Summer here is defined by light. The official calendar places the polar summer between 17 May and 30 September, with midnight sun from 20 April to late August, and the strip above sets out those dates in full. Every trip on this page starts from Longyearbyen. Hikes climb the slopes behind town or trace the valleys toward the coast, boats head out onto the fjord, and wildlife and photography outings work the ground and water around the settlement. Town walks, Seed Vault visits and a historic mine tour fill out the list. Compare on the cards above, then follow the one you want through to its live listing.
Each card shows the trip title, a few short facts, the rating it holds, the number of reviews behind that rating, and a from-price. The category sits on the card too, so a hike and a fjord outing are easy to tell apart at a glance. Treat the printed price as a starting point, then open the live listing for the exact figure on the day you have in mind.
Most reviewed this season
Loved by English speakers 92% of English-speaking travelers gave this activity a perfect score
2 hours · Arctic Footsteps
Explore Longyearbyen by car on a short Arctic sightseeing tour through Adventdalen, historic mining areas, and the Seed Vault, with local stories and scenic stops along the way.
Check Live Availability & Prices on GetYourGuide →2 hours · Backyard Svalbard AS
Loved by English speakers 95% of English-speaking travelers gave this activity a perfect score
Check Live Availability & Prices on GetYourGuide →
3.5 hours · Arctic Footsteps
Explore the Arctic wilderness on a guided trekking in Bjørndalen. Spot wildlife, enjoy hot drinks and snacks, and learn about life in the High Arctic from your guide.
Check Live Availability & Prices on GetYourGuide →2.5 hours · Arctic Footsteps
Explore Longyearbyen on a guided walking tour. Discover the town's history, see colorful neighborhoods, and learn about life in the Arctic from your local guide.
Check Live Availability & Prices on GetYourGuide →3.5 hours · Backyard Svalbard AS
The locals favorite summit. Join us on a hike to the summit of Platåfjellet in Longyearbyen. A guided moderate hike with panoramic views of Adventfjorden, town and surrounding mountains
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5 hours · Backyard Svalbard AS
Join our guided snowshoe hike to Svalbard’s glaciers from Longyearbyen. Explore a frozen landscape, learn about the Arctic, and enjoy hot drinks and snacks in the wilderness.
Check Live Availability & Prices on GetYourGuide →Discover Longyearbyen on a guided bike tour. Explore colorful neighborhoods, scenic viewpoints, and local hangouts.
Join a guided walk to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Adventdalen. Learn about the vault's role in protecting the world's food system and enjoy a warm drink in the Arctic landscape.
* [Explore Svalbard and Jan Mayen](https://www.getyourguide.com/svalbard-and-jan-mayen-l169178/)
Hike to the wide plateau of Platåfjellet on a guided tour from Longyearbyen. Learn about the geology, mining era, and tundra ecology of the area from your historian guide.
Discover the Arctic's wildlife on a guided tour. Look for Arctic animals like birds, Svalbard reindeer, and Arctic foxes, and stop to take photos of the Arctic landscape.
Hike to the summit of Blomsterdalshøgda on a guided tour from Longyearbyen. Enjoy a simple outdoor snack or lunch at the top and take in panoramic views over Adventfjorden.
Embark on a challenging hike to the Sarkofagen summit in the Arctic. Traverse the Larsbreen glacier, enjoy breathtaking views, and learn about the region's history from your guide.
Explore the legendary town of Longyearbyen on this guided tour. Learn about this town's fascinating history, visit the world's northernmost settlement, and discover the town's unique laws.
A local guide collects you and shows the town, from the mining remains to the spots locals actually use.
A private photographer-guided day to the Pyramiden ghost town, with pickup and the whole day at your pace.
Explore Oscar II Land on a private full charter boat (for up to 3 persons) adventure from Longyearbyen. Discover remote glaciers, Arctic landscapes and wildlife with your local guide.
A small-group boat trip into Isfjorden to the remains of the Russian mining settlement of Grumant and the Fuglefjella bird cliffs, with a closed, heated boat, drinks and snacks.
A twelve-guest micro cruise into the fjords and ice larger ships cannot reach, private and fully guided.
Eight days under sail around Spitsbergen: Sassenfjorden, Tempelfjorden and the Tunabreen glacier, with polar bear and walrus watching and a stop at the abandoned Soviet town of Pyramiden if ice allows.
Explore the Arctic wilderness on a wildlife safari from Longyearbyen. Travel through valleys and coastal plains in a comfortable van and search for Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, and ptarmigans.
Capture the Arctic beauty of Svalbard on a small group photo safari. Explore stunning landscapes, seek wildlife and get unique photo opportunities with a local guide.
Join our guided hike to Svalbard’s glaciers from Longyearbyen. Explore a frozen landscape, learn about the Arctic, and enjoy hot drinks and snacks in the wilderness.
Leave Longyearbyen behind and explore Svalbard's stunning Arctic fjords on a guided hike through spectacular mountain landscapes, with breathtaking views and true Arctic wilderness.
Explore Longyearbyen’s highlights on a small group tour (max. 8 guests) with a local guide. Discover Arctic history, stunning viewpoints, wildlife and iconic landmarks.
Discover Longyearbyen in German: history, research, and everyday life in the Arctic, spectacular vantage points, and, with a bit of luck, Arctic wildlife.
A private day to Barentsburg with a certified photographer as your guide, transport and a light lunch on board.
An eleven-day small-ship photo expedition around Svalbard in autumn light, wildlife and glacier fronts included.
Wildlife hiking and driving tour in and around Longyearbyen. Focus on finding Svalbard Reindeer, Arctic foxes and Svalbard rock ptarmigan birds. Rich birdlife June to August. Local Norwegian company.
A trek out of Longyearbyen along coastal trails and moraine fields to Adventcity, an abandoned coal settlement left to rust since the 1950s, with a historian guide explaining why people came and why they left.
Explore Longyearbyen on a guided taxi tour. See the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, learn about the town's history, and enjoy views of glaciers and fjords.
The same set of facts appears on every card above: a short description, the guest rating, the review count behind it, and the from-price printed on the card. That makes it simple to set a valley walk beside a summit route, or a short fjord outing beside an expedition that sleeps aboard, and judge which one earns a place in your plans.
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gruve 3 historic coal mine tour | 3 hours | $146 per person | 4.8 (491 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Global Seed Vault & Arctic viewpoint by car | 2 hours | $128 per person | 4.5 (49 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Global Seed Vault and Longyearbyen icons | 2 hours | $209 per person | 4.8 (34 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Bjørndalen Arctic walk with snacks | 3.5 hours | $193 per person | 4.7 (18 reviews) | Hiking |
| Longyearbyen walking tour with a local guide | 2.5 hours | $112 per person | 4.7 (17 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Platåfjellet panorama hike | 3.5 hours | $315 per person | 4 (12 reviews) | Hiking |
| Snowshoe crossing to a Svalbard glacier | 5 hours | $300 per person | 4.9 (11 reviews) | Ice caves |
| Longyearbyen city bike tour | 2 hours | $194 per person | 4.7 (9 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Global Seed Vault guided walk | 3.5 hours | $184 per person | 4.6 (8 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Wildlife spotting & Arctic polar plunge | 2.5 hours | $165 per person | 4.9 (7 reviews) | Wildlife |
| Iconic hike to Platåfjellet | 2.5 hours | $161 per person | 4.7 (7 reviews) | Hiking |
| Arctic wildlife photo tour | 3 hours | $237 per person | 4.8 (6 reviews) | Wildlife |
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blomsterdalshøgda guided hike | 2.5 hours | $201 per person | 5 (5 reviews) | Hiking |
| Sarkofagen summit hike | 4 hours | $227 per person | 4.2 (4 reviews) | Hiking |
| Private Longyearbyen walking tour | 3 hours | Not stated | 5 (4 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Explore the legendary town of Longyearbyen | 3 hours | Not stated | 4.7 (3 reviews) | Longyearbyen town |
| Pyramiden photo tour with a photographer guide | 8 hours | Not stated | 3.7 (3 reviews) | Photography |
| Private glacier & wildlife boat charter | 8 hours | Not stated | 5 (2 reviews) | Boat tours |
| Isfjorden wildlife boat trip, 2.5 hours | 2.5 hours | $272 per person | 5 (2 reviews) | Boat tours |
| Private 8-day Svalbard micro cruise | 8 days | Not stated | 5 (1 review) | Boat tours |
| 8-day Arctic wildlife yacht expedition | 8 days | $2,252 per person | 5 (1 review) | Boat tours |
| Arctic wildlife scouting by van | 4 hours | $173 per person | No reviews yet | Wildlife |
| Photo safari in Adventdalen & Bjørndalen | 4 hours | $231 per person | No reviews yet | Wildlife |
| Hiking adventure to a Svalbard glacier | 6 hours | $270 per person | No reviews yet | Hiking |
| Hike to the Arctic fjords | 3 hours | $237 per person | No reviews yet | Hiking |
| Longyearbyen sightseeing, small group in English | 3 hours | $125 per person | No reviews yet | Longyearbyen town |
| Longyearbyen city tour in German | 2 hours | $182 per person | No reviews yet | Longyearbyen town |
| Barentsburg photo tour with a photographer guide | 10 hours | Not stated | No reviews yet | Photography |
| Svalbard autumn photo expedition, 11 days | 11 days | Not stated | No reviews yet | Photography |
| Wildlife safari & slow-hiking photography tour | 5 hours | $247 per person | Not stated | Wildlife |
| Adventcity trek to an old mining town | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Hiking |
| Global Seed Vault in-depth tour | 2 hours | $202 private group, basis not stated | Not stated | Longyearbyen town |
Hiking is the backbone of a Svalbard summer. The cards above run from easy walks in the valleys near town to summit routes on the mountains above it, plus coastal paths and longer treks that push out toward glacier country. Every route is different, so read each card for what it involves and where it goes. The choice then comes down to the shape of day you want: a steady climb to a viewpoint, a quiet valley, or a longer outing toward the ice.
Boat outings are the heart of a Svalbard summer, leaving Longyearbyen for the fjord and the coast beyond. Options run from a short trip on the water to private charters and multi-day yacht expeditions that sleep aboard. Wildlife trips also work from land, with photography tours by van and on foot covering the valleys and shoreline around the settlement. No card promises an animal sighting. The listings describe what each outing looks for and where it travels.
Longyearbyen itself keeps visitors busy. Guided walks trace the town's history, several outings stop at the Global Seed Vault, and one goes underground into a historic mine. Photography tours extend the range further, with some travelling well beyond the settlement. Trips built on snow and darkness belong to the other half of the year, covered on the winter season hub linked at the end of this page.
Visit Svalbard, the official destination organisation, sets the calendar. Polar summer spans 17 May to 30 September. The midnight sun applies from 20 April to late August, overlapping the summer for most of its length. The same source places the dark season between 1 October and 28 February, polar night from mid-November to late January, and sunny winter between 1 March and 16 May. These dates are fixed. Individual departures are another matter: each card opens onto a live listing that spells out the dates a given trip runs.
Dates from the Visit Svalbard season pages.
Arriving after the polar summer closes? Snowmobile routes, ice caves, glacier snowshoe walks and northern lights outings all sit on the winter season hub, linked at the end of this page.
Polar night in Svalbard · Midnight sun in Svalbard · Svalbard tours month by month · Svalbard In Winter
Every card above links to its live booking page, and that page is where the current price, the departure dates, and the cancellation and pickup terms for that particular trip are shown, since one rule never covers everything on offer. The light strip above the cards sets out the official season dates for your planning. When you have narrowed the choice down, the winter half of the year has its own season hub, linked at the foot of this page.
Scroll through the cards and the spread becomes clear. Hikes range from valley and coastal paths to summit routes above town, boat trips span everything from a short fjord outing to private charters and multi-day expeditions, and wildlife and photography tours cover both land and water. Add town walks, Seed Vault stops and a mine visit, and the list is nearly complete. Snow-based and darkness-based trips belong to winter, and that hub is linked at the end of this page.
Start with the official calendar: Visit Svalbard marks the polar summer from 17 May to 30 September, with midnight sun from 20 April to late August. Beyond those dates, this page will not guess. Weather in the High Arctic changes without warning and can turn between breakfast and dinner, so any forecast written here would mislead you. Every card above connects to a listing describing the outing in detail, including what is provided, and reading it before you commit is the soundest preparation.
Prices here work on a from-basis. The card prints a floor for each trip, and the figure you finally pay depends on when you go and which departure you pick. A stroll around Longyearbyen and a longer voyage under sail occupy opposite ends of the range, so quoting one number in prose helps nobody. Treat the card as a first signal, then open the listing, where the current price sits next to dates and the cancellation terms that apply to that specific booking. Terms vary between listings, so read the one for your chosen trip rather than assuming a pattern.
Summer here means the polar summer, which officially runs from 17 May to 30 September, with the midnight sun period from 20 April to late August. The cards above gather the trip types that suit the season: guided walks in and around Longyearbyen, hikes to summits and glacier fronts, boat trips on the fjord, wildlife photo outings, and town visits that take in the Global Seed Vault. What each listing covers differs, so read the short facts on the card before choosing. The link on any card opens the live booking page, where dates, price and the terms of that listing are set out.
Each live listing shows its own dates and availability, so the card you have in mind answers this directly. The light strip above gives the official season dates: polar summer from 17 May to 30 September, midnight sun from 20 April to late August. Cancellation and pickup terms also differ from listing to listing, so read the booking page behind the card you want rather than assuming a general rule. If your first choice has no open date, comparing other trip types widens what is on offer.
Each type answers a different interest. Town walks and visits that take in the Global Seed Vault cover Longyearbyen's history in a compact outing, and work well as a first look at the archipelago. Hikes range from valley routes to summit climbs and glacier approaches, all at walking pace. Boat trips put you on the fjord, wildlife outings focus on the animals that live here through the season, and photography trips pair local knowledge with midnight sun light. Compare the cards above: inclusions and meeting points vary between listings, and every live booking page carries its own terms.