Who said that Norway was not exotic? After this 7-day trip to the northwest corner of Svalbard, you come home with experiences such as safari, kayaking, mountain hiking and a beautiful week on the continent.
Note: This is a trip popular with Norwegians, so the main language on the trip is Norwegian, but the guide will speak English, so you are welcome to join as an English speaker.
Highlights
- Explore Svalbard from a yacht
- Experience the Monaco Glacier up close
- See the rich wildlife in Northeast Norway
- Visit to Ny-Ålesund, one of the world's northernmost settlements
It is not good to say when it will happen, but we are pretty sure that during these seven days you will be bitten by the Svalbard bacillus. The Svalbard bacillus is not dangerous, but it can give you a new view of nature, a love of Arctic silence, and you may make it a habit to put your phone in airplane mode more often.
The Svalbard bacillus can take you as the MS Sjøveien simmers quietly across the Icefjord in the midnight sun, with thousands of auks chirping from the bird mountains.
You may be bitten as the boat heads towards Ny-Ålesund (Northernmost settlement in the world), and you realize that in this small research community people live and work all year round.
There is a good chance that you will be bitten when you see Gravneset (beach in Magdalene Bay) swimming in sunshine, and the captain asks if you do not want to take a bath on the small beach. If you close your eyes, it almost looks like a South Sea island. No, wait, that iceberg may not belong on a South Sea island.
You can be bitten as you come face to face with the mighty Monaco Glacier, and realize how lucky you are to experience this.
But, most likely you will be bitten long before. Most likely you are without a chance already when the plane reaches Sørkapp, and you see endless glaciers and mountain peaks below you. Hornsund and Van Mijenfjorden make deep depressions in the landscape and make you wonder - why have people chosen to settle in this iceberg for hundreds of years?
Just wait, in seven days you will have the answer!
Physical level and risk
So that you can have a good experience, it is important that you choose a trip that suits your ability level. The scales for physical requirements and risk are general. Therefore, it is important that you read more about the difficulty of the specific trip under “Details”. This will help you to gain an understanding of the level required and the risks involved for each specific trip.
Read more about physical requirements and risk here.
Physical: 2
We have to work a little to reach the destination. These are trips most people can handle, if they have a basic level of fitness. We sleep in comfortable tents and / or in cabins and hotels, but you do not have to have experience with tent life to join. The physical activity is the main element of the trip, such as cycling, kayaking, hiking, skiing / hiking or glacier hiking, but you do not need prior knowledge of the activity. Read more about the grading on our trips here
Risk: 2
Activities / trips with low risk. There are usually few incidents, and they are usually of such a nature that they can be treated locally. Read more about the grading on our trips here
What's included
- All accommodations
- All meals
- Locally known guide and captain
- All transportation within the itinerary
See more of what's included under the "details" tab
Contact us
Questions about the trip? Don't hesitate to contact our project leader below, or contact our office here.
Marit Vidnes
marit@hvitserk.com +47 23213080
Details
Difficulty
Level 2 out of 6. This is a trip for most people, who enjoy the sea and the ocean. The trip goes by boat and we must be prepared for both calm winds and sailing in bad weather. We have our own captain on board, so for you it's just a matter of enjoying the trip.
Read more about the different levels on our trips here.
Safety
Safety is always the number one consideration on a trip with Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure. If there is an emergency on tour with us, help will be able to reach you relatively quickly. We have a 24-hour emergency hotline within our office and the guide will always have the ability to contact help. Norway has excellent search and rescue operations throughout the country with evacuations available via helicopter or red cross emergency teams.
Our guides have first aid training and have a selection of medicines and first aid equipment for the necessary treatment in the mountains. Hvitserk also has a partnership with Turlegen.no (Trip Doctor) who can be contacted if needed for medical advice.
If you are on prescribed medication, have known allergies or similar, you must always bring your medication.
Hvitserk plans the trip days based on the weather, conditions and the group. Our focus is to take care of each other and work together in one team. The guide will have the ability to make safety decisions for the group, although the decision-making process will be transparent and involve guests in the process.
We plan our trips so that we do not expose ourselves to unwanted risk. On this tour, we will always be close to each other, and if an unforeseen situation occurs - the guide will be present quickly to handle it.
Languages
This is a trip popular with Norwegians, so the main language on the trip is Norwegian, but the guide will speak English, so you are welcome to join as an English speaker.
Accommodation
MS Sjøveien is a 40 meter long boat, built in 1964, and served for many years as a training ship for seafarers. Recently, the boat has been rebuilt and converted into a passenger ship with a capacity of 12 guests. We have plenty of space on board, both in the dining room and in the jacuzzi on deck! We stay in comfortable single or double cabins, all with private bathrooms.
Insurance
You must have adequate health and accident insurance that will also cover any repatriation. Remember to bring proof of travel insurance on your trip.
Some general things to be aware of:
- Some insurance companies use the number of meters above sea level as a criterion for what the insurance covers and whether they call it an expedition or not. Pay special attention to this - and check it carefully.
- Some insurance companies require an extension if the individual journey goes beyond a certain duration.
- Make sure the insurance covers the selected geographical area.
- Some insurance companies have an upper limit on their cancellation and sickness insurance.
We recommend that you check that your insurance covers the following:
- Cancellation insurance - must be taken out at the time of booking the trip. Check that the total amount of the cancellation insurance covers the total amount of your trip. If it does not, you should purchase additional cancellation insurance that covers the remaining amount.
- Luggage
- Responsibility
- Delays
- Lost the purpose of the journey. (For example, you can travel to Africa if you break your arm before departure. But it may not be possible to climb Kilimanjaro and sleep in a tent. Therefore, you should have insurance that covers the loss of the purpose of the trip.)
Changes may occur
We reserve the right to make changes to the program, and the price. The day to day program is indicative, and changes may occur. Please have a look at our terms and conditions.
The weather and wind conditions can affect the program. The guide will customize the tour and the program according to conditions.
Price includes
- Accommodation and transport at sea
- Full board during the entire trip (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Locally known guide and captain
- Bed linen, duvet and pillow
- Use of common equipment on the boat: paddle boards, kayaks, fishing equipment etc.
- Personal safety equipment, inflatable life jacket, survival suit and search and rescue insurance (SAR)
Price does not include
- Flights to / from Longyearbyen
- Meals in Longyearbyen before or after departure
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal hiking equipment
Other information
This is a trip in collaboration with Svalbard Expeditions, which has operated these trips on Svalbard since 2010. They are responsible for the practical implementation of the trip. Everyone who joins the trip has booked a trip through Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure. We work closely with Svalbard Expeditions, and things will be very similar to when you are otherwise on a trip with Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure.
Wondering where you are going? Check toposvalbard.npolar.no - a map where you can follow the sailing plan day-by-day, and dream away.
If it is close to departure, please contact us. Maybe you will be able to join anyway.
Day by Day
The sailing schedule depends on the weather and wind, and may need to be adjusted along the way. The day-by-day program gives you an overview of the places we plan to visit. If the weather conditions mean that we have to change the program we bring with us kayaks, SUP boards, fishing rods, glacier equipment and hiking poles, and promise you spectacular experiences in beautiful nature - every single day.
day
1
Meet up at the dock in Longyearbyen
We meet at the dock in Longyearbyen at 14:00 for check-in. Then we look around at the boat, we get a safety review with the crew and then head off. We do not have to stress out the Icefjord to get the view (we have this all the time wherever we go), and we quietly and calmly put both civilization and mobile coverage behind us.
day
2
Gravneset in Magdalenafjorden
Surrounded by beautiful mountains, high glacier fronts and magnificent nature, Gravneset is located in the Magdalenafjord. This is a great place for a kayak or SUP, and we get the beautiful nature up close, while we glide slowly through the water. We land on the beach and take a walk in the area, while we learn about the whalers who lived in the area from the early 17th century.
day
3
Brucevarden
We land at Bruceneset. From Brucevarden, 52 masl, there is a fantastic view of the Raudfjord's jagged mountain ranges in the west, and the red sandstone mountains in the south and east, which have given the fjord its name.
day
4
The Monaco Glacier i Leifdefjorden
On the way into Leifdefjorden you will be greeted by the mighty Monaco Glacier. The five kilometer long glacier front is a majestic sight, and here we stay for a while so that we can take in the dramatic nature. Try and put down the camera for a while, and just enjoy the view of the calving glacier front. Take in the impressions, and think about how to explain this to those at home. In any case, a picture would not describe the mood well enough.
day
5
The wildlife on Nordaustlandet
Nordaustlandet is the second largest island on Svalbard, and with its huge glaciers Austfonna and Vestfonna, the island consists mainly of ice and snow. We enter the Murchisonfjord on the west side of the island, and scout for wildlife, whether it is walruses, Svalbard reindeer or the large bird colonies.
day
6
Ny-Ålesund
On our way south again we stop in Ny-Ålesund, a small research community, and one of the world's northernmost settlements. There was coal mining here until the Kings Bay accident in 1962, but since then the area has been built up as a center for international, Arctic research and environmental monitoring.
day
7
Barentsburg and back to Longyearbyen
We wake up in Isfjorden and have a good breakfast before hiking in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg. After a historical walk (and maybe a vodka) we set course back to Longyearbyen, where we check out and look back at fantastic experiences in Svalbard's beautiful nature.
Equipment list
Take a good look at this list, and make sure you bring everything you need. We encourage you to use what you have for this trip and purchase items if you're missing something important on the list below. We have divided the gear list into three categories:
- Required: If you do not own this gear, you must acquire it for your trip.
- Recommended: Gear we suggest to be comfortable, but it is not imperative.
- Optional: Fun, additional luxuries.
Layering is extremely important in a variable climate like Norway. This list will guide you through the essentials. Remember the Norwegian saying "There is no bad weather, only bad gear", and prepare appropriately for any weather. You can read about the weather where you're traveling here.
How to pack for your trip to Norway from Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure on Vimeo.
Please contact us at hvitserk@norrona.com if you have any questions.
We always recommend wool in the Norwegian Mountains, but if you already have synthetic layers and don't want to buy new ones, synthetic is okay.
