Seedvault Sight & Hike

Seed Vault Sight & Hike is a guided evening walk from Blomstrdalshøgda above Blomsterdalen near Longyearbyen. It climbs the mountainside to 400 metres above sea level, with some steeper sections. On the way the group stops to look across Adventfjorden, and on clear days the view reaches Isfjorden and the glacier-covered mountains beyond. If conditions allow, the group continues along the ridge. The guide tells stories from the history of coal mining on Svalbard. After the hike the group crosses the terrain to the seed vault, set in the foot of the mountain. The vault is closed to the public, but guests stand in front of its entrance and hear about its role in protecting the world's crops. The tour leaves the Longyearbyen safety zone, and the route can change with the weather.

The tour runs 18:30 to 21:30, which is three hours. The round trip is 3 km with 250 m of ascent. The group has two to eight participants, and the minimum age is 10. The page rates the difficulty three.

Included are pick-up and return to the hotel, a guide with safety equipment, snacks and hot drinks, and any needed gear such as trekking poles, ice grips and a headlamp. Liability insurance and SAR insurance are also included.

Guests bring sturdy waterproof boots that cover the ankle, wool base layers, a windproof jacket, outdoor trousers, an extra warm layer such as a sweater or down jacket, a hat, a neck warmer, windproof mittens or gloves, a backpack and a water bottle. The operator may refuse a guest who is not dressed suitably for the conditions.