The Global Seed Vault and iconic places in Longyearbyen

This tour visits the Global Seed Vault, which sits in the mountainside on the outskirts of Longyearbyen, and a few well-known spots in the town. The vault is a backup store for the world's food supply. It lies beyond the polar bear sign, so guests on Svalbard need a guide carrying polar bear protection to go there. The guide decides the route, and the town stops may come before or after the vault.

Guests stand in front of the vault entrance but do not go inside, because access is restricted. From the parking lot a gravel road leads to the entrance, about 200 metres there and back. The guide tells stories about local history, how Svalbard came to host the vault, and international cooperation, and points out the art installation Perpetual Repercussion. Other stops include the polar bear sign and historic buildings, with time for photos. Svalbard reindeer and sometimes polar fox may be seen. From November to February the northern lights may be visible.

The tour lasts two hours, with pick up at 16:00. A van collects guests at their hotel and returns them there at the end. A guide leads up to eight guests. Transport, coffee and tea, and a guide with safety gear are included. Flights, hotel nights and insurance are not included. Guides speak English.

The difficulty level is 2 out of 5. All ages can come, and guests need basic fitness and must manage to step into and out of the van without help. The tour runs all year, from 1 January to 31 December.