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Jul
Kayak icy Arctic fjords, hike a glacier in crampons, and camp off-grid in wild Svalbard
Intermediate
Challenging
Back to Basics
From
£2,899
(USD $4,551.43)
Glaciers, fjords, midnight sun
Welcome to Svalbard, where glaciers tower like frozen fortresses and the only sounds are wind and cracking ice.
This is the Arctic at its rawest; vast tundra, mirror-still fjords, and wildlife you’ll struggle to spot anywhere else – Arctic foxes, reindeer, and if we’re lucky, polar bears.
Kayak between glacier faces, hike across ancient ice, and camp in tents for two nights under the midnight sun. Days are long and active as you paddle through fjords and trek across endless tundra. Everyone takes a turn on polar bear watch too.
This isn’t your standard adventure holiday, it’s a full Arctic expedition.
An active agenda
No Hidden Costs
Guided hike on Esmark Glacier
Sea kayaking through icy fjords
Hike across Arctic tundra and glacial valleys
Take turns on night-time lookout duty
All activity and safety equipment included
Transport to and from your campsite
Four nights at a guesthouse, two nights wilderness camping
Expedition food at camp and restaurant dinners in Longyearbyen
Qualified Arctic guides and your Gutsy Girls host
Activity Overview
Strap on crampons and step onto Esmark Glacier. Cross crevasses and navigate ice formations, getting comfortable reading the glacier and spotting where it’s solid, versus where it might give way. Get to grips with walking in metal spikes while your guide explains what’s happening beneath your feet: how the glacier moves, why crevasses form, and how climate change affects Arctic ice.
Activity Overview
Kayak between towering glacier faces where ice creaks around you and the landscape feels impossibly vast. Navigate between floating ice chunks in double kayaks, getting close to these massive ice faces.
Curious seals might pop up to investigate as you paddle through remote Arctic waters, while your guide points out wildlife and explains how these dramatic fjords formed.
This is proper Arctic kayaking – wild and unlike anything you’ve paddled before.
Activity Overview
Trek through landscapes so empty and remote they make you feel like the only person on Earth (well, you and the other Gutsy Girls). Cross sandy valleys and rocky ridges under the midnight sun while spotting Arctic foxes and reindeer along the way.
Activity Overview
Sleep under the midnight sun in expedition tents at a remote Arctic base camp. Polar bears roam this territory, which is why everyone takes turns on night watch, scanning for movement.
Camp life means no running water, no electricity, and pitching in with tasks like fetching water and washing dishes. There’s a heated communal tent for meals and down time, plus the chance for an icy sea dip if you’re brave enough.
Fall asleep to the sound of glacier ice shifting and wake up to views that stretch to every horizon.
Activity Overview
Take your turn scanning the Arctic horizon 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, you wake the guide to manage the situation.
There are other safety protocols in place too, but the watch system is your first line of defense in polar bear territory.
Despite being a safety requirement, it’s often a guest highlight – quiet time alone in this remote Arctic landscape.
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Arrive in Longyearbyen and check into your guesthouse. Sort yourself out, get your bearings and explore the town if you fancy it.
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with your guide on hand to answer questions and brief you on what's coming.
Breakfast buffet, then we're heading out for a full-day hike to Trollsteinen summit. This is a good opportunity to check your gear before heading out to the camp.
9-12km
750m
Lunch on the mountain, then continue the climb. Panoramic Arctic views from the top, then make your way back down.
Back to Longyearbyen, then dinner at a local restaurant.
Breakfast, then either a day hike around Longyearbyen or a kayak trip in Adventfjorden, depending on the conditions.
Hit the shops if you need any last-minute gear for the expedition and stock up on snacks.
Dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy your last night in a proper bed.
It's an early pick-up to the harbour. Board the boat and cross Isfjorden to Ymerbukta, roughly two hours on the water.
Arrive at camp, set up your tents and get your bearings. Then either kayak or hike with your guide to explore the surroundings.
Gather for a group dinner at camp. Your guide will do a weather check and help the group plan for tomorrow's glacier hike. It's also time for your first shifts on Polar Bear Lookout.
Breakfast at camp, then hike out to Esmark Glacier. Strap on crampons and harnesses - you're stepping onto the ice.
Explore the glacier with expert guides teaching you techniques and safety. Enjoy lunch on the ice with views that'll stay with you forever.
Hike back to camp for group dinner prep. Then it's another night with a shift on polar bear watch.
Pack up camp. Either kayak or hike (whichever you didn’t do the other day, you’ll do today) before the boat arrives.
Board the boat back to Longyearbyen and eat lunch on board while scanning for whales.
Check back into the guesthouse and tuck in to dinner at a near-by restaurant.
Breakfast, then time to say goodbye to Svalbard and head home.
Rest & Refuel
Four nights in a cosy guesthouse in Longyearbyen - twin rooms, shared facilities, breakfast sorted. Two nights camping at Ymerbukta in two-person tents with a heated communal tent and toilet tent. Everyone takes turns on polar bear watch.
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All meals included. You'll enjoy hearty meals both in the Guesthouse and on the camp. In the town you'll eat at local restaurants, whilst at camp you'll tuck-in to expedition type meals and filling breakfasts.
We cater to dietary requirements - vegan, vegetarian, most allergies. Just give us advance notice and we'll sort it.
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The Essentials
| Accommodation |
Back to Basics Stay in a guesthouse in Longyearbyen in shared rooms and camp out in two-person expedition tents. |
|---|---|
| Food |
All meals included.
|
| Fitness Level |
3
Challenging Hiking up to 12km with 750m elevation gain, kayaking 5–10km, and some days combining both , all while managing camp duties, cooking and polar bear watch shifts, makes this one of the most demanding trips we run. Two nights spent completely off-grid with shared tents, no running water and disturbed sleep add to the physical and mental load, so resilience matters as much as fitness here. If you train three or more times a week and the idea of five consecutive days of genuine expedition life appeals, you’re ready. You'll Need To Be
|
| Skill Level |
3
Intermediate No glacier hiking or kayaking experience needed, but some hiking experience on rugged terrain is essential. You need to be comfortable keeping a steady pace with a day pack over inclines, snow patches and loose ground. Not sure what level you are? Our Trip Rating Guide explains how we score fitness and skill. |
| Packing List |
We Provide
You’ll Need
|
| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is our Longyearbyen guesthouse. Address is provided on booking. |
| Not Included |
|
| Trip Code |
SVASVBWAC |
The Answers
No experience with glaciers or kayaking is required, but a high fitness level is essential. You should be comfortable hiking over rough surfaces, wearing a day pack, and keeping a steady pace.
You’ll be active up to 7-8 hours daily with 12km hikes gaining 750m elevation over rough Arctic terrain, plus kayaking 5-10km through icy fjords. Some days you will both kayak and hike in one day. The terrain includes sand, loose stone, and uneven ground with inclines and snow patches.
Yes, you’ll be paddling in stable double kayaks through protected fjords. We provide full dry suits and life vests. No kayaking experience needed.
All the technical kit: expedition tents, sleeping bags, crampons, harnesses, steady double kayaks, dry suits, life vests, dry bags, maps and compass, plus 1-litre thermos bottles. You bring personal clothing, boots, and day-to-day essentials.
To ensure safety, guests will all take turns on the nighttime polar bear watch. You’ll spend 2-3 hours watching for movement while armed with binoculars and a thermos of tea.
While we can’t guarantee a sighting, we’ll be in prime polar bear territory. Safety is paramount for both our guests and the bears and our guides are highly experienced in managing arctic wildlife. The guides have been operating tours for 25 years and have never had an incident with polar bears.
Any flight from Oslo Gardermoen to Longyearbyen that gets you to the guesthouse by 7:30pm on arrival day. On departure day, 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 (approx. €8 each way) aligns with all flight arrivals and departures, so there’s flexibility if you need different flights. It also drops you off and collects you from your guesthouse. Just make sure you arrive in time to meet the group for the first evening meal at 7:30 pm.
Arctic conditions and wildlife safety requirements mean plans can shift, but you’ll get the full adventure experience.
Budget £20-30 per day for drinks with restaurant meals and personal purchases. Longyearbyen is expensive (everything is imported), but you won’t need much as all meals are included.
Svalbard’s summer temperatures hover between 0-10°C with 24-hour daylight thanks to the midnight sun. Conditions can change rapidly throughout the day, so you might experience wind, snow, and sunshine all in the same day. The lack of darkness takes some adjustment initially, but it provides endless opportunities for activities and photography. Make sure to pack layers for all possible conditions.
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