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4 days - Out of this world 24-hour darkness, Arctic adventures and dogsledding
This 4 day trip is designed to make it easy to discover the unique winter atmosphere of Svalbard, one of the planet’s last great frontiers. Spend your days thrill seeking in and around Longyearbyen, one of the world’s northernmost settlements, and enjoy Svalbard’s mystic and magic during the Polar Nights!
Spitsbergen offers Arctic experiences on the edge of the inhabitable world, but it’s not as inaccessible as people might think. There are no roads beyond Longyearbyen. Here, you really are on the border of civilization. Outside the city only, the vast wilderness is waiting for you. Despite its history of coal mining and trapping, Spitsbergen is still mainly pristine wilderness. One of the most fragile ecosystems anywhere on Earth.
Between October and April, the conditions vary drastically weather and daylight wise, from total darkness to wonderful spring sunlight. This program alters accordingly.
- Day 1
- Arrive Longyearbyen and explore this remote town
- Day 2
- Thrill of the Dogsledding
- Day 3
- Experience the darkness of the Polar night on this Snowmobile Safari
- Day 4
- Departure day
- Start/End Place
- Longyearbyen, Svalbard tours
- Country Visited
- Svalbard tours
- Duration
- 4 Days
- Group Size
- 1 - 6
- Suitability
- Easy
- Code
- 50DN0870
Details
Transportation
Bus transfers in Longyearbyen
Included
- Central, local accommodation in Longyearbyen including breakfast
- We have included two activities in this program. Options available from Longyearbyen depending on the season include husky dog safaris, snowmobile safaris, ice cave tour and sightseeing in Longyearbyen. We can modify these according to your preferences and when you are travelling.
- 24-hour emergency service
- Taxes and service fees
- Book with Confidencewe want you to be confident in booking with 50 Degrees North, and we will always have your best interest and safety in mind. In these times of uncertainty during the COVID-19 crisis, we have put in place further measures to make booking with us easier and more flexible
Not Included
- International flights and taxes
- Alcoholic and other beverages other than water
- Gratuities and other items of personal nature
- Warm winter clothing
- Return flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Longyearbyen and explore this remote town
Longyearbyen is 2.50 hr flight from Oslo or 1.35 hr flight from Tromsø and a scenic one as it skirts the long coast of Norway. On arrival, there will be a local airport bus waiting to take you into Longyearbyen, a short drive away.
Check into the Basecamp Hotel and head off for stroll around the small township of Longyearbyen - enjoy the polar museum and church.
Accommodation
Day 2 - Thrill of the Dogsledding
You will be picked up at your hotel by our guide. Together with the guide and rest of the group, you go through today’s route and equipment. After a short car ride, you arrive to Trapper’s Station situated in Bolterdalen, where 90 friendly Alaskan huskies are eager to meet you.
Our guide will introduce the principle of dogsledding and help you to harness your own team. On this trip, two persons share one dog team, and can take turns in driving. Head off mushing into Bolterdalen valley, and as you leave the Trapper’s station, enter the real wilderness of Spitsbergen. Take in the scenery around you and enjoy the arctic silence as your dog team does the work for you.
Once back at the station, you will help to take care of your team, unharness them and give them a few pats and hugs. Before heading back to town, you have chance to look around at authentic Trapper’s Station with many interesting items from trapping time, enjoy warm drink and few biscuits and hear some stories from mushing at Spitsbergen. (4 hours in total).
New for 2021 - why not head down to the floating sauna along the fjord for some icey swimming and warming up.
Meals
1 BreakfastAccommodation
Day 3 - Experience the darkness of the Polar night on this Snowmobile Safari
Experience the darkness of the Polar night from a snowmobile, driving through valleys, getting out of town and into the arctic wilderness. The guide meets you at your hotel and as he/she escorts you to the snowmobiles, tells you more about the coming trip, safety rules and gives you a lesson in how to drive a snowmobile. You will get all the essential equipment you need to keep you warm for enjoying the day ahead. Snowmobiling into the darkness seems endless and the arctic silence is overpowering. The route is planned around the conditions. Experience the magic of the polar night, the excitement of snowmobile driving, hopefully see some wildlife, and find a nice spot with a view. You will stop during the trip to enjoy a hot drink and some biscuits.
Meals
1 BreakfastAccommodation
Day 4 - Departure day
Transfer by bus to the Longyearbyen airport.
Meals
1 BreakfastAll prices listed twin share, per person.
12 Feb 2023
12 Feb 2023
Important Information
By the end of October the last rays of the sun disappear below the horizon, and Svalbard heads towards a period of darkness. For more than two months, between mid-November and the end of January, darkness prevails around the clock. During the darkest times there is no telling if it is noon or midnight. When the sky is clear, stars light up the sky. The Northern Lights and a full moon bounce their light from the snowcovered mountains, and suddenly the darkness doesn’t seem so overwhelming. By February, the light returns slowly. Light blue, pink, and purple colours light up the scenery. Finally, the sun hits the first mountain peaks.
Please bring wool socks, wool mittens to wear under the scooter gloves, Inner layer: wool, Mid layer: Sweater and pants in fleece or wool for your snow activities. You will also need to bring your drivers licence for the snow mobile trip.
Please note prices for goods in Svalbard are quite expensive, however, due to tax reasons, alcohol is comparatively cheap.
You may like to add snowcat drives or ice cave exploring onto this itinerary.
Gallery
Interactive Tour Map
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If you want to commit to a booking please use the Book Tour form below.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. Please ensure that you have this organised as we will need to see proof of this upon issuing your tour documentation. Please contact us for a quote or visit http://www.suresave.net.au/
Practical information about Scandinavian Hotels
Practical information about Scandinavian Hotels
- Hotel rooms in Scandinavia are normally furnished with twin beds, which can be moved together to form a double bed or placed separately. Please note that single rooms are generally smaller than doubles, and are often equipped with a shower instead of a bath. Purpose-built triple or family rooms are likewise unusual in Scandinavian hotels. Whilst it is possible for 3 persons to share a room, this will normally be a double room with an extra bed, with correspondingly less space to move about in.
- It is also unusual to have a porter at hotels to carry your luggage.
- There is free wi-fi in many hotels in Scandinavia.
- Unexpectedly, all forms of Scandinavian accommodation rarely provide tea and coffee facilities in their rooms. If you are lucky, a kettle will be supplied but nothing else. Please ask at reception for some provisions when you arrive or just carry a small selection from home.
- Please also note that in Scandinavia - in particular, during winter - the included lunch will often be a hearty warm soup with bread.
- More remote hotels in Lapland will offer dinner at an additional cost. In some spots, there will be limited choices else where. Generally, you get a very nice home-cooked Scandinavian dinner. However, you may sometimes find only one or two choices only for your main course.
- In Scandinavia, it is normal for washing and laundry facilities to be in the basement. If you are staying in apartment type accommodation, check downstairs or ask for assistance.
Practical budgeting information before your departure to Norway
Practical budgeting information before your departure to Norway:
Budget surprises:
Norway has a few items that typically surprise travellers when visiting Norway for the first time. Alcohol and luxury items are heavily taxed and therefore prices are higher than you would expect. On the other hand, necessities such as bread and milk, are taxed low and therefore are great value.
Alcohol import allowance into Norway:
We recommend that you bring all the alcohol you’re allowed to bring into the country when you arrive. There are many lovely parks and balconies where you can enjoy your duty free. However, be sure not to bring more than you’re allowed!
As of May 2014, the allowances according to Visit Norway are:
Alcoholic beverages:
Minimum age: 18/ 20*
1 litre of beverages with more than 22% up to and including 60% alcohol per volume as well as 1½ litre with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume or three litres with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume
and
2 litres of beer with more than 2.5 % or other beverages with more than 2.5% up to and including 4.7% alcohol per volume.
This means that you may for example bring with you five litres of beer provided you do not have any other alcoholic beverages with you.
*For importing alcoholic beverages with more than 22% alcohol per volume the minimum age is 20.
It’s illegal to bring extra alcohol into Norway and can end up costing you. Another thing you should bring and not buy in Norway is razor blades. Good razor blades in Norway are expensive.
Practical Information for travelling and packing for Scandinavian Winter
Recommended Scandinavian Winter Tour Packing List:
- Warm wind and water proof jacket and trousers large enough to fit thick woollen jumper/clothing underneath
- Rain trousers – waterproof and breathable material
- Warm windproof cap/hat
- Warm gloves or mittens. Mittens where all fingers except the thumb are together are often warmer than gloves.
- Windproof gloves or mittens, which you can pull over the warm gloves
- Warm scarf
- 2 pairs of long woollen underwear (Merino wool in a few different thicknesses is perfect)
- 1-2 warm woollen jumper(s), or one jumper and a warm fleece
- Woollen or fleece trousers
- 2-3 pairs of warm woollen socks
- Warm & sturdy footwear with good grip
- Clothes for indoors, i.e. a shirt, T-shirts and jeans or cotton trousers
- Back pack for day trips (approx. 30 litre)
- Light footwear/trainers (mainly for indoors)
- Sun screen & Lip salve (the sun reflects off the snow and the air is dry)
- Sunglasses
- Hand warmers
- Nordic Grip anti-slip soles for walking on ice
- Personal medication
- Water bottle - thermo, or include a cover to keep warm (or you can stick it into a warm sock)
- Travel documents (including insurance)
- Photo ID
- Note book and pencil
- Camera, memory cards and charger
- Chargers for other gadgets
- Extra batteries for your cameras as they are used fast in cold conditions.
- Adapters