Hike & Sail Svalbard
Live on board our sailing yacht Ylva for a week, and spend long days out hiking in Svalbard's stunning landscape.
The weather lets us choose from among amazing hikes, hand picked by our experienced, local guides. Leave the boat in the morning, and get picked up by Ylva at the end of the hike.
Enjoy the delicious dinner waiting for you, and relax on deck as we sail under the midnight sun to the next incredible destination.
Hike & Sail
Svalbard
Live on board out sailing yacht Ylva for a week, and spend long days out hiking in Svalbard's stunning landscape.
The weather lets us choose from among amazing hikes, hand picked by our experienced, local guides. Leave the boat in the morning, and get picked up by Ylva at the end of the hike.
Enjoy the delicious dinner waiting for you, and relax on deck as
we sail under the midnight sun to the next incredible destination.
On Svalbard there are no trails. Only wilderness. And even though others have walked the route before you, hiking on Svalbard surely feels like something out of the ordinary.
Part of it is the untouched nature. You get close here - whale, seal and a bustling birdlife at sea. On land: reindeer, perhaps a polar fox, maybe a bear... You’ll find ridges and plateaus, streams and moraines. Clearer traces of the Ice Age than anything the mainland has to offer.
And the other thing is, of course, the safety aspect. To ensure the group’s protection, someone with a firearm permit must accompany the trip. With an experienced guide who knows the regulations, you’re also guaranteed responsible travel on Svalbard that respects both nature and the environment.
Finally; accessibility. With a sailing vessel, you can reach mountain areas and valleys all along the coast. We drop anchor and take the group ashore by dinghy. The next morning, you wake up and we set sail—or you simply wake up to an entirely new, unknown, and seemingly untouched place.
Are you coming along to explore?
Arctic isolation
Svalbard is a Norwegian island halfway between the mainland and the North Pole.
The capital, Longyearbyen, is as far north as you can get travelling on a regular scheduled flight.
Available tours 2026
Life on board Ylva
A selection of cabin options
Our two rear cabins (nos. 3 and 4) both have double beds and generous storage space. Waking in the morning to the view of the sea is unforgettable.
Comfort for everyone
All cabins have private bathrooms and heads (one share with the guide cabin). Warm duvets, blankets, towels and toiletry is provided.
Nature provides
We are proud of our Norwegian food culture, and the abundance that nature provides in the sea.
Our guests will at the very least enjoy the bounty with us through our menu composed with love. If we are lucky, we may even catch our own dinner, and you can learn how to cook the Norwegian way.
Be a part of the crew
On board our experienced captain and mate will ensure safety and comfort for all, while allowing our guest the opportunity to take part and learn our love for sailing and and our arctic waters.
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. 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.
Longyearbyen Airport (LYR) is reachable only from the Norwegian mainland. The carriers that serve the route are Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian. You may find flights from Tromsø (TOS), but the easiest is to fly directly from Oslo (OSL).
Norway abides by the Svalbard Treaty that grants rights to citizens of signatore states equal rights on the island. Therefore, Svalbard is not part of Schengen even though the rest of Norway is. Make sure you bring your passport. If you do not, you may be refused boarding.
Once you land in Longyearbyen, you will find both local buses and taxis available at the airport. The town centre is only a 5 minutes drive away.
Yes, each cabin has a private shower and toilet, except one of the forward cabins (nr. 2) that shares these with the guides. Towels and toiletries are provided.
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.
If you are a used to nordic climate, you are probably well aware of how to dress in arctic conditions. Just make sure you keep in mind that the wind in the Arctic can be strong, adding to the other challenges of low temperatures and humidity.