Svalbard Summer Adventure

Wildlife and Nature thrives

Nearly two thirds of the surface of Svalbard is protected and consists of several nature reserves, national parks, bird sanctuaries and even a geo-topical protected area. The Polar summer here stretches from mid-May to late September, with the midnight sun dominating the sky until the end of August. Day and night becomes one in the Arctic.
After a long winter, the archipelago is invaded by migrating birds and the surrounding waters are nutritious offering plenty of food, encouraging an abundance of walruses, seals and whales to enter the fjords. At ground level plants and fungi emerge under the warming midnight sun, creating colourful life on the barren land. Many plants are especially adapted to the harsh conditions and in some cases Svalbard is the only place you can experience them. From late August, the landscape changes quickly again – the migratory birds prepare to head south and the plant life prepares for another long winter. The midnight sun disappears and the evenings become darker once again. This period is known as golden autumn and landscapes are filled with the most beautiful colours imaginable.

Longyearbyen – the northernmost city in the world

Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, about midway between Norway and the North Pole. The island of Spitsbergen is the largest of these islands and Longyearbyen is the largest settlement, in fact the northernmost city in the world and the main base for your stay. Longyearbyen used to be a mining community, everywhere in town you can see traces of its heritage – from the memorial by the church to the wooden scaffolds that once carried buckets of coal through the valley. Now it has become a small but functional town with a hospital, university, post office, supermarket and even the world’s most northerly brewery and chocolatier. Tourism has transformed the town into an Arctic adventurer’s gateway. As well as high quality hotels there are more authentic places to stay like Basecamp Hotel and there are cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and shops throughout the town.

Wilderness adventures

The wilderness awaits outside of town taking advantage of the long daylight hours at this time of year. Many people visit to experience the nature on foot, by boat or a combination of both. There are many optional excursions on offer, from easy walks to tough mountain hikes, searching for fossils to safaris focussing on wildlife, or a trip on the fjords by kayak or on one of the sightseeing boats. It is also possible to visit the Russian settlement of Barentsburg or the ‘ghost town’ of Pyramiden, and even go dog sledding on the mountain. All activities include equipment, English speaking guides, transportation and clothing. The excursions operate on different dates, so please ask one of our Sales team for more information.