10 frequently asked questions

Our travellers are 17 year olds and 79 year olds; people who have never tried outdoor activities before and experienced adventurers looking for their next challenge. Our trips are designed for people who are enthusiastic about discovering the beautiful arctic nature. We organise trips for travellers who seek authentic adventure and want to share both peaceful and thrilling moments in the arctic wilderness.

Each of our trips has a difficulty rating from 1 - 5. If you have never sat in kayak before or if you are looking for your next arctic expedition, we have got something for you.

You will be in a stable double sea kayaks and your guide will teach you basic kayaking techniques so even if you are a complete beginner, you will be gliding through the water and paddling around icebergs in no time!

Our quality equipment is suitable for the most extreme arctic conditions and our more challenging kayaking trips are designed for competant paddlers with experience.

It should be noted that these adventures are not for people who cannot swim at least 100m or are scared of water. Some training is recommended in the run up to our more extreme adventures, if you would like more details then please contact us.

In order to get the most out of your Svalbard adventure you should be comfortable outdoors and on your feet for several hours a day. You can find more information about the average hours of activity included each day in our different trip programmes.

Ringed seals, bearded seals, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, ptarmigan, thick-billed guillemot, black guillemot, puffins,  dovekies (little Auks), fulmarine petrels, Arctic jaeger, large skua, Arctic tern, broad-billed phalarope, purple sandpipers, eider, barnacle geese, brant geese, black-legged kittiwake, glaucous gulls, seagull and beluga whales.

You may also see polar bears, walrus, minke whales and ivory gulls, particularly if you are in the north of Spitsbergen.

In the spring you can hope to see Svalbard reindeer, ptarmigan, ringed seals, petrel fulmar and perhaps even polar bears...

We are proud of the balanced and varied food we manage to serve.Meals are freshly prepared by your guide and we have a wide range of products available. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements please let us know and we will work with you to cater for your needs.

For breakfast you can except plenty of coffee and tea along with a hearty continental style selection of foods. Your guide will prepare filling picnic lunches and you will have snacks to fuel you throughout the day as well as thermos flasks for tea, coffee and soup. Dinner is always three courses, a hot soup starter, a hot main dish and a dessert.

The weather is generally cool and dry with temperatures ranging from 1 - 14°C (34 - 57°F) and average temperatures of 6 - 8°C (43 - 46°F).

Sea temperatures are around 2°C (35°F) on the West coast and -2°C (28°F) on the East. It is always a little colder nearer the glaciers.

The midnight sun can be observed from April 19th to August 23rd.

Average temperatures range from -6 to -13°C (21 to 9°F) in April and -1 to -4°C (30 to 25°F) in May. Temperatures can fluctuate to -30°C to warmer than +1°C (-22 to +33°F). Temperature differences are more pronounced in the Spring and winds can be more violent as katabatic winds can be present.

Most of our summer trips venture into the heart of the Arctic wilderness where there are no accommodation options other than camping. We provide quality 3 man tents per 2 travellers and fully equipped spacious mess tents for mealtimes and communal moments. Welcome to wild camping in the Arctic tundra, toilets and washing facilities are very back-to-basics but we choose stunning places to camp. You can expect to be immersed in the nature at edge of fjords with wonderful views perhaps of glaciers tumbling into the sea.

We provide tents per 2 travellers which are suitable for extreme Arctic conditions. We use appropriate mess tents so that we can enjoy meals and communal moments in comfort, protected from the elements.

We use guesthouse accommodation with small comfortable hotel style rooms, shared kitchen and bathroom facilitities. Rooms generally feature 3-4 beds but double rooms can be available upon request. The guesthouse has a friendly atmosphere and a perfect level of comfort for the transition between civilization and the polar wilderness. Buffet style breakfasts featuring Norwegian delicacies are served each morning and tea and coffee are always available.

Not at all! With all the technical equipment we provide and modern day materials designed for Arctic conditions you can enjoy a comfortable stay even if camping. The climate is generally dry and temperatures are mostly constant. This means that the cold weather in Spitsbergen is much more tolerable than polar destinations because the dryness has a moderating effect on temperatures. We will provide you with a kit list with recommendations for suitable clothing and appropriate materials so that you can be fully prepared for your adventure.

Spitsbergen is home to more polar bears than people. All of our adventures venture into the wilderness which is their home but we do not seek to find these marvellous animals. Our trips focus on immersion in the nature and enjoyment of this stunning location.

There are slightly increased chances of seeing polar bears on our a trips in the North of Spitsbergen like our King's Bay adventure. If you choose an adventure which includes boat travel this will also increase your chances of seeing polar bears. Our spring expedition skiing and snowshoeing on the east coast also come with increased chances of polar bear encounters.

We carry flare guns and weapons to defend us against polar bears should a dangerous situation arise. You can except to see signs of polar bears such as tracks but sightings of the bears are not at all guaranteed.

We are very experienced, if you follow our example and respect our requests you have no reason not to be safe immersed in the nature of Spitsbergen.

When you arrive, your guide will explain safety rules which must be followed here in the land of polar bears. You will be asked not to stray out of sight of the group and to organize camp in a particular way.

For each group we carry a VHF radio, a sarsat beacon and a large caliber weapon.

We also provide the technical equipment neccessary to keep you warm and safe suring activities like dry suits and fleece overalls. In the spring time we are always euipped with extra clothing in case of extreme conditions and a sled dog accompanies us on certain days to stand guard.