The Ultimate Svalbard Bucketlist (Summer)

Summer at Svalbard is magical. The vast landscape starts to flourish with life and the midnight sun allows you to make the most out of your adventures. The birds are returning to the archipelago and the flowers colour the beautiful arctic tundra. The frozen fjords melt and it’s now possible to explore Svalbard by boat, go on hikes or kayak on one of the many fjords. Svalbard offers SO many activities and tours, but how do you choose?

Here is my ultimate Svalbard bucketlist! 

Check out my guide on “How to spend a weekend at Svalbard in the Summer“

For 350 years the Walrus had been hunted to near extinction. With only a few hundred animals left they have finally declared a protected species around 50 years ago. Amazingly, today we see the number of animals increasing and they are again returning to their old migration spots.

The arctic wildlife is so interesting, and there are probably animals here that you have never seen before in real life. Everyday activity providers offer trips to explore the local wildlife, such as the walrus. These massive 1000kg animals with tusks measuring up to a meter are such a sight! They often stay in herds in the same location every summer making it easy for the guides to know where to go to spot these arctic giants.

I would recommend joining an excursion to travel in a smaller boat, such as a closed RIB boat. These move more quietly than the larger boats and provides you with a better opportunity to spot other wildlife, such as whale, on the trip.

The smaller boat excursions are my favourite! Not only are you travelling in smaller groups, you also feel much closer to the nature and wildlife around you. An open RIB boat trip might be a little cold but there’s something special about feeling the gentle sea splash on your face and the arctic wind in your hair. Taking a RIB boat trip to Pyramiden is an amazing way to experience life around the fjords on Svalbard.

Pyramiden is an abandoned Russian mining town located close to the glacier, Nordenskiöldbreen. It used to be one of the largest settlements on the archipelago but is today only inhabited by 7 people working with the restoration of the buildings and running the hotel. (Yes, you can actually spend the night in the ghost town!).

Most of the tours going to Pyramiden will also visit the glacier. Glaciers are usually where you’ll find most of the wildlife on Svalbard. The minerals from the Glacier attract fish which in turn attracts seals and whales and if you’re lucky maybe even a polar bear! Keep in mind that all wildlife on Svalbard is not to be disturbed by people and you should only admire them from a safe distance.

The landscape around Longyearbyen is unique, and the best way to experience it is by hiking the nearby mountains. There are a number of hikes with different levels of difficulty to take around Longyearbyen. The Foxfonna hike is rated at 3, meaning you should be in OK physical form to venture out on the following hike. Also, keep in mind that any time you want to go beyond the settlement, for your own safety, you should be in the company of an armed and experienced guide

The Foxfonna hike takes you along the Foxfonna glacier towards Foxdalen and provides you with the ultimate opportunity to experience the arctic nature up close and of course an incredible view!

For an animal lover, this was high on my bucket list from the moment I started planning our trip to Svalbard. Even though there is no snow during the summer months, you can still go dog sledging (on wheels!).

When you arrive at the dog farm you get to spend some time getting to know your dog team and if you’re comfortable, you can also help get them ready. The dogs are eager to work and you’ll soon experience the massive strength of these animals. The dog sledging trip is also a great opportunity to see the surrounding areas of Longyearbyen as you travel along the outskirts of the settlement. Along the way, you may spot reindeer and a number of birds.

Ny-Ålesund is one of the northernmost settlements in the world and has the northernmost post office! The old mining town is today inhabited mainly by scientists and was the starting point for most of the arctic expeditions in the early 1900s, such as the expedition of the famous Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen in 1926.

The trip up to Ny-Ålesund takes you through Poolepynten, a good location for spotting Walrus. The expedition allows for time to stop and admire and photograph these massive arctic giants. The tour also passes through Kongsfjord where you might spot “The three crowns”, and Three Nunataks rising from the King’s Glacier if the weather is clear. These represent Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Kongsfjord is surrounded by glaciers and you’re often met by beautiful floating icebergs.