Hike & Sail Svalbard - 8 days - with Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions
A Wilderness Expedition in the Ice Fjord
The Ice Fjord cuts more than 100 kilometers into Spitsbergen, and branches out into several arms and bays. This gives room for a whole lot of exploration, on our multi-day expedition around the largest fjord of the island. On this trip we collaborate with guides from Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions, who have decades of experience facilitating travel in the various terrains and seasons of the archipelago.
The Ice Fjord area is, undoubtedly, the area with the most varied landscape within a short distance at Spitsbergen. Almost the whole geology of Svalbard is represented here, and due to little vegetation easy to spot. The area is home to most of the marine mammal and bird species in Svalbard, and in July - the most lively summer month - it offers excellent opportunities to observe wildlife in its natural habitat.
Each day a new adventure
As Ylva sails between anchoridges, new terrains and new possibilities emerge.
The flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen takes only a few hours – yet it feels like entering another world. The contrast to mainland Norway is immense: here, nature dominates, vast and unbroken, clear and impossibly beautiful.
In Longyearbyen, you will be picked up from your accommodation by your guide who drives you to the harbour. You are welcomed on board of Ylva and get to make yourself at home in your cabin while the crew is starting to sail towards our first landing spot. Depending on the weather and visibility we choose the destination for our first hike the next morning.
Upon anchorage, it is time for dinner and cosy evening stories. Soon you fall asleep in your cabin listening to the waves and rocking of the boat.
Svalbard is shaped by glaciers and they have left us with stunning steep scree slopes that rise up above fjords and between the glaciers.
In our attempt to reach one of the mountaintops on our first day, we are crossing a few streams that carry meltwater to the fjord, then continue ascent on a muddy and rocky slope where every step makes you appreciate all the hours spent training in the gym.
As we get higher, the views and steepness of the slope are equally breathtaking, but we are taking it slow and use photo breaks and storytelling as an excuse to catch our breath. Maybe we reach the top we intended, maybe we decide to explore the coastal plain and try to find remains of trapping activity or fossils.
We return to the boat tired but fulfilled. Has it really been just one day? Time in Svalbard expands during midnight sun...
In Svalbard, weather is always the king. Thanks to the boat being our base, we can be flexible and choose the best location for each day to get the most out of every adventure. Your guide has a selection of handpicked routes in the Ice Fjord to pick from, and as the weather allows, we will set sail for the best of these in turn.
One of the days, we might sail towards Nordenskiöldbreen, one of the biggest glaciers, to have a day that might easily turn into the highlight of your holiday. The glacier has retreated a lot recent years and exposed small rocky islands in front. Some of the oldest rocks of Spitsbergen can be found here on our way to the glacier.
After proper instructions from your guide, we will be equipped with crampons, axes and safety equipment, and start ascending the glacier. The objective of the day is first and foremost to explore the glacier without rushing, find unbelievably powerful-looking ice structures and fill our eyes with this ever-changing beauty. If time, weather and natural conditions allow, we can even try ice climbing!
In July Svalbard has midnight sun, which gives us freedom to be out hiking during unearthly hours. And as days go by, your memory book will be filled with new adventures. But each adventure must come to an end.
On Saturday, we have breakfast and have some time for packing and to enjoy our last hours on board. We arrive in Longyearbyen, and around 10AM it`s time to say goodbye to each other. Your guide will drive you to your accommodation.
Prices
Bunk cabin berth - NOK 67.900,-
Double cabin - NOK 71.900,-
20% deposit when booking, balance due 30 days before departure.
Single cabin can be reserved for an additional 50% of the ticket price.
Nice to know
Here are some common questions from our guests.
We provide a full board to all our guests on Ylva, and it is our goal that your experience with us is one of warmth and comfort.
We serve 3 delicious meals each day; Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usually, lunch is taken on the slopes, and we provide options to pack and bring your own from the boat in cooperation with the guide. There is always snacks and fruits available should you feel the need for more energy. Coffee, tea, juice and milk is complementary. Beer and wine is for sale on board.
Your bunk is equipped with comfortable linen and a warm down duvet. There are towels and soaps for your use in your bathroom.
Sailing in the Arctic can be cold and windy in winter. However, Ylva is a large boat, and only rarely will there be much sea spray over deck. Your hiking gear - goretex trousers and jackets, with proper woolen layers as well as mid-layers underneath, will usually be sufficient.
However, Ylva has an indoor steering house, so going on deck to work the sails is only done during manouvers and sail changes, and assisting the crew in these phases is a voluntary experience.
Tromsø Airport (TOS) has direct routes from may European hubs. There a several flights from Oslo (OSL), Norways capital, every day.
When you arrive, taking the bus or a taxi from the airport to the downtown central harbor takes only 20 minutes.
Please respect the check-in time, as the crew needs to ready the boat from the last tour. However, should you arrive early we can arrange to store your luggage while you tour Tromsø.
You will receive more detailed information after you book your tour.
Yes, each cabin has a private shower and toilet. Towels and toiletries are provided.
We provide protected storage for all skis in large crates on deck. Ski boots are kept in a locker behind the steering house, to save space inside. All your equipment is safe from sea spray and other sources of dirt.
Indeed there is!
We fill it up with sea water and heat it with a wood-burning stove. Our goal is to fire it up at least a couple of times each trip. The stove can comfortably hold six people, but a couple more can fit between good friends.
On a boat, we strongly recommend that you pack in soft bags that can be rolled up and stowed away. A suitcase would pose a problem to store in your cabin.
As you are a skiier, you are probably well aware of how to dress in winter conditions. Just make sure you keep in mind that the wind in Norway can be strong, adding to the other challenges of low temperatures and humidity.
Summary of Booking Terms
Please read and accept the full Terms & Conditions before confirming your booking.
Below is a short summary of the main points:
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Travel to the vessel
You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own travel to and from the embarkation port. -
Deposit and payment
A non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking.
The remaining balance must be paid 60 days before departure. -
Minimum number of guests
Each tour requires a minimum number of participants.
If this number is not reached, the tour may be cancelled, and you will receive a full refund or rebooking offer. -
Insurance requirement
You must have valid travel insurance covering cancellation, medical treatment, and evacuation from ports within the tour area. - Physical fitness
Guests must be in suitable physical condition to participate, including being able to: - Walk for a few hours on uneven terrain
- Maintain balance on a moving vessel
- Climb a 1.5-meter ladder between the ship and a dinghy
- Manage normal sea motion (bring medication if prone to seasickness)
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Safety and behavior
The Captain is the ultimate authority on board.
Guests must follow all crew instructions and act responsibly.
The use of illegal drugs or bringing your own alcohol is strictly prohibited and may result in disembarkation without refund. -
Changes of itinerary
Itineraries may change due to weather or operational reasons.
We will always strive to provide the best possible experience in a safe manner.
