Svalbard, Norway

Sample Activity based on October half term:

Day 1



• Outbound flights via Oslo
  
• Airport transportation & check-in
  
• Welcome to Coal Miners’ Cabins! Nybyen was built as part of the post-war reconstruction programme for Longyearbyen. The settlement comprised 8 accommodation units for miners, as well as bathing facilities, a laundry and a mess hall. Today Coal Miners` Cabins offers comfortable, reasonably priced accommodation, located in the upper part of the Longyear valley and within easy reach of mountains and glaciers. The place is an excellent starting point for hiking, skiing and snowmobile trips, during both summer and winter. The guesthouse is situated about 2,5 kilometres from the town centre, a nice walk in beautiful surroundings.
  
• In Coal Miners´ Bar & Grill we offer a menu specially designed for you who have had an arctic experience out in Svalbard´s harsh nature. We have an exciting burger and BBQ menu made on real charcoal grill, and we also offers vegetarian dishes and salad.
  
• Rooms can not be expected to be ready for use before on the day of arrival.
  
• Rooms are available until 11:00 on the day of departure. If a dayroom is required, please arrange this directly with the front desk.
  
• Complimentary WI-FI. Please be aware that guests share toilet and bathroom facilities.
  
• 20:00-21:00 2 course Dinner
  


Day 2



• 8:00-9:00 Breakfast
  
• 9:00-12:00 A cultural and historical introduction to Longyearbyen
  
• Meet at the hotel entrance. A knowledgeable local guide will take you through Longyearbyen and the area’s exciting history. During the tour we will visit Svalbard Museum and Galleri Svalbard. Subjects covered during the tour include history, geology, flora, fauna and the modern community. This is a mainly indoor activity, and the sightseeing in town is in a bus.
  
• Duration approximately 3 hours. Pricing includes guide, bus transport, and entrance to Svalbard Museum and Galleri Svalbard. Indoor activity.
  
• 12:00-13:30 Lunch
  
• 1900-2200 Arctic wilderness Evening in Camp Barentz
  
• Experience the magic of being in the wilderness at 78 degrees north! Our wilderness evening at Camp Barentz is a very special experience which you really should enjoy during your stay in Longyearbyen. As we leave town and drive into the Advent Valley your anticipation increases. The mountains on either side of the valley loom over us like giants, bathed in the midnight sun or
  glow of the short night. What awaits us at the end of the road?
  THE DISCOVERER OF SVALBARD
  
• Camp Barentz boasts an amazing location at the foot of the mountain, Breinosa, right below Mine 7. One of the buildings at the camp, Barentz Hus, is a copy of the cabin that the discoverer of Svalbard, Willem Barentz, overwintered in on Novaya Zemlya in 1596. Here, far from town, you can take in the stunning Svalbard landscape. At Camp Barentz, we often see Svalbard reindeer, and even grouse and foxes if you are lucky. Our knowledgeable hosts are also on watch in case a polar bear should appear.
  
• As we arrive at the cosy wooden cabins we will be met by the evening’s host. Good drinks and a delicious homemade reindeer bidos will be served, together with campfire coffee and dessert. Welcome to a real Svalbard meal!
  LEARN ALL ABOUT THE POLAR BEAR
  
• After your tasty dinner, it is time to learn more about the King of the Arctic. With everyone sitting around the open fire in the cabin, the host will share information and photos about our most famous residents. You are guaranteed to learn something new about polar bears, and you may also here a few tall tales. After the presentation there will be time to take photos of the stark landscape, before returning to civilisation.
  
• This is an indoor activity, however we recommend warm, comfortable outdoor clothing and warm shoes, as the floor can be a little cold. Please note that clothing may smell of smoke afterwards.
  
• Duration approximately 3 hours.
  
• Includes: transport, dinner and homemade cake, beverage (Juice, mineral water), coffee, presentation with guide and photos.
  
• Duration: approximately 3 hours
  
• Degree of difficulty: 2 – suitable for most. Not wheelchair accessible.
  


Day 3



• 7:00-8:00 Breakfast
  
• 08:15-16:00 Hybrid-electric catamaran to Billefjorden og Nordenskiöldbreen
  
• Close to nature in an environmentally friendly way
  
• The boat MS Bard has the greenest technology available on the market. This is in line with the other developments in Hurtigruten when they launches MS Roald Amundsen, the world's first hybrid-driven cruise ship in 2019, and rebuild their existing cruise ships to run on large battery packs, natural- and biogas - made from organic waste. Svalbard is known for its Arctic silence, and with the silent electric catamaran you will experience this in the best possible way. The boat is emission-free when it goes on electricity, and we are very proud to be able to introduce this type of transport in the Arctic waters.
  
• Unique nature experiences
  
• The conditions on Svalbard change a lot throughout the year, and a trip under the midnight sun in May will be different from when the polar night approaches in October. Whatever the season, you can expect unique experiences in beautiful Svalbard nature. Early in the season, parts of the Billefjord may still be covered in ice. By the use of only the electric motor, we will then silently follow the ice edge where the opportunity to see wildlife is great! Here we will also enjoy the beautiful glacier front of Nordenskiöldbreen. In addition, we will see the ghost town Pyramiden from a distance, and drive by the bay Skansbukta.
  
• The catamaran's hybrid-electric engine and specially designed propellers minimise the noise and vibration. This not only takes you closer to nature; More importantly, the surrounding wildlife is less disturbed by our presence.
  
• Practical information: MS Bard is one of the first sightseeing boats in the world to run full-day power tours, specially designed for its purpose. The trip to Nordenskiöldbreen is 100% electric. When the boat goes over 10 knots on the transport stages to Barentsburg and Pyramiden, a hybrid solution with brand new, fuel-saving technology enters. When the boat approaches glaciers, wildlife or settlements, it will run silently on 100% energy.
  
• A more sustainable boat tour: MS Bard is a new and ground-breaking catamaran for day cruises, specially built to leave the smallest footprint possible in the vulnerable Arctic nature. When we approach glaciers, wildlife or settlements, it will run silently on electric propulsion. At higher speeds we use a hybrid solution, where we run both an electric motor and diesel engine at the same time. In that way, we get the speed up whilst reducing the diesel consumption.
  The boat has a contemporary, Norwegian design that contributes to the serene experience on board. You are free to move on several outdoor decks or enjoy the views from inside, through massive panoramic windows. Comfortable lounges are available outside as well as indoors. On board you will find a café and bar with a diverse selection of snacks and drinks.
  
• Included: Transfer to/from the harbour in Longyearbyen, Boat trip with guides on board, Light dish, vegetarian lentil soup, All necessary safety equipment, Please note: At the moment, this trip focuses mainly on nature experiences on the way to and around Pyramiden. The boat does not dock. We reserve the right to change this with short notice.
  
• 19:00-20:00 2 course Dinner
  


Day 4



• 8:00-9:00 Breakfast
  
• 09:00-12:00 Following a trapper’s footprints
  
• Imagine life as a trapper on Svalbard: the solitude, the hardships – and the beauty of this isolated part of the Arctic! Join us on a wandering into the Arctic tundra!
  
• On this walking tour you will gain an insight into a trapper’s day to day life. The hunt for polar foxes and polar bears began in the late autumn, and the traps had to be inspected throughout the Polar Night. We will head out on a walk through the tundra to gain an appreciation of the trapping life, and to feel what it must have been like to be out working at this time of year. The tour starts with bus transport to Adventdalen, and from here we will make our way into the wilderness.
  
• The guide will tell us about the life of the hunters and trappers of Svalbard and we will learn about the different techniques these hardy souls employed. Before returning to the bus and civilization the group will enjoy a warm drink. Should the tour take place in the dark, each participant will be equipped with a headlight.
  
• Duration: Approx. 3 hours
  
• Degree of difficulty: 3 – Average physical fitness. This is an easy walk of 1-2 km.
  
• Season: October 1st – January 15th
  
• Minimum age: 8 years
  
• Minimum number: 2 participants
  
• This tour includes transport to/from hotels/guesthouse, guide with all necessary security equipment, hot drinks and headlamps
  
  
• 12:30-14:00 Lunch
  
  
• 14:00-1700 A visit to coal mine number 3
  
• Are you ready to enter an old mine full of memories from coal-dusted miners? 20 years ago the coal miners went into the mountain looking for the black gold. How was it like to work in the mines at Svalbard? You can now get the answer by joining us for working day as a miner on Svalbard. We provide with a guide that will take you safely through a walk deep in the mountain. You will be picked up at the hotel. Coal mine number 3 is located near the airport and on our way we pass by the Global Seed Vault. We arrive the coal mine with a wonderful view over the Adventfjord.
  
• We put on our helmets and headlamps before we venture into the mine and our "work day" is starting. You can feel the humid and cold air in the hallway. Our guide talk about the coal mine production while you can hear sounds from the deep in the mountain. You will be told stories about the miner’s life in Svalbard, how they lived and about the community back in the days
  
• We end our trip with a highlight: Walking into the mountain. It's pitch-black dark here. All light is shut out. Now you know why you have a fully-charged headlamp. The darkness surrounds you, but in the distance there's light - at the end of the tunnel.
  
• INCLUDED: Guided tour at coal mine number 3, Suit, helmet and headlamp, Transport to and from accommodation, Guide with emergency and safety equipment
  
• Recommended equipment: For this tour we recommend to wear warm clothes and clothes that can get dirty due to coal dust. The mine is not heated and the overall provided is a regular workers overall. Warm boots, woollen clothes, hat, and gloves are recommended.
  
• Duration: Approx. 3 hours
  
  
• 19:00 – 20:00 2 course Dinner
  



Day 5



• 8:00-9:00 Breakfast
  
• 09:00-12:30 Dogs and the ocean with Green Dog Enjoy the beautiful coastal landscape with sled dogs along Vestpynten, an area just outside of Longyearbyen. This tour starts with a transfer to the coast where our dogs are eagerly waiting for us. Here we'll harness the 12 - 14 dogs to our wagon. When all the dogs are ready, the tour starts along the coast of the Arctic sea and towards Bjørndalen. Keep your eyes open - there is a lot of wildlife in this area! On this tour you may see the Svalbard reindeer, the Arctic fox, the local ptarmigan and if you are lucky - seals and possibly walrus or whales in the water! During the nesting periods, birds are in abundance. It's common to see seagulls, auks, Arctic terns and the cute puffin! This tour takes us away from the town on a gravel road. After exploring the coastline in the wagon, we'll drive to the dog yard and return the hard-working huskies to their kennels. While we're here, we can say hello to the husky puppies, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in our cabin.
  
• INCLUDED: Transport to and from the accommodation. Pick up is at the entrance at your accommodation.
  
• OBS: Put on warm clothes, gloves and hat for being outside.
  
• The trips takes about 3 – 3,5 hours
  
• NB !Min 8 pax to have a private tour and 8 pax pr. guide.
  
• 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
  
• Afternoon Funken Lodge with Classroom and refreshments followed by 3 course farewell dinner.
  


Day 6



• 8:00-9:00 Breakfast
  
• Morning Free – last minute souvenir shopping
  
• 11:30-12:00 Lunch
  
• 12:00-12:30
  
• Airport transfer
  
• Return flights to UK via Tromso/Oslo
  
  Price from £2495 per student based on 30+3
  
• If you would like a longer or tailored trip - just ask! We can offer Expeditions for older students and much more.
  

Arctic Edcation are the Education branch of Arctic Direct who have been offering Arctic and Scandinativan trips for 20 years. Priding oursleves on having experienced and handpicked out trips, tours and suppliers you can know your in good hands. As members of EPA for STF accredditation and with a market leading £10m of liability cover the trips we offer are of the highest standards for safety as well as quality.