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A tour group inside a blue glacier ice cave

Winter package · 7 days

Winter Classic

A full winter week at 78° North. You drive your own dog team, step inside a blue glacier ice cave, and spend your nights watching for the aurora. From €2,290 per person, December to April, across the polar night and the first returning light.

Length
7 days · 6 nights
From
€2,290 pp
Season
December to April
Base
Hotel in Longyearbyen · 6 nights
Guiding
English-speaking guides

A week is enough to do it properly

Seven days gives winter Svalbard room to breathe. Rather than one long activity day and a rushed exit, you get a full day with a husky team, a day inside a glacier, dark nights to chase the aurora, and a spare day to use whenever the weather is at its best. You sleep in Longyearbyen each night and head out from there.

Honest about the light, and the lights

This trip runs from the deep polar night of December and January through to the returning daylight of March and April, so what you see overhead changes with your dates. The aurora is never guaranteed, since it needs clear skies and solar activity together, but a full week in the Arctic winter gives you more chances than a short break ever could.

Built around the day in front of you

Nothing here is staged. Sea ice, snow and cloud all move fast this far north, so your guides choose each route on the morning, not from a script. What we promise is the time, the small groups, the gear to stay warm, and people who know how to read an Arctic winter day.

On this trip

What you’ll see and do

A husky sled team running on snow

A day driving your own dog team

You learn to harness and handle a team of working huskies, then take the sled out yourself across the snow rather than riding as a passenger. Your guide runs alongside, and there is time at the yard with the dogs before and after the run.

The blue interior of a glacier ice cave

Inside a blue ice cave

You walk out onto a glacier and descend into a cave carved by meltwater, where the ice glows in deep shades of blue. The route is chosen for conditions on the day, and your guide handles the access and safety gear.

People watching the aurora under a dark sky

Nights under the aurora

On clear, dark nights you head away from the town lights to watch for the northern lights. The aurora is never guaranteed, as it depends on solar activity and cloud, but the long winter darkness gives you repeated chances across the week.

Day by day

Your 7 days, day by day

7

7 guided days, 6 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 to find your feet in the world's northernmost town, with a short briefing from your guide for the days ahead.

  2. 2

    Day 2

    Out with the dog team

    A full day at the husky yard, learning to harness the dogs and then driving your own sled across the snow. Hot drinks and time with the team are part of the day.

  3. 3

    Day 3

    Into the ice cave

    You head out to a glacier and down into a blue ice cave, fitted with crampons and a headlamp. The pace is steady and the route is set by the conditions your guide finds that morning.

  4. 4

    Day 4

    A flexible winter day

    A spare day to use the best of the weather, whether a guided trip out from town or time to explore Longyearbyen's museum, cafés and gallery at your own pace.

  5. 5

    Day 5

    Aurora night

    If skies are clear, you head out after dark to watch for the northern lights away from the town glow. Nothing is promised, but the polar darkness gives you a real chance.

  6. 6

    Day 6

    Longyearbyen and the surroundings

    Time to slow down, with a walk through Longyearbyen, last looks down the frozen valley, and a final evening before you leave.

  7. 7

    Day 7

    Departure

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

The fine print, up front

What your price covers

What's included

  • English-speaking guides throughout
  • All winter clothing and safety gear
  • Airport and activity transfers
  • 6 nights' accommodation in Longyearbyen
  • All listed activities: husky driving, ice cave, aurora outings
  • Search & rescue cover

Not included

  • Flights to Longyearbyen
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunches and most dinners
  • Optional add-on excursions

From €2,290 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

A snowmobile on a snowy trail
Green aurora over snowy mountains
Snowmobiles on snow-covered Arctic terrain
Snow peaks over a dark fjord at dusk

Good to know

Before you book

How much daylight is there in winter?

It depends on the month. From late October to mid-February the sun stays below the horizon, the polar night, though midday brings a soft blue twilight from roughly mid-November. From March the light returns fast, and by April you have full bright days on snow.

Will I see the northern lights?

We can't promise them. The aurora needs solar activity and clear skies at the same time, and Svalbard weather changes quickly. What the long winter darkness gives you is repeated chances across the week, and your guide will head out whenever conditions look good.

How cold does it get, and what do I wear?

Winter temperatures often sit between −10 and −20 °C, colder with wind. You bring warm base and mid layers, and we provide the heavy outer gear: insulated suit, boots, mittens and a hat, so you stay warm on the sled and in the ice cave.

How fit do I need to be for the husky day and ice cave?

A reasonable, average fitness is enough. Driving a sled means standing, braking and some effort on the runners, and the ice cave involves walking on ice and a little scrambling. Tell us about any concerns and we'll shape the day around them.

When are the best months for this trip?

December and January suit travellers who want the full polar night and aurora-focused nights. March and April bring returning daylight, brighter snow days and milder light, good if you prefer to see more of the landscape.

Can I join as a solo traveller?

Yes. The activities run as small groups, so solo guests share the husky yard, ice cave and aurora outings with others on the same dates. Let us know and we'll talk through room options.

Make Winter Classic 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