Boat trip to the Von Post-glacier - Hurtigruten Svalbard

With a speed boat the distance between civilisation and the wilderness is made short, as you can experience on this tour to Von Postbreen. The glacier is found at the head of the Tempelfjord, together with its surging brother, Tunabreen. In the surroundings you will also see the mighty mountain 'Tempelet', and the trapper's cabin Villa Fredheim - all in the magical realm of the polar bear.

With a speed boat the distance between civilisation and the wilderness is made short, as you can experience on this tour to Von Postbreen. The glacier is found at the head of the Tempelfjord, together with its surging brother, Tunabreen. In the surroundings you will also see the mighty mountain ‘Tempelet’, and the trapper’s cabin Villa Fredheim - all in the magical realm of the polar bear.

A taste of the trappers' history
The action-filled trip through the fjords in an open boat is an adventure in itself, but this tour also offers an interesting insight into trapping history as our route takes us past Hilmar Nøis’ Villa Fredheim. Hilmar Nøis was a legendary trapper, with impressive 38 winters on Svalbard. He was known as the King of Sassen, after the valley where he hunted. He was originally supposed to be a fisherman, but suffering from sea sickness he chose to become a trapper instead. Most of the hunters cabins on Svalbard were of the simpler sort, but Villa Fredheim was an exception. With a flag pole outside and curtains in the windows, this two storey villa is like a palace compared to other cabins. Although the rather ‘luxurious’ standard of his dwelling, it is hard not to feel a great sense of respect for Nøis and his family, who lived here in the wilderness year after year.

Polar wildlife and birdlife in the Tempelfjord
The area leading up to the Von Postbreen is an important resting place and nursery for ring seals, so spotting  a polar bear here is more likely than in Longyearbyen. Another important part of the Arctic fauna is the birdlife, and on our way to the glaciers, we will make a short stop by the bird cliff at Diabas, to look for nesting birds near the seashore.

Meeting these busy sea birds is like having a peek back into prehistoric times. The sheer number of birds that are circling over you, and nesting nearly on top of each other in the steep mountainside, is overwhelming, and very unlike how we normally experience birdlife from land.

Von Post- and Tuna-glaciers
Hilmar Nøis wrote in his diary: ‘I will always remember the freedom in the wide plains’. Considering his views towards the Von Post and Tuna Glaciers from the kitchen table in Villa Fredheim, it is no surprise to hear that Nøis never forgot the landscape of Svalbard. Von Post is a 15km long and 100km² glacier situated in the southern end of the Tempel fjord, and including its tributaries you can almost double the area of the glacier. Tunabreen is the smaller of the two glaciers, but beeing a fjord glacier, it’s plunging straight into the fjord like a massive wall meeting the sea. Both the size and location of this glacial massif will be sure to take your breath away. The feeling of being really small in this magical landscape is enhanced by how our specially made open boats can take you closer to these walls of ice, than you otherwise might get.
On our way back we will stop and enjoy an expedition lunch at Bjonahamna, beautifully located right under the stunning Tempel mountain, before returning to Longyearbyen.

Included
- Transport to and from your hotel in Longyearbyen
- Exposure suit for the duration of the tour
- Warm drinks/biscuits
- Tour leader/captain with safety equipment
- Search and rescue insurance

Practical information
All tours are subject to weather conditions, and the route may be adjusted. From the end of August most birdlife leaves the islands, as these are migratory birds who search for warmer latitudes. The focus will then shift to the wildlife, landscape and history. Please note that the tour is in an open boat, and you may experience bumpy seas and sea spray.

This tour is not recommended for those with back problems or who are pregnant.

Age limit: 14 years

Minimum amount of participants: 2

Language
Safety is our highest priority, and the guide needs to be able to give directions you understand. To participate on one of our excursions, it is required that you speak and understand English or one of the Scandinavian languages.