Longyearbyen
Enjoy a delightful summer day at sea as we search for the fascinating walrus on our RIB boat safari to Borebukta. These impressive marine mammals are often spotted both on the ice in front of the glacier, in the water, and on land.
Enjoy a delightful summer day at sea as we search for the fascinating walrus on our RIB boat safari to Borebukta. These impressive marine mammals are often spotted both on the ice in front of the glacier, in the water, and on land. You will also be amazed by the majestic fjord and mountain landscapes and the massive glacier fronts.
We are heading out in Isfjorden and navigate towards Borebukta, located approximately 20 nautical miles northwest of Longyearbyen. Already on the way there, you can enjoy the view of the characteristic mountain peaks around Isfjorden, surrounded by massive glaciers. As we cruise Isfjorden, keep your eyes open for wildlife in the water, as it's not just the walrus that might appear on this trip. In the summer, the fjords around Longyearbyen are teeming with birdlife, and in recent years, there have been many sightings of whales in the area. With our open RIB boat, you have a unique opportunity to get close to nature and enjoy a panoramic view.
The goal for the day is to discover walruses in Borebukta. Upon arrival, you can enjoy a hot expedition lunch, a warm toddy, coffee, and biscuits as we scan for these majestic creatures and admire the view around the boat. Just half a century ago, the walrus was threatened with extinction after centuries of hunting, which reduced the population to just a few hundred individuals. Now, the walrus has started to reclaim its old gathering places, which we are fortunate enough to experience around Isfjorden. These impressive creatures can weigh up to 1.5 tons and display impressive gracefulness in the water despite their clumsy appearance on land. They are social animals often observed in herds as they search for clams on the seabed or rest on land.
Such as is the case with other wildlife in nature, there’s no guarantee that one will be able to spot walrus while travelling in Svalbard. But walrus do tend to come back to specific areas in the summer, and Borebukta is one such place where one may be lucky enough to observe them both in the water and on land. From our boat we’ll have the opportunity to observe them at a distance, and we adhere to the regulations regarding distance and maintain a minimum distance of 150 meters from walrus haul-out sites, ensuring that we can observe them in a safe and responsible manner. We therefore recommend bringing binoculars and/or a camera with telephoto lens, should you want to.
Included
- Transport to and from the accommodation
- Guide with safety equipment
- Search and rescue insurance
- Hot drinks and biscuits
Important information
- We do not recommend this tour if you are pregnant or have back problems
- For safety reasons, all passengers must be able to understand and communicate in either Norwegian or English. If this is not possible, the passenger must be accompanied by someone who is fluent in one of these languages
- Age limit: 10 years, or 14 years if the passenger is not accompanied by an adult. Height restriction: inseam of least 74 cm.
- We recommend warm clothing to wear under the floating suit such as wool underwear, wool socks, thick sweater and windproof outer clothing
- A small backpack for extra clothing and other items
- We will not go ashore on this trip
- For safety reasons, the route may change due to weather, wind and ice conditions
Minimum number of participants: 2 persons
Bron: Svalbard Reiseliv AS