Svalbard Arctic Adventure: 6 Days Polar Summer at 78° North

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrive Longyearbyen — The World’s Northernmost Town

Arrive at Svalbard Airport Longyear and transfer to the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel — the world’s northernmost full-service hotel. The lobby features panoramic views of the Isfjord and surrounding mountains, and an outdoor jacuzzi where you can soak while watching glaciers calve across the fjord. Afternoon orientation: walk through Longyearbyen’s compact center, visiting the Svalbard Museum (excellent exhibits on the archipelago’s mining history, wildlife, and Arctic exploration) and the North Pole Expedition Museum. Welcome dinner at Restaurant Nansen with Nordic-Arctic cuisine. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 2: Adventdalen — Husky Sledding on Wheels & Ice Cave

Morning: drive into Adventdalen, the broad glacial valley stretching east from Longyearbyen. Visit a husky farm where 100+ Alaskan huskies are eager to run — in summer, they pull wheeled carts instead of sleds. Take the reins and mush your own team through the Arctic tundra with snow-capped mountains as your backdrop. Afternoon: explore an ice cave within the Longyearbreen glacier, walking through tunnels of crystal-clear blue ice thousands of years old. Your guide explains glaciology and the unique formations. Evening: free time in Longyearbyen. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 3: Pyramiden & Nordenskiöld Glacier — Ghost Town Cruise

Full-day boat expedition into Isfjorden. Cruise past seabird cliffs and look for beluga whales in the fjord’s cold, clear waters. Arrive at Pyramiden, the abandoned Soviet mining town. Walk through streets frozen in 1998 — the cultural center still has its piano, the basketball court stands ready, and Lenin’s statue gazes sternly at the glacier. Your guide shares stories of the 1,000 people who once lived in this Arctic utopia. After lunch, cruise to the face of the Nordenskiöld Glacier, one of Svalbard’s most active glaciers. Watch and listen as massive chunks of ice calve into the fjord with a thunderous roar. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 4: Fossil Hunting & Arctic Kayaking

Morning: guided fossil hunting expedition. Svalbard’s mountains contain exceptionally well-preserved fossils from the Cretaceous period — find ancient plant impressions and marine fossils up to 60 million years old. Afternoon: sea kayaking on the Adventfjord. Paddle past abandoned mining infrastructure and watch for bearded seals. The midnight sun means you can kayak until late — the light at midnight is surreal, painting the mountains in shades of pink and gold. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 5: East Coast Expedition — Polar Bear Country

Full-day boat expedition toward the east coast of Spitsbergen, where the ice pack creates prime polar bear habitat. Keep binoculars ready — this is the best area for polar bear sightings, as the bears follow the ice edge hunting seals. Your expedition guide carries a rifle and flare gun (required by law whenever outside Longyearbyen). Stop at the abandoned Russian settlement of Grumant and the seabird cliffs at Diabasodden. Lunch on board while scanning for wildlife. Evening farewell dinner at Kroa, Longyearbyen’s most atmospheric restaurant. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 6: Departure

Morning at leisure for last-minute shopping (Svalbard is a duty-free zone). Visit the Svalbard Gallery for local Arctic art. Transfer to airport.

Inclusions

• 5 nights Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (Longyearbyen)
• Daily breakfast + 2 dinners (including farewell)
• Husky sledding on wheels (half-day)
• Ice cave glacier exploration
• Full-day Pyramiden & glacier cruise
• Fossil hunting guided tour
• Sea kayaking (half-day, all equipment)
• East coast wildlife expedition cruise
• All safety equipment (polar bear protection)
• Airport transfers
• Professional Arctic guide throughout