Exploring Svalbard is a unique and off the beaten track experience due to its remote and untouched arctic wilderness. The archipelago is located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole, and is home to stunning glaciers, …
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Backpacking Svalbard in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Svalbard with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit Svalbard
Welcome to the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard, an extraordinary destination for the adventurous backpacker. Pros? Encounter polar bears, witness the Northern Lights, and explore vast, pristine landscapes. The unique Arctic experience comes with stunning scenery. However, the extreme conditions, limited infrastructure, and higher costs can pose challenges. For those seeking the ultimate Arctic adventure, Svalbard's untouched beauty and wildlife offer a once-in-a-lifetime backpacking experience, where the sheer remoteness and rugged landscapes set it apart as a destination for the daring and intrepid explorer.
Why to go?Why backpacking in Svalbard
Uniqueness
Scenery
Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, offers a unique and diverse range of natural landscapes to explore. From towering glaciers and snow-capped mountains to icy fjords and expansive tundra, Svalbard’s scenery is truly …
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💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in Svalbard
- Visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault: This unique facility is designed to safeguard the world’s crop diversity in case of a global catastrophe. It’s an important place to understand the importance of preserving biodiversity and the impact of climate change on food security.
- Take a boat tour to see glaciers: Svalbard is home to stunning glaciers, and a boat tour allows you to witness their beauty up close. It’s a chance to appreciate the power and majesty of nature while learning about the effects of climate change on these icy landscapes.
- Go on a wildlife safari: Svalbard is teeming with unique wildlife, including polar bears, Arctic foxes, reindeer, and various bird species. A wildlife safari gives you the opportunity to observe these incredible creatures in their natural habitat and learn about their adaptations to the harsh Arctic environment.
- Explore the abandoned mining town of Pyramiden: Once a bustling Soviet coal mining settlement, Pyramiden now stands as a frozen time capsule. Exploring the abandoned buildings and learning about the town’s history provides a fascinating glimpse into the past and the challenges of living in the Arctic.
- Experience the Northern Lights: Svalbard is one of the best places on Earth to witness the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights. The dark, clear winter nights offer a perfect backdrop for this natural phenomenon, creating a truly magical and unforgettable experience.
But Svalbard offers more...
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking Svalbard
The best time to visit Svalbard for backpacking is during the summer months, from June to August. During this time, the weather is relatively mild, with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 10°C (32°F to 50°F). The days are long, with 24 hours of daylight, allowing you to make the most of your backpacking adventure. This period also offers the opportunity to witness the stunning midnight sun, where the sun never sets below the horizon. It is important to note that Svalbard is a remote and challenging destination, so proper planning, equipment, and knowledge of outdoor safety are essential for a successful backpacking trip.
Risk level: low (0%)Safety advice for Svalbard
- Norway's current terrorist threat level is 3-Moderate. Terrorists have attacked cities in Europe, and targets have included public places that foreigners visit.
- Norway has a low level of crime. However, sexual assaults against foreigners and violent, gang-related crimes have occurred.
- There's a risk of petty crime, particularly in and around Oslo. The risk rises during the peak tourist season from May to September. Thieves often work together and use tricks to distract travellers. Be careful in airports, train stations, Oslo's main shopping streets, hotel lobbies and restaurants.
- Avalanches and rockslides can happen in some mountain areas. Extreme weather, floods and landslides can also occur. Check advice on weather and safety conditions before skiing or mountaineering.
- The northernmost parts of Norway are in the Arctic Circle. Be careful in these areas. Polar bears have killed travellers in Svalbard. Follow instructions from local authorities. If you're travelling by ship, check the onboard medical care.
source: smartraveller.gov.au
SvalbardMy tips to get you on the way!Does Svalbard sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Svalbard. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Svalbard may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Svalbard. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Svalbard may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Svalbard, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Svalbard, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 29 September 2024