Private Guide – Tailor-Made Svalbard Experience
Explore Longyearbyen and its surrounding valleys with your own experienced local guide, private vehicle and a programme shaped entirely around your interests.
This full-day private experience is ideal for photographers, families, couples, small groups and guests who want more flexibility than a standard sightseeing tour.
Your day may focus on Arctic history, geology, research, local infrastructure, wildlife, photography or—during summer—a guided hike in the mountains and valleys around Longyearbyen.
The exact programme is agreed with you and adjusted to the season, weather, visibility, physical ability and the opportunities available on the day.
Longyearbyen, Arctic landscapes and personal discoveries
A private guide allows you to combine the places, stories and experiences that matter most to you—from local history and research to photography, wildlife and hiking.
What makes this experience special
Your own local guide
Spend the day with an experienced guide who knows Longyearbyen, its history and the surrounding landscape.
Tailor-made programme
Choose the balance between sightseeing, photography, history, nature and outdoor activity.
Private vehicle
Travel comfortably between locations and adapt the pace to your group throughout the day.
Photography focused
Spend more time at locations with suitable light, wildlife or landscape compositions.
Summer hiking options
Choose from fossil hunting, glacier-moraine walks or mountain hikes according to conditions and ability.
Maximum flexibility
Stops, timing and priorities can be adjusted as the weather and opportunities change.
One private guide, countless possibilities
Combine local stories, remote viewpoints, wildlife observations and photography without being restricted by a fixed group itinerary.
History, research and Arctic infrastructure
Longyearbyen offers an unusually rich combination of mining history, science, modern community life and Arctic logistics.
Depending on your interests, we may visit or discuss the Global Seed Vault, the university centre, church, cemetery, Huset, hospital, local administration, the Governor’s facilities, dog yards, EISCAT radars and the Kjell Henriksen Observatory.
Former coal mines, Hotellneset, the airport and historic industrial sites provide additional perspectives on how the settlement developed.
Fossils, glaciers and mountain hikes
During summer, the private guide can be combined with an outdoor programme suited to your experience and physical ability.
Possible routes include Longyearbreen’s moraine with fossil hunting, Longyearbreen, Sarkofagen, Trollsteinen, Platåfjellet, Sukkertoppen, Endalen, Bjørndalen, Blomsterdalshøgda, Lindholmhøgda, Bolternosa, Breinosa or Foxfonna.
The final hiking choice depends on weather, ground conditions, visibility, time available and the abilities of everyone in the group.
How your private day may unfold
The programme is developed around your priorities and can be adjusted during the day.
Pickup at your accommodation
Your private guide collects you in Longyearbyen at the agreed time.
Programme discussion
Review your interests, the weather and the most suitable possibilities for the day.
Longyearbyen sightseeing
Visit selected historical, scientific and cultural locations in and around town.
Landscape or wildlife focus
Continue into nearby valleys and viewpoints for nature observation or photography.
Lunch break
Enjoy the included expedition lunch, coffee, tea, hot toddy and biscuits, or stop at a restaurant at your own cost.
Flexible afternoon
Continue sightseeing, photography or a suitable summer hike before returning to your accommodation.
Everything included in your private day
Included in the tour
- Private guide for eight hours
- Private vehicle for the full programme
- Maximum of eight guests
- Tailor-made route planning
- Pickup from your accommodation
- Return to your accommodation
- Expedition lunch
- Coffee, tea and hot toddy
- Biscuits and light refreshments
- Guiding in the agreed language
What to bring
- Clothing suited to the season
- Windproof and water-resistant outerwear
- Warm hat and gloves
- Suitable walking or hiking footwear
- Sunglasses and sunscreen in summer
- Camera and charged batteries
- Binoculars if available
- Personal medication
- Water bottle
Accessibility, children and changing conditions
The private guide is suitable for most guests, but the vehicle has no specialised wheelchair adaptations. A foldable wheelchair can be carried in the luggage compartment, and individual assistance can be discussed before booking.
There are no special child discounts for this private experience. The fixed group price applies regardless of the age composition of the group.
Outdoor activities and hiking routes depend on weather, visibility, ground conditions and the physical abilities of all participants. Your guide may modify the programme whenever required for safety.
Planning your private guide experience
How long is the private guide booked for?
The standard booking covers a private guide and vehicle for eight hours.
How many guests can join?
The published private-group format is suitable for up to eight guests. Contact Svalbard Photography for larger groups.
Can we choose what we want to see?
Yes. The programme is tailored to your interests, although weather, access and safety conditions determine what is possible.
Can the day focus on photography?
Yes. Photography can be the main focus, with more time allocated to light, wildlife and landscape locations.
Can we include a hike?
Yes, during summer. The route is selected according to weather, ground conditions and the abilities of the group.
Is lunch included?
Yes. An expedition lunch, coffee, tea, hot toddy and biscuits are included. A restaurant stop is possible but paid separately.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Pickup and return at your accommodation in Longyearbyen are included.
Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?
Individual assistance may be possible, and a foldable wheelchair can be transported. The vehicle itself is not specially adapted.
Are there child discounts?
No. The same fixed private-group price applies.
Which languages are available?
The guide speaks English, Norwegian, German and Swiss German. Chinese may be arranged on request.
Can the guide be booked for several days?
Yes. Contact Svalbard Photography directly for a multi-day private-guide programme.
Build your own day in and around Longyearbyen
Combine local history, Arctic landscapes, wildlife, photography and optional summer hiking with your own guide and private vehicle.
