Norway - Svalbard
Spitsbergen Arctic Winter Safari
 Mar
- April 2006
6 days/5 nights
A four-day snowmobile safari across glaciers and
frozen fjords, miles from civilization. If the weather is good, we travel on to
the east coast, and if we are lucky we may see polar bears on the pack ice.
Svalbard is one and a half times the
size of Denmark, and there are no roads. This means that snowmobiles are the
most common means of transport during the winter. A long ride on a snowmobile
through a sparkling white winter wonderland is a memorable experience. The sense
of freedom you get when driving across the vast and endless white glacier
plateaux is truly unforgettable!
Organizing long snowmobile trips on
Svalbard requires a great deal of expertise about snowmobiles, equipment,
navigation and winter camping. Our guides organize the tours in a professional
manner, ensuring that all safety requirements are met and that essential items
such as petrol, oil, food and safety equipment are in place and in order before
departure.
How demanding is the tour ?
This tour is not usually particularly
demanding, but you must be prepared for the weather to change very quickly, and
at times the wind and the cold can be quite severe. You do not need to have
driven a snowmobile before coming on this tour, and you will receive full
training. Even though all our snowmobiles can carry two people, we strongly
recommend that all members of the party drive their own snowmobile. After a
while it can be very strenuous to travel as a passenger, and also to drive with
a passenger behind you. The snowmobiles are very comfortable to drive and the
handlebar grips are heated. The snowmobile clothing will keep you warm even in
extreme weather conditions.
Equipment
We provide snowmobile suits, boots, gloves, hats, goggles, sleeping bags and all
the other general equipment. You must have good winter clothing to wear under
these clothes.
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 The tour itinerary:
It is relatively easy, in principle, to
drive a snowmobile, but to set out on a long snowmobile tour on Svalbard
requires a great deal of planning and experience, as well as familiarity
with the Svalbard landscape - and mechanical expertise!
Our permanent tour leaders are among the most experienced in the region.
They take responsibility for every practical detail of the tour, and ensure
that it will be conducted in a safe and suitable way. After a 90 minute
flight across the Arctic Ocean you will be met by our tour leader at
Longyearbyen airport. During the afternoon and evening you will get to know
each other, and the tour leader will brief you on the itinerary.
 The
first morning the tour leader will meet for breakfast and give a short
briefing. You will then be taken to our tour production department where all
necessary clothes and equipment will be allocated to you. Snowmobiles,
gasoline and provisions have already been organized. Before setting out, the
tour leader will give you a basic introduction to the driving technique. We
start at a moderate speed so that everybody can get used to snowmobile
driving. In order to drive the snowmobile you need to be in good health (no
bad back, neck, arms or wrists). It is also important with an adventurous
mind. This is not a tour for apprehensive people. On the first day we drive
to the Russian settlement on Svalbard, Barentsburg, where we have lunch. We
then head on to Kapp Linné/Isfjord Radio, which is situated at the mouth of
the Isfjord. Kapp Linné/Isfjord Radio is a beautiful and peaceful place far
from civilization and facing the open Arctic Ocean. The radio station
Isfjord Radio offers charming rooms (shower/wc in the corridor), a lounge
and dining room. You will be served dinner in the evening. From Kapp Linné/Isfjord
Radio, where we plan to spend two nights, we make a trip to the Fridtjof
Glacier in Van Mijenfjord. We will be out all day, and the tour leader will
prepare lunch en route. The fourth day we drive to the scenic Tempelfjord in
the Sassen Bay. We will be out all day and take you through fantastic
scenery and the guide will prepare lunch en route. Overnight stay will be
taken place in a boat frozen in the ice (alternatively overnight in heated
tent or cabin). We return to Longyearbyen on Thursday evening after a trip
to the remote east coast of Spitsbergen. Alternatively we drive towards the
magnificent Nordenskiold glacier and Billefjorden. The sense of freedom you
get when driving across the vast and endless white glacier plateaux is truly
unforgettable and if we are lucky we may see Polar Bears on the pack ice.
Check in at Spitsbergen Hotel and after a hot shower and maybe a visit to
the sauna we will be ready for dinner in the hotel restaurant. |
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We recommend one person
per snowmobile!
We can organize special tours
for groups on request.
Day-by-day program:
(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.)
- Day 1 - Sunday: Flights
from Tromsø or Oslo arrive late evening. The tour leader meets the party with
transfer to the Radisson SAS Polar Hotel Spitsbergen.
- Day 2 - Monday: Breakfast
and then briefing, preparations and packing the equipment. Set out for
Tempelfjord after lunch. Dinner and overnight stay at M/S Origo, a ship frozen
up in Tempelfjord.
- Day 3 - Tuesday: After
breakfast we head out for the east coast (if the weather permit). Lunch en
route. Well into the evening we return to M/S Origo with dinner onboard.
- Day 4 - Wednesday
:Breakfast on board. Set out for Kapp Linne after breakfast. Lunch en route.
Accommodation and dinner at Kapp Linne.
- Day 5 - Thursday: Breakfast
at Kapp Linne, before returning to Longyearbyen. We make a stop in Barentsburg,
the Russian settlement at Svalbard. Accommodation and farewell dinner at the
Radisson SAS Polar Hotel.
- Day 6 - Friday: Transfer to
the airport for the direct flights to Oslo and Tromso in very early morning.
Schedule and times subject to change!
ADDITIONAL NIGHTS IN LONGYEARBYEN AVAILABLE!!
Departures 2006:
|
| Tourcode |
Arrive
Longyearbyen |
Depart
Longyearbyen |
| S01 |
Sunday Mar 12 |
Friday Mar 17 |
| S02 |
Sunday Mar 19 |
Friday Mar 24 |
| S03 |
Sunday Mar 26 |
Friday Apr 31 |
| S04 |
Sunday Apr 02 |
Friday Apr 07 |
| S05 |
Sunday Apr 16 |
Friday Apr 21 |
| S06 |
Sunday Apr 23 |
Friday Apr 28 |
| S07 |
Sunday Apr 30 |
Friday May 05 |
For groups we can organize
special departures on request.
Prices
from:
|
| Category
Description |
Price per Person |
| Double room /2 persons per
snowmobile |
$3030 |
| Single room/1 person per
snowmobile |
$3640 |
| Supplement single snowmobile
per person |
$ 485 |
| Airfare: Oslo or Tromsø -
Longyearbyen - Tromsø or Oslo |
Please
Inquire |
Prices include:
Transfers (included on scheduled arrival &
departure), accommodation in single or double room in Longyearbyen,
accommodation onboard M/S Origo and in Kapp Linne, all meals as described,
general equipment, sleeping bag, snowmobile with all necessary equipment,
snowmobile suit, petrol, oil and rescue insurance. Accompaniment by a highly
experienced tour guide(s) with their own snowmobile and all necessary safety
equipment also included.
Prices do not include:
Airfare to/from Longyearbyen, personal clothes
and equipment (list of equipment will be sent to you on request or when you
register for the trip), beer, wine, beverages, personal travel insurance.
Minimum 4 passengers,
Maximum 12 passengers
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SPB--92805 |
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