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Svalbard Arctic Adventure - Polar Summer

Activity

Winter

Overview

Ride with huskies, spot wildlife, and explore the Arctic landscapes of Svalbard by boat with local adventure guides

Uncover Svalbard’s summer character in the long Arctic light, exploring Spitsbergen with expert local guides as the season reveals a different rhythm to life at high latitude. We meet enthusiastic huskies for an off-snow sled journey, venture into an old coal mine and travel the Isfjord by hybrid-electric catamaran in search of wildlife and glacier fronts. A wilderness evening at Camp Barentz, a tour of preserved industrial landmarks, and a hike to the summit of Blomsterdalshøgda for sweeping views of Adventfjorden (Advent Bay) round off an exceptional introduction to the islands.

The order of the itinerary differs slightly between departures but includes all the same exciting activities. You are sent a bespoke document prior to departure with the exact itinerary for your trip and other tips when travelling to Svalbard.

Key Information

Trip Code: ASV
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Norway

What's Included

All accommodation: 5 Superior nights (Radisson Blu Polar Svalbard)
All breakfasts, one lunch, two dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Join expert adventure guides to explore Svalbard during its sunny polar summer
Dogsled on wheeled carts with spirited huskies through the Arctic landscapes of Advent Valley
Journey into darkness and Svalbard’s mining past on guided tours through Coal Mine 3 and the cableway central
Cruise quietly through the beautiful Isfjord by hybrid-electric catamaran to Nordenskiöld glacier and spot Arctic wildlife
Share Sámi bidos
Hike to the summit of Blomsterdalshøgda and discover the history of the Global Seed Vault

Itinerary

First Destination: Longyearbyen
Next Destination: Longyearbyen

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Longyearbyen
Next Destination: Longyearbyen

Begin your adventure in Longyearbyen, the capital of the Svalbard archipelago, which lies on the island of Spitsbergen.

If you’re taking the group transfer, you are met at the airport by a representative and transferred to the hotel.

Around 6pm, say hei to your fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead from our representative.

Then enjoy a warm Svalbard welcome with a group dinner at the stylish hotel restaurant, Nansen, which serves classic Nordic cuisine.

Want more time in Longyearbyen? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Upgrade to a superior or junior-suite room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Meet an eager team of well-trained huskies this morning, heading into Advent Valley on wheeled carts – a chance to enjoy the thrill of dogsledding outside the winter season. After being equipped with warm outer layers and receiving an introduction to handling the sleds, we help harness the dogs and set off behind our guide.

The route follows the valley towards the old Northern Lights research station. Our local guide knows the wildlife hotspots here, so keep an eye out for Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes and seasonal birdlife. Several short stops allow the dogs to drink before we continue deeper into Endalen, eventually circling past the old Gruve 5 Mine.

At 3pm, we step inside the local coal-mining history, exploring Taubanesentralen, Longyearbyen’s former cableway central. Preserved since the 1980s, this striking landmark – once the core of Svalbard’s coal transport system − provides a fascinating insight into how coal once moved from valley mines to the harbour.

The machinery remains in place, and the building’s hillside position provides a magnificent view across Adventdalen, Adventfjorden, and the town below.

Upgrade to a superior or junior-suite room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Embark on a four-hour hike with an ascent to the mountain ridge of Blomsterdalshøgda (1,050ft/320m). The first stretch crosses soft tundra, where our local guide identifies hardy Arctic plants – also keep an eye out for the gentle Svalbard reindeer that often graze here. As the path becomes rockier and steeper, we follow their line to the summit for a clear view over Adventfjorden (Advent Bay) and the mountains carved by centuries of ice.

On the way back, we look for ptarmigan and, with luck, Arctic fox among the boulders before returning towards Longyearbyen. En route, we pause at Global Seed Vault, built deep inside the mountainside. Although the vault is closed to visitors, our guide explains how this remarkable facility safeguards crop seeds from around the world for long-term preservation – an intriguing glimpse into global conservation in one of the most remote corners of the Arctic.

At 3pm, we walk 20 minutes to the historic mining house of Huset. At this mid-20th-century gathering place, which has served as everything from post office to cinema, we learn how it shaped community life in Longyearbyen, before sampling Arctic-inspired bites paired with alcohol-free drinks crafted by a sommelier.

Upgrade to a superior or junior-suite room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Board a hybrid-electric catamaran (designed to minimise disturbance to wildlife) for a full-day excursion, with a light lunch included, journeying through the Isfjord towards Billefjorden and the glacier front of Nordenskiöldbreen. Early in the season, parts of the fjord may still be edged with ice; when conditions allow, the crew switches to silent electric propulsion so we can travel quietly along the ice edge, a prime area for spotting Arctic wildlife such as seals, walruses, Brünnich’s guillemots, Atlantic puffins, and maybe a polar bear in the distance.

We admire the wide blue wall of Nordenskiöldbreen and glide past the bay of Skansbukta. Weather permitting, we also view Pyramiden from afar, an abandoned Soviet mining town frozen in time. A warm soup is served on board, where you can also find a café and a bar.

The end of the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore Longyearbyen.

Upgrade to a superior or junior-suite room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to the harbour for a private fjord safari through Isfjord (2hr 30min). Travelling in a sturdy Polarcirkel boat, and provided with the appropriate equipment (goggles, life jacket and overalls), we explore sites that reflect Svalbard’s complex past, from former Norwegian and Soviet coal operations to bird cliffs alive with activity in May-July. Hot drinks are served on board. If conditions allow, we land at Hiorthhamn, a short-lived mining settlement now preserved in the tundra landscape.

Returning to our hotel, there is time for lunch before we journey into the island’s essential mining past as we visit Coal Mine 3. At the mine, we put on helmets and headlamps before walking through the old tunnels with an expert guide who shares stories of daily life for miners in Svalbard.

Deep within the mountain, we experience total darkness – a powerful moment that helps explain the realities of working underground in such a remote Arctic environment.

This evening, we drive (approximately 20 minutes) into the quiet Advent Valley for a wilderness evening at Camp Barentz. Framed by mountains, the camp serves homemade reindeer bidos (a traditional Sámi stew), campfire coffee and dessert. After dinner, we gather around the open fire in the cabin as our hosts share stories of life in the High Arctic, alongside insights into the polar bear – the region’s most famous resident.

Upgrade to a superior or junior-suite room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

You’ve steered huskies through Advent Valley, stepped inside Svalbard’s mining heritage, and journeyed across the Isfjord to one of the archipelago’s impressive glaciers, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Svalbard Arctic Adventure – Polar Summer

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us – one team, one seamless journey

Call us: 020 3733 5948

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Accommodation

Radisson Blu Polar Svalbard

Unwind at the world’s northernmost full-service hotel, surrounded by peaks and glistening glaciers. Each room has a stylish Nordic design, plus there are two excellent restaurants: the Nordic-inspired Nansen and the laidback Barentz Gastropub. If you really want to treat yourself, book yourself time in the outdoor whirlpool and sauna.

Upgrade to a superior or junior-suite room – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
There is a mixed-sex sauna at the Radisson – swimwear must be worn at all times. We also recommend using a gown for the walk to/from the sauna, though you can also use a towel.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.

Activities: Some of the included activities may be moderately challenging but can be opted out of. Reasonable fitness is recommended to enjoy the trip to the fullest. The more physical activities are the dogsledding and hiking.

Group: There is no set tour leader for this trip. Instead, each activity has an expert guide who picks the group up from the hotel and drops you back. When not on an activity, the front desk staff at the hotel are your main point of contact, which is the standard process in Svalbard.

Key information

Start hotel: Radisson Blu Polar Hotel, Vei 229-3, 9171, Svalbard & Jan Mayen
Phone: +47 79 02 34 50
Recommended arrival time: There is a welcome briefing around 6pm, followed by a group dinner
Airport: Svalbard Airport (LYR)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer by public shuttle from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

The local airport shuttle (Flybuss) is available for all regular scheduled flights. For 2026, we expect it to cost around 130 kroner.

If you’re taking the group transfer, you are met at the airport by a representative and transferred to the hotel. The same representative also hosts the welcome briefing.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Your airport departure on the last day is coordinated by front desk. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Norway

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Norway. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

There are many restaurants in Longyearbyen for lunch and dinner. The local food depends on the season, but may include reindeer, wild mushrooms, fish and ptarmigan.

Dietary requirements are easily catered for on this trip, but please inform us of any dietary requirements at least three weeks before travel.

The polar summer runs from mid-May to the end of September, when the midnight sun takes charge of the skies before finally dipping below the horizon in late August.

Temperatures typically sit around 3C-7C (37F-45F), though they can occasionally rise to 12C (54F). Check the Essential Equipment section of the Trip Notes to ensure you’re well prepared for the colder spells and the quick changes in Arctic weather.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.