Fuglefjella – Wildlife Hike at the Coast
with Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions
About the tour
The magical Svalbard experience is out on a walk in untouched nature. Seabirds nest along the fjords, in the valleys and in the mountains. You can see the little auk, geese, guillemots, black guillemots, gulls, fulmars and maybe even the Svalbard Ptarmigan. At the end of August and September, we see that there are fewer birds as they have started the long journey to warmer climates.
We pick up our guests and drive out towards Bjørndalen, west of Longyearbyen. This is an area that is rich in both flora and fauna, and if we are really lucky we will meet both polar foxes and Svalbard reindeer.
A little way into Bjørndalen the car journey stops and we set foot towards Fuglefjella and Pilarberget. First we have to cross a river after a few kilometers of walking before we climb steeply up Fuglefjella.
Once up there is a large plateau with a great view over large parts of Isfjorden. On the other side, Fuglefjella plunges straight into the fjord. We are now standing on top of one of the largest bird mountains in the area.
Physical Requirements
Suitable for those with good physical fitness. Medium to demanding mountain hike in snow and uneven terrain, with steep sections and 400–750 meters total elevation gain.
Practical information
Included in the trip
Dress in layers – it’s the best way to stay warm. Remember: it is better to be too warm than to be too cold. And also – there is no bad weather, just bad clothing!
- Pick up from your hotel at 9:30 am | Return by 17:30 pm
- Guide with safety equipment
- Warm lunch, coffee and tea
- Necessary gear (hiking poles) if needed
Bring
- Sturdy & waterproof hiking boots (over the ankle) *
- Wool base layers, windproof jacket and outdoor pants
- Extra layer of clothing (warm sweater / puffy jacket)
- Hat, buff and windproof mittens /gloves
- Backpack (20 – 35 liters)
- Water Bottle
- * Muck Boots can be rented for 100 NOK
Important Information
- You must be able to communicate in English to join our excursions.
- To ensure your safety we may refuse participation if you are not properly dressed for hiking in the conditions
- Difficulty: 4 / 5
- Participants: 2–8
- Distance round-trip: 10-14 km
- Elevation gain: 400 m
- Duration: 8 hours
- Minimum age: 16
Cancellation Policy
22 days prior to arrival give a full refund
8-21 days prior to arrival gives a 50% refund
0-7 days prior to departure gives no refund
Svalbard is beautiful, but also unpredictable. For your safety, our guides may need to move activities to another day or replace them with a different trip if conditions do not allow the original plan.
In rare cases, if the weather makes it impossible to run an activity at all, it may be cancelled. Should this happen, you will of course receive a full refund for the affected trip.
Your safety and comfort always come first, and we’ll do our best to make sure you still have a memorable experience.