100% customisable travel idea
In fine weather in Spitsbergen Northern city, Arctic cruise and midnight sun
Norway - Svalbard - Spitsbergen - Longyearbyen
100% customisable travel idea
Norway - Svalbard - Spitsbergen - Longyearbyen
100% customisable for you
Flights to Longyearbyen, the tiny capital of the Svalbard archipelago, on the island of Spitsbergen. Upon arrival, transfer and stay for three nights at one of the town’s best (if not the best) hotel. Built in 1947, the building originally housed the administrative staff of Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani (SNSK), a Norwegian coal mining company. Barely six years later, it withstood an avalanche before gradually being transformed into a hotel by the cruise company Hurtigruten in the 1990s. Recently renovated, with a stunning view of Longyearbyen and the glaciers, it is a top choice for travellers, offering comfortable rooms with a modern decor. Before dinner, where the chef serves innovative food, head to the bar or the adjoining lounge (with a library and fireplace) to sip a cocktail. As for the spa, you will find it becomes essential after your active days in the outdoors.
The capital of the archipelago, with its colourful Nordic houses, is small but buzzing with life. It has gradually shifted away from mining to fully embrace modernity and tourism, while retaining its authentic feel. The few streets are lined with shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and bars, ready to welcome discerning travellers, who arrive by plane or cruise ship, the only ways to reach the town. Local pride at being the world’s northernmost community is on display at the university, Svalbard Church and the Nordover Art Centre and Cinema (formerly Galleri Svalbard). You are actually only 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole, nestled in a valley hemmed in by pack ice and frozen mountains, swept by fierce winds. Here, months are spent in the darkness of the polar night, in stark contrast to the midnight sun. There are barely 2,600 inhabitants, about the same as the number of polar bears roaming between Svalbard and Franz Josef Land. They get around by snowmobile or sled, with reindeer and Arctic foxes as their neighbours.
Already booked - Longyearbyen electric bike tour. What could be better than a bike (electric, of course) to conquer the vast territories of the Arctic? It’s the perfect way to be swept away by the enchanting magic of wild landscapes. Follow the guide and set off on an adventure to explore the area around Longyearbyen. Be captivated by the diverse scenery and all the wildlife and learn about the archipelago's coal mining history and industrial heritage.
In your itinerary - Hiking in the Longyearbyen mountains. Set off with a guide for the peaks that surround the town and have been tempting you since you arrived. As you climb higher, the view over the town and the surrounding peaks unfolds.It’s a breathtaking image that will stay with you long after your journey. Depending on the weather (here more than anywhere else, you have to accept the elements without too much fuss), and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try walking on the glacier. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Optional extra - Kayaking on the Adventfjorden.
Today is a big day, it’s the day you get to board MS Serenissima. Before that, however, you will visit two of the town’s major cultural attractions, a perfect introduction to the adventure that is about to begin. First of all the Svalbard Museum which immerses you in the history of the archipelago. Learn about the people who dared to venture to the edges of the North Pole, the local flora and fauna, the mining industry, and whaling expeditions. You can't miss the highlight of the museum. The imposing stuffed polar bear takes pride of place right in centre. A board explains the circumstances in which a researcher from the University of Longyearbyen was forced to kill the animal. You will soon learn this is only ever done as a last resort. Next, discover Camp Barentz, named after the Dutch explorer who, in 1596, while searching for an Arctic route to Asia, was stranded in Novaya Zemlya for the winter with some of his crew. You can visit a reconstruction of the shelter they built using parts from the ship, along with several traditional homes. The camp also serves as a kennel for the tour operator Hurtigruten. Every company offering excursions in the region has one, as dog sledding is the preferred mode of transport during the long months of winter.
Board the MS Serenissima and stay for three nights in your deluxe double cabin, between decks 4 and 6. Your cabin is quite large and it has a double bed, a private bathroom, and large windows so you won’t miss a moment of the journey. The horn blows and the ship sets sail for Isfjorden. Let the adventure begin.
The guides will tell you that today offers the best chance of spotting a polar bear. So, as soon as you wake up, make your way to the ship’s deck. Magdalenefjorden, in the northwest of Spitsbergen, is flanked by towering peaks, the very ones that led Barentz to name the island Spitsbergen, which means "pointed mountains". In the 17th century, the fjord was a major whaling centre. Disembark on the shore to explore the ancient sailors’ graves and the remains of ovens where animal fat was once burned. In the sky, Arctic terns dive up and down in an attempt to deter visitors from getting close to their eggs. Further along, if you’re feeling brave you can take a dip in Gullybukta Bay, in water that's a chilly 3°C (37°F). Back on board the ship, you pass near the 80th parallel north, just 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole. It’s a symbolic milestone that only a lucky few experience in their lifetime. Moffen Island and its famous walrus colony appears In the distance. The animals basking in the sun are easily distinguishable from their relatives with their thick whiskers, impressive tusks, and massive build (about 3 metres (nearly 10 feet) long).
For your third day at sea, you head to Kongsfjorden. On the north shore of the fjord stands the former settlement of Ny-Ålesund (New London). In 1906, an English entrepreneur named Ernest Mansfield thought he had found an island made of marble. In 1911, he founded Ny-London to house workers and brought in large pieces of equipment. The First World War brought extraction to an initial halt, and soon after, Mansfield realised that the marble could not be sold and the site was abandoned. The machines, however, have remained in place and are surprisingly well preserved, due to Svalbard’s dry climate. Stroll among the ruins of this brief venture, spotting old traps set by trappers back then and local flowers (such as northern buttercups) along the way. Then, return to the boat. At the far end of the fjord the Kronebreen and Kongsvegen glaciers rise up. They seem to leak a reddish orange colour into the water coming from the red stone below. It’s an astonishing sight. Keep your eyes and ears open. If any polar bears are spotted, the crew will make an announcement over the loudspeaker telling you to come up to the deck.
Return to Isfjorden (the "Ice Fjord"), which, at 20 kilometres (12 miles) wide, is one of the largest fjords in Svalbard. Head to the bridge to soak up the incredible views, by day or night, as the sun does not set at this time of year. Disembark in Longyearbyen, say farewell to the crew, and stay for your final night at your original accommodation. Enjoy one more lunch and dinner at the hotel, before saying goodbye to your fellow travellers with whom you shared this fabulous Arctic adventure
Things to see and do - Take a look at the "northernmost swimming pool in the world", the "northernmost cinema in the world", and the other attractions worthy of this title; set out in search of Svalbard poppies (papaver dahlianum), a hardy species that thrives in the harshest climates; visit the quirky church, built in 1958, which welcomes worshippers of all faiths (and remember to take off your shoes, as is customary in Svalbard); seek out the prettiest rows of colourful wooden houses; take photos of the "dog parking" signs where you can leave your four-legged companion outside so they don't bring any mud inside while you go shopping.
Transfer to Longyearbyen airport and return flights. From the cabin window, don’t forget to bid a final farewell to Svalbard as its icy expanses unfold below.
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