Self-Launched Arctic Expedition Through Svalbard in Winter

Fly into Svalbard Airport (LYR) — Norwegian and SAS both operate connections via Oslo (OSL). The airport shuttle (Flybussen) costs around £8 per person and drops you directly in town; pay by card as cash is not accepted in Svalbard. Check into your guesthouse or budget hotel — Mary-Ann's Polarrigg or Gjestehuset 102 are popular, wallet-friendly options with a real Arctic atmosphere. Spend the afternoon exploring Longyearbyen on foot: visit the Svalbard Museum (£15 entry), browse the local gallery, and pick up any last-minute layers or gear from Svalbard Butikken. In the evening, grab dinner at Kroa or Huset — budget around £25–35 for a main and a drink.

🚌Flybussen airport shuttle ~£8pp

🛏Mary-Ann's Polarrigg or Gjestehuset 102 — twin/dorm room ~£60–80pp/night

• →Arrive at Svalbard Airport (LYR) — fly via Oslo with Norwegian or SAS (~£180–280 return from the UK)
• →Take the Flybussen airport shuttle to Longyearbyen (~£8)
• →Check in to guesthouse (e.g. Mary-Ann's Polarrigg or Gjestehuset 102)
• →Visit the Svalbard Museum (~£15)
• →Explore Longyearbyen town centre, shops, and art gallery
• →Evening dinner at a local restaurant (~£25–35, not included in estimates below)

Book a guided ice cave hiking excursion directly with a local Longyearbyen operator such as Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions, Basecamp Explorer, or Arctic Guide Service — all offer this as a bookable day trip. All wilderness excursions in Svalbard require an armed, licensed guide by law, so this is not an activity you can do solo. Expect a 5–6 hour guided hike (around 4 miles, ~400m ascent) to the entrance of a glacial ice cave, with crampons and a headlamp provided. You'll explore shimmering ice chambers and glassy tunnels carved by glacial meltwater before returning to Longyearbyen. Book well in advance — winter slots fill quickly. Return to your guesthouse in the evening.

🚌Operator minibus transfer to trailhead typically included in excursion price

🛏Mary-Ann's Polarrigg or Gjestehuset 102 — twin/dorm room ~£60–80pp/night

• →Book a glacier ice cave hiking day trip directly with a local operator (e.g. Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions or Basecamp Explorer) — ~£120–160pp including guide, crampons, and headlamp
• →5–6 hour guided hike to glacier ice cave, ~4 miles, ~1,300ft ascent
• →Explore glacial ice chambers and tunnels
• →Warm lunch break inside the cave (typically included by local operators)
• →Return to Longyearbyen by late afternoon

This is the centrepiece of the trip — a 2-night guided wilderness camping expedition. Book this multi-day Arctic camping experience directly with a local Longyearbyen operator such as Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions, Basecamp Explorer, or Spitsbergen Travel. These operators run 2–3 night pulka sledding and wilderness camping packages that include all camping gear, food, an armed guide, snowshoes, and safety equipment. After a morning briefing and kit check, you'll harness up your pulka sled and set off from town into the snow-covered wilderness. Cover 5–6 miles through mountain valleys, watching for Arctic foxes and reindeer. Your guide will set up camp in the sub-zero wilderness by late afternoon. After a hot dinner cooked in the field, participate in polar bear lookout shifts through the night — a genuinely unforgettable experience.

🚌On foot / snowshoe from Longyearbyen

🛏Expedition tent in Arctic wilderness — included in guided package

• →Begin 2-night guided Arctic wilderness camping expedition (book directly with e.g. Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions) — 2-night package ~£500–650pp including guide, all gear, food, and camping equipment
• →Harness up a pulka sled with personal kit and group supplies
• →5–6 mile snowshoe trek into the Arctic backcountry
• →Wildlife spotting — Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer
• →Set up wilderness camp with guide instruction
• →Hot dinner in the field
• →Polar bear lookout shifts through the night

Wake up to a panoramic mountain breakfast in the wilderness. Your guide will plan the day's route based on weather, snow conditions, and group fitness — options typically include nearby summits and glacier crossings with viewpoints that very few people ever reach. This is a 4–5 hour guided day hike from basecamp. Return to camp in the afternoon to rest, explore the surroundings, and soak up the Arctic stillness. If visiting in early March, keep your eyes peeled for the northern lights after dark. Another night on polar bear lookout. All food and gear are covered by the multi-day package booked on Day 3.

🚌On foot from wilderness camp

🛏Expedition tent in Arctic wilderness — included in guided package

• →Morning coffee with mountain wilderness panoramas
• →4–5 hour guided day hike to nearby peaks and glaciers
• →Guide-led route — viewpoints rarely visited by tourists
• →Wildlife watching — polar bear lookout continues
• →Evening in the wilderness camp
• →Northern lights spotting opportunity (March visits)

After a final wilderness breakfast, help your guide take down camp, pack the pulkas, and begin the return journey to Longyearbyen. The classic return route climbs Fardalsbakken (~1,150ft ascent) before crossing the Longyearpasset mountain pass, where the town comes into view ringed by mountains. The descent follows the Longyearbreen Glacier — a spectacular and rewarding finale to your time in the wild. Expect 5–7 hours of snowshoeing. Back in Longyearbyen, your guesthouse will feel like a luxury hotel — hot showers and a hard-earned meal await. This full day is covered by your multi-day wilderness package.

🚌On foot / snowshoe back to Longyearbyen

🛏Mary-Ann's Polarrigg or Gjestehuset 102 — twin/dorm room ~£60–80pp/night

• →Break camp and pack pulkas
• →5–7 hour snowshoe return hike via Fardalsbakken and Longyearpasset (~5 miles, ~1,150ft ascent)
• →Descent across Longyearbreen Glacier
• →First views of Longyearbyen from the mountain pass
• →Return to guesthouse — hot shower, rest, and dinner in town (~£25–35)

Today's highlight — a full-day snowmobile expedition covering up to 62 miles across Svalbard's frozen wilderness. Book directly with a Longyearbyen snowmobile operator such as Svalbard Snowmobile, Basecamp Explorer, or Spitsbergen Travel. A driver's licence is required to ride solo; if you don't have one, ask the operator about riding as a passenger. The typical route heads out across the wide Advent Valley, past herds of Svalbard reindeer, and — conditions permitting — all the way to Villa Fredheim, a legendary trapper's cabin on Tempelfjorden, watched over by the dramatic Temple Mountains. A hot expedition-style lunch is usually included. In the evening, celebrate your final night in the Arctic — consider booking the floating sauna and polar plunge outside town (Svalbard Camping or Coal Miners' Cabins offer this, ~£40–60pp; must be pre-booked).

🚌Snowmobile provided by operator; operator transfer to departure point typically included

🛏Mary-Ann's Polarrigg or Gjestehuset 102 — twin/dorm room ~£60–80pp/night

• →Book a full-day snowmobile expedition directly with a local operator (e.g. Basecamp Explorer or Spitsbergen Travel) — ~£250–350pp including guide, snowmobile, gear, and lunch
• →Snowmobile across Advent Valley (~62 miles total)
• →Wildlife spotting — Svalbard reindeer
• →Visit Villa Fredheim trapper's cabin at Tempelfjorden (conditions permitting)
• →Hot expedition-style lunch in the field
• →Optional: floating sauna and polar plunge (~£40–60pp, pre-book directly)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Longyearbyen before checking out and making your way to Svalbard Airport. The Flybussen airport shuttle (~£8) connects with all flight departures — check the Svalbard tourist website for the schedule and book in advance. Flights depart to Oslo, from where you connect back to the UK. Consider an overnight stopover in Oslo if your connections are tight — there's plenty to explore.

🚌Flybussen airport shuttle ~£8pp

• →Final breakfast in Longyearbyen
• →Check out of guesthouse
• →Take the Flybussen shuttle to Svalbard Airport (~£8)
• →Fly home via Oslo — Norwegian or SAS