Spitsbergen Winter Safari
5 nights / 4 days, Longyearbyen - Barentsburg - Vestre Grønfjord Glacier - Van Mijenfjord - Fridtjovbreen - Reindalen Valley - Nordenskiöld Glacier - Longyearbyen | We spend one day in Longyearbyen before we set out on a 4-day tour across glaciers and frozen fjords, between mountains and icebergs, miles away from civilization. Svalbard is one and a half times the size of Denmark - and has no roads. The region is so large that the only reasonable way of getting around in the winter, is by snowmobile, which is generally accepted as the mean transport on Svalbard. It is a marvelous experience to set out on long trips through Svalbard's magnificent scenery. And it is daylight around the clock in April and May. What a sense of freedom you will have when you drive across one gigantic, white glacier after another! And you can enjoy a hot drink out among the enormous icebergs on the east coast of Spitsbergen. With a bit of luck, you might spot a polar bear lurking behind an iceberg! Experience the magic of Arctic winter! Svalbard, an Arctic Pearl in Northern Norway!
| Departure | Departures: Sunday - Friday, March 7th, 14th, 21th, 2010 April 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, 2010 |
| Price | $3 120 per person in double room $3,825 single room in Longyearbyen / single snowmobile $520 supplement single snowmobile Additional nights at Spitsbergen Guesthouse: $100 double room per person per night $130 single room per night Additional nights at Spitsbergen Hotel $190 double room per person per night $325 single room per night |
| Included | Transfer on scheduled arrival and departure accommodation in single or double room in Longyearbyen 1 night Barentsburg Hotel 2 nights in Spitsbergen Expedition Lodge Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily 4 x Lunch en route 4 x Dinners Shared equipment, sleeping bag Snowmobile equipment / clothing (suit, boots, gloves, hats, balaclava and goggles) Snowmobile*, petrol, oil, and rescue insurance Experienced guide(s) with own snowmobile Necessary safety equipment Taxes & services |
| Not Included | International airfare Flights to/from Longyearbyen Airport taxes Personal clothing and equipment Beverages such as beer, wine and mineral water Gratuities Fee for one-person snowmobile Personal insurance / personal items $25 Service fee Please bring cash for beverage |
| Please Note | All times are subject to change. This route is only an example. Plans for each particular tour are based on the prevailing ice, weather and snow conditions and are made at the start of the tour. Changes in accommodation in field do happen due to different availability from one season to the other! * Two persons per snowmobile / supplement for one-person snowmobile $475. Each driver must have a valid drivers license to ride a snow mobile; remember to bring your drivers license for the Spitsbergen Winter Safari! |
| Tour Options | Air available on SAS - inquire about our special fares! Additional nights at Spitsbergen Guesthouse Additional nights at Spitsbergen Hotel Additional nights in Oslo |
Day 1 LONGYEARBYEN Sunday Upon arrival at the Svalbard Airport you will be met by our tour guides. Transfer from the airport to the Spitsbergen Hotel for overnight. Accommodation: Spitsbergen Hotel Arrival flights: 09:35 SK4414 from Oslo, via Tromsø (arr. 11:10, dep. 12:15), arr. 13:55, transfer included S01 to S03. Airport shuttle (NOK 50,-) for arrivals S04 to S07 20:40 SK4496 from Oslo, direct flight, arrival 23:30, transfer to Spitsbergen Hotel included for S04 to S07 22:50 SK4492 from Tromsø, arrival 00:30 (Monday), transfer to Spitsbergen Hotel included (connecting flight from Oslo to Tromsø; SK4434 19:50-21:35)
Day 2 LONGYEARBYEN - BARENTSBURG (B, L, D) Monday 09:00 Your guide joins you for breakfast. Breakfast is served until 10:00 11:00 Information meeting / briefing before the tour starts. Preparations and packing of equipment. We start out from Longyearbyen towards the Russian settlement Barentsburg where we have lunch. Short evening trip in the nearby area. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Barentsburg.
Day 3 FRIDTJOVBREEN - VAN MIJENFJORD (B, L, D) Tuesday After breakfast we drive towards the glacier Fridtjovbreen and Van Mijenfjorden. Lunch en route. In the afternoon we'll arrive at our Spitsbergen Expedition Lodge that will be our base the next two days. Dinner at the lodge in the evening.
Day 4 TEMPELFJORD (B, L, D) Wednesday After breakfast. Set out towards Tempelfjorden, heading north. The final route of the day is based upon the weather- and ice conditions. Lunch en route. Dinner at the lodge in the evening.
Day 5 TEMPELFJORD - LONGYEARBYEN (B) Thursday Weather permitting, we finish our safari with a trip to the east coast of Spitsbergen. Lunch en route. Return to Longyearbyen in the evening. Accommodation and dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Day 6 DEPARTURE LONGYEARBYEN (B) Friday Departure flights: 02:30 Airport shuttle from hotel to airport for departures SK4497 and SK4493 included (participants will receive a voucher for the bus from the guide in advance). Please double check correct departure time for the bus in the reception. 04:05 SK4493/SK4407 to Oslo via Tromsø (arr. Tromsø at 05:40, dep. 06:50), arrival Oslo at 08:45 04:50 SK4497 to Oslo, direct flight, arrival Oslo at 07:45 11:00 Latest check-out for late departures 14:45 SK4425 to Oslo, via Tromsø (arr. 16:20, dep. 17:10), arrival 19:00, airport shuttle NOK 50,- per person All times are subject to alteration. This route is only an example. Plans for each particular tour are based on the prevailing ice, weather and snow conditions,and are made at the start of the tour.