Sailing the Barents Sea: Tromsø to Svalbard
Cross the Barents Sea under sail and wake to the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard.
Sailing the Barents Sea is one of the great offshore passages. Raw, remote, and genuinely unlike anything closer to home. Aboard expedition yacht Valiente, you’ll depart Tromsø on Norway’s north coast and head out across open ocean toward the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, calling at Bear Island along the way.
Around 600 nautical miles of sailing, deep fjords, glaciers calving into the sea and the chance to spot Arctic wildlife in some of the world’s least-visited waters. This voyage is perfect for those ready to experience the Arctic as it should be, slowly, under sail.
- Offshore expedition sailing
- 600 nautical miles of open ocean
- Remote Arctic destinations
- Wildlife watching opportunities
- No sailing experience required
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Talk to the team
Telephone: +44 (0)1872 487288
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 7804 472592
An Arctic Sailing Expedition Across the Barents Sea
Tromsø → Bear Island (Bjørnøya) → Hornsund/Bellsund → Barentsburg → Longyearbyen, Svalbard
Sailing the Barents Sea from Tromsø to Svalbard, you’ll arrive at one of the world’s most remarkable destinations in a way that very few people ever do. With only ocean ahead as you leave the Norwegian mainland, the crossing is a genuine offshore adventure. Wind in the sails, saltwater in the air and the polar light shifting around you as you push north. Roughly halfway across, Bear Island (Bjørnøya) rises from the sea, a lonely and dramatic waypoint before the final run to Svalbard. It’s around 600 nautical miles in total, and every one of them counts.
Svalbard’s Fjords, Glaciers and Wildlife
As Valiente reaches the southernmost tip of Svalbard, the landscape shifts dramatically. Iconic mountains, deep fjords and glaciers define this stretch of coastline, and sailing into Hornsund or Bellsund, where glaciers meet the sea, is a sight that stays with you. Where time allows, a visit to the Russian settlement of Barentsburg adds another layer to the journey before arrival in Longyearbyen.
Wildlife is never guaranteed in the Arctic, but these waters and coastlines offer some of the best chances you’ll find:
- Polar bears along the Svalbard coastline
- Walrus resting on remote shores
- Arctic foxes near the settlement of Barentsburg
- Seabirds including puffins and little auks
- Minke and fin whales in open water
Sustainable Arctic Sailing
The Arctic is a vulnerable place, and how you travel here matters. Valiente is committed to leaving as little trace as possible, sailing in a small boat, with a small group, and with a genuine respect for the environment. Rather than taking something away, the crew actively gather litter at the places they visit. On Svalbard, all wildlife encounters, beach landings and visits to cultural heritage sites follow AECO’s established guidelines for responsible Arctic operators.
Sailing, wherever possible rather than motoring, is itself part of that commitment. It’s a quieter, gentler way to move through these waters and a far more connected one.
Expedition Yacht Valiente
Built for Arctic waters, Valiente’s steel hull is tough on the outside and welcoming within. Central heating runs throughout, and all 12 guest cabins have comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. Joining Valiente means becoming an active part of the crew. No experience needed. Her skilled skipper, first mate and dedicated Svalbard guide will have you taking the helm and trimming sails in no time.
- 12 guest berths | 4 bathrooms | Full board
- Hands-on sailing with experienced crew throughout
- Skipper, first mate and Svalbard guide on board
- Steel hull designed for icy Arctic conditions
- Central heating and cosy cabins throughout
- Galley meals cooked together with fellow guests
Things to note
Sailing vs Shore time
Night-watches?
Travel insurance notes
As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.
Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.
This voyage will be more than 12 miles offshore.
Getting Involved
You don’t need any experience to join Valiente’s expedition sailing holidays, just a love for the natural world and a real sense of adventure. Sailing with Valiente is a real hands-on, humbling experience as you work with the crew and fellow guests to navigate the Arctic wilderness together. Get stuck into all aspects of life on board, from taking the helm, setting & trimming the sails, basic sail theory and domestic duties.
The skipper and first mate (co-skipper), plus a dedicated guide for Svalbard sailing voyages, will be on board for the duration of Valiente’s sailing holidays. Along the way, preferably by sailing but sometimes under motor, all guests are included in the sailing experience.
The physical sailing of Valiente is relatively straightforward, so she’s a great boat to learn on if you haven’t sailed before. Her simple rig has three sails: the main, genoa and jib, all working off a winch system. The wheelhouse is set at deck level, with a modern navigation system. You can take the helm and work with the skipper to keep your course. The crew who sail in these waters are highly skilled, resourceful, and calm, and they are always on hand to guide guests.
The boat works on a relaxed watch system, usually 4 hours on and 8 hours off. This gives guests a real chance to have some focused sailing time, while also having time to just be. To sit, watch the world go by, relax, nap, read a book in your cabin, play cards in the saloon, or simply sit at the bows, watching and reflecting as the world glides by. If Valiente spends time on anchor, the watch system will run overnight, but with all guests and crew participating, you wouldn’t be on watch on consecutive nights.
There is always a thorough safety briefing and introduction once guests have settled onboard, followed by a “man overboard” procedure (don’t worry – this is a fender, not a real person!) and a fire safety drill.
Sleeping and Relaxation
Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat (there’s even heated towel rails in all bathrooms and a heater in the wheelhouse), so there she is wonderfully cosy! The spacious saloon and galley are set midships with 360-degree windows at deck level – perfect for cooking with a view. The galley is really well equipped with an induction hob, two domestic ovens, two fridge drawers and plenty of storage space. All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. The cabins are a mix of double beds and twin bunks, but cabins are not allocated until all guests are on board, so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and proper facilities for their needs!
There are full-size domestic showers with plenty of hot water, although, as with all sailing experiences, guests are asked to be respectful with their water consumption. A small bath towel is provided per person, but you’ll need to bring an extra hand towel or swim towel if you wish.
Eating Aboard
Aside from setting the sails and taking the helm, the next most important aspect of Arctic sailing on Valiente is definitely the food! Once you’ve boarded the boat, a crew member will split all guests into pairs, who are then divided over a rota for breakfast, lunch and dinner duties. With an average of 10 people on board, you’ll normally end up doing one of each service over a week’s voyage.
If you’re not much of a cook, fear not! There will be a menu plan for the whole voyage, with all provisions on board. The menu plan is entirely flexible depending on the day’s plan— maybe you catch a fish, or perhaps the more confident cooks want to experiment a little! Alongside the menu plan, there is a correlating recipe book, especially made with ingredients, quantities and cooking methods to match the meal plan. Cooking on board is an integral part of how a sailing ship operates. A hearty feed after a sailing adventure, a chance to bring everyone together, for confidence to grow, and cultural culinary tips to be shared.
Sample menu
This is an example of what could be served while sailing with Valiente. There is no dedicated cook on board Valiente. Guests all take it in turns on a rotation basis to cook for the boat. This is an enjoyable part of sailing with Valiente as you make firm friends and experience recipes from around the world!
Breakfast
- Eggs, bacon, beans and toast
- Pancakes with jam and spreads
- Oatmeal with various toppings
- Bread and spreads
- Yoghurt and/or milk with cereal
Lunch
- Cauliflower or onion Soup
- Fish soup (using fish we’ve caught from our lines!)
- Cream porridge with cured meats
- Tomato soup and omelette
- Pancakes
Dinner
- Fish or veggie burgers
- Pasta with smoked salmon
- Chilli con carne
- Tacos
- Vegetable lasagne
- Bali chicken stew
- Salmon with root vegetables and sour cream
- Pasta bolognese with salad
- Sautéed reindeer stew
- Self-caught cod with pea puree
Dessert
- Fruit salad with vanilla sauce and firkløver chocolate
- Cream buns
- Sweet biscuits or chocolate
Valiente
Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff
From week-long adventures in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to offshore Barents Sea crossings and ski & sail voyages in Norway, sailing with Valiente requires no prior experience. It is perfect for adventurous souls of all ages.
Joining Valiente will see you becoming an active member of the crew, taking part in all aspects of sailing. From the day-to-day running of the boat, winching sails and taking the helm to cooking up meals with your fellow guests, the crew of Valiente will be on hand to guide you at all times.
Tough on the outside, soft on the inside. With her steel hull made to withstand icy waters, below decks is a welcome contrast. Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat, so you’ll be wonderfully cosy! The saloon and well-equipped galley are set midships with 360° windows at deck level with plenty of storage space.
All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. The cabins are a mix of double beds and twin bunks, but cabins are not allocated until all guests are on board, so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and right facilities for their needs!
The Arctic sailing grounds are a vulnerable area increasingly under pressure from climate change. The owners of Valiente are committed to protecting the environment as much as possible and believe that small boats with fewer people are considerably less harmful to the environment and local wildlife than larger cruise ships.
Deck plan
More about Valiente
More holidays in Norway or Svalbard
Short break sailing in the Norwegian Fjords
Short Adventure Sailing Holiday in the Lofoten Islands
Hike and Sail Adventure in Norway from Tromsø
Arctic Circumnavigation: Svalbard Sailing & Walking Expedition
More holidays on Valiente
South Greenland Sailing Expedition: Fjords, Ice and Viking History
Sailing from Greenland to Iceland: South Coast to Reykjavik
The Wonders of Arctic Svalbard: Sailing Expedition
Expedition Sailing Around Greenland: Qaqortoq to Sisimiut
Inspiration for your voyage
Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below. Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below.
JOURNAL
