— I thought I had experienced wilderness and scenic beauty before; but the two days of adventure organised by this team blew my mind!
Silje Christine, Switzerland (Tripadvisor)
Visiting the area around the Tempelfjord and Sassendalen valley during the Polar Night is a wonderful experience that gives you a real sense of being at one with nature. We will heat up our lavvu for lunch and storytelling in a historical setting surrounded by wild nature.
Kitted out in good and warm clothing, with our faces pointed eastwards towards the darkness and to the rumbling sound of the snowmobiles, we are ready for a day out in the Svalbard nature. We drive by snowmobile along the river landscape, wide valleys and open expanses to the Brattlidalen valley. This small hidden valley, which resembles a small cathedral, was formed by the meltwater that flowed through here over a period of several thousand years.
Silje Christine, Switzerland (Tripadvisor)
Candles and a crackling fire light up the lavvu (traditional Sami herdsmen’s tent) and the spectacular surroundings. Sitting on benches covered by reindeer skins, our guides will serve you a hot lunch while sharing fascinating stories about Svalbard. During the Polar Night at this time of the year, the sun is so far below the horizon that the polar light is even clearer than usual. Out here, far removed from the artificial light in Longyearbyen, we have the best possible conditions for experiencing the Northern Lights. Svalbard is one of the few populated places on earth where this mystical phenomenon can be viewed during the daytime.
Difficulty: 3
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10:00 - 17:00
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Minimum participants: 2 drivers
Age limit: 12 years
After lunch, we explore the area around the lavvu before starting up our snowmobiles again. Our next stop is the Eskerfossen waterfall. The name comes from the term “esker”, which is stratified sand and gravel deposited by meltwater under a glacier. After the ice has melted, the esker remains as a ridge in the terrain. Out here in the Arctic wilderness, we can enjoy the majestic sight of the frozen waterfall hanging over the edge of the ridge.
As we approach Longyearbyen, we make a final stop to admire the sight of this isolated settlement bathing in light, in sharp contrast with the surrounding nature.
Svalbard has a common grading system so you will find the trip that suits you. There are no snowmobile trips that suit everyone, therefore it’s no grading 1. Highlighted number is graded for this trip:
2 – Suitable for most without any snowmobile experience, very easy and flat terrain
3 – Suitable for most without any snowmobile experience, through some rugged terrain
4 – Previous snowmobile experience recommended, long day trip
5 – This activity demands previous snowmobile experience, very long day trip
To drive a snowmobile on Svalbard, you must have a driver’s license for passenger car/class B. The driver’s license must have been issued in a country that is a party to the Geneva Convention of 1949 or the Vienna Convention of 1968 on road traffic. The driver’s license must be valid in the issuing country. Here you’ll find a list over countries not eligible for driving snowmobiles at Svalbard.