Arctic Wilderness Adventure in Svalbard

Touch down in Svalbard – home to Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost city – and get your first glimpse of the Norwegian Arctic. The rest of the day is yours to explore and there are plenty of daylight hours to do so: 24 to be exact! The streets in Longyearbyen have no names, cats are completely banned and reindeer wander freely through the town. Join the rest of the group for a briefing, then grab some dinner in a local restaurant (dinner isn't included today, but your host will book a table for the group so you can get acquainted).

If you arrive early there's plenty to enjoy in Longyearbyen before your trip starts; see the FAQs and Optional Extras below for more information.

Lace up your boots to hike up Sarkofagen Mountain, where you will experience the perfect silence of the Arctic. Enjoy the spectacular views over Longyearbyen, with mountains and glaciers as far as the eye can see, before hiking back down in time for dinner and a good night's rest.

The weather in the Arctic can have a big impact: whilst wilderness camping your guides will adjust the plan according to the conditions, so the itinerary as described will remain fluid.

Board a boat to reach the wilderness camp at Ymerbukta – eyes peeled for Arctic wildlife (you may spot polar bears, walruses, seals and up to 13 species of whale – including the blue whale, the largest creature on earth). Settle into camp before embarking on a sea kayaking expedition, providing that conditions are favourable. Hug the shoreline as you make your way to the towering Esmark Glacier. You may even witness the glacier calving, signalled first by a loud, crackling noise like thunder, followed by huge ice falls that create amazing colours and waves in the water. Return to camp, prepare dinner together and end the day around the campfire.

Polar Bear Lookout: Tonight you'll have the unique and unforgettable experience of being on polar bear lookout. After a full safety briefing, keep watch over the silence and stillness of the Arctic wilderness, watching for polar bears in the distance as your fellow adventurers sleep.

After breakfast, you'll get kitted out with a harness and crampons and head out for a full day of hiking on the Esmark Glacier (weather permitting). Navigate untouched ice, deep crevasses and snow bridges, stopping for lunch on the way to take in the views of the fjords and mountains. Back at camp, it’s time for another dinner by the campfire and a chance to reflect on an incredible day, before pulling your next polar bear lookout shift.

Provided conditions are good you'll hike to the peak of Värmlandsryggen for a full Arctic panorama of fjords, mountains, plains and glaciers. Maybe tonight you'll pluck up the courage to take the 'polar plunge' – a quick dip in the ice-cold waters. Later in the evening, savour your last meal around the campfire and pull another polar bear lookout shift as you soak up the unique place you've called home for the last few days.

Clear camp, head out for a short hike and then take the boat back to Longyearbyen. From the water, you'll be able to spot the Russian settlement of Barentsburg along the way, also passing by the abandoned mining town of Grumant and a steep cliff home to thousands of nesting sea birds. In Longyearbyen, you can find a local restaurant for dinner and enjoy a night back in civilisation.

After a comfortable night's sleep at Gjestehuset, you'll drive out to Bjørndalen and set foot towards Fuglefjella and Pilarberget – known as the 'bird mountains' thanks to the flocks of birds who nest here during the summer. This spectacle can only be seen in summer, before the birds fly back south in autumn. Hike for a few kilometres, cross a river, then climb steeply up Fuglefjella (look out for reindeer and arctic foxes along the way). Standing atop one of the largest 'bird mountains' in the area, you'll find a wide plateau that plunges into the Isfjorden. On a clear day, you can spot Ymerbukta beyond the fjord.

Say farewell to Longyearbyen and the Arctic, returning to Svalbard Airport in time for your flight home.