3-day East Coast Adventure: Snowmobile and Cabin Escape

Difficulty level: 4 of 5

Group Size: minimum 3, maximum 6 participants

Season: February – April

Departure: 08:30

The Arctic landscape of Svalbard is both vast and unique, spanning 61,000 square kilometers of untouched wilderness. This land is ruled by the Arctic fox, the Svalbard reindeer, the seals, and the polar bear. To explore this wild and beautiful part of Spitsbergen, the East Coast, having a snowmobile and plenty of time is a great advantage – and this tour gives you both. 

Our experienced guides ensure that this adventure becomes a once-in-a-lifetime experience by offering exceptional opportunities to connect with nature, share with you both fascinating stories, and local knowledge. 

Accommodation is in true trapper style – simple yet cozy – in our wilderness cabin nestled in Fulmardalen, just 25 km from the east coast. The east coast is known as the land of the polar bear, and with a bit of luck, you may catch a glimpse of this majestic creature from a safe distance in its natural habitat. While such sightings are rare, the primary focus of this tour is to immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring Arctic nature, an extraordinary experience in its own right.

Day 1 - Journey into the Wilderness
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your accommodation at 8:30 AM and take you to our base. Here, we will go over the planned route, review the weather forecast, and give you the chance to meet the guide and any fellow group members. Once the gear is packed and secured on the sleds, you’ll be outfitted with warm snowmobile clothing. We aim to depart Longyearbyen around 11:00 AM. The route on the first day takes us through wide open vallevs - Adventdalen and Sassendalen - before arriving at Fulmardalen. Here, our cabin awaits, serving as a base for the next two nights. Weather permitting, we’ll take a short trip out towards the east coast before settling in for the evening. Deep within the valley, you can expect to experience true Artic silence.

Day 2 - Exploring the East Coast
Today, we head northeast along the east coast, taking our time to soak in the breathtaking scenery and keep an eye out for wildlife. With some luck, we may spot polar bears or seals, and we’ll make frequent stops to scan the landscape and let the impressions sink. We plan to spend the whole day outside. The day features a long snowmobile ride through spectacular terrain, offering stunning views of the massive glaciers to the north. After a whole day of exploring, we return to the cabin in Fulmardalen for a well-deserved rest. Distance: approximately 100–140 km.

Day 3 - A Final Adventure
Our final day in the Arctic wilderness offers another opportunity to explore the east coast, this time following a different route to keep the adventure fresh.

When it is time to head back to Longyearbyen, we may travel via Sveagruven or take an alternative route along the west coast, depending on conditions. We expect to arrive back in town around 5:00 PM, wrapping up a remarkable Arctic adventure. Distance: approximately 90–140 km.

Important Information

• Driver’s License: Drivers must have a valid license for car, motorcycle, or snowmobile
• Experience: No prior snowmobiling experience is necessary – the guide will provide instructions/ training
• Insurance: The snowmobile is insured with a deductible of NOK 6,000. If you want additional insurance, this has to be arranged with you own travel insurance
• Age Limit: 18 years
• Small Group Fee: If there are only 2 participants close to departure, an extra charge of NOK 3,000 per person will apply to run the tour

Price Includes

• Transportation to and from your accommodation
• Snowmobile with fuel
• Snowmobile gear: suit, boots, mittens, helmet, goggles, face mask, and headlamp
• All meals and hot drinks
• Experienced guide with necessary safety equipment
• Search- and rescue insurance

Recommendations

• Clothing: Warm base and mid-layers that fit comfortably under the snowmobile suit (wool is recommended)
• Gloves: Thin gloves or liners are suggested to wear under the large mittens
• Luggage: The snowmobiles do not have storage compartments. We recommend a small backpack for essentials like camera, extra clothes, and other items
• Sleeping Bag: Can be rented for NOK 600

Extra clothing and equipment: Arctica

Disclaimer:  The program of the tour may vary slightly from the discribed itinerary. Safety is our main priority and the guide will make decisions and adjust the route to the weather and the general conditions. While there are good chances of spotting polar bears on this tour, we cannot guarantee it and it will not be the main focus of the tour. 

© Pictures: Giancarlo Gallinoro, Martin Fiala