FAQ

The northern lights season lasts from late September to mid-March. During the polar night (14 November–29 January), northern lights can appear any time of day. Visibility depends on weather and solar activity, so sightings can’t be guaranteed.

The midnight sun shines from 20 April to 23 August — daylight 24 hours a day.

The blue hour is the soft bluish light that occurs when the sun is just below the horizon. It appears in the weeks before and after the polar night — in October and February.

You may move freely within the town limits, but not beyond the polar bear warning signs. The signs mark the transition to the wilderness and here you need to bring polar bear protection. You'll find these signs near the harbor, by the dogyard Villmarkssenter, Nybyen, and at Huset. Ask for a map at your hotel reception or have a look here

• Day tours: Transport to/from accommodation, hot drinks and biscuits / lunch (check tour description), necessary equipment (headlamp, spikes, trekking poles, snowshoes, helmet), and an experienced guide with safety gear.
  

• Overnight tours: Transport, food and drinks, listed equipment, and an experienced guide with necessary safety equipment. Clothing and some personal gear must be brought by you — you’ll receive details upon booking.
  

• Not included: flights and personal travel insurance

es. All our tours start in Longyearbyen, where also you will be staying during your stay on Svalbard. If you want to save on hotel costs, join us on an overnight trip.

Our groups consist of adventurous travelers of all ages and from many countries. The guide ensures a good group atmosphere and checks that everyone meets the participation requirements so the experience is safe and enjoyable for all.

As a member of Visit Svalbard, we follow the decision not to offer tours connected to Russian state-owned companies on Svalbard. This is due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and severe violations of international law and human rights. Therefore, we do not include Barentsburg or Pyramiden in our tours.

Read the full description here

• For your own safety, do not leave town without polar bear protection. The “King of the Arctic” is seldom far away. 

• Feel free to chat with the locals but always ask before photographing them. Please respect people’s privacy and don’t take photos of children at kindergartens or school. 

• You are welcome to stroll around town, but please walk on the lefthand side of the road if there is no pavement. 

• The Svalbard reindeer, grouse and birds can often be spotted around town. Enjoy our wildlife from a safe distance and please don’t disturb the animals and birds.

• Dogs in and around dog yards are a common sight. Please don’t feed, touch or disturb the dogs. Going close to the dogs for photos is not permitted. However, in commercial dog yards, close-up contact with the dogs is part of the experience.  

• We have many beautiful flowers in and around town. Enjoy this sight but don’t pick them.

• Please help us respect our cultural heritage. Leave all cultural relics alone. All traces of human settlement from before 1946 are protected by law. 

• The use of drones within 5 km of Longyearbyen Airport is prohibited. 

• Please help us keep beautiful Svalbard clean. Use the rubbish bins provided and don’t leave any traces behind, including small items such as cigarette butts. Please only flush natural waste and toilet paper in the toilet to protect the fjords ecosystems from untreated sewage. 

• Leave no lasting signs of your visit. Do not engrave on rocks or buildings and do not build cairns, rearrange stones or in any other way leave visible signs of your visit. 

• You may photograph parked snowmobiles, but please don’t touch them. 

• We encourage you to buy locally made products but remember that we don’t have a tradition for bargaining.

There are no polar bear safaris on Svalbard. It’s illegal to seek out, attract, or disturb polar bears, and violations are punished severely. Bears are found throughout the archipelago year-round, and you may occasionally see one from a safe distance on guided tours. Guides ensure safety and follow all regulations.

We carry out the tours as long as it is safe. If we cancel, you will receive a full refund or often you will also be offered an alternative tour. Wind and rain are not considered 'bad weather', but good clothing is especially important on these days. The guide will always meet you in the morning at your pickup location to inform you about your options.

Recommended clothing can be found in the description of each tour.

• Hiking: We rent out Muck Boots (warm, waterproof boots) for 100 NOK. Pre-booking is not required — just tell your guide in the morning. Necessary equipment such as spikes, helmet, headlamp, snowshoes, and trekking poles is provided free of charge.

• Snowmobile tours: All necessary equipment is included, such as a warm snowmobile suit, warm boots, helmet, goggles, balaclava, and mittens.

• Kayak tours: All gear is included, including dry suit, shoes, gloves, and life jacket.

• Ski touring: You can bring your own or rent skis and boots from us (1100 NOK). The avalanche kit – transceiver, shovel, and probe can be rented for 450 NOK.

You can store your luggage in the hotel’s luggage room, or we can keep it safely with us in our storage facility until you return.

Check the physical level requirements in each tour description.

• Day tours (kayak, snowmobile, hiking): no experience required

• Ski touring: previous ski touring experience is needed

• Expeditions (ski, hiking, kayak): good physical condition and some experience in the chosen activity are required

The difficulty level is based on distance, terrain, elevation gain, weather, and temperature. There are no marked trails on Svalbard, and you often walk on stones, snow, or wet soil. Sturdy high hiking boots are essential. Remember that cold (for example –20 °C) and wind increase the strain.

• Fulmar Cabin and camp: We use a separate toilet tent with a bucket and bag system. All waste is brought back.

• Expedition: We use natural toilet solutions in the field. Toilet paper is burned, and we emphasize good hygiene and environmental responsibility.

At night, we have a rotating polar bear watch in camp, usually 1–2 people at a time. The guide provides training and explains how it works. The goal is to detect bears at a distance so that we can handle the situation safely.The guide is experienced and instructs the group on how to act. Many guests consider the polar bear watch one of the tour’s highlights.

Yes. Our guides are experienced, and we follow strict safety routines. If a polar bear is spotted nearby, we may evacuate to town. Safety always comes first. All our guides are trained to handle situations.

• Dress in layers (woolen baselayers, windproof outerlayer)

• Glasses on snowmobile tours: consider contact lenses due to fogging of goggles

• Camera: keep spare batteries warm near your body

• Cover your face in cold wind (to avoid frostbite)

• Warm, windproof mittens; consider bringing heat pads (available in Longyearbyen).

• Avoid water-based moisturizers before heading out in the cold

• Winter/Expeditions: We melt snow.

• Camp: Water is often brought from town.

• Summer: We fill from streams and either boil or filter the water.

On day tours, we can adapt to most dietary needs. When lunch is included, we serve DryTech meals, which offer vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free options. If you have allergies, leave a comment when booking. You will yourself choose your preferred meal before the tour.

On overnight trips, it’s usually not a problem, but since we are located at 78 degrees North, supplies can be limited. Please let us know early, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

Wear woolen base layers closest to the body, an insulating mid-layer, and a windproof/waterproof outer jacket and trousers. Hiking boots above the ankle are important. Jeans and sneakers are not allowed on our hikes.

It’s prohibited to fly drones within a 5 km radius of Longyearbyen Airport. If you plan to fly elsewhere, you must familiarize yourself with Svalbard’s drone regulations. On our tours, drone flying is generally not allowed. Please contact us directly if you have a specific request.

The Seed Vault lies outside the security zone, therefor we recommend joining a guided tour. Entry is not permitted; we only vist the exterior, which is still a remarkable sight.

Usually, two people share a tent. We’ve found this works well. The tent is large enough for you and your gear, it's social, and you and your buddy can keep an extra eye on each other.

If you travel with a friend or partner, let us know, so you can share the tent. Solo travelers are usually matched by gender, but other solutions can be arranged (a single tent may be possible).

In our winter camp (Endalen) and summer camp (Ymerbukta), we use larger tents with proper camp beds. On expeditions, we use lighter, easy-to-carry expedition tents.

The amount you carry depends on the type of tour you have booked. In addition to your personal gear, you will also carry some shared equipment for the group. After booking, you will receive a detailed packing list. Either the day before the trip or on the first day, the group meets with the guide to go through all equipment and pack. If you are missing anything, there are several outdoor shops in Longyearbyen, for example, Arctica at Lompensenteret, that offer most of the necessary gear. Weight to expect:

• Ski trip with pulk (up to 8 days): 30–40 kg in the sled

• Kayak expedition: All luggage must fit inside the kayak, so pack only the essentials

• Backpack expedition: Backpack weighs 15–20 kg

You don’t need a driver’s license to be a passenger. On day trips and short overnight tours, passengers are usually ok. On longer tours, such as the 3-day trip to the East Coast, it’s not recommended. Being a passenger is colder and limits the distance we can cover each day.

Passengers are only possible if you’re traveling with someone that can drive and after agreement with us. We sometimes keep a few seats empty in case we get technical problems with one of the snowmobiles when out in the field.

Fulmar Cabin is a simple, cozy trapper-style hut. The table and benches convert into beds with mattresses and sheepskins for the night. The hut is small but heats up quickly with a paraffin stove. You share the space with your guide, and the toilet is a seperate tent outside a few meters away. The standard is basic. It’s all about the location and the experience. There’s no need for polar bear watch during the night, as the cabin is safe to sleep in.

On some tours, space and weight are limiting factors, while others allow for more supplies when transport is by boat or snowmobile. Regardless, you’ll always get good and nutritious meals — and they taste even better outdoors!

• Fulmar Cabin / Camp: Breakfast with eggs, bacon, bread, and spreads. Lunch with Real/Drytech. Homemade dinners, often stew or pasta

• Ski expedition: A mix of Real/Drytech and simple homemade dinners

• Hiking expedition: Porridge for breakfast, mainly Real/Drytech for lunch and dinners (to save weight)

Ideally, book both as early as possible. If you must choose, secure your flight first (since prices and capacity vary), then book your activities right after. If you plan to join an expedition, send us an email. We can often hold a spot until your flight is booked.

Yes! We have limited spots on each trip. Usually no more than 8 guests on regular hikes and 6 guests on standard kayak or ski touring trips. If the tour is fully booked, contact us; we may be able to add another departure.

Arrive at least one day before the start of your tour (preferably more). This gives you time to rest and ensures you have a buffer in case your luggage is delayed. We recommend Gjestehuset 102 for a cozy and affordable stay.

Our tours include rescue insurance. You must have your own travel insurance to cover potential costs such as cancellation, illness, delays, or lost luggage.

Gladly! We don’t own our own hotel, so we can recommend the one that suits you best.We can book all hotels in town, in various price ranges. For a cozy and affordable option, we recommend Gjestehuset 102 in Nybyen.

Yes, but you must pay for a minimum of four people. You always share the cabin with the guide for safety reasons. Contact us for a customized offer.

Absolutely! We organize both private day trips and tailor-made experiences for families, friends, and companies. Send us an email with your wishes, and we’ll create a customized offer.

Some tours are short enough to combine with others the same day. The listed duration includes pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation.

If you have a free morning (for example, before an afternoon flight), we recommend our Hike From Seed to Summit. We also offer evening tours for following tours: Platåfjellet and Half-day Kayak.

However, remember that our tours are physically demanding and full of impressions. It can be nice to have time to relax, stroll through town, visit a museum, art gallery, or enjoy a coffee at a café.

The airport bus waits outside the terminal after baggage claim and stops at all accommodation in Longyearbyen. Payment is made by card on board. Read more at Svalbard Buss and Taxi

You can get here by plane all year round, or by boat during the summer. Most flights go via Oslo, with SAS or Norwegian. Remember to bring a valid passport or national ID card.

All travelers must have a passport or national ID card. Svalbard is part of Norway but lies outside the Schengen and EEA areas, so no visa is required for travel from mainland Norway. If you are from a country that requires a visa to enter Norway, you must have a Schengen transit visa (round trip), since the journey usually goes via the mainland. More information can be found on the Governor of Svalbard’s website.

It depends on what you want to experience – Svalbard is beautiful all year round! We offer tours throughout the year.

• Sunny Winter (Feb–May): best for snowmobile, ski touring, and ski expeditions

• Polar Night (Nov–Jan): best for northern lights and ice cave tours

• Summer (Jun–Sep): best for kayaking, glacier hiking, camping, mountain hikes, and long trekking expeditions

Read more about our seasons here