5-day adventure
Snowshoeing from Longyearbyen
Svalbard
- Arctic
- Trekking
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£1,899
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our UK team
Our local team
To deliver our Svalbard expeditions, we partner with the region’s premier local operator—a team with over 30 years of expertise in this extreme wilderness. Navigating a remote landscape where polar bears roam requires years of hard-won field experience, which our partners provide in abundance. Supported by our own extensive equipment hub in Longyearbyen, we supply everything from sea kayaks to snowshoes. Join us between March and August for...
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Kandoo's view
Immerse yourself in the remote isolation of the Svalbard wilderness and experience winter camping in one of the most remote places on Earth. Spend three days and two nights surrounded by mighty mountains and crisp, untouched snow. As day melts seamlessly into night, the light fades but doesn’t disappear completely as you take turns to sit on bear watch.
This trip for the real adventurers out there and will be physically demanding. Snowshoes to help you make your way through the snow and pulling your belongings behind you in one of our pulkas. No previous experience of winter camping is required but you do need to have a good level of fitness.
This trip for the real adventurers out there and will be physically demanding. Snowshoes to help you make your way through the snow and pulling your belongings behind you in one of our pulkas. No previous experience of winter camping is required but you do need to have a good level of fitness.
Trip highlights
- Spend two nights winter camping in the Svalbard wilderness
- Snowshoe across vast snowfields
- Set up camp in a silent snow-filled valley in the Arctic Circle
- Wild camp in one of the most untouched places on the planet
Experiences
Gallery
Itinerary
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Day 1
Arrive in Longyearbyen
Welcome to Longyearbyen, you will be greeted at the airport by your guide and transferred to your accommodation in Longyearbyen. After you have checked-in, you can spend the rest of your day exploring the town and find somewhere to sample the local cuisine.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
-
Day 2
Snowshoe hike in Longyearbyen
This morning, after a sumptuous breakfast, we make the final preparations before starting our expedition. We will spend the next three days in Endalen, which is a short drive from Longyearbyen. After loading our pulkas and donning our snowshoes, we trek at a comfortable pace as we get used to his new way of moving and transporting our things. Along the way, you will learn about this magical landscape and it’s wildlife. At the end of today’s walk, we will work together to set up camp and cook our evening meal before settling down for the night. This will be our first night taking your shift on polar bear watch.
- Activity time: 5 - 7 hours
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
-
Day 3
Summit Trollsteinen
The next morning, we breakfast looking out at the vast white landscape that surrounds us as we swap stories of wildlife sightings so far. Today we will hike without our pulkas which and explore the snowcapped summits around the camp. Some of the ascents may be steep, but everything will feel easier without the pulkas. From the summit of Trollsteinen, we will have the best views yet of snowcovered and vast landscape. We return to the same camp for our final night out in the snow, work together to make dinner and take our last turn on polar bear watch.
- Activity time: 4 - 7 hours
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
-
Day 4
Return to Longyearbyen
This morning we say goodbye to the charms of our back-to-basics adventure as we break camp and make our way back towards Longyearbyen. Today, we will ascend 350m to the summit of Fardalsbakken and then make our way over Longyearbreen Glacier. A tiring but rewarding day that is well worth the extra effort as the views are out of this world. At the end of the hike, we load everything into the vehicles and make our way back to Longyearbyen. Arriving at the colourful jumble of buildings that make up Longyearbyen in the afternoon, we set about sorting our kit back into the store before heading to the hotel for a much needed hot shower! Time to relax and enjoy our evening in town.
- Activity time: 5 - 7 hours
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
-
Day 5
Departure
Sadly, our fabulous trip has come to an end. We will collect you from the guesthouse and transfer you to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals included: Breakfast
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Details
Trip information
Difficulty
Whilst you will be covering distances of around only 10km per day on this trip, walking in snowshoes takes some getting used to and you will be carrying not only your own belongings, but also a share of the group equipment. This trip is rated level 4 due to the non-stop nature of any adventure in Svalbard.
In good weather these snowshoe hikes can feel easy once you find your rhythm, but if you encounter strong winds, rain or freezing conditions, it could feel very difficult indeed. As well as kayaking and hiking you will also be assisting with cooking, loading and unloading pulkas, fetching water and taking turns on "bear watch". There are no porters, cooks or waiters on this trip, you are part of the team and must do your share of the work. Although this makes the adventure more demanding, it also adds to the enormous sense of satisfaction and achievement at the end of your journey.
We are camping in the wilderness where there is the possibility of polar bears roaming near the camp. A member of the team must be on "bear watch" at all times day and night and this is normally done in rotating 2 hour shifts. As it never goes dark in Svalbard in the summer months, some people may find it difficult to sleep.
If you have any questions about your suitability for this trip or would like more specific information about what to expect, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Food & drink
Staying well-fed on your trip is absolutely
vital to keep up energy levels, so
that you can enjoy your activities. This adventure in Svalbard
is full board whilst you are camping. Your
guesthouse
in Longyearbyen is
booked on a Bed and Breakfast
basis. We are proud of the fresh and frankly delicious food we provide despite being
in such a remote location. Because
everything we need for this adventure must be brought over on our initial boat
journey, we are limited on what we can carry and must choose our ingredients
carefully. Fresh produce is used nearer the start of the trip with the more
basic foodstuffs such as pasta and rice used towards the end. The guesthouse
in Longyearbyen is used to having visitors from all over the world and
caters well for vegetarians and intolerances. Please
inform us of any dietary requirements when you book so
that we can plan appropriate meals for whilst you
are camping.
Your
help in the kitchen is expected and much appreciated, particularly in
the evenings with food prep and washing up. We like the whole group to work as
a team to cook dinner, it creates a pleasant atmosphere as we reflect on the
days
adventures together.
Each
day begins with a hearty breakfast. There will be oatmeal, bread and a choice
of spread such as chocolate spread, jam and honey and, of course plenty of tea
and coffee.
Lunches
typically include freeze-dried meals such as ‘Real Turmat’
which provide a quick, warm and nutritious meal as they just need boiling water
and a few minutes before they are ready to eat! These are also perfect for an
expedition trip like this where space is at a premium. If you would like to
bring along some snacks for in-between meals there is space to do so, however
these must stay in the group food bag and not in your personal belongings.
In
the evenings, you can expect dishes of quinoa, lentils, salmon fillets, tofu
and reindeer. Some evening meals will be vegetarian
and we will carry as much fresh veg as possible. There will also be deserts of
fruit yogurt, cake or chocolate. If it has been a challenging day and we are later back for dinner, we may also have some of the freeze-dried meals in the evening.
You will have access to safe
drinking water direct from the glacier at your basecamp. All water collected
will be boiled and then cooled so you can use this to fill your reusable
bottles.
Alcohol
and cigarettes are heavily taxed and expensive in Scandinavia. If you plan on
bringing either of these into Svalbard, they must be left in the storage in
Longyearbyen as they are not permitted on the expedition.
Accommodation
Your full day-by-day itinerary
shows what is included in terms of hotel accommodation and meal basis.
LONGYEARBYEN: Our pre and post trip
accommodation is based in Longyearbyen and
will be in a cosy local
guesthouse where you will stay in twin rooms with shared bathrooms. If you
have a dietary requirement then please let us know when you book so that we can
let the hotel know. The hotel is located within 30 minutes' walk to the
main town and restaurants.
CAMPING: We provide comfortable
teepee-style tents for 2 people, fully equipped with camp beds and foam sleeping mats. We also
provide sleeping bags suitable for the Arctic conditions. For our expeditions
we use light equipment which is appropriate for Svalbard’s winter conditions. We will also provide a larger tent for cooking and eating and cooking equipment. Please be aware that our adventures in
Svalbard involve full participation. You are joining an arctic expedition and
will need to do your share of the work, this will include pitching tents,
fetching water and preparing meals. There are no porters or chefs up here in
the frozen north, this is adventure in its purest form.
At all times while camping in Svalbard, there is the possibility of polar bears roaming near the camp. "Bear watch" is shared amongst everyone in the group in 2 hour shifts. Your guide will provide instruction on what to do if you see a bear and how to use any equipment provided.
TOILETS: In Longyearbyen your accommodation will have flushing toilets. Whilst camping, a designated toilet area will be established within the camp. We provide toilet paper and a lighter to burn it after use.
Your guide
All of our qualified guides are highly experienced locals who have have been working in this environment for many years.
Once you are on your trip, you
should speak to your lead guide about any problem, whether it relates to food,
equipment or health. We would much prefer you to sort out any problems with
them on the spot, rather than allow them to spoil your trip. Your guide is in
contact with the office if further assistance is required.
If the lead guide is the source
of your concern, you will have the opportunity to speak to one of the office
representatives when you return to the guesthouse.
Transport
We insist on using a high
standard of vehicle and driver for all of our transfers. In Europe, it is
a legal requirement to have seatbelts fitted in the back of vehicles. If you
are unhappy about any aspect of the vehicle or the standard of driving, please
speak to the driver or our local office immediately.
Luggage
You may bring a hold bag (up to
15kg) as well as a cabin bag. For your hold luggage a suitcase will be fine as
you can leave this at the hotel but you should bring waterproof drybags
. to pack items that will be stored in your pulka. You should bring soft-sided luggage such as a
duffel bag, gym bag or backpack to take with you to Camp. You should bring a small
daypack wear when hiking.
We
would recommend packing your clothes and personal belongings in drybags inside
your larger luggage.
How do I get there?
To
reach Longyearbyen, there are direct flights from Oslo (3 hr journey). Some
flights are direct and others will land in Tromso
on Norway's west coast
and you will be asked to disembark to go through the Svalbard immigration
before re-embarking on the plane once more and continuing your journey. This
means that you will be flying at a low altitude when passing over the jaw
dropping Lofoten
islands. If you wish to get a birds
eye view of these out of the plane window
then make sure to be seated on the left
hand side of the plane for both the outgoing and return flight. Direct flights do not operate every day of the week so you may also need to spend a night in Oslo before continuing your journey the next day.
To reach Oslo from the UK, there are direct flights with British Airways from Heathrow and Norwegian Airlines have direct flights from Gatwick and Edinburgh. SAS have direct flights from Manchester.
If you are travelling from the US, SAS operate direct flights to Oslo from New York. From the west coast there are good flight options with Air France, KLM and Lufthansa.
If you are changing airlines or re-checking your luggage at an airport on route, please ensure you leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights. This will account for any delays on arrival, travel time across airports (this can take longer than you think) and time taken to re-check baggage.
On arrival
Once
you have landed and collected your luggage, please look out for a member of our
team who will either be holding a big sign reading "KANDOO“ or a board
displaying your name. The airport at Longyearbyen is so small you can’t miss us!
If
you have chosen to make your own way to the pre-trek accommodation, you can
easily find a taxi at the airport. The address is on your trip itinerary.
Pre-trek briefing
It is a requirement of joining any of our
trips that you attend a briefing before the trip begins. This gives our guide
the opportunity to review the plans for the trip with you, make sure you have
all the right gear and answer any questions you may have. This will take place in the morning of
day 2. Your guide will meet you at the guesthouse.
Budget & change
The
currency in Svalbard is the Norwegian Krone (NOK).
Please
be aware that Svalbard is nearly cash free due to the absence of banks.
Payments are made with credit or debit cards
so it is important you take a card with you for any incidental purchases.
Please inform your card provider that you intend to travel to Svalbard (Norway)
before departure, this will ensure that your card continues to work
properly while overseas. A lunch in Longyearbyen will cost you roughly £20 (265
NOK) and dinner will be £30 (350 NOK). Therefore, our recommended guidance
for spending budget in the Svalbard would be roughly £100-150 (1300-2000
NOK) on top of any tips, to give you ample souvenir spending money.
Tips
Tipping customs vary all over the world and can be very confusing when
travelling to a new country. Tipping in Svalbard is always appreciated,
however it is not obligatory and should be left to the discretion of each
individual. If you are satisfied with your guide’s services we
recommend a tip between 350-450 NOK per person. As Svalbard is almost
cashless, PayPal is the preferred method of tipping.
Formalities & health
Passport
Most travellers require a passport that is valid for at least six months after the return date. It is your responsibility to confirm your specific passport requirements and please be aware that proof of onwards travel may be required. You can check your requirements on the website provided by the Norwegian government
Visa
Travelling to Norway is visa free for up to 90 days, for UK and US citizens
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required.
Insurance
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully and adequately insured for the duration of your trip. Please ensure that all activities, excursions and destinations in your itinerary are included in your travel insurance policy, in addition to your regular cover for cancellation and medical expenses.
We ask that you keep a copy of your policy summary (containing policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer) in your day sack at all times, so that we can access this information should we need to contact the insurer on your behalf.
We ask that you keep a copy of your policy summary (containing policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer) in your day sack at all times, so that we can access this information should we need to contact the insurer on your behalf.
Equipment & clothing
Equipment supplied by Kandoo Adventures
We will provide you with all of the technical equipment you will need for this amazing adventure. Your guide will give full briefings for snowshoeing and packing and using the pulka. We provide the following equipment:
GROUP EQUIPMENT
- Mess tent with table, stools, cooking equipment, cutlery and crockery
- Emergency beacon
- Satellite phone
- GPS
- Necessary equipment for polar bear protections (flare gun, rifle, ammunition)
- First aid kit
- Snow shovels
- Thermos flasks
INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT
- Suitable expedition tent per 2 people
- Sleeping mat
- Suitable sleeping bag for Arctic conditions
- Snowshoes
- Hiking poles
- Pulka
- Camp shoes
- Sleeping bag liner
Clothing to bring
HEADGEAR
- Warm beanie-style hat - knitted or fleece to wear whilst hiking or sleeping
- Very warm hat to wear at camp (with ear flaps)
- Warm buff x 2
- Sunglasses - high UV protection
- Ski / snow goggles
UPPER BODY
- Thermal base layer x 3 (preferably merino wool)
- Fleece or jumper (midlayer)
- Big expedition down jacket to wear at camp - this must be very warm
- Wind and waterproof outer mittens
- Wool / fleece liner mittens
- Wind and waterproof outer hardshell with hood (Gore-tex or similar)
- Gloves - warm, thick gloves to wear when setting up camp (not thin liner gloves)
LEGS
- Breathable, fast drying underwear
- Thermal base layer x 3 (preferable merino wool)
- Midlayer trousers (warm hiking trousers)
- Wind and waterproof hardshell over-trousers (Gore-tex or similar)
- Insulated trousers to wear at camp (insulated waterproof ski trousers are OK)
FEET
- Hiking boots with ankle support
- Thin woollen socks (3 pairs)
- Thick woollen socks (3 pairs)
- Warm snow boots, e.g. Sorel Caribou (must have room to wear thick socks)
Equipment to bring
- Water bottle - preferably 1L widemouth Nalgene as can be used with boiling water at night (other brands may leak)
- Mini toiletry kit and wet wipes
- Camera and spare batteries
- Personal medication
- Eye mask for sleeping
- Suncream (non water based)
- Plastic bags for wet / dirty clothing
- Clothes for travel and wearing in Longyearbyen
- Waterproof drybags / containers to pack in pulka
- Small daysack (around 35 litres)
Gear rental
There are no rental shops in Longyearbyen but it is possible to purchase items if you have not brought them with you. Please be aware that buying clothing or equipment in Svalbard will be expensive. Please ask us if you have any questions about the clothing and equipment required for this trip.
Dates & prices
| From | To | Price | Availability | Book | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/2027 | 05/04/2027 | £1,899 $2,549 |
Open for bookings
|
Book now | Enquire now |
Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!
Contact usPrice includes
- All transportation as detailed in the itinerary
- Two nights hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen
- All technical camping equipment provided
- Snowshoes
- Full supervision by a professional guide
- Full board meals during the expedition
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Pre-trip briefing
Price does not include
- Flights to and from Longyearbyen
- Travel insurance
- Personal medication
- Meals in Longyearbyen (approx. £25 per meal)
- Visas if required
- Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
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