Dark Season Offer: 3 nights + 2 activities

Get the brightest smile in the darkest place! Enjoy a piece of the longest night of the year, discover the delight of Svalbard when the sun leaves, and let the Aurora Borealis shine above the snowy mountains and fjords.

Admire the beauty of the Polar Night – the silence, the snow, the starry skies… Experience the wonders of this truly exotic destination.

Explore the frozen tunnels under glaciers and get amazed by the immense ice caves, see the city lights flickering on the sea, or enjoy a moonlight walk at midday.

SUMMARY
The Dark Season offer includes:
• 3 nights in a shared double/twin room
• Breakfast included every day
• A hike to visit an ice cave

• Hike to Plateau mountain with a panoramic view over the town

Travel period: 1. November 2022 to 31 January 2023

Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival
Welcome to the land of polar day and polar night! From the moment you set foot at Longyearbyen Airport you have signed up for a no-sun commitment for a few nights! Yes, long polar nights. Nights of the moon, stars, and, if we are lucky, the magical northern lights! This is the time of the year that we consider the most magical of our seasons!

For the transport from the airport to the hostel, please take the shuttle bus which waits outside the airport. It will go as soon as all the luggage is delivered. The bus costs 100,- NOK per person, one way. Gjestehuset 102 is the last stop. Consider buying a two-way ticket as this is more favorable.

Upon arriving at the hostel, expect to be greeted with a warm hello at the reception. After settling in you have the rest of the day to spend exploring the frozen surroundings or relaxing in our lounge area.

The Polar Bear sign in Adventdalen. Photo by Eirik Lillehugo

Ideas for how to spend your afternoon:

* visit the Svalbard Museum

* visit the town, and explore shops and restaurants. A map of Longyearbyen is available for use, take one at the reception for free.

* Look for short, last-minute activities in our Activity Calendar

* or just relax, get a coffee or tea in our coffee room, and entertain yourselves in our TV rooms

Day 2.

Inside the Ice Cave. Photo from Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions

1. Breakfast

2. Free time

3. Join a Polar Night Adventure

A hike to visit the Ice Cave

Inside the glaciers of Svalbard, you will discover a world filled with ice that has been shaped by melting snow and ice during summer – creating melting channels. These channels freeze during winter – offering unique frozen adventures.

We start off from Nybyen and walk up to the glacier. After hiking uphill for around 2 hours and covering 350 high meters, we reach the entrance of the ice cave. Before we enter the cave we dress up in safety equipment like helmets, crampons, and headlamps. If conditions require we use snowshoes for the hike.

Once inside the glacier, we spend time exploring the cave with its halls, narrow passages, and thick layers of ice crystals. We also take the time to enjoy a hot drink and some snacks.

The trip is moderately difficult, some mountain hiking and some crawling in the cave can be expected. The trip does not fit for guests with back problems or claustrophobia.

We recommend bringing a backpack with something to drink during the hike, spare warm clothes, some space for the safety gear (crampons, helmet, and a headlamp), and solid hiking boots suitable for winter conditions.

Difficulty: Medium to Advanced

Duration: 5 hours

Includes: Transport from/to accommodation, snowshoes, helmet, headlight, crampons, something warm to drink, biscuits, and guide with necessary safety equipment.

4. Getting back, rest, and coffee/tea/hot chocolate at Gjestehuset 102

5. Free Time

Day 3.

Panoramic Hike to Plateau Mountain
1. Breakfast

2. Free time

3. Join a Polar Night Adventure

Longyearbyen Panorama: A hike to the viewpoint at Plateau Mountain

In this activity, we hike to the viewpoint at Plateau Mountain at 424 meters above sea level, offering a great view over Longyearbyen. During the twilight and dark season, this hike is quite spectacular!

We hike up to a stone monument, and if the conditions permit, we may continue even a bit higher.

We will be bringing headlamps with us, but only turn them on when we need them. If we are lucky, in the dark period, we can see the Northern Lights dancing above our heads.

Dark season view of the town from Plateau Mountain. Photo by Polina Bublik

This trip can be steep at some parts of the hike. Once at the summit, we have the time for warm drinks and a light snack.

We recommend bringing a backpack with spare warm clothes, something to quench your thirst, and of course, some solid mountain hiking boots. If conditions require we may be using snowshoes for the hike.

Difficulty: Medium to Advanced

Duration: 4 hours

Included: Transportation to/from the accommodation, snowshoes, headlamps, hot drink, biscuits, and guide with necessary safety equipment.

4. Getting back, rest, and coffee/tea/hot chocolate at Gjestehuset 102

5. Free time

Day 4.
1. Breakfast

2. Free time

3. Check out at 11:00

To those who are checking out, you are welcome to enjoy our common rooms and lounge area whilst waiting for your shuttle bus to arrive. The bus usually arrives 2 hours before the departure. Please ask reception for the timetable.

Terms & Conditions
Cancellation policy:

•22 days prior to arrival give a full refund
•8-21 days prior to arrival gives a 50% refund
•0-7 days prior to departure gives no refund

Accommodation in a shared double room. Single room supplement = 850NOK additional for all 3 nights

*Minimum 2 people per booking, the single supplement should be paid if traveling alone (additional 850 NOK in a single room)

*As an additional option, we can prolong your stay with us and book more activities. Just let us know.

Extra Benefits!

Customers get 5% off for other activities organized by Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions.
Customers get 5% off for activities with Svalbard Adventures and Greendog Svalbard.
Customers get 10% off from Arctica AS, the leading clothing and equipment shop in Longyearbyen, located at Lompen Center.

Valid days for arrival: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun