A snowy street with cones of festive light in the polar night

Winter package · 6 days

Polar Night Week

Six days, five nights, and a town that lives by lamplight. The classic dark-season week: settling into life in the polar night, husky trails run under headlamps, the aurora when it comes, and real time in town. From €1,990 per person, November to January.

Length: 6 days · 5 nights
From: €1,990 pp
Season: November to January
Base: Hotel in Longyearbyen · 5 nights
Guiding: English-speaking guides

A week inside the dark season

Six days is enough to stop counting daylight. Rather than a quick sample, this is a settled week in the polar night: husky trails run by headlamp, a snowmobile day into the valleys, aurora outings when the sky allows, and real time to live in a town that runs by lamplight.

You base yourself in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, for five nights. From there the week unfolds at an unhurried pace, with guided days on the snow and open evenings to head out for the lights or warm up in a café. The longer stay is the point: more chances, less rush.

Honest about the darkness

From November to January the sun does not rise here at all. That is the centre of this trip, not a footnote: long darkness, a little blue light at midday, and cold that comes and goes with the wind. The aurora may show or may not; we will tell you the odds straight. What we promise is the time, guides who know the ground, and a week shaped around what the Arctic is actually doing.

On this trip

What you’ll see and do

Life in the polar night

A longer stay lets you settle into a town that runs without the sun. You learn the rhythm of the blue hours and the lit streets, eat well, and stop counting daylight. It is less a tour than a week inside the dark season.

Husky trails under headlamps

You take a dog team out on the snow with a lamp on your forehead, the trail lit only as far as the beam reaches. In the deep polar night this is how much of the travelling is done, and the dogs know the way better than the light does.

When the lights come out

On a clear, active night the aurora can spread green across the sky above the mountains. It is never guaranteed, but a five-night stay gives you several evenings to try, and your guide takes you out whenever the conditions look worth it.

Day by day

Your 6 days, day by day

6 guided days, 5 nights based in Longyearbyen.

1
Day 1

Arrival in Longyearbyen

Your transfer brings you in from the airport through the dark, and you settle into your hotel for the week. Your guide runs an evening briefing on what the polar night involves and fits your winter gear.
2
Day 2

Finding the rhythm

An easy first full day to adjust to the darkness and the blue hours, with a guided walk through town, the museum, and a look at how life runs here without the sun. A first aurora outing after dark if the sky allows.
3
Day 3

Huskies under headlamps

A guided day at the dog yard and out on a sled, run in the dim midday light and finished by headlamp as the dark closes in. The pace is hands-on, with time to learn the dogs and the trail.
4
Day 4

Out into the snow

A guided trip beyond the town, either a snowmobile run into the valleys or more time on the trails, depending on conditions. The evening stays open for another aurora hunt if the forecast turns clear.
5
Day 5

Longyearbyen at darkness

A lighter day to enjoy the town at its own pace (cafés, the brewery, a last walk under the lit streets), with a final chance to head out for the lights once it is fully dark.
6
Day 6

Final morning and departure

Breakfast, a last look at the snowbound valley, and your transfer back to the airport. Five nights inside the polar night, and a real feel for the dark season behind you.

The fine print, up front

What your price covers

What's included

English-speaking guides throughout
Complete winter kit: thermal suit and boots
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Hotel in Longyearbyen for 5 nights
Every activity in the itinerary
Search & rescue cover
Daily breakfast

Not included

Flights to Longyearbyen
Travel insurance
Some lunches and dinners
Optional add-on tours and upgrades

From €1,990 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

Longyearbyen in the blue light of the polar night

Alpenglow and the moon over Longyearbyen

Good to know

Before you book

Is it really dark for the whole week?

From November to January, yes: the sun stays below the horizon the entire time. You get a few hours of dim blue light around midday, then darkness. This is the true polar night, and the week is built to make the most of it rather than fight it.

Will the northern lights appear during the week?

We cannot promise them. The aurora needs a clear sky and active conditions, and either can be missing on a given night. A five-night stay gives you several evenings to try, which improves your odds, but it is never a certainty.

What is the weather like, and what do I wear?

Expect cold, often −10 to −20 °C and colder in wind, sometimes with snow or low cloud. We provide a thermal suit and insulated boots; you bring base layers, a warm hat, gloves and a buff. Several thin layers beat one thick one.

How fit do I need to be?

Moderate. Dog sledding and snowmobiling need basic balance and some effort, and outings mean time standing in the cold. There is no demanding hiking. Let us know about any mobility needs in advance.

Why choose the longer week over a short break?

Time. A week lets you settle into the polar-night rhythm, get more outings, and have more chances at the aurora rather than pinning everything on one or two nights. It suits people who want to live in the dark season, not just sample it.

Does this work for solo travellers?

Yes. Activities run in small guided groups, so solo guests join the same outings and meet others through the week. Pricing is per person whether you come alone or with others.

Make Polar Night Week 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