Northern Lights hunting with electric snowmobile - Hurtigruten Svalbard

Shh! What’s that sound? Nothing. It is just arctic silence. As you press the gas, your snowmobile silently starts moving, while it lights up the dark polar night. No sound of a roaring engine. The only thing to be heard is "the Arctic silence". The sound of absolutely nothing.

It is time to experience the fascinating polar night in a whole new way – with an electric snowmobile!

Aurora all day
Our electrical snowmobile northern lights safari is one of the most exotic ways to experience Svalbard. In a silent stream of light, we drive through the Advent Valley, in search of the northern lights. Here it is only us and the never-ending darkness of the polar night.

Far away from the city with all its artificial lights, the chances of seeing northern light is greater. From early November to the end of January it is possible to see them around the clock – even in the middle of the day. During the day the northern lights are a little fainter than in the night, but with a more reddish tint it is a mesmerizing sight!

El snow mobile
Our new snowmobiles run with electrical engines that are completely quiet. This makes them less disruptive to the wildlife, compared to ordinary snowmobiles. So, as well as looking to the sky for northern lights, remember to look around you. We often see the Svalbard reindeer, ptarmigans and polar foxes on these trips.

Included in the snow mobile trip:
- Transfer from hotel/accommodation place in Longyearbyen
- Warm drinks and biscuits
- Snowmobile suit, gloves, shoes and helmet to use during the tour
- Tour leader with safety sled and weapons
- Rescue insurance
- Practical information for snow mobile trip

Drivers’ licence
A valid driver’s licence for car or motorbike is required to drive a snowmobile. Remember to take it with you on the tour.

Recommendations
We recommend that you dress in warm woollen underwear, warm outer pants and a thick woollen jumper under the snowmobile suit. We also recommend our guests to bring some extra clothes in a backpack, for example an extra jumper, woollen hat and mittens.

Pregnancy
Longyearbyen Hospital advises pregnant women to not participate in snowmobile and dog sledding tours, as a blow to the stomach or fall may pose a risk of injury to the mother or unborn child.

Possible changes
We reserve the right to change the route of the tour for safety reasons should the weather or snow conditions require it. This will not be grounds for a change in price. The participants agree to follow the tour leader’s directions and instructions. The tour leader will not drive with a passenger.

Alcohol
The ‘Vegtrafikkloven’’ or Road Traffic Act applies on Svalbard. Driving under the influence of alcohol is not permitted.

Language
Safety is our highest priority, and the guide needs to be able to give directions in a language you understand. To participate on one of our excursions, it is therefore required that you speak and understand English or one of the Scandinavian languages.

Safety snow mobile trip
Our priority is your safety. Even if you have experience in winter activities, the Svalbard environment is different to that many might have been in before. Taking a tour with a guide who knows the local conditions is the safest way to explore the area outside of Longyearbyen. As a participant on a snowmobile tour, it is important that you follow the guide’s directions during the whole trip. This is both for your own safety, and for that of the group. Weather and snow conditions are shifting factors on Svalbard, and we reserve the right to change the route or destination to one that is safest for you and the group.

Hurtigruten Svalbard’s guides have different backgrounds and experience, but what they all have in common is that they come to work to ensure you will have the best and safest tour. Some have taken the Arctic Nature Guide study, others are certified mountain guides, glacier guides or authorized Svalbard guides who have taken the Svalbard Guide Opplæring (SGO - Svalbard guide training). SGO study includes fundamental requirements for safe travel on Svalbard, as well as education about tourism, field safety and an understanding of environmental and cultural values. In addition, our guides take part in internal training and exercises throughout the year.