Svalbards Texas Bar - Nexta Expeditions
Svalbard’s Texas Bar

Svalbard’s Texas Bar

Texas Bar is one of the historic areas we visit on certain Svalbard trips, and it always proves to be a cherished landing site among both our guides and guests. This might be surprising, however, given that its name can be a bit misleading.

An old trapper’s hut, Texas Bar is not actually a bar at all. In fact, the bulk of its career has been dedicated to hunting and science. It was built in 1927 by Hilmar Nøis and Martin Petterson Nøis, Norwegian trappers who erected several other such huts in the surrounding region.

blog-image

But these days, Texas Bar has hung up its spurs and belongs solely to the Syssellmannen (Governor of Svalbard). It is now used by scientists and Longyearbyen locals for everything from field logistics to snowmobile trips.

Texas Bar is nestled on the north side of Liefdefjorden, not far from Monacobreen, a visually stunning area of Svalbard, specifically Spitsbergen. Though its name makes the place easy to remember, no one really knows why it was called Texas Bar.

blog-image

Our Svalbard cruises offer a few different hiking options at this excellent location. One is a longer hike that starts from a lagoon nearby. Following a mountain next to the moraine of Erikbreen, this route aims toward a summit of 766 meters (2,500 feet). If we’re lucky, local weather conditions will allow us to reach this point before descending to Texas Bar again.

Shorter hiking options also depend on local conditions, but generally their goal is to make a circular route northwest of Texas Bar, potentially seeing a small waterfall en route. There’s also a chance we’ll encounter reindeer, rock ptarmigans, and other bird life along the way.

blog-image

No matter what we’re able to do in this splendid area, the view from Texas Bar is incredible. And while we can’t have a celebratory toast at the site itself, you’re more than welcome to lift a glass of something cheerful once we’re back on the vessel.

Best Deals

Related Trips

Around Spitsbergen, In the realm of Polar Bear & Ice - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

Around Spitsbergen, In the realm of Polar Bear & Ice

calendar30 Jul 2025 - 08 Aug 2025
clock10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 5.650 per person
Around Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

Around Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet

calendar14 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025
clock10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 5.650 per person
Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis, Including Long Hikes - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis, Including Long Hikes

calendar23 Aug 2025 - 05 Sep 2025
clock14 Days / 13 Nights
From $ 7.450 per person
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail

calendar01 May 2026 - 08 May 2026
clock8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Aberdeen

Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding

calendar27 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026
clock10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.050 per person
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring ,  Hike & Sail - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail

calendar29 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026
clock8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Birding Special - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Birding Special

calendar05 Jun 2026 - 15 Jun 2026
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 5.600 per person
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special

calendar05 Jun 2026 - 12 Jun 2026
clock8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.450 per person
Arctic Ocean - Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Akureyri

Arctic Ocean - Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding

calendar05 Jun 2026 - 13 Jun 2026
clock9 Days / 8 Nights
From $ 2.750 per person
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding - Summer Solstice - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Aberdeen

Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding - Summer Solstice

calendar12 Jun 2026 - 21 Jun 2026
clock10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.050 per person
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special

calendar12 Jun 2026 - 19 Jun 2026
clock8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.450 per person
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife - Nexta Expeditions
Arctic
Longyearbyen

North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife

calendar13 Jun 2026 - 20 Jun 2026
clock8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.450 per person

Blog
go-leftgo-right

Why You Should Visit Greenland: 11 Things to See, Do, and Explore - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Why You Should Visit Greenland: 11 Things to See, Do, and Explore

There's nothing quite like witnessing your first Greenland glacier, navigating into the island's largest fjord system (which also happens to be Earth's largest), or observing a humpback whale breach over the dark Greenland Sea.
South Georgia Whaling Stations - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

South Georgia Whaling Stations

South Georgia is a paradise for animal enthusiasts. It stands out as one of the most wildlife-abundant destinations in our polar expeditions, whether in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.
Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals

Each of our Arctic regions offers its own distinct and unforgettable features: Greenland boasts mountainous shorelines and record-setting fjords, Northern Norway is renowned for the aurora borealis and historic masted schooners, and Svalbard (especially Spitsbergen) is where you're most likely to encounter a variety of Arctic wildlife.
Narwhals: the Aquatic Unicorns of the Arctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Narwhals: the Aquatic Unicorns of the Arctic

Though narwhals are among the rarest whale species encountered during our Arctic expeditions, a journey to the Arctic regions of Greenland and Svalbard always holds the potential for spotting these elusive creatures.
Book Recommendations for Your Polar Cruise - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Book Recommendations for Your Polar Cruise

Though books can't replace the experience of visiting the polar regions, they make excellent companions for your journey. We reached out to our social media followers, many of whom are past or future travelers, to gather their recommendations for polar-related books. The results were impressive, and we've compiled them below in no particular order.
Taking a polar expedition cruise delivers no shortage of show-stopping highlights, but one of the most exhilarating is lifting off from the ship in a helicopter and taking flight over the incomparable Antarctic wilderness. - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Taking a polar expedition cruise delivers no shortage of show-stopping highlights, but one of the most exhilarating is lifting off from the ship in a helicopter and taking flight over the incomparable Antarctic wilderness.

Embarking on a polar expedition cruise offers a plethora of breathtaking experiences, but one of the most thrilling is taking off from the ship in a helicopter and soaring over the stunning Antarctic wilderness.
Ice streams and lakes under the Greenland Ice Sheet - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Ice streams and lakes under the Greenland Ice Sheet

The Greenland ice sheet is a dynamic mass of dense, flowing, and deforming ice. Snow deposited on the central parts of the ice sheet is gradually compressed into ice that slowly moves towards the ice margin. At the ice margin, the ice is removed by melting or by breaking off into icebergs.
Spitsbergen: Alkefjellet magic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Spitsbergen: Alkefjellet magic

If they knew their way home, why not follow them? Equipped with GPS and compass, we approached the cliffs by zodiac. First, we heard the noise from the colony – the distinct calls of guillemots, kittiwakes, and Glaucous gulls. Then the cliffs gradually emerged from the mist.
The Ice-Jewelled Geology of Spitsbergen - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Ice-Jewelled Geology of Spitsbergen

The Svalbard archipelago is located in the Arctic Ocean, roughly 660 km (410 miles) north of Norway's northernmost point. This region is a haven for geologists, boasting a rich geological history that spans from the Mesozoic era (65-245 million years ago) through the Cambrian era (570 million years ago) and back to the Archean era, over 3.5 billion years ago.
Explore Antarctica Without Leaving Your Couch - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Explore Antarctica Without Leaving Your Couch

There are numerous ways to embark on an Antarctica expedition from the comfort of your home. Explore these fantastic resources to experience the White Continent without leaving your couch.
Camping in Antarctica: a True Expedition Experience - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Camping in Antarctica: a True Expedition Experience

We often think of camping as a summer activity, filled with warm nights, campfire dinners, and serene mountain lakes. However, there's a whole other world of camping to explore.
Two for the Snow: Polar Cruises for Couples - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Two for the Snow: Polar Cruises for Couples

Do you know the old saying, “Cold hands, warm heart”? In our opinion, that bodes well for couples who visit the polar regions.
Greenland's History: When Vikings Ruled the Ice Age - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Greenland's History: When Vikings Ruled the Ice Age

A Greenland cruise offers a journey into a rich history filled with intriguing details that captivate polar expedition enthusiasts. Among the most fascinating historical aspects is the fact that Vikings once ruled this land. Anthropologists and climate scientists have long studied Greenland to pinpoint when and why the Vikings left. Recent findings have shed new light on this historical culture.
Navigating by touch through the sea ice - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Navigating by touch through the sea ice

Ships are meant to glide effortlessly through calm waters, but our Greenland expedition vessel Ortelius is shuddering and wiggling as it navigates through the calm yet frozen waters between Svalbard and the islands. We’re on the North Atlantic Odyssey, a journey that starts in continental Europe and concludes near the North Pole in Svalbard. Onboard are 115 enthusiastic passengers. Most of them are currently on the outer decks, cameras in hand, captivated by the sea ice.
Life in the Polar Regions - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Life in the Polar Regions

Polar bears in the Arctic, penguins in Antarctica.
Kayaking In Greenland - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Kayaking In Greenland

Think of Greenland and two images come to mind:
The disastrous expedition in the Arctic west - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The disastrous expedition in the Arctic west

In 1902, Otto Sverdrup, captain of the Fram on Nansen’s expedition, led his own Arctic expedition to the north of Canada. Over the period of the expedition, which started in 1898, Sverdrup and his 15-man crew charted over 250,000 square kilometres of the Arctic using the Fram and sledges. During the expedition Ellesmere Island’s west coast was explored and new islands discovered.
8 Scientific Wonders of the Arctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

8 Scientific Wonders of the Arctic

The Arctic’s frozen landscape not only contains scenic gems, it also prompts fascinating advances in research. Here are some of the eight best.
Graham Land: A landscape dominated by volcanoes - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Graham Land: A landscape dominated by volcanoes

An Antarctic cruise may explore the upper tip of the Antarctic Peninsula where one finds Graham Land, a jagged, glaciated part of Antarctica with a landscape dominated by volcanoes. Despite the volcanoes being over 200 million years old they are far from extinct with volcanic activity occurring today. Graham Land is connected to Palmer Land at the point where the Antarctic Peninsula widens from around 75 km to around 200 km south of Marguerite Bay.
Arctic Mythology: Inuit, Saami, and the Ancient Greeks - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Arctic Mythology: Inuit, Saami, and the Ancient Greeks

The Arctic locations we visit aren’t merely made up of phenomenal landscapes, exotic wildlife, and more adventure than a Hardy Boys novel.