Blog Svalbard Kayak Expedition August 2026
Blog day 12
Our last day kayaking :(
we have had an amazing trip, and today was the last day kayaking. The weather was a little cold and windy when we left camp, but we got warm quick, as we kayaked onto the wind.
At lunch we found an old fox trap, and enjoyed the sun for the first time in 3 days. The weather continued to improve, and the end of the day was amazing. We found a nice beach with a ton of driftwood, and tok an evening hike to Harald Solheims trappeea cabin on Kapp Wijk. Afterwards we all gatherd around the bonfire for dinner.
Blog day 11
The weather calmed during the night, so we were all eager to kayak.
We were in the boats for a few hours before taking a short hike on Coraholmen, an island which is half tundra landscape and half moraine and sea floor sediment. It’s landscape is unique and not found anywhere else on Svalbard.
After lunch, the weather picked up again, and we kayaked in headwind for the last part of the day. We found a sheltered bay for camp, and all have gode around gathering driftwood, so that the polar bear can have the fire going all night long.
Blog day 10
We woke up today with strong winds shaking our tents, it was clear that we were kayaking. We took a morning hike to the waterfall of Heimsil River, one of Svalbard few waterfalls. And a evening walk to the Sefstrøm Glacier, that surged last year. The rest of the day we spend relaxing and sleeping. Tomorrow we will all be well rested and ready for a full day of adventure.
Blog day 9
Five of us started the day with a hike up a 380 meter tall mountain today, while the rest enjoyed the sun, and caught up on some rest. The view from the top was stunning.
We ate a early lunch, with the company of the long tailed skua from yesterday, and headed out. After a little while paddling we spotted belugas. They were headed straight towards us, so we sat still and waited. It was an amazing experience to see them up close, and hear them catching their breath. Jas ans Jaap came closest to one as it camp ut to breath right next to their kayaks.
We made camp shortly after and enjoyed the solar eclipse. Gill had brought some glasses that we all shared, to have a look. A fun way to end the day.
Blog day 8
Snow met us when we opened our tents this morning! 3-4cm covering everything. It was not very tempting to leave the warm sleeping bags, but the wether forecast said the precipitation would pass, and it did.
We stopped by a trappers cabin, where Morten told a little about the trappers and their way of life, and had lunch in front of Walebbergbreen, where we also saw the footprints of a female polar bear and her cub.
Afterwards we enjoyed the sun, and kayaked to Sveabreen, here we saw multiple big calvings, the wind from the glacier was quite cold though, so we did not stay for long.
In camp we got sun and were able to dry out wet gear and charge batteries on our solar panels. We were also visited by a Long tailed skua, that flew multiple laps right over our heads in search of food.
Blog day 7
We woke up to a sunny and windy day today. It was a lazy morning as we were waiting for our resupply of food to arrive.
Once it did, we set of, and the weather improved a lot. Rjipsburg, an old abandoned Cole mine was our first stop of the day. Here we ate lunch, and looked around the buildings and sites. After lunch the weather improved again, and we kayaked the rest of the day in calm waters and sun, we even saw two minky whales in the distance.
At camp, we have endless amounts of driftwood for bonfires, and are all sitting outside enjoying the calm seas, and sun.
Blog day 6
We woke up to little wind and the bay filled with glacier ice today. Naturally we found a piece of ice large enough to hold one at the time, and had a photoshoot in front of the glacier.
Afterwards we continued into Borebukta, where Borebreen surged 3 years ago. We hiked a bit to look at the glacier, and took our time crossing in front of the calving glacier.
We are now camped in a moraine, overlooking the fjord, and the glacier in the distance, all are happy, and ready for a good nights sleep.
Blog day 5
After a cold and windy night we were all happy to get in the kayaks today’s and heat up. There was some quite Intresting features along the coast, but it was mostly a transport leg.
After lunch the wind dropped, and subsequently, so did our speed, as we did not have to kayak very fast to stay warm. The last two hours of kayaking for the day was therefore in a slow pace, entering the bay in front of Nansenbreen.
We found a nice camp on the beach, pitched our tenets, and headed out for a walk. Some of us, hiked to the moraine ridge, to view the calving glacier, and the rest brought spikes and harnesses and headed up on the glacier. With the evening hike it was a long day, and we were back in camp 1900. Now it’s time for some dinner, before those on polar bear guard duty tonight goes to bed.
Blog day 4
We woke up at 0200 tonight with the wind shaking our tents. So in long John’s and shirts we were out reinforcing guy lines and pegs.
the wind was forcasted to die down, but it never did, so instead of kayaking into the wind, we decided to rest, and hike around camp instead.
We have been to a cabin, taken over by polar foxes, and collected reindeer antlers (photo of all the antlers wilt come in tomorrows blog)
We have also had time to dry out wet gear and clothing, drink a lot of tea and coffee, and relax. All in all a good day.
Blog day 3
Another nice day in the arctic.
We left camp around 9. kayaked for one hour before we reached the Esmark glacier. Here we switched out dry suits and paddles for glacier harness and spikes, and headed for the ice. We saw melt water channels, Crevasses, and other ice formations.
Back by the kayaks we ate a late lunch before continuing. We had no wind, and it was a beautiful stretch to Erdmannodden.
Weare now in camp, eating well and getting ready for the night.
Blog day 2
We had both seal and foxes visiting us during the night. So it was exiting shifts for the polar bear guard. After a relaxing morning we set of, first stop was a the glacier front of Harrietbreen. We spendt some time enjoying the view before we continued.
At Selmaneset we had lunch, among fascinating rock formations and multiple sea birds.
We continued a little bit and have now found a sheltered dried out riverbed, where we have put camp. We have fixed some leaky kayaks, and enjoyed the sunny evening.
Blog day 1
We are finally of.
After a long day packing and preparing in Longyearbyen yesterday, we have started our trip. We were taken by boat to Trygghamna where we hiked up and enjoyed the view of Alkehornet, a huge bird cliff.
In addition to all the birds, we had very close encounters with multiple reindeer, and two polar foxes, one very curious puppy and one adult. Afterwords we kayaked two kilometers, And found a flat and nice campsite. The evening we have been relaxing in the sun, chatting, and organizing our gear. all are looking forward to tomorrow