Longyearbyen in the blue light of the polar night

Winter package · 4 days

Winter Short Break

Four days, three nights, and a town that sits in darkness. A short first hit of the Svalbard polar night: an aurora hunt, a morning with the huskies, and the long blue light that stands in for daylight. From €1,290 per person, November to February.

Length: 4 days · 3 nights
From: €1,290 pp
Season: November to February
Base: Hotel in Longyearbyen · 3 nights
Guiding: English-speaking guides

A short way into the dark season

Four days is enough to feel what the Svalbard winter actually is: not a checklist, but one husky morning and one aurora outing wrapped around an easy arrival and a calm departure, all inside the polar night.

You sleep in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, and head out from there: a sled day with the dogs in the blue light of midday, and a drive into the dark to watch for the aurora. Between them there is a small town of cafés and lit streets to come back to whenever the cold sends you in.

What the polar night really means

From November to mid-February the sun does not rise here. That is the honest centre of this trip: long darkness, a few blue hours, and weather that moves fast. Your guides shape each day around what the Arctic is doing, and nothing about the lights or the sky is staged. What we promise is the time, the people who know the ground, and a plan built around your dates.

On this trip

What you’ll see and do

People watching the aurora under a dark sky

Out chasing the aurora

After dark your guide drives away from the town lights to look for the aurora over open ground. It is never guaranteed, since the lights need a clear sky and active conditions, but the polar night gives you the dark hours that make it possible at all.

A morning with the huskies

You meet the dog yard, help harness a team, and take a sled out on the snow with the dogs doing the work. It is hands-on and cold, run in the dim half-light of midday, and a steady way to cover ground when the sun is below the horizon.

The blue hours of the polar night

In deep winter the sun does not rise, but for a few hours around midday the sky turns a long, slow blue over the rooftops. It is the closest thing to daylight you get, and it changes the whole feel of the town.

Day by day

Your 4 days, day by day

4 guided days, 3 nights based in Longyearbyen.

1
Day 1

Arrival in Longyearbyen

Your transfer brings you in from the airport into the dark, and you settle into your hotel. The evening is yours for a first walk through the lit streets, and your guide runs a short briefing and a gear check for the days ahead.
2
Day 2

Huskies and the blue light

A guided morning at the dog yard and out on a sled, timed for the few blue hours around midday. The afternoon stays loose so the team can read the weather, with the rest of the day to warm up in town.
3
Day 3

Out after the aurora

A relaxed day in the polar-night light, then a guided drive away from the town glow to watch for the northern lights once it is fully dark. Whether they show depends on the sky, and your guide knows where to wait.
4
Day 4

Final morning and departure

Breakfast, a last look at the snowbound valley, and your transfer back to the airport. Three nights in the dark season behind you, and a feel for what the full winter holds.

The fine print, up front

What your price covers

What's included

English-speaking guides
All winter gear: thermal suit and boots
Airport transfers both ways
Hotel in Longyearbyen, 3 nights
All listed activities
Search & rescue cover
Daily breakfast

Not included

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

From €1,290 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 snowy street with cones of festive light in the polar night

Good to know

Before you book

Will it be dark the whole time?

In November to mid-February the sun stays below the horizon: this is true polar night. You still get a few hours of dim blue light around midday, but plan for darkness most of the day. Activities are built around it, with headlamps and town lights.

Will I see the northern lights?

We can never promise the aurora. It needs a clear sky and active solar conditions, and both can be quiet on any given night. What the polar night does give you is dark skies at almost any hour, which is the basic ingredient. We tell you the odds honestly, not what sounds good.

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

Winter temperatures often sit between −10 and −20 °C, colder with wind. We provide a thermal suit and warm boots; you bring thermal base layers, a hat, gloves and a buff. Layering is what keeps you warm, not a single thick coat.

How fit do I need to be?

Moderate. Dog sledding involves standing on a sled and some pushing on slopes, and aurora outings mean standing around in the cold. There is no long hiking. Tell us about any mobility needs and we will shape the plan.

Is four days long enough?

It is a short first taste rather than a deep dive. You get one husky day and one aurora outing inside the polar-night atmosphere. If you want repeated aurora hunts or a snowmobile day, the longer winter trips give you more room.

Can I come on my own?

Yes. Activities run as small guided groups, so solo travellers join the same departures and meet others on the trip. The booking is per person either way.

Make Winter Short Break 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