How long is the trip and how much riding is involved?

The tour is approximately 7 hours total with about 50 km of snowmobiling each way (roughly 2.5 hours of riding each leg).

Is any gear provided?

Yes—the operator provides a snowmobile suit, boots, gloves and helmet; bring your own base layers and personal items.

Do I need prior snowmobile experience?

No prior experience is required; guides provide instruction and the convoy is paced for mixed experience levels.

What is the minimum age?

Minimum age is 16; younger children cannot join for safety and insurance reasons.

What happens if the weather changes?

Itineraries or departure times may be adjusted or the trip canceled for safety; the guide confirms timing the day before based on conditions.

Will I see wildlife like polar bears?

Polar bears are possible in Svalbard but sightings are rare on this route; guides follow strict safety protocols to minimize disturbance and keep guests safe.

Snowmobiling to Tempelfjorden: Day Trip from Longyearbyen to Tunabreen Glacier | Snowmobile | Winter Activities

Tempelfjorden Round Trip launches from Longyearbyen and carries riders deep into the high Arctic of Svalbard. This seven‑hour snowmobile expedition threads through Adventdalen, Eskerdalen and Sassendalen before opening onto Tempelfjorden, where Tunabreen glacier calves into a stark fjord. The ride combines wide glacial valleys, hard blue ice, frozen fjord flats and a raw, open sky.

You meet your guide in Longyearbyen for a safety briefing and are kitted out in provided snowmobile gear (suit, boots, gloves, helmet). After instruction the convoy heads out—about 50 km of trail in each direction with roughly 2.5 hours of riding each way—so expect nearly 100 km of Arctic terrain crossed over the day. The route follows riverbeds and wind‑scoured ridges, tracing moraines and the scoured bedrock that tell the region’s glacial history. Tunabreen, a tidewater glacier on Tempelfjorden, is the visual high point: a jagged ice front, deep blue crevasses and occasional seracs that make for dramatic panoramas and hushed photo stops.

Midday brings an expedition lunch on the shore, a quiet hour to listen to the wind and scan for seals resting in ice leads or kittiwakes wheeling offshore. Wildlife sightings are common but never guaranteed; the guide monitors conditions and avoids sensitive areas. The return trip reverses the same spectacular corridor back toward Longyearbyen, finishing with a transfer to your accommodation.

This tour stands out because it turns a single day into an Arctic geography lesson—glacial morphology under a crisp polar sky—without requiring multi‑day logistics. The inclusion of full snowmobile gear and pickup from Longyearbyen makes it accessible to travelers who want a high‑impact experience with solid guide support. It’s also a practical option for those on short itineraries who need to see glaciers and fjords in one outing.

Safety is central: Svalbard weather is volatile and itineraries may shift; the operator reserves the right to change plans for safety. Minimum age is 16, so families with older teens can join. Bring cold‑weather layers, a camera with spare batteries, and an appetite for wide, empty landscapes.

Guides interpret permafrost features and glacial deposits as you ride, pointing out moraines, erratics and exposed bedrock carved during past ice advances. Operators brief guests on polar bear awareness and carry necessary safety equipment; when ice conditions allow, the stillness near Tunabreen can highlight the creak and groan of moving ice. The guide will confirm exact pickup time the day before, since weather dictates final timing and route selection and safety.

About Grumant Arctic Travel Company

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.

Snowmobiling to Tempelfjorden: Day Trip from Longyearbyen to Tunabreen Glacier

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