.
Very well organised trek thank you! Professional, experienced, and importantly fun guides! Jayden Hughes
This was made extra special by all the staff, each and everyone was so friendly, helpful and I would do this trip again in a heartbeat... Thank you for best adventure! Nohlene Fick
Great and memorable experience. Carmen Louise den Haan
The guides were fantastic and can’t fault anything. Thank you. We will book again on one of your other trips. Sangeeta
Enquiries & bookings
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