Longyearbreen Glacier Hike
Longyearbreen
A glacier-valley hiking route behind the town, where moraine stones can yield fossil plant leaves about 60 million years old.
From the Nybyen district of Longyearbyen, follow the glacier valley upstream for about 1.5–2 hours to reach the glacier snout. Moraine stones often reveal plant fossils from a temperate forest of the Paleocene epoch, making this Svalbard’s most popular half-day hike. The round trip takes about 4–5 hours over rocky gravel terrain. In winter and spring, tours visit natural ice caves in a nearby glacier. Leaving the settlement requires a guide carrying a rifle (for polar bear risk). A half-day hiking tour is recommended.
Opening hours
Guided tours only (different activities year-round)
Nearby sights
- Larsbreen & Sarkofagen
- Platåberget
- Svalbard Global Seed Vault
- Mine 3 (Gruve 3)
- Huset
- Galleri Svalbard
- Polar Bear Warning Sign
- Svalbard Brewery