Snowmobilesafari to Barentsburg - Hurtigruten Svalbard

Join us for a trip to Barentsburg. Surrounded by a magnificent landscape with sharp peaks, Disney-like reindeer searching for fodder and our cute friend the little polar fox on the mountainside.

Join us for a trip to Barentsburg. Surrounded by a magnificent landscape with sharp peaks, Disney-like reindeer searching for fodder and our cute friend the little polar fox on the mountainside. It could be anywhere on Svalbard - but this is actually a Russian settlement.

Little Russia
Barentsburg was once an archetypical Soviet community, but today a seemingly forgotten Russian village west of Longyearbyen. The population varies between 400-500 people depending on the season, but the city still has a full service to its inhabitants. They have a kindergarten, school, hospital and a shop - which receives fresh food once a month. Barentsburg, as Longyearbyen, was built around mining and has been owned by the Russian Trust Arcticugol since 1932.

A unique Arctic gem
The buildings testify to a completely different culture. The chapel, the Lenin statue, beautiful paintings, the colorful surfaces, and a foreign written language make the small town a favorite by photographers. After a delicious lunch at one of the hotels, we get a guided tour by a local guide. Even though Barentsburg is a small town, they have their own beer brewery, swimming pool and greenhouse. The population consists of miners, scientists and now also workers who work to facilitate the growing tourism.

Svalbard wilderness
The drive from Longyearbyen itself is varied and exciting. Through the Todalen and westwards you will encounter a beautiful landscape through open valleys and narrow passages, constantly surrounded by Svalbard's unique mountains. If the weather permits, we will stop on the Longyear glacier on our way home. Overlooking Longyearbyen, you get one last photo motif before we head back to Norwegian conditions again.

Included
- Transfer from hotel/accommodation place in Longyearbyen
- Warm drinks and biscuits
- Expedition lunch
- Snowmobile suit, shoes, gloves and helmet to use during the tour
- Guided tour with local guide in Barentsburg
- Tour leader with weapons and safety sled
- Rescue insurance

Practical information

Minimum number of participants: 2
Distance: 130km
Age limit: 14 years

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 solid woollen jumper under the snowmobile suits you will loan from us. We also recommend that our guests have 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 ‘Veitrafikkloven’ 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 you understand. To participate on one of our excursions, it is required that you speak and understand English or one of the Scandinavian languages.

Safety
Your safety is our priority. Even if you have experience in winter sports, 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 underway. This is both for your own safety, and that of the group. Weather and snow conditions are the big 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 authorised 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 through the year.