Hiking in Svalbard



Season
May through September is the peak hiking season
Nearest city
Oslo is three hours away by plane
Hike along glaciers and through ice caves in the Arctic Circle
You can hike to the top of Trollsteinen and enjoy the panoramic Arctic views of the archipelago — while viewing 60 million year old fossils along the way — or traverse glaciers and discover ancient ice caves just outside the largest town, Longyearbyen. Even though Svalbard is on the edge of the Arctic Circle, Longyearbyen has all of the creature comforts you need when you return from your expedition: there are numerous bars, restaurants, and hotels that are happy to help you relax after a day exploring.
Most popular hikes and packages in Svalbard
Get ready for midnight sun and polar night
Depending on the season you decide to visit this Norwegian arctic archipelago, be prepared to hike and explore in the midnight sun or under the Northern Lights during polar night. Svalbard is located on the edge of the Arctic Circle — 590 miles from Norway — and is home to the world’s northernmost permanent settlement, Ny-Ålesund. While the islands were originally used as a hub for whaling, and, later, as a coal mining outpost for Norway and Russia, they now offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to discover icy fjords, snow-capped peaks, and see the wildlife (at a distance, of course) that call the frozen archipelago “home.”