Hiorthhamn: Hike to the Frozen Fjord

This is a five-hour winter hike in the polar night from Longyearbyen to Hiorthhamn, a former mining outpost beneath the mountain Hiorthfjellet. The route is flat and off trail, over snowy ground and a frozen river, with no steep climbs. Guests walk by headlamp and see the fjord, the lights of Longyearbyen set between the mountains, snow-covered tundra and seawater frozen into patterns along the shoreline. At Hiorthhamn the group looks at old buildings and traces of the coal mining history of Svalbard. The northern lights may appear if the weather and solar activity allow, but the focus of the outing is quiet and nature.

The round trip covers 10 to 12 km and lasts five hours. Groups have 2 to 8 participants and a guide who carries safety equipment. The tour includes hotel pick-up at 10:00 and return by 15:00, coffee, tea and biscuits, a light snack of warm soup, and the gear needed on the day, such as snowshoes, hiking poles and a headlamp.

Guests bring warm waterproof hiking boots that cover the ankle, wool base layers, a windproof jacket, outdoor pants, an extra warm layer, a hat, a buff, windproof mittens or gloves, a backpack of 20 to 35 litres and a water bottle. Rental boots are available. The minimum age is 12. The operator rates difficulty at 2 out of 5, and no hiking experience is needed. Participants must be able to communicate in English, and the operator may refuse anyone not properly dressed for the conditions.