- 16 June - 20 Oct
- 7 hours
- 2790-, NOK
Join us on the beautiful Isfjord and encounter raw nature, combined with a piece of Svalbard history. We sail towards Pyramiden and Nordenskiöldbreen, and on the way we will visit unique nesting areas for seabirds.
We are following Visit Svalbard and Svalbard travel council’s reccomendation and will not embark in Pyramiden. Instead we wil give you a great tour in Billefjorden, with The Nordenskiöld Glacier as a high light.
Boat trip and the summer’s bustling wildlife
We sail from Longyearbyen in our comfortable Stormforce boat and the goal for the day is the Nordenskiöld glacier in Billefjorden. The summer in Svalbard offers a bustling wildlife, both on land and at sea. The bird life is rich at this time of the year, and often the birds are gathered on steep cliffs around Diabasodden which is our first stop on the trip. Of the most common species, we find king eider, arctic guillemots, puffins, various gulls, and the little auk, to name a few. Also keep your eyes up for seals, whales, and walruses.
Billefjorden’s many highlights
At the entrance to Billefjorden we visit Skansebukta. The bay is sheltered from the wind and bad weather, and in 1918 it was occupied by Dalen Portland Cementfabrik to extract gypsum. The gypsum extraction took place in two periods but became a short-lived project. Today, Skansebukta is a protected cultural monument and attracts residents and visitors to its beautiful area.
In the heart of the Billefjorden we find the now abandoned Russian mining town, Pyramiden, just below the iconic Pyramid Mountain. We will not disembark on this trip, but Pyramiden is clearly visible from the boat. We are sailing onwards to the Isfjord’s most impressive glacier – Nordenskiöldbreen.
The glacier front is high and majestic and is crowned by the two nunataks, the Terrier and Perrier mountains. Quite sudden, the glacier can calf and create new icebergs on which seals and walruses can rest. If you listen carefully, you will be able to hear the ice crackle, as if tiny explosions are coming from it. It is the air bubbles in the ice that burst and make the sound. If you are extra lucky, you can see several of Svalbard’s animal species in the area.
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff | |
|---|---|---|
| Per person | NOK2,790.00 | |
| Also available as: | ||
| Children under 15 years | NOK1,495.00 | |
Facts
Difficulty: 2 of 5 – Suitable for most
0900-1500
Minimum participants: 4 persons
Age limit: 8 years
Lunch with a spectacular view
You will quickly understand why the Nordenskiöld glacier is said to be the most beautiful glacier in Isfjorden. We have lunch in front of the glacier and enjoy the spectacular view. The lunch consists of sandwich from Restaurant Polfareren, as well as a good selection of hot drinks and biscuits.
On this trip, each group has a maximum of 12 people and its own guide. The boat is smaller and faster than the larger boats and has both heat and WC on board.
NB! Early in the season, there may be too much ice in Billefjorden for us to get all the way to Nordenskiöldbreen. There is still a lot of nature in the area that can be explored and maybe we are lucky to experience the wildlife that often bustles at this time of year.
Practical Information
- Transport to and from the accommodation
- Floating suit, life vest, shoes and googles
- Guide with safety equipment
- Search and rescue insurance
- Lunch, hot drinks and biscuits
- Due to infection control guidelines guest have to bring their own mittens, beanie and balaclava
- We do not recommend this tour if you are pregnant or have back problems
- Age limit: 10 years, or 14 years if the passenger is not accompanied by an adult.Height restriction: inseam of least 74 cm.
- We recommend warm clothing to wear under the floating suit such as wool underwear, wool socks, thick sweater and windproof outer clothing
- A small backpack for extra clothing and other items
- Please state any food allergies or other preferences
- For safety reasons, the route may change due to weather, wind and ice conditions
Svalbard has a common grading system so you will find the trip that suits you. Highlighted number is graded for this trip:
1 – Suitable for all
2 – Suitable for most
3 – Average physical fitness
4 – Above average physical fitness
5 – Demands exceptional physical fitness
