Svalbardway
Menu
Green aurora over snow-covered peaks above a dark fjord at night

Winter package · 9 days

Grand Winter

The complete winter, from town lights to the far valleys. Nine days to chase the aurora night after night, go deep into the ice caves, ride a snowmobile far out, and drive your own husky team. From €2,990 per person, December to April, across the polar night and the returning light.

Length
9 days · 8 nights
From
€2,990 pp
Season
December to April
Base
Hotel in Longyearbyen · 8 nights
Guiding
English-speaking guides

The whole of an Arctic winter

Nine days is the fullest way to take Svalbard in the cold season. You drive your own husky team, ride a snowmobile far past the town, descend into glacier ice caves, and have night after night to look for the aurora, with a spare day held in reserve for whatever the weather allows. From the lights of Longyearbyen to the silence of the far valleys, this is winter at its most complete.

From the polar night to returning light

Running December to April, the Grand Winter spans two very different faces of the season. Travel in December or January and you are in the polar night, with blue midday twilight and the best odds for the aurora. Travel in March or April and the sun is back, the days long and the snow bright. Whichever you choose, we are accurate with you about the light, and honest that the northern lights and wildlife are never something anyone can promise this far north.

Shaped by the Arctic, day by day

Snow, ice and cloud move quickly at 78° North, so your guides plan each day on the morning rather than from a fixed itinerary. What stays the same is the small-group pace, the warm gear, the search-and-rescue cover behind you, and a team that knows how to read an Arctic winter and make the most of every day you have.

On this trip

What you’ll see and do

People watching the aurora under a dark sky

Aurora, night after night

With more nights in hand, you have more chances at the northern lights. On clear, dark evenings your guide takes you away from the town glow to watch, though the aurora always depends on solar activity and a clear sky, and is never guaranteed.

The blue interior of a glacier ice cave

Deep into the ice caves

You walk out onto a glacier and descend into caves carved by meltwater, where the ice glows deep blue. With time to spare, your guides can choose the best routes for the conditions across more than one outing.

A snowmobile on a snowy trail

Snowmobile the far valleys

On your own machine you ride well beyond the town, deep into frozen valleys a shorter trip never reaches. Your guide leads at a steady pace, with stops for hot drinks and the long Arctic views.

A husky sled team running on snow

Your own husky team

A full day at the yard, harnessing the dogs and then driving your own sled across the snow rather than riding along. There is time with the team before and after, learning how the dogs work.

Day by day

Your 9 days, day by day

9

9 guided days, 8 nights based in Longyearbyen.

  1. 1

    Day 1

    Arrival in Longyearbyen

    Your transfer brings you in from the airport and you settle into your hotel. The evening is yours, with a short briefing from your guide on the days ahead in the world's northernmost town.

  2. 2

    Day 2

    First steps in the winter

    An easier first day to find your feet, with a guided outing from town and a first look across the frozen valley, plus an aurora attempt if the skies are clear.

  3. 3

    Day 3

    A full day with the dogs

    The whole day at the husky yard: harnessing the team, learning the handling and driving your own sled across the snow.

  4. 4

    Day 4

    Into the ice caves

    Out to a glacier and down into its blue ice caves, fitted with crampons and a headlamp. The route is chosen from the morning's conditions.

  5. 5

    Day 5

    Snowmobile far out

    A longer ride deep into the far valleys on your own machine, covering ground the shorter trips never reach, with stops for the wide views.

  6. 6

    Day 6

    Aurora night

    If skies stay clear, you head out after dark to watch for the northern lights away from the town glow, one of several chances across the trip.

  7. 7

    Day 7

    A flexible winter day

    A spare day to use the best of the weather, whether a second ice-cave or snowmobile outing, or time in Longyearbyen's museum and cafés.

  8. 8

    Day 8

    Longyearbyen and the fjord

    A calmer day around Longyearbyen, with last looks over the snow and the dark fjord before your final evening.

  9. 9

    Day 9

    Departure

    Breakfast and your transfer to the airport, eight nights of Arctic winter behind you.

The fine print, up front

What your price covers

What's included

  • English-speaking guides on every outing
  • Complete winter clothing and safety gear
  • All transfers: airport and activities
  • 8 nights' hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen
  • All listed activities: husky day, ice caves, snowmobiling, aurora outings
  • Search & rescue cover

Not included

  • Flights to and from Longyearbyen
  • Travel insurance
  • Some meals, most lunches and dinners
  • Optional add-on tours

From €2,990 per person, double occupancy. Flights to Longyearbyen are not included. Your final price depends on your exact dates and group, and we confirm it within 24 hours.

From the season

What it actually looks like

Green aurora over snowy mountains
Longyearbyen town under winter snow
Snowmobiles on snow-covered Arctic terrain
Alpenglow and the moon over Longyearbyen

Good to know

Before you book

How does the daylight change across these months?

A lot. December and January fall in the polar night, with only a blue midday twilight and the sun below the horizon. The light returns in early March, and by April you have long, bright days on the snow. Your dates decide whether you travel in darkness or in returning light.

With nine days, am I more likely to see the aurora?

More nights mean more chances, which is one reason for the longer trip. But the aurora is still never guaranteed, as it needs solar activity and clear skies together, and Svalbard weather shifts fast. The dark months of December to February give the best odds; by April the bright nights make sightings unlikely.

How cold is it, and what clothing do I need?

Expect roughly −10 to −20 °C, colder with wind or out on a snowmobile. You bring warm base and mid layers; we provide the heavy outer suit, insulated boots, mittens and headgear, so you stay warm through long days and aurora nights.

How fit do I need to be for everything in this trip?

Good general fitness helps, as this is the fullest of the winter trips. Snowmobiling takes concentration and effort, the husky day means handling a sled, and the ice caves involve walking on ice with some scrambling. No experience is needed, as guides teach each activity from the start.

Which months are best for the Grand Winter?

December to February for the polar night and the strongest aurora chances; March and April for returning daylight, brighter snowmobiling and more of the landscape on show. The trip works across both, depending on the kind of winter you want.

Does it suit solo travellers as well as couples and groups?

Yes. Activities run in small groups, so solo guests share the days out with others on the same dates, while couples and small groups travel together. Let us know your party and we'll arrange suitable rooms.

Make Grand Winter yours

Tell us your dates and who’s coming. We’ll confirm the plan and the exact price within 24 hours, no pressure.

Plan this trip