Kayak and Hike in Svalbard

Staying well-fed on your trip is absolutely vital to keep up energy levels, so that you can enjoy your activities. This adventure in Svalbard is full board whilst you are camping. Your guesthouse in Longyearbyen is booked on a Bed and Breakfast basis. We are proud of the fresh and frankly delicious food we provide despite being in such a remote location. Because everything we need for this adventure must be brought over on our initial boat journey, we are limited on what we can carry and must choose our ingredients carefully. Fresh produce is used nearer the start of the trip with the more basic foodstuffs such as pasta and rice used towards the end. The guesthouse in Longyearbyen is used to having visitors from all over the world and caters well for vegetarians and intolerances. Please inform us of any dietary requirements when you book so that we can plan appropriate meals for whilst you

are camping.

Your help in the kitchen is expected and much appreciated, particularly in the evenings with food prep and washing up. We like the whole group to work as a team to cook dinner, it creates a pleasant atmosphere as we reflect on the days

adventures together.

Each day begins with a hearty breakfast. There will be oatmeal, bread and a choice of spread such as chocolate spread, jam and honey and, of course plenty of tea and coffee.

Lunches typically include freeze-dried meals such as ‘Real Turmat’ which provide a quick, warm and nutritious meal as they just need boiling water and a few minutes before they are ready to eat! These are also perfect for an expedition trip like this where space is at a premium. If you would like to bring along some snacks for in-between meals there is space to do so, however these must stay in the group food bag and not in your personal belongings.

In the evenings, you can expect dishes of quinoa, lentils, salmon fillets, tofu and reindeer. Some evening meals will be vegetarian and we will carry as much fresh veg as possible. There will also be deserts of fruit yogurt, cake or chocolate. If it has been a challenging day and we are later back for dinner, we may also have some of the freeze-dried meals in the evening.

You will have access to safe drinking water direct from the glacier at your basecamp. All water collected will be boiled and then cooled so you can use this to fill your reusable bottles.

Alcohol and cigarettes are heavily taxed and expensive in Scandinavia. If you plan on bringing either of these into Svalbard, they must be left in the storage in Longyearbyen as they are not permitted on the expedition.

Your full day-by-day itinerary shows what is included in terms of hotel accommodation and meal basis.

LONGYEARBYEN: Our pre and post trip accommodation is based in Longyearbyen and will be in a cosy local guesthouse where you will stay in twin rooms with shared bathrooms. If you have a dietary requirement then please let us know when you book so that we can let the hotel know. The hotel is located within 30 minutes' walk to the main town and restaurants.

CAMPING: We provide comfortable teepee-style tents for 2 people, fully equipped with camp beds and foam sleeping mats. We also provide sleeping bags suitable for the Arctic conditions. For our expeditions we use light equipment which is appropriate for Svalbard’s winter conditions. We will also provide a spacious mess tent for meal-times, fully equipped with a paraffin heater and kitchen equipment. Please be aware that our adventures in Svalbard involve full participation. You are joining an arctic expedition and will need to do your share of the work, this will include pitching tents, fetching water and preparing meals. There are no porters or chefs up here in the frozen north, this is adventure in its purest form.

At all times while camping in Svalbard, there is the possibility of polar bears roaming near the camp. "Bear watch" is shared amongst everyone in the group in 2 hour shifts. Your guide will provide instruction on what to do if you see a bear and how to use any equipment provided.

TOILETS: In Longyearbyen your accommodation will have flushing toilets. Whilst camping, a designated toilet tent will be setup within the camp. We provide toilet paper and a lighter to burn it after use.

All of our qualified guides are highly experienced locals who have have been working in this environment for many years.

Once you are on your trip, you should speak to your lead guide about any problem, whether it relates to food, equipment or health. We would much prefer you to sort out any problems with them on the spot, rather than allow them to spoil your trip. Your guide is in contact with the office if further assistance is required.

If the lead guide is the source of your concern, you will have the opportunity to speak to one of the office representatives when you return to the guesthouse.

We insist on using a high standard of vehicle and driver for all of our transfers. In Europe, it is a legal requirement to have seatbelts fitted in the back of vehicles. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the vehicle or the standard of driving, please speak to the driver or our local office immediately.

This trip involves transfers by boat between Longyearbyen and Ymerbukta. These transfers are provided by a local company and all safety equipment is provided.

You may bring a hold bag (up to 15kg) as well as a cabin bag. For your hold luggage please bring a soft bag like a rucksack, duffel bag or gym bag. Do not bring a wheeled suitcase as you will need to carry this across rugged terrain between the boat and the camp (approx. distance of 200m). Your main luggage will remain in your tent at the main camp whilst on the trip. Please bring a small rucksack to use as a day bag. You can bring this as hand luggage on the plane. You will carry your lunch, water, spare layers and any personal medication with you

each day.

We would recommend packing your clothes and personal belongings in drybags inside your larger luggage.

To reach Longyearbyen, there are direct flights from Oslo (3 hr journey). Some flights are direct and others will land in Tromso on Norway's west coast and you will be asked to disembark to go through the Svalbard immigration before re-embarking on the plane once more and continuing your journey. This means that you will be flying at a low altitude when passing over the jaw dropping Lofoten islands. If you wish to get a birds eye view of these out of the plane window then make sure to be seated on the left hand side of the plane for both the outgoing and return flight. Direct flights do not operate every day of the week so you may also need to spend a night in Oslo before continuing your journey the next day.

To reach Oslo from the UK, there are direct flights with British Airways from Heathrow and Norwegian Airlines have direct flights from Gatwick and Edinburgh. SAS have direct flights from Manchester.

If you are travelling from the US, SAS operate direct flights to Oslo from New York. From the west coast there are good flight options with Air France, KLM and Lufthansa.

If you are changing airlines or re-checking your luggage at an airport on route, please ensure you leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights. This will account for any delays on arrival, travel time across airports (this can take longer than you think) and time taken to re-check baggage.

Once you have landed and collected your luggage, Make your way to the exit where you will find the airport shuttle bus waiting. The shuttle buses are scheduled to match flight arrivals and leave the airport either 30-40 minutes after the flight has landed or when the luggage bet is empty. The transfer costs 125NOK and payment is made by card once you are on board. The shuttle will stop right outside your guesthouse accommodation. Check your itinerary for the address. You can find more information on:

https://svalbardbuss.no/en/airport-shuttle/

It is a requirement of joining any of our trips that you attend a briefing before the trip begins. This gives our guide the opportunity to review the plans for the trip with you, make sure you have all the right gear and answer any questions you may have. This will take place in the morning of day 2. Your guide will meet you at the guesthouse.

The currency in Svalbard is the Norwegian Krone (NOK).

Please be aware that Svalbard is nearly cash free due to the absence of banks. Payments are made with credit or debit cards so it is important you take a card with you for any incidental purchases. Please inform your card provider that you intend to travel to Svalbard (Norway) before departure, this will ensure that your card continues to work properly while overseas. A lunch in Longyearbyen will cost you roughly £20 (265 NOK) and dinner will be £30 (350 NOK). Therefore, our recommended guidance for spending budget in the Svalbard would be roughly £100-150 (1300-2000 NOK) on top of any tips, to give you ample souvenir spending money.

Tipping customs vary all over the world and can be very confusing when travelling to a new country. Tipping in Svalbard is always appreciated, however it is not obligatory and should be left to the discretion of each individual. If you are satisfied with your guide’s services we recommend a tip between 350-450 NOK per person. As Svalbard is almost cashless, PayPal is the preferred method of tipping.

Most travellers require a passport that is valid for at least six months after the return date. It is your responsibility to confirm your specific passport requirements and please be aware that proof of onwards travel may be required. You can check your requirements on the website provided by the Norwegian government

Travelling to Norway is visa free for up to 90 days, for UK and US citizens. Please be aware that the new EES (Entry Exit System) is now active for all Non-EU nationals. This means your biometric data (photo and fingerprints) will be taken at the border on arrival. Those travelling from the UK may have have their biometric data taken at the time or boarding, rather than on arrival in the EU.

No vaccinations are required.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully and adequately insured for the duration of your trip. Please ensure that all activities, excursions and destinations in your itinerary are included in your travel insurance policy, in addition to your regular cover for cancellation and medical expenses.

We ask that you keep a copy of your policy summary (containing policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer) in your day sack at all times, so that we can access this information should we need to contact the insurer on your behalf.

Departure transfers are not included with this trip but are easy to organise yourself. The airport shuttle bus makes regular stops just outside your guesthouse that correlate to all outbound flights. The friendly staff at your guesthouse will help you plan your departure transfer. Simply let them know the flight you are taking and they will tell you the time of your transfer. The transfer costs 125NOK and payment is made by card once you are on board.

If you prefer, we can book taxis for your transfers for an additional cost. Please let us know at the time of booking.

We will provide you with all of the technical equipment you will need for this amazing adventure. Our tandem sea kayaks were chosen for their stability and comfortable seating, they are suitable for first-time kayakers. In the unlikely event of capsize, they are surprisingly easy to right; even at sea you would be back on board and paddling in no time. Your guide will give full briefings for kayaking and use of crampons and ice axes. We provide the following equipment:

GROUP EQUIPMENT

Teepee-style mess tent with paraffin heater

Emergency beacon

Satellite phone

Equipment for polar bear protection (rifle, flare gun, ammunition)

First aid kit

Aluminium thermos flasks

GPS

INDIVIDUAL EQUPMENT

Tandem kayak, drysuit, paddle, personal floatation device, kayak shoes

Teepee-style tent with 2 flatbeds and sleeping mats

Suitable sleeping bag

Drybag to use whilst kayaking

Crampons, axes, harness and helmet for glacier hike

HEADGEAR

Warm beanie-style hat - knitted or fleece

Neck gaiter or scarf - useful for keeping the sun off your neck and staying warm

Sunhat / peaked cap

Sunglasses - high UV protection

Buff

UPPER BODY

Thermal base layer x 3 (preferably merino - one to sleep in)

Fleece or jumper )warm midlayer)

Insulated jacket (down or primaloft)

Water and windproof hardshell outer jacket (Gore-tex or similar)

Liner gloves (lightweight)

Gloves - warm fleece pr wool gloves or mittens

LEGS

Breathable, fast-drying underwear

Thermal base layer x 3 (preferable merino - one to sleep in)

Trekking trousers

Wind and waterproof hardshell over-trousers (Gore-tex or similar)

FEET

Hiking boots with ankle support and stiff sole

Gaiters (recommended for glacier hike)

Warm, thick socks x 3 (preferable wool)

Trainers / light shoes to wear at camp

Water bottle, preferably wide mouthed and able to carry at least 1 litre of water

Mini toiletry kit including wet wipes

Small quick-dry towel

Camera and spare batteries

Personal medication

Suncream (high factor)

Small daysack (30-40 litres)

Drybag / plastic bag to line drybag

Swimwear (if you want to take a dip in the Arctic waters)

Plastic bags for wet / dirty clothing

Sleeping bag liner

Sleeping mask

There are no rental shops in Longyearbyen but it is possible to purchase items if you have not brought them with you. Please be aware that buying clothing or equipment in Svalbard will be expensive. Please ask us if you have any questions about the clothing and equipment required for this trip.