Ice cave with snowcat  - Hurtigruten Svalbard -  Photo Thomas Griesbeck
HomeactivitieshikingHike to an Ice Cave

Hike to an Ice Cave

Difficulty level
4
Suitable for those with above average fitness
Duration
5.5 hours
Age limit
12 years
Period
Nov - May
Inside the Svalbard glaciers, there is an underground world of grottos carved out by the summer’s melting water. In this magical world of ice, you will walk in the narrow passages and study the ice formations and crystals.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive to the starting point of the tour: Nybyen, at the very end of Longyearbyen. From here, we start the hike to one of the glaciers behind town. Maybe we will wear snowshoes for the hike, depending on the snow conditions.


It takes about two hours to reach the glacier and the entrance of the ice cave. We walk in snow, uphill, covering about 350 high meters. Walking up the snow-covered moraine in Svalbard's enormous mountain landscape gives a special view of the region's natural beauty. Just the peaceful stretch of white snow against the gentle slopes of the moraine is truly an unforgettable experience. However, the adventure doesn’t end here! Once we have reached the point of the glacier where the entrance of the ice cave awaits, it is time to step into a new dimension of beauty.

Before entering, your guide will provide you with a helmet, crampons to put on your shoes, and head light. The way down to the ice cave changes each year, but it can often be a bit narrow at the very beginning. We take our time to explore the fascinating underground, characterised by glistening ice formations, crisp snow, spacious chambers and tight passages. It is fascinating to know that we actually walk through meltwater channels, created by the previous summer's snow and ice melt. After a nice break with some snacks and something warm to drink, we head back down to Longyearbyen again.