A week-long Arctic snowmobile expedition across Svalbard’s frozen desert, reaching remote Russian settlements and the northernmost civilian town on Earth while traveling safely with a close‑knit guided group.
Trip Overview
Spend a week deep inside the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard, traveling by snowmobile across a frozen desert, visiting ghost towns at the edge of the world, and experiencing the polar night or endless spring light with a small, close-knit group. This is an immersive, multi-day expedition built for curious, resilient travelers who want a true polar adventure without sleeping in the open.
What this trip is
This is a one‑week group expedition on snowmobiles starting and ending in Longyearbyen, the main town of Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Over the course of the week you travel as a team along glaciers, frozen fjords, and valleys where there are no roads and very few signs of human presence.
The trip combines exploration and comfort: days are intense and outdoors, while nights are spent in heated accommodations with hot meals and real beds, either in remote guesthouses or simple hotels in settlements such as Pyramiden and other historic Russian mining towns. The group always stays together, and all logistics, local transport, special equipment, and most meals are included so that you can focus fully on the experience.
Signature experiences
- Ride your own snowmobile for multiple days through one of the most remote and pristine environments on Earth, crossing frozen fjords and wide glacial valleys under huge Arctic skies.
- Reach Pyramiden, one of the northernmost civilian settlements in the world, a preserved Soviet “ghost town” frozen in time, and stay overnight in its atmospheric hotel.
- Visit an old Russian mining settlement accessible only by snowmobile in winter, getting a rare glimpse into the human history of the high Arctic.
- Travel during prime Arctic winter and spring season, with chances to witness the northern lights or luminous polar twilight far away from city lights, depending on dates.
Safety, guidance, and difficulty
You travel with an experienced professional companion from Adventurica plus certified local guides who know the terrain, wildlife, and conditions of Svalbard. Safety briefings, riding instruction, and daily route planning are part of the routine, and polar-bear safety is always taken seriously in this region.
Driving a snowmobile for several hours a day requires good general fitness, readiness for cold, and comfort with basic outdoor challenges, but no prior polar expedition experience is necessary. All essential technical and safety equipment for the activities is provided; you only need to bring appropriate personal clothing layers and your sense of adventure.
What’s included (overview)
All group activities, guiding, special equipment (including snowmobiles and safety gear), local transportation during the trip, and most meals are included in the package price; international flights to and from Svalbard are not included. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable guesthouses or hotels in Longyearbyen, Pyramiden, and other settlements along the route, ensuring you never sleep outdoors on the ice.
Group format and inclusions
The Arctic trip is designed for individual travelers who join a small, like‑minded group that stays together for the full week, making it ideal for solo adventurers as well as pairs or friends who prefer a social, shared experience. The package includes all group activities, professional guiding and supervision, snowmobiles with fuel, specialized cold‑weather and safety gear, local ground transportation, and most meals, while international flights and personal expenses remain your responsibility.
Full Itinerary
- Day 0 – Arrival
- Flights arrive to the Longyearbyen aerodrome. We settle in Longyearbyen town for the next 2 nights.
- Day 1 – Planning and debriefing
- Get provisions, get acquainted with each other, review the updated maps and routes for the next days, sleep and rest!
- Day 2 – Expedition #1
- 11-hour snowmobile ride from Longyearbyen to Pyramiden: the Northernmost civilian settlement in the world!
- Dinner at a refurbished, previously-abandoned Russian hotel.
- Day 3 – Visit Pyramiden
- Visit most abandoned buildings in the Russian mining town of Pyramiden.
- Snowmobile ride back to Longyearbyen. The return trip takes less time.
- Day 4 – Rest day
- Visit some Longyearbyen spots and take it easy.
- Day 5 – Expedition #2
- 5-hour snowmobile ride from Longyearbyen to Barentsburg.
- Day 6 – Barentsburg
- Dog sledding
- Visit spots around Barentsburg town.
- Day 7 – Return from Barentsburg to Longyearbyen
- Day 8 – Departures
- Fly from Longyearbyen aerodrome back to our homes.
Pricing
The cost per person is $3950 USD + flights.
Price includes all group activities in the planned itinerary, all group meals (typically breakfast and one warm meal), accommodation, all specialized equipment needed, all necessary regional transportation to activities, group guide/companion for the entire week.
Price does not include flights/trains/buses to Svalbard.
FAQ???????????
- May I join as an individual?
- Yes! Most people join as individuals, although you may bring one or more friends. The entire group will always be together – During meals, plannings, debriefings, expeditions. This is not a walk in the park. We are always within sight of each other. You may choose to rent a private room, share it with a friend, or a share it with another participant.
- What’s the group size?
- We are usually between 6 and 12 people, including participants and leaders.
- Do I need any knowledge or experience?
- No, this trip is designed for adventurers who may have never done any artic exploration or snowmobiling. You must have hiking experience and be ready to learn and push your boundaries.
- Do I need to be very sporty?
- You must be at least athletic, with no physical limitations or handicaps. You must be able to run, jump, crawl, etc.
- Is all the food included?
- We strive to keep you well fed within the included budget but constrained to our schedule. That means we will try to provide all breakfasts at home plus all group dinners. Most of our expeditions do not leave time for lunch so we try to do late, heavy breakfasts and early dinners.
- What if I have food allergies or intolerances?
- This is a remote location, where transportation is very complicated. Expect a variety of meat and fish. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are sometimes possible but uncommon and not guaranteed.
- Do I need any special equipment?
- ????
- What should I bring?
- At least one large thermal bottle – At least 1.5L / 0.5gal that can keep its temperature for many hours.
- Very warm clothes. Expect to be exposed to freezing temperatures for many hours.
- Thick winter/snow jacket.
- Winter/snow hiking boots.
- Snow/ski gloves.
- Thin, thermal gloves (to insert underneath the ski gloves)
- Ski glasses.
- Sunglasses.
- At least 3 thermal t-shirts (non cotton, such as polyester or wool).
- At least 4 normal t-shirts.
- At least one polar jacket, or similar warm layer.
- At least 4 pairs of thick, warm socks. If possible, bring one pair of wool socks.
- It is NOT necessary to buy special and expensive “arctic” jackets, boots, or gloves: Some days we need them, but we will provide them!
- At least one pair of thermal pants (to wear underneath).
- Normal pants, such as jeans.
- Ski pants.
- How are the housing arrangements?
- All nights we will sleep at pre-built Arctic settlements with central heating and hot showers. You have the option to have your own room or share it. Bathrooms and showers are typically shared by many people but clean and sufficient.
- Is the itinerary fixed?
- No, all activities depends on weather, time taken by participants on each activity, availability of third-party providers, etc. The organizer (group companion) will keep you up to date with potential changes on the fly. In practice, nothing changes too much except shuffling dates around due to weather conditions. Routes change daily due to snow conditions and recent snow storms. If your groups has special requests let us know before the trip begins.
- What are the dates?
- Trips take place during early April, every year.
- You should try to book with us around 6-12 months ahead (May-October).
- Flights are typically available until November/December.
- We recommend booking with us 11 months ahead of the trip (around May-June), and the flights around August-September.