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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateTrip Guide
This is no ordinary trip but a journey into the heart of Svalbard’s wild frontier, where we’ll explore by kayak and on foot, hiking across ancient glaciers and trekking through rugged Arctic landscapes. For two nights, we’ll sleep in tents, fully immersed in the untamed beauty of the north, with only the sound of the wind and the sound of cracking glacier ice as company.
Our adventure begins and ends in Longyearbyen. The airport shuttle will drop you at our guesthouse so you can check in and settle down before dinner with your group.
Meeting Point: Gjestehuset 102 guesthouse, Longyearbyen
Airport Shuttle: Not included – costs approximately £8/10€, connects with all flight arrivals and departures. Guests can pay by credit card on the bus.
You can fly with SAS from and to London Heathrow to Longyearbyen (change Oslo). Alternatively, you can fly Norwegian & SAS via London Gatwick with an overnight in Oslo (hotels around £75).
Once you join the trip WhatsApp group, you can discuss travel plans with other guests. Due to limited daily flights, you’ll likely be on the same flight as trip mates.
Airport shuttle aligns with all flight arrivals and will drop you at your guesthouse.
This trip is rated challenging. No experience with glaciers or kayaking is required but a high fitness level is essential. You’ll be active for extended days with hiking, glacier hiking, and kayaking, plus camp duties like polar bear watch and cooking. Some days combine multiple activities.
The camping is off-grid with no running water or electricity – you’ll share tents and take turns on night watch duties. Weather conditions can be challenging and change rapidly, so you need physical stamina plus a positive attitude when things get tough.
A high fitness level is essential. You’ll be active for extended days with hiking, glacier work, kayaking, plus camp chores and polar bear watch duties.
Consecutive activity over five days while managing camp duties and night watch shifts. Both physical stamina and a positive mindset are essential.
Some hiking experience is essential for the rugged terrain with inclines and snow patches. You must be comfortable keeping a steady pace with a day pack.
You’ll need a positive attitude to whatever conditions come your way. The weather can be challenging and change rapidly.
Our adventure begins and ends in Longyearbyen, where we’ll spend four nights at Gjestehuset 102 a cosy, welcoming guesthouse with twin rooms, shared facilities, and breakfast included.
For two nights, we’ll camp in the Arctic wilderness at Ymerbukta, staying in two-person tents with a heated communal tent for meals and a toilet tent. To ensure safety, guests take turns on the nighttime polar bear watch, an experience that is both thrilling and humbling.
All meals are included, like hearty expedition food designed to fuel active days. We handle most dietary requirements with advance notice.
Our adventure is split between a comfortable guesthouse in Longyearbyen and an expedition-style base camp in the Arctic wilderness. In Longyearbyen, you’ll stay in a cosy, well-equipped guesthouse in a shared twin room. At base camp, you’ll sleep in high-quality tents that you’ll share with a fellow Gutsy Girl.
In Longyearbyen, yes. Once we’re in the wilderness, you’ll be completely off-grid with no signal, no distractions, just the raw beauty of the Arctic.
Absolutely! Let us know in advance about any allergies or preferences, and we’ll do our best to accommodate them.
Any luggage you don’t need for the adventure camp can be left behind in Longyearbyen. Storage areas are available at the guesthouse or at the guide’s secure warehouse.
Svalbard’s summer is a season of extremes. Conditions can change rapidly, with wind, snow, and sunshine all possible in a single day. Layering is key to staying comfortable.
Participants should anticipate variable weather conditions and be equipped for the challenges of Arctic travel.
Temperatures hover between 0–10°C, with 24-hour daylight.
With 24-hour daylight in July, there’s no darkness. This can affect sleep initially, but provides endless opportunities for activities and photography.
The weather conditions in Svalbard can be challenging and variable. The itinerary may vary slightly based on conditions to ensure safety and best experience.
Yes, the tap water in Longyearbyen is safe to drink. And no need to worry about drinking water while at camp – there’s a fresh clean ice river which will be the main source for water.
Money: Card is the way to go in Longyearbyen — Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere and most places are cashless by preference. There are no banks or ATMs on the island, so don’t rely on cash.
Laundry: Not during the expedition. A bit of travel wash should be enough if you need to freshen up layers.
Safety Protocols: We take 24-hour watch at camp for wildlife activity. Expert guides are highly trained in polar bear safety and carry deterrents, including flares and rifles (emergency use only). Guides have 25 years operating experience with no polar bear incidents.
Environmental Responsibility: We follow Leave No Trace principles, carry out all waste, observe wildlife from distance, and never seek out or disturb polar bears.
Travel insurance is mandatory for this trip due to the remote Arctic location and adventure activities involved.
Our trips welcome adventurous women of all ages, from 18 to 70+. Most guests are in their 30s and 40s.
We work with the best guides available—male or female. While we champion women in the industry, Arctic guiding is highly specialised, and our priority is ensuring the safest and most enriching experience.
Tipping is not compulsory on our adventures, but if you’ve had a great trip and brilliant service, a tip for your guide or host is always appreciated.
Layers: Although this trip takes place in the summer, Svalbard will still be cold, so layering is everything. Start with a base layer (synthetic, wool or silk. Never cotton, as this stays wet and will leave you freezing when you stop moving). Add a fleece or mid-layer, then top with a breathable, waterproof and windproof shell jacket. You might want to wear more than one base layer on a colder day, and keep a separate set solely for sleeping in.
Legs and feet: Your legs need the same treatment. Thermal leggings or long johns go under your breathable soft shell waterproof trousers and again, don’t bring cotton. Hiking socks should follow the same rule.
Hands and head: This is where you lose heat fastest. Bring two pairs of gloves because one pair will get wet at some point. Warm mittens are best if you run cold. Add a lighter pair of finger gloves for layering. For your head, bring a warm beanie for the day and a spare to sleep in, plus a buff, scarf or balaclava (consider two: one for your neck, one as a headband). A cap helps with both sun and rain when the weather turns.
Bags: Getting your kit from the boat to camp means carrying everything roughly 200 metres across uneven terrain. Bring a soft overnight duffel bag or backpack only, no suitcases with wheels please. For days out, a 20–30 litre daypack works well. Pack dry bags inside it to keep your kit organised and dry: a smaller one (around 2.5L) for personal items, and a larger one (10L+) for clothes.
Midnight sun and power: Svalbard gets 24 hours of daylight during this trip so earplugs and an eye mask are worth their weight if you know you’ll have trouble sleeping. Once you leave the guesthouse for camp, there’s no electricity so charge your power banks fully before you go.
Sun protection: High-factor sunscreen and sunglasses are essential, not optional, at this latitude.
Yes. You’ll be covering up to 12km across loose stone, sand, snow patches, and glacial terrain so waterproof hiking boots with a stiff sole are essential. Bring a pair of light shoes to wear around camp too, so your boots get a chance to dry out.
A 20–30 litre daypack is ideal for day trips. Pack dry bags inside it to keep everything organised and dry.
We provide dry suits and life vests for kayaking, so no specialist kit is needed. Wear your base layers underneath, you’ll be glad of them.
A set of base layers, your medication, and any essential personal items. Arctic weather can affect flight schedules and Longyearbyen isn’t the place to be without your kit if your bag is delayed.
Trip Code SVASVBWAC – Include this code in any message so we can find your trip straight away.
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