To put it simply, Svalbard is a paradise for outdoors activities all year round. With dramatic landscape and exotic wildlife there’s no wonder why many will nod their heads in agreement to that description of our archipelago in between the mainland of Norway and the North Pole.
Some of the most beautiful things about nature experiences are that they’re both so readily available and can include so many different activities. Experiences in the outdoors offer us the chance to get to know new people, strengthen our bonds with friends, or perhaps venture out on a quick adventure with the family. In addition to the landscape and wildlife, it’s the availability, variation and connection that makes Svalbard’s nature experiences so special, and perhaps the reasons why you’d like to take part in them yourself?
Closeness is the keyword that may seem like a slight contradiction when you consider both how expansive Svalbard is and how sparsely populated it is. But then consider, how many other places in the world are you met on a clear-weathered day with the sight of six glacial fronts in the distance as soon as you’ve walked out of the airport building?
Nature rules everything in Svalbard, and it’s an integral part of the community in our small metropolitan-feeling town Longyearbyen. The town was established in the early 1900s as a mining town due to its closeness to the coal in the nearby mountainsides where several remnants from Svalbard’s old mining industry still stand as cultural heritage sites. Longyearbyen still lives on, but it does so based on the nature’s own terms. Houses are built on pillars and piping is all laid on top of the ground because of the permafrost in the ground which would otherwise strain houses built on solid foundations in the ground or push pipes out of the ground as the ground thaws and freezes with the seasons.
You’ll also find wild Svalbard reindeer casually walking and grazing in between houses and alongside streets. It’s not uncommon to even encounter sleeping reindeer right in the middle of town. As good neighbours we don’t want to disturb nature’s way of life unnecessarily or damage it, and this is especially important in Svalbard which has a particularly vulnerable ecosystem.
In short, you start experiencing nature as soon as you step outside of the hotel door in Svalbard!
Throughout the entire year you’ll find both full-day trips and multi-day overnight trips that allow you to experience the Arctic nature experiences Svalbard has to offer, close to both nature and the ones you’re travelling with.
For the young and old, few and many, dear and near, relaxed and active, and so on, there are activities that will allow you to enjoy Svalbard’s nature. Through the dark season and the polar night you can hunt the northern lights on foot or visit magical ice caves close to Longyearbyen. (maybe you’re lucky enough to spot the elusive mid-day northern lights in the polar night?)
With the Sunny Winter season’s return after the dark season, the sight of landscapes bathed in sunlight comes along as well, marking the beginning of the full-day trips with dog sleds and snowmobiles! Once the Midnight Sun returns in April, ski touring in the low evening sunlight is also recommended as the skiing season in Svalbard keeps going while Spring is returning on Norway’s mainland.
Continuing onwards into the Polar Summer Season, the fresh smell of the mountains, tundra and the fjord returns with the opportunities for hiking trips on bare ground and boat trips on the expansive fjord Isfjorden. In the light and heat of summer, the wildlife returns in full force to Svalbard both on land and in the sea, which it’s both best and safest to enjoy on a guided photo safari, or perhaps a walrus safari.
The opportunities are plentiful in Svalbard’s nature, and it may as such be difficult to find the exact experiences that you’d like to include in your visit. But below you’ll find a full overview of activities and experiences we think may suit your nature-oriented visit in Svalbard!
If you’ve already settled on a date for your visit, we can recommend checking our booking calendar to see which activities are available for you and the ones you’re traveling with to visit us in Svalbard.
Number of results: 113
, currently showing 1 to 20.
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957 reviewsLongyearbyen
Travel to one of the largest and most scenic fjords of central Spitsbergen where you will experience wildlife, endless valleys, and breath-taking glaciers.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
957 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us on this easy accessible, but stunning nature hike, which will take us through the beautiful valley of Bjørndalen.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
822 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us for a unique dinner experience with our hybrid electric catamaran out on the fjords of Svalbard. With some luck, you might spot the northern lights – far away from the city's light pollution.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
822 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
822 reviewsLongyearbyen
On this trip to Borebukta we might see the walruses in the water, hunting for food or on land, where they normally lay close together – or even on top of each other!
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822 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us on a journey into the untouched wilderness of Svalbard. Our destination is the Templefjord, a fjord steeped in history and overlooked by the Temple mountains.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
560 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us on a hike to the summit of mount Trollsteinen with a visit in the ice cave! This one is for those of you who want more – here you’ll get two great adventures in one trip!
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
560 reviewsLongyearbyen
Book a half- or full day with one of our private guides and enjoy a tailor-made Arctic experience.
Our guides are dedicated, trained and experienced Arctic guides with a hospitality mindset!
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
822 reviewsLongyearbyen
Explore the majestic Isfjorden with Kvitbjørn, Svalbards brand new modern hybrid speedboat! Your guide determines the route according to the weather conditions, and will make sure that you get a memory for life.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
822 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us by snowmobile into the polar night and let yourself be captivated by the unique blue light that characterizes the polar night. We hunt for the Northern Light and visit our Northern Light Camp.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us for the perfect evening activity, exploring a historical part of Spitsbergen by snowmobile, whilst watching the sun set low over beautiful Colesbay.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
438 reviewsLongyearbyen
Welcome to the Arctic and the polar night: a mysterious time where all light comes from the most magical things such as the moon, the northern lights and a million stars. The polar night is best experienced on a dog sled, silently gliding through…
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438 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
69 reviewsLongyearbyen
Explore Svalbard in the same way as the polar heroes Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Dog sledding is also a true nature adventure amongst the locals in Longyearbyen. When traveling with dogsled you will reach the peaceful and majestic areas that…
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69 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsLongyearbyen
A long and cold winter is coming to an end. The midnight sun shines high on northern sky. It's May, and spring has come to the Arctic. This is the month of the return of the birds to Svalbard. The Spitsbergen's fjords are ready for a new boat season.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
78 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us on an open RIB boat fjord safari through the bright summer in Svalbard. Summer light revealing the treasures of the mountains, glaciers and Arctic ocean. We must keep our eyes open for wildlife in the fjord.
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78 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsLongyearbyen
Explore the surroundings of Longyearbyen on our innovative electric snowmobiles from Lynx!
After charging up with solar power, we venture through the historical areas of Longyearbyen before heading to the cozy cabin, Advent Lodge.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
524 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
832 reviewsLongyearbyen
Svalbard’s wildlife is unique and fascinating. Join us on our day trip to experience it from up close! Every day we use our closed and comfortable RIB boats to go to a well-known walrus colony.
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832 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
560 reviewsLongyearbyen
Do you want to try an exiting and traditionell way of travelling in the Arctic? Join us for a kayak trip over the Advent Bay.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
560 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1387 reviewsLongyearbyen
Dogsledding to an icecave. A unique adventure! Travel with your own dogsled to the magnificent icecave,which can only be reached by dogsled. We enter the icecave and in the lights from our headlamps we experience ice as few people has seen it. The…
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1387 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
957 reviewsLongyearbyen
The hike starts from the dog yard just outside of Longyearbyen. From there, we ascend the hill and follow the ridge for ~1.5 hours to an elevation of 457 meters.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
957 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
79 reviews* Isfjord På svalbard
Experience a comfortable overnight stay in the Arctic wilderness. Isfjord Radio is a charming hotel situated on the windswept grounds of Kapp Linné. This is the place to observe the Arctic bird- and wildlife and unique dining experiences.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
79 reviews