Our staff will respond to your query promptly and provide detailed information to your questions.
4 days | Independent tour | Dec-Feb | Svalbard
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.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Bus transfers in Longyearbyen
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.
Check into the Basecamp Hotel. An Arctic hideaway inspired by the era of trappers, explorers, and polar expeditions, Basecamp Hotel is located in the heart of Longyearbyen. It blends raw, historic character with warm, welcoming comfort.
You will be picked up at your hotel by your guide. The guided tour takes you around Longyearbyen offering local knowledge, an overview of the various attractions, and, most importantly, an introduction to the history of Svalbard.
Drive past local mines, research areas, the town centre, the church, and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (150 metres away). Along the way, there will be stops for photography, allowing you to capture the unique surroundings. Wildlife varies with the seasons, and during the Polar Night, you might be lucky enough to witness the magical northern lights dancing across the sky.
Why not head down to the floating sauna along the fjord for some icey swimming and warming up.
During the depths of the polar night in Svalbard, from mid‑November to late January, a truly rare Arctic phenomenon awaits: daytime Northern Lights. Wrapped in darkness, the landscape comes alive with soft hues of aurora, often glowing with a distinctive reddish tint unique to this time of year.
Join a guided electric snowmobile safari into the wide, open valley of Adventdalen, far from the lights of Longyearbyen. Before setting off, you’ll receive a thorough introduction to snowmobile riding, making this an enjoyable and accessible experience even for first‑time riders. The route covers around 40 km of mostly flat and easy terrain, allowing you to relax and take in the surroundings.
The quiet electric snowmobiles enhance the sense of wilderness and offer a greater chance of spotting Arctic wildlife such as Svalbard reindeer, ptarmigan, and polar foxes, all set against a pristine, frozen landscape. This is a serene and immersive way to experience Svalbard in winter—combining adventure, nature, and the magic of the aurora in one unforgettable outing.
Transfer by bus to the Longyearbyen airport.
All prices listed twin share, per person. Prices are indicative. For last minute bookings: prices are subject to availability.
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.
ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY:
At 50 Degrees North, animal welfare is a top priority during all our tours and packages. We carefully select suppliers who adhere to strict animal welfare standards, ensuring that wildlife interactions are respectful and comply with local, national, and international regulations. We avoid offering excursions that involve captive wildlife, except where they are properly regulated, and all activities are designed to minimise disturbance to natural ecosystems. Our travellers are educated on responsible, including responsible animal interactions, through our 'Responsible Travel Tips' for travellers, and our guides are trained to lead by example, promoting ethical conduct towards both wild and domesticated animals. By prioritising animal welfare in every aspect of our tours, we ensure that your travel experience is both enjoyable and ethically sound. Read our article on Animal Welfare to learn more.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions, will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
Resident of Longyearbyen, our friend Maria Rossi shares with you her 'top ten things to see and do in Svalbard'. Regardless of season, the magnificent outdoors, high standard in hotels and fine dining options (along with the jolly old pub) will cater for all your requests.
Hot air ballooning in Lapland whilst watching the Northern Lights, hiking up volcanoes, glamping in Greenland, a private meeting with Santa or climbing three peaks in Norway - see our collection of unmissable travel experiences across our Nordic and Scandinavian region.
We wish to ensure that the Arctic wildlife stays unaffected by tourism and so we share these new AECO guidelines.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. The safety of our travellers, staff and operators is a major priority of 50 Degrees North. With an operational office in Norway, 50 Degrees North has access to an up-to-the-minute flow of information regarding the countries we work in. We are also in regular contact with the various operators we use. Their in-depth knowledge and understanding of their various areas is vital.
Beds and room types. Hotel rooms across Scandinavia are typically furnished with twin beds that can be pushed together to form a double. Single rooms tend to be smaller than doubles and usually have a shower rather than a bath. Purpose-built triple or family rooms are uncommon. If three people are sharing, expect a standard double room with an extra bed added, which means noticeably less space than a purpose-built triple would offer.
Luggage. Porters are rare at Scandinavian hotels. You will generally carry your own bags, so pack with this in mind, particularly on itineraries with frequent hotel changes.
Wi-fi. Free wi-fi is standard across the vast majority of Scandinavian hotels at all price points.
Tea and coffee. Unlike hotels in many other parts of the world, Scandinavian accommodation at the 3-star level rarely provides in-room tea and coffee facilities. There may be a kettle, but often nothing to go with it. Many hotels do offer complimentary tea and coffee in the reception area or lobby, so it is worth asking on arrival. If this matters to you, it is worth checking with us beforehand or bringing a small supply of your own.
Lunch in winter. On itineraries that include lunch during the winter months, expect a warm soup with bread rather than a full cooked meal. This is entirely typical across the region and often very good.
Remote hotels in Lapland. At more remote properties in the far north, the hotel or lodge where you are staying will be your only realistic dining option for dinner. This is entirely normal and nothing to be concerned about. Menus are typically limited to one or two main course choices, but the food is generally home-cooked and reflects the local landscape and ingredients well.
Laundry. Self-service washing machines and dryers are typically located in the basement. If you are staying in apartment-style accommodation and cannot find them, ask at reception.
Norway has a few items that typically surprise first-time visitors. Alcohol and luxury goods are heavily taxed, so prices are higher than you might expect. On the other hand, everyday necessities such as bread and milk are taxed at a lower rate and are generally good value. Eating and drinking out, particularly in restaurants and bars, is where most travellers feel the difference most acutely.
If you enjoy a drink, it is worth bringing your full duty-free allowance into Norway when you arrive. Alcohol bought in Norway is significantly more expensive than in most other countries, and there are many lovely parks, hotel terraces and balconies where you can enjoy what you have brought with you.
Current allowances for travellers entering Norway are set by Norwegian Customs. For the most up-to-date figures, check the official allowances at toll.no before you travel, as these are subject to change. As a general guide, the current duty-free quota for spirits, wine and beer follows a tiered system that allows you to mix and match within set limits. Note that beverages with more than 60% alcohol by volume cannot be imported at all, and you must be over 20 to import spirits above 22% ABV.
It is illegal to bring more than the permitted allowance into Norway without declaring it and paying duty. Customs checks do occur, particularly at ferry and land border crossings.
One thing that catches many travellers by surprise is the cost of razor blades. Good quality razor blades in Norway are expensive compared to most countries, so it is worth stocking up before you arrive.
This is a general packing checklist for Scandinavian winter travel. You don’t need everything every day, but these items cover most winter conditions across the region.
If you’re new to winter travel, start with our guide to travelling in Scandinavia during winter to understand what conditions are really like. For practical advice on managing luggage and day-to-day winter travel, see our Lapland winter packing advice, and for detailed guidance on what to wear and how to layer, read our Snow Clothing Essentials guide.
Outer layers
Base and mid layers
Accessories for warmth
Footwear
Everyday and practical items
Health, documents and electronics
Sun and eye protection
