About
This is an amazing wilderness experience! It is a long day on snowmobile in varied, and demanding terrain, but the reward is great - a fantastic day out in the stark Svalbard landscape, and if you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a polar bear during the trip.
Snowmobile tour to the realm of the polar bear
On this excursion you will experience some of the best of Svalbard. You will get a fantastic day out in Svalbard's beautiful nature. The east coast of Spitsbergen is colder than the west coast because of the distance to the Gulf Stream, which means more sea ice and better conditions for the polar bear. It gives us good opportunities to observe the mighty animal at a safe distance, so bring your binoculars and zoom lens to the camera!
The tour takes us east from Longyearbyen, through Eskerdalen and out into Sassendalen. We continue through the glacial systems that extend from south to north on Spitsbergen, before arriving at Mohn Bay on the East coast of Spitsbergen. We explore the area and enjoy an expedition lunch in front of the mighty glacier front.
Popular adventure
The snowmobile trip to the East Coast is one of our most popular excursions, but it can also be difficult with a long day on the snowmobile. The white mountains and wide valleys are so powerful that you feel tiny in the vast Svalbard nature. We make several stops along the way and take our time. If you do not see the polar bear, chances are good that reindeer, Svalbard ptarmigans or polar foxes will cross our path. If we have time, we will drive up to a viewpoint or two, to get a better overview of the beautiful scenery.
Enjoy the small moments
Many visitors hope and dream of meeting the King of the Arctic but although the chances on the East coast are relatively good, it is important to enjoy the trip from start to finish, if the polar bear should not appear. Enjoy being out in the never-ending wilderness, feel the Arctic tranquility, and let the stark scenery sink in - with or without bears. Maybe you will find polar bear tracks? Don’t forget to compare their size with your own hand.
If the conditions allow we will choose a different route home, offering new amazing impressions from jagged glaciers and snow-covered valleys - all in all, an unforgettable day on Svalbard.
Included
- Transfer from hotel/accommodation place in Longyearbyen
- Warm drinks and biscuits
- Expedition lunch
- Snowmobile suit, shoes, gloves and helmet to use during the tour
- Tour leader with weapons and safety sled
- Rescue insurance
Practical information
Age limit: 14 years
Minimum number of participants: 2 snowmobiles
Distance: 190km
Drivers’ licence
A valid driver’s licence for car or motorbike is required to drive a snowmobile. Remember to take it with you on the tour.
Recommendations
We recommend that you dress in warm woollen underwear, warm outer pants and a solid woollen jumper under the snowmobile suits which you will loan from us. We also recommend that our guests have extra clothes in a backpack, for example an extra jumper, woollen hat and mittens.
Pregnancy
Longyearbyen Hospital advises pregnant women to not participate in snowmobile and dog sledding tours, as a blow to the stomach or fall may pose a risk of injury to the mother or unborn child.
Possible changes
We reserve the right to change the route of the tour for safety reasons should the weather or snow conditions require it. This will not be grounds for a change in price. The participants agree to follow the tour leader’s directions and instructions. The tour leader will not drive with a passenger.
Alcohol
The ‘Veitrafikkloven’ or Road Traffic Act applies on Svalbard. Driving under the influence of alcohol is not permitted.
Language
Safety is our highest priority, and the guide needs to be able to give directions you understand. To participate on one of our excursions, it is required that you speak and understand English or one of the Scandinavian languages.
Safety
Your safety is our priority. Even if you have experience in winter sports, the Svalbard environment is different to that many might have been in before. Taking a tour with a guide who knows the local conditions is the safest way to explore the area outside of Longyearbyen. As a participant on a snowmobile tour, it is important that you follow the guide’s directions underway. This is both for your own safety, and that of the group. Weather and snow conditions are the big factors on Svalbard, and we reserve the right to change the route or destination to one that is safest for you and the group.
Hurtigruten Svalbard’s guides have different backgrounds and experience, but what they all have in common is that they come to work to ensure you will have the best and safest tour. Some have taken the Arctic Nature Guide study, others are certified mountain guides, glacier guides or authorised Svalbard guides who have taken the Svalbard Guide Opplæring (SGO - Svalbard guide training). SGO study includes fundamental requirements for safe travel on Svalbard, as well as education about tourism, field safety and an understanding of environmental and cultural values. In addition our guides take part in internal training and exercises through the year.
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