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: 108
, currently showing 101 to 108.
Longyearbyen
Looking for the perfect spot, far away from light pollution and civilization? Join our Northern Lights evening adventure on snowmobile!
Drive your own snowmobile under the starry sky and be on the lookout for the Aurora.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
748 reviewsLongyearbyen
Welcome to a unique boat tour aboard MS Bard. On this trip you get to experience the very best of Svalbard's spectacular coastal landscapes. The captain sets the course according to today's wind and weather conditions - no two trips are the same!
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748 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1359 reviewsLongyearbyen
Come and see Advendalen and the surrounding mountains from a bird’s
eye view!
The trip is a total of roughly 7 km and takes about 7 hours and includes lunsj&hot drink.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1359 reviewsLongyearbyen
A true nature hike through the massive valley of Bjørndalen, an area which is full of flora and fauna and where we might be able to observe wildlife. After our climb up to the summit of the bird cliff, we will enjoy the stunning view over Isfjorden.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
394 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us for a great ice adventure. It does not matter if it is the polar night and we are walking with head lights or if it is the sunny winter season. Ice formations and ice caves are some of the most beautiful things that exists.
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394 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
468 reviewsLongyearbyen
Join us on Trollsteinen Randonnèe. We start hiking through a fascinating landscape, before crossing the glacier on our way up the mountain ridge. A large and characteristic stone is located at the highest point, 850 meters above sea level.
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468 reviewsTripAdvisor Traveller Rating
776 reviewsLongyearbyen
Driving through Svalbard’s landscape, in the twilight, is magical. The light will transform the white snow into soft blue and pink pastel colours, gently illuminating the mountains and valleys that have been covered by darkness since November. After…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
776 reviews