Camp Barentz in Svalbard: Is an Arctic Wilderness Evening Worth It?

There are so many unique experiences in Svalbard, and I have done nearly all of them at one point or another. While many are for adventurers, the Arctic Wilderness Evening at Camp Barentz in Svalbard is for everyone!

This post details my evening at Camp Barentz, how to book, and whether I think the trip was worth it or not. Please note that this experience is only available from March to September.

You cannot book this during the dark Svalbard winter (but don’t worry, plenty of other experiences are available, including another one at Camp Barentz, which I will discuss later!).

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. I’m happy to answer!

Why I Booked a Wilderness Evening at Camp Barentz

During my latest trip to Svalbard, I had two experiences in mind that I was determined to do since I had done pretty much everything one could do here during this time of the year.

One of those experiences was an evening at Camp Barentz, a wilderness area named after Willem Barentz, the Dutchman who discovered Spitsbergen.

Nearly every Svalbard tour I have taken has been on the more ‘adventurous side’. And while I love those types of tours (within my own limits), I hated that I felt that the only chilled-out experiences were at restaurants around Longyearbyen.

So, when I found out that Camp Barentz offered an opportunity to escape the city for a few hours while you got to eat dinner around a fire in a cabin, I was stoked to add that to my Svalbard bucket list!

Learning about polar bears throughout the experience was also an added perk.

How to Book an Arctic Wilderness Evening at Camp Barentz

Duration: 3 hours
Pick-up: Offered at most hotels
Season: March-September
➡️ CLICK HERE TO BOOK

There are a couple of mediums through which you can book Camp Barentz in Svalbard, but I found the best (and most reliable) way to book was through the Hurtigruten Svalbard website directly.

Pick-Up in Longyearbyen

Our evening started at 7pm in Longyearbyen. We were picked up at our locations (or somewhere close to them) by a nice van and driver.

The driver then proceeded to drive us out to Camp Barentz, which is about a 10-minute drive out of the city, going toward the Gruve-7 Mine, which is the last in-use coal mine here.

Camp Barentz is located right underneath Adventdalen, under a mountain called Breinosa.

Note: Be sure to be ready and to double-check the time your experience starts on your confirmation. It is subject to change at any point.

Arrival and Welcome Drink

When you arrive at Camp Barentz, you will be greeted by your guide for the evening, who will meet you outside with his or her polar bear protection.

After a quick briefing and short introduction to Adventdalen, your group will be taken inside the cabin, where you’ll be welcomed by a warm fire and tables set for a ‘koselig’ evening (koselig roughly means ‘cozy’ in Norwegian).

Once you find your seat, the guide will bring you a welcome drink (ours was Norwegian aquavit) and will brief you on how your evening will go.

Learn About Svalbard’s History (+ Food!)

Dinner is heated over the fire before being served to all guests. The dinner is ‘bidos’, a Sami stew that is filled with root vegetables and reindeer meat. It is so hearty, delicious, and perfect for the atmosphere you’re in!

You will also have fresh bread as well as flatbread served along with it. Dessert will come a little later, with coffee or tea.

During dinner, we were also offered a glass of wine, soda, or beer. The beer was a Mack Øl (from Tromsø) ‘isbjørn’ beer, with a polar bear on the can. It was so appropriate for the evening!

Are you a vegetarian? Let them know ahead of time, and they will prepare a meal suitable for your needs.

Polar Bear Presentation

While you’re eating your dessert and warming up with some tea and coffee, you will get to sit through the famous polar bear presentation! To be honest, this was my favorite part of the entire evening.

Guests will learn all about polar bears and their history on Svalbard and this part of Norway, as well as their current status on the archipelago.

The presentation is about 30 minutes long and super informative. It is accompanied by a slideshow and videos!

I won’t say much more here, as the information is best consumed by sitting there and learning it by the fire from someone who has first-hand experience living on Svalbard.

What to Wear on Your Camp Barentz Tour

To be honest, that cabin can get warm! But you will spend a short amount of time outside before the night starts, and if you need to go to the bathroom, you will need to go outside to a (heated) portable toilet.

I would recommend wearing the normal outdoor gear that you packed, along with something like a basic sweater underneath.

Because you have the fire inside, you can move to an area that is suitable for your comfort (whether it be closer to the fire or further from it).

Traveling in winter and want to visit Camp Barentz in Svalbard?

Don’t worry, they also have a northern lights evening that you can sign up for!

From October 1 to March 15, Camp Barentz hosts a northern lights experience, which you can check out here. It takes place on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and it is a great experience to experience the camp, see the aurora, and enjoy some tasty food!

Did I miss anything above about booking an Arctic Wilderness Evening at Camp Barentz? Let me know in the comments!