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Kayak across icy waters flanked by towering glaciers and camp under the midnight sun.
Intermediate
Challenging
Back to Basics
From
£2,650
(USD $4,160.50)
Placeholder text - changes each trip
Six days paddling deep into Svalbard’s wilderness, exploring this remote island and heading further from civilisation with every stroke. Kayak through icy fjords past towering glaciers, camping in three remote locations along the way and taking a shift on polar bear watch each night.
Three nights are spent in a cosy guesthouse, the rest of the time you’re living off-grid in campsites, expedition-style. This trip is for anyone with kayaking experience who’s looking for a new challenge in the Arctic. Our expert guides teach you the rest.
This is expedition kayaking; raw, demanding, unforgettable and rated challenging for good reason.
An active agenda
No hidden costs
Guided paddling through Arctic fjords and glacial coastlines
All equipment is included
Three nights at a cosy guesthouse, three nights wilderness camping
Hearty breakfasts, expedition lunches, and dinners
Professional expedition guides for all activities
Airport shuttle bus to and from Longyearbyen
Activity Overview
Navigate Svalbard’s wild fjords, paddling further from civilization with every stroke. Glaciers tower above you while ice chunks drift past your kayak, and curious seals surface to watch you pass through their territory. This is expedition kayaking under the midnight sun, seven days moving deeper into wilderness where few humans venture.
Your skills develop daily as you handle challenging conditions – reading ice movement, navigating between floating chunks, and working as a team in double kayaks through waters that can shift from mirror-calm to choppy in minutes.
Solid kayaking experience and expedition mindset are essential for consecutive long days in true wilderness conditions.
Activity Overview
Sleep under the midnight sun in expedition tents where the only sounds are glacier ice shifting and Arctic wind. Camp at locations accessible only by kayak and wake to landscapes that feel like another planet.
Take on three nights of off-grid living – pitch your tents, cook on camp stoves, and share the work that keeps everything running. There’s no running water, no electricity, just endless wilderness. Then pack up in the morning and set off again.
Activity Overview
Take your turn scanning the Arctic horizon overnight for polar bears while your group sleeps. Armed with binoculars and a thermos of tea, you’ll spend 2-3 hours watching for movement across the tundra. If you spot anything don’t worry, the guides are on hand to help.
There are other safety protocols in place too, but the watch system is the first line of defence in polar bear territory. Despite being a safety requirement, it’s often a guest highlight – quiet time alone in this remote Arctic landscape.
Placeholder text - changes each trip
Your adventure starts here
Touch down in the world's northernmost town. The airport shuttle drops you at the guesthouse to check in and settle.
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Meet your guides who'll be leading you into the Arctic, meet the women you'll be sharing tents with for the next week, and get the full expedition briefing.
Meet your guide and head out for a half-day paddle on the water near Longyearbyen. It’s your chance to get used to the kayak, and for the guides to see where everyone’s at.
Back on dry land, you'll run through a kit check and safety brief. Now’s the time to ask any questions and make sure you're ready for the next few days.
Enjoy your last restaurant dinner, your adventure in the wilderness begins tomorrow!
Board the boat for your transfer across icy waters to Skansbukta. Step ashore into a landscape packed with birdlife and remnants of historic mining sites. This is proper Arctic frontier territory.
Launch the kayaks and paddle north into the fjord. Glaciers loom and cliffs tower as you move through icy waters.
Set up camp an eerie abandoned Soviet coal mining settlement that sits along the shore in the distance. Spend your first night sleeping under the sunny arctic sky and taking your shift on polar bear lookout.
This morning cook up a warm breakfast, then break camp and paddle deeper towards Petuniabukta, moving beneath layered, multi-coloured mountains.
Paddle on to Petunia Bay and make camp again, pulling the kayaks onto land, pitching tents and fetching water as you go. It’s hands-on work.
Help cook dinner, spend a second night sleeping off-grid and take on round two of polar bear lookout.
Paddle from Petuniabukta towards the massive Nordenskiöld Glacier, where the ice meets the sea in a wall of blue and white.
Explore around Brucebyen, a cluster of abandoned mining cabins, before setting up your last wild camp.
One final night under the midnight sun. Enjoy dinner and the quiet of a place almost no one gets to see.
Take one last paddle towards the mouth of Billefjorden, soaking up the views before you turn for home.
A boat carries you back to Longyearbyen and the guesthouse, where a hot shower is waiting.
Celebrate with dinner at a restaurant in Longyearbyne. You've just completed a proper Arctic expedition - toast to that!
Share breakfast with your expedition crew before getting the airport transfer. Head home with aching shoulders and a huge sense of achievement.
Rest & Refuel
In Longyearbyen, you'll stay at a cosy hostel with shared rooms and communal spaces - proper beds before and after the wild stuff.
Three nights camping in expedition-style two-person tents built for Arctic conditions. Spacious, sturdy, and shared with a fellow Gutsy Girl - private tents aren't an option.
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All meals included. On camp breakfasts: oatmeal or cereal. Lunches: freeze-dried expedition meals. Dinners: homemade Norwegian reindeer stew, fish soup, and other hearty options. In Longyearbyne breakfast and dinners are eaten in the guesthouse and local restaurants. Packed lunches are provided too.
We cater to dietary requirements - vegan, vegetarian, most allergies. Just give us advance notice.
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The essentials
| Accommodation |
Back to Basics Hostel in Longyearbyen in shared rooms (3 nights) & Two-person expedition tents (3 nights) Private tents are not available. |
|---|---|
| Food and Drink |
All meals are included. When we’re eating at local restaurants, we can’t guarantee zero cross-contamination — if your allergy is severe, please get in touch before you book.
|
| Fitness Level |
3
Challenging Paddling 15–20km daily for five consecutive days puts real demands on your shoulders, arms and core, and that’s before factoring in camp setup, cooking and polar bear watch shifts that eat into your recovery time each night. Three nights off-grid with shared tents and no running water means mental resilience matters as much as physical fitness here. If you’re training hard three or more times a week with core and shoulder work on top, you’re ready. You'll Need to Be
|
| Skill Level |
3
Intermediate Some kayaking experience is essential. You also need the stamina and technique for long days on the water before you arrive. Not sure what level you are? Our Trip Rating Guide explains how we score fitness and skill. |
| Packing List |
This list is an indication of the specialist items you will need, and might need to invest in before your adventure! We Provide
You'll Need
|
| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is at Longyearbyen guesthouse. Alternative routes and travel information are in our Trip Guide. |
| Not Included |
|
The answers
Yes, previous kayaking experience is essential. You’ll be paddling 15-20km daily in Arctic conditions using double kayaks. While you don’t need to be an expert, you must be comfortable handling a kayak for consecutive long days and confident in varying water conditions.
This expedition demands high fitness levels. Expect 8+ hours of paddling daily, plus camp duties and polar bear watch shifts. You need strong cardiovascular fitness, good shoulder and core strength, and the stamina for five consecutive active days with no rest days.
This is true wilderness expedition life with comprehensive safety protocols. You’ll share tents, take turns on polar bear watch (2-3 hours nightly), and handle all camp duties. Our expert Arctic guides carry satellite communication, GPS, and polar bear protection equipment (legal requirement in Svalbard).
We provide stable double kayaks, paddles, full dry suits, neoprene boots and gloves, and buoyancy aids. You’ll need your own base layers (merino wool – never cotton), thin fleece mid-layer, and waterproof hiking boots for shoreline exploration.
Paddling 15-20km daily in 0-10°C temperatures, camping off-grid for three nights with no running water or electricity, sharing tents, taking polar bear watch shifts, and handling camp chores. When conditions get tough, there’s no opting out – the group depends on everyone participating fully.
Our guides carry rifles, flare guns, and ammunition (legally required in Svalbard). We operate 24-hour polar bear watch at campsites – everyone takes 2-3 hour shifts with binoculars and tea. Additional safety includes satellite phone, GPS, emergency beacon, and comprehensive first aid equipment.
Any flight from Oslo Gardermoen that gets you to the guesthouse by 7.30pm on Day 1. On Day 7, book whatever departure time suits you. Most guests end up on the same flights since there are limited daily services – once you join the WhatsApp group, coordinate with your trip mates if you want travel company.
For this trip there is no set-time group transfer. Instead the airport shuttle aligns with all flight arrivals and departures, so there’s flexibility if you need different flights. Just make sure you arrive in time to meet the group for the first evening meal at 7:30 pm.
The airport shuttle drops you off and collects you from your guesthouse.
The airport shuttle is timed to meet all arriving flights. If your flight is delayed, the shuttle will still be there. There’s some flexibility built in.
Arctic summer: 0-10°C with unpredictable conditions. Expect sun, rain, wind, possible snow – sometimes all in one day. The midnight sun means 24-hour daylight (pack eye mask). Conditions change rapidly, so you need gear for everything and the mindset to embrace whatever comes.
Arctic weather can be unpredictable, but our guides monitor conditions continuously and adjust routes for safety. You’ll still paddle unless genuinely dangerous – handling challenging but manageable conditions is part of Arctic expedition life. Backup plans include hiking and wildlife observation if needed.
Absolutely. Arctic weather can change rapidly, so our expert guides adjust daily plans to ensure the best and safest experience. Routes, campsites, and activities adapt to conditions – flexibility is essential for successful Arctic expeditions.
There are no banks or ATMs on the island so card payments are preferred. Budget £20-30 daily for drinks with restaurant meals and souvenirs. Prices are high (everything imported), but meals are included so you won’t need to spend much.
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