Experience the sheer magic of summer in Svalbard, when this remote Norwegian archipelago is bathed in the endless light of the Midnight Sun. You’ll fly out to Longyearbyen for a night in a hotel styled as former trapper’s lodge, before embarking on a spectacular adventure by boat to Isfjord Radio – a former telecommunications post, transformed into a wilderness retreat. Here, you’ll enjoy two days of high Arctic adventure, taking in spectacular Isfjorden and the magnificent Esmark Glacier, where you might just catch a glimpse of a passing polar bear. Or, take the chance to unravel the island’s human intrigue with a day at the Russian mining town of Barentsburg, where you’ll enjoy lunch at the local brewery.
Board your flight, via Oslo, to Longyearbyen. It's here that you’ll spend your night at the delightfully rustic & cosy Basecamp Hotel, where the decor reflects the style of an old trappers lodge.
Settle into your room before exploring the town. The Nordpolet Liquor Store is a highlight, not least for its champagne tasting evenings, which our specialists will be happy to arrange.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Basecamp Hotel, Longyearbyen
After breakfast at the hotel we suggest you visit the excellent Svalbard Museum, where you can fully start to appreciate the challenges faced by your predeccesors, alternatively take a fascinating town tour or a tour of the mines before a late afternoon boat transfer to Kapp Linné – a remote coastal spit home to Arctic fox, reindeer and your stylish wilderness hotel, a former 1930s telecommunications post.
Once you’ve adjusted to your new surroundings, head to the restaurant for the first of your included meals – an Arctic-inspired feast.
Breakfast & Dinner included
Isfjord Radio, Spitsbergen
Dining at Isfjord Radio
Today’s excursion sees you head out by boat to the west coast of Isfjorden for the chance to spot thousands of seabirds nesting on the cliffs of Alkehornet. The journey is truly spectacular, as you trace Spitsbergen’s eastern coastline, before heading ashore for a picnic lunch and the chance to explore the beach at Trygghamna. Then, in the afternoon, you’ll arrive at the Esmark Glacier, where you might catch a glimpse of whales, seals and, if your luck’s in, polar bears. Lunch is included.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
Boat Tour, Svalbard
Polar bear, Svalbard
Esmark Glacier, Isfjorden
Today you can choose between a RIB boat safari that will bring you out along Grønfjorden to the Russian mining settlement of Barentsburg. Here, amid the bleak Soviet-era architecture, in a town of just 350 residents, you’ll find a hospital, school, culture centre and, most importantly, a brewery. And, it’s here that you’ll pause for lunch and the chance to taste the local tipple.
Alternatively, join your Isfjord Radio guide for a hike along the old radio poles of the station.
Your transfer then heads back to Longyearbyen for a final night at the Basecamp Hotel.
Breakfast & Lunch included
Barentsburg, Svalbard
Barentsburg church
Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer to the airport in time for your flight to the UK, again via Oslo.
Breakfast included
"While Svalbard is rightly famed for its winter adventures and spectacular Northern Lights displays, I wanted to put together this itinerary to showcase the region's summer credentials. To help get a sense of the islands' history, I've included stays at two of their most historic hotels – one a former trapper's hut and the other a one-time communications outpost, both unique and oozing with character. Throw in some outdoor adventure in the form of a boat tour of wildlife-rich Isfjorden and a visit to the remote town of Barentsburg – a Soviet-era mining town – and you've got the quintessential Svalbard summer adventure."
Sue McAlinden
Destination Specialist