Discover the rugged beauty of Svalbard's glaciers, wildlife, and history on a full-day boat trip from Longyearbyen. Perfect for those eager to see Arctic landscapes up close in a single adventure.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
8 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness recommended to comfortably navigate the vessel and outdoor stops
Wildlife
History
The area’s mining history dates back over a century, leaving ghostly remnants and abandoned structures that tell stories of Arctic resilience.
Conservation
Efforts are ongoing to preserve the fragile Arctic environment, with guidelines in place to minimize impact during tourism activities.
Grumant Arctic Travel Company
Discover the rugged beauty of Svalbard's glaciers, wildlife, and history on a full-day boat trip from Longyearbyen. Perfect for those eager to see Arctic landscapes up close in a single adventure.
Grumant Arctic Travel Company operates guided Arctic tours and seasonal hotel stays focused on Svalbard’s western coast, including Pyramiden, Barentsburg and the Nordenskiöld Glacier. The company offers a variety of boat-based excursions — open boats, covered boats (including excursions by MS Princess Lea) and RIBs — alongside overnight hotel options in Pyramiden and Barentsburg. Trip formats include full-day journeys, two-day expeditions, guided town tours, glacier viewing and optional activities such as kayaking or hiking. Several itineraries include lunch and on-land visits like husky farms and local guided town tours.
Accommodations comprise Hotel Pyramiden (seasonal, newly refurbished rooms) and Hotel Barentsburg, which features sea views, a bar, restaurant and sauna. Hotel Barentsburg also provides equipment storage for multi-season gear and a conference room that can be used for recreational purposes. Signature itineraries highlight Soviet-era history in Pyramiden, coal-mining heritage in Barentsburg, the Nordenskiöld and Esmark glaciers, and coastal bird cliffs. Wildlife sightings noted in trip summaries include reindeer and polar foxes.
Published trip offerings include specific products such as “2-Day Barentsburg Expedition by open boat,” “2-Day Back to USSR in Pyramiden by open boat,” full-day Pyramiden & Nordenskiöld Glacier trips by both covered and open boat, and combined glacier and town visits like Barentsburg & Esmark Glacier by covered boat. The company lists clear activity choices (kayaking or hiking) on select expeditions and provides transport formats and hotel stays as part of its seasonal program. Information presented here is based on the company’s provided trip summaries and accommodation descriptions.
Tours Offered
9 trips
From short to full-day adventures
Boat Types
Open & covered
Open boats, covered boats and RIBs
Seasonal Hotels
Hotel Pyramiden & Barentsburg
Soviet-era and local hotel stays
Highlights
Pyramiden • Barentsburg • Nordenskiöld
Ghost towns, glaciers and wildlife
Select a covered-boat or open-boat trip, or book a seasonal hotel stay in Pyramiden or Barentsburg. Check availability and booking options for specific departure dates.
Dress in layers
Arctic weather can change quickly; layering helps you stay warm and comfortable.
Bring binoculars
Enhance wildlife viewing with a good pair of binoculars, especially for bird cliffs and distant glaciers.
Use sunscreen and sunglasses
The snow and ice reflect the sun's rays, increasing exposure; eye protection is key.
Carry a camera with zoom
Capture distant wildlife and sweeping glacier vistas with a telephoto lens or zoom feature.
Thermal layers
Keep warm during outdoor parts of the trip, especially on deck.
winter
Windproof jacket
Protect against wind chill and icy gusts.
winter
Binoculars
Great for wildlife and bird cliff viewing.
Camera with zoom
Capture the stunning glaciers and wildlife encounters.