Svalbard Arctic Adventure – Polar Summer 6 Days

Svalbard Arctic Adventure – Polar Summer 6 Days

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Longyearbyen — World’s Northernmost Town

Fly into Longyearbyen Airport (LYR), the world’s northernmost commercial airport at 78°N. Transfer to the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel — the world’s northernmost full-service hotel with a Nordic restaurant and outdoor whirlpool offering glacier views. Evening orientation walk through this unique Arctic settlement: colorful wooden houses, the Svalbard Museum, and the iconic “polar bear danger” signs at the town limits. Welcome dinner featuring Arctic char and reindeer.

Day 2: Dog Sledding on Wheels — Advent Valley

During the polar summer, traditional sled dogs pull wheeled rigs instead of sleds — the experience is just as thrilling. Morning visit to a husky kennel to meet 80+ Alaskan huskies and learn about dog sledding culture. Then, mush your own team through Advent Valley, passing glacial rivers and dramatic Arctic landscapes. Afternoon visit to Camp Barentz, a replica of Willem Barentz’s 16th-century wintering hut, for a traditional reindeer stew dinner and stories of early polar exploration.

Day 3: Pyramiden Ghost Town — Soviet Arctic Relic

Full-day boat expedition through Isfjord to Pyramiden, an abandoned Soviet mining settlement frozen in time since 1998. Walk through the empty streets of this Arctic ghost town: the world’s northernmost Lenin statue, the cultural palace with its still-standing grand piano, and the abandoned mining infrastructure. En route, cruise past the Nordenskiöldbreen glacier and watch for walrus, seals, and seabirds. The contrast of Soviet architecture against Arctic wilderness is surreal and unforgettable.

Day 4: Glacier Cruise — Nordenskiöldbreen & Borebukta

Electric boat cruise to the massive Nordenskiöldbreen glacier. The silent approach allows close-up views of the glacier’s 30-meter-high calving front — hear the thunderous crash as chunks of ancient ice break into the sea. Continue to Borebukta, a pristine bay where walrus colonies haul out on ice floes. Keep binoculars ready for polar bears along the coastline. Return to Longyearbyen for a well-earned dinner at Huset, Svalbard’s finest restaurant with one of Scandinavia’s largest wine cellars.

Day 5: Hiorthhamn Hike & Fossil Hunting

Morning boat across Adventfjord to Hiorthhamn, an abandoned mining settlement on the opposite shore. Guided hike through the Arctic tundra (3-4 hours), where the summer reveals a surprising carpet of tiny wildflowers — Svalbard poppies, purple saxifrage, and moss campion. Search for 60-million-year-old plant fossils in the sedimentary rocks. Return to Longyearbyen in the afternoon. Evening farewell dinner and optional visit to the Svalbard Brewery, the world’s northernmost craft brewery.

Day 6: Longyearbyen — Departure

Morning visit to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault visitor center (exterior view — the vault itself is closed to the public) to learn about this “Doomsday Vault” safeguarding the world’s crop diversity. Last stroll through Longyearbyen for souvenir shopping: Svalbard-themed art, Arctic books, and locally-made crafts. Transfer to Longyearbyen Airport for departure. Take home memories of the midnight sun, Arctic wildlife, and the surreal beauty of the High Arctic.

What’s Included

• 5 nights at Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Longyearbyen
• Daily breakfast & 3 dinners
• English-speaking Arctic guide
• Dog sledding on wheels excursion
• Pyramiden boat expedition
• Nordenskiöldbreen glacier cruise
• Hiorthhamn hiking expedition
• Camp Barentz visit & dinner
• All transfers in Longyearbyen
• Airport transfers

What’s Excluded

• Flights to Longyearbyen (via Oslo or Tromsø)
• Travel insurance (required, must cover Arctic activities)
• Lunch (Days 2-5)
• Optional activities
• Alcoholic beverages
• Tips & personal expenses