With more than 3000 polar bears and less than 3000 inhabitants, Svalbard is the epitome of Arctic wilderness. Situated to the north of the Norwegian mainland between the Greenland Sea and the Barents Sea, the archipelago of Svalbard provides superb scenery and geological diversity that every explorer dreams of. The untouched nature combined with the archipelago’s fascinating history and cultural heritage makes this place the ultimate nature-lover destination. Day has no beginning or end under the Midnight Sun that brings out magical colors of the snow-covered plains. Explore the most magnificent locations, including Longyearbyen, Isfjord, Forlandslund, Kongsfjord, Krossfjord, and large, beautiful fjords along the North Coast. The possibilities are endless as you sail the cobalt blue seas on a 73ft long sailboat!
Explore the diverse areas rich in history and unique wildlife
Remote places, jaw-dropping nature and beautiful fjords along the way
Spend your days animal watching and hiking the shores of Svalbard
After you arrive at the airport, you’ll be transferred to the sailboat where your adventure begins! Get settled, get to know the crew, and make yourself comfortable. Once you check your luggage, review the boat and listen to the safety briefing, you’ll set sail towards the remote frontiers of the Arctic.
Sail through the archipelago for as many days as you want in the company of experienced guides with extensive knowledge of the area. After a hearty breakfast, grab your backpack and head to the spectacular locations along the coast! Your guide will maximize time spent onshore and, depending on the weather conditions, you might explore more than one landing spot on given days. After 4-8 hours of exploring the great outdoors, return to the boat for nourishing apres snacks and rest before joining your group for dinner and conversation. Each day is a new adventure!
The small Arctic town of Longyearbyen is the gateway to the High Arctic wilderness of Svalbard. Situated on the shores of Adventfjord and surrounded by snowy mountaintops and glaciers, it is only a three-hour flight from Oslo or a 90-minute flight from Tromsø.
Located on the Spitsbergen coast, the sound of Forlandsund is lined with mountains and glaciers approachable under summer weather conditions. As you sail, pick between a number of anchorages, including the old whaling station Farmhamna (great for anyone interested in geology), Eidembukta known for the rich birdlife, Fersvassbukta (walruses!) and Engelsbukta and its Comfortlessbreen glacier.
These fjords dominated by peaks and glaciers overlooking the deep blue sea have numerous locations waiting to be explored. Anchor in Ny Alesund, a polar scientific research center and the site of the epic Amundsen’s zeppelin 1926 North Pole flight. Once you’ve seen everything, grab a beer in the world’s northernmost pub. Go for a nice walk and explore the flora of Peirsonhamna or enjoy the spectacular views of glaciers in Blomstrandhamna and Møllerfjord. With surprisingly numerous wildlife and varied coastal scenery, every explorer will find something for themselves.
As one of the seven national parks in Svalbard, Nordvest-Spitsbergen is home to Svalbard’s main historical monuments, whaling stations and burial grounds established as early as the 1600s. The area is rich in fauna, with vast bird colonies, reindeer, walruses, Arctic foxes and polar bears. If you’re up for more adventure, nearby islands such as Danes Island and Moffen are just around the corner. With your sailboat Varuna, you can pick one of the anchorages and discover the magic of Svalbard on foot.
The North Coast is dominated by beautiful fjords that cut 35 nautical miles inland. Liefdefjord and Woodfjord are great spots to anchor and observe Svalbard fauna, as well as to visit hot springs and extinct volcano. Depending on weather and icepack, your guides will select the best anchorages. Some of the most popular options include Murchisonfjord (great for polar bear and walrus sighting) or the Sjuøyane group of islands.
After twelve days of unforgettable travel through the cobalt blue seas and snow-covered Svalbard, you’ll reach the port in the morning and disembark before heading back home.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Svalbard, please refer to Visit Svalbard.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to join the sail and explore tour in Svalbard, you need to be reasonably fit. This is a beginner-friendly adventure, but keep in mind that you’ll spend some time hiking and walking onshore. Due to Svalbard’s limited health system capacities, make sure that you’re in good health and able-bodied to travel in Svalbard. It can be a costly and timely affair to transport you to hospital if you become seriously ill.
Depending on the group wishes, we can plan shorter or longer hikes (up to 3-4 hours). If you wish to stay on board, you can enjoy the spectacular settings and local fauna from there.
Here’s what you’ll need to bring:
Clothing list
Personal Equipment
Hardcase luggage is not admitted on board. If you have any questions regarding the equipment list, feel free to contact us prior to booking.
Group size:
Min. age requirements:
If you plan to arrive with anyone under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A 35% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies, and deposits are no longer refundable. The remaining 65% of the amount is paid the latest 3 months (90 days) prior the departure. Fort short notice bookings 100% of the travel price is payable upon submission of the signed booking form.
Any delay in paying a down payment and/or the balance of the price will be considered a cancellation by you after a short grace period and cancellation fees will be applied.
If you are required to cancel your trip before it starts (departure date), you must inform Boreal Adventure Sailing AG as soon as possible in writing (by e-mail). The date of your written notice will be used as the cancellation date to charge the cancellation fee.
In case you need to cancel the trip, the following cancellation costs would be incurred:
For any cancellation by the client, costs incurred by the traveler such as transportation to the departure point of the trip and return home, fees visa documents, travel documents and vaccination fees will not be subject to any reimbursement.
If cancellation occurs as a result of unpredictable or unavoidable events by the customer or by a third party (e.g. flight cancellations, loss or theft of luggage or personal belongings) other than Boreal Adventure Sailing AG, Boreal Adventure Sailing AG can not be held responsible nor can it be required to reimburse related costs, including cancellation fees.
You can request consent for a third party to take your place, up to 7 days before departure. The replacement customer must fulfil all the conditions associated with the contract, including medical health and fitness. The customer and the person replacing them shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of the amounts still owed for the travel. Boreal Adventure Sailing may refuse at its sole discretion the replacement customer and cancellation fees would remain applicable.
The prices are definitive. Price changes after the date of the booking form may arise from subsequent material increases in fuel costs, changes in or new fees (e.g. embarkation & disembarkation fees) or introduction / increase of taxes and government fees.
Should events beyond guide’s control occur (such as wars, political unrest, strikes, riots, airspace congestion, bad weather, thefts of luggage or other personal belongings of travelers), Boreal Adventure Sailing reserves the right to cancel the travel, change the dates, schedules or itineraries to ensure the safety of travelers, without possible recourse against Boreal Adventure Sailing AG.
To get to Svalbard, most people fly into Longyearbyen, the largest city on the Norwegian archipelago where your adventure begins. There are daily flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo or Tromsø, but we encourage you to book early. Norwegian Air flies from Oslo, while SAS arrives from Stockholm.
Your guide will transfer you from the airport to the sailboat. During the evening you will have a briefing with your guides and find out the rest of the details.
Sail and explore the Svalbard archipelago on a spacious and comfortable 22m / 73 ft Garcia sailboat that will welcome you back each day after hours and hours of exploration on foot. Warm and welcoming cabins, each with en-suite heads and showers, will make you feel cozy as you are securely at anchor in a protected and stunning bay.
This experience is as luxurious as it gets! Let the chef prepare gourmet dishes, as well as some typical local dishes assorted with a selection of quality wines. Each meal will be packed with proper nutritional ingredients and hydration to carry with you as you head for your climb, and you will be treated with recovery snacks upon return!
Let the crew take care of your equipment as you enjoy the views surrounding the anchorage. Relax and enjoy dinner with your group—evenings onboard become a special time for camaraderie and sharing experiences, as well as for planning your next adventure over a warm meal.
