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Mar
Drive your own snowmobile across the Arctic wilderness at 78°N
Beginner
Challenging
Back to Basics
From
£4,200
(USD $6,594.00)
Into Polar Bear Territory
Drive your own snowmobile across Arctic wilderness on the northernmost inhabited island in the world. Spend three days covering 100-140km daily through Svalbard’s remote east coast; wide ice plains, mountain passes, and frozen polar bear territories. Plus there’s a day hiking and exploring glacier ice caves, squeezing through narrow passages to reach formations deep inside.
Stay three nights in a comfortable guesthouse in Longyearbyen, then two nights in an off-grid trapper’s cabin with paraffin heating and bucket toilets.
You’ll have restaurant dinners in town and expedition meals in the wilderness.
Think long days in sub-zero temperatures, extended snowmobile distances, and proper Arctic conditions.
An Active Agenda
No Hidden Costs
Drive your own snowmobile across Svalbard's remote east coast, full gear provided
Hike to glacier-formed ice caves and explore the icy tunnels
Three nights in a Longyearbyen guesthouse, two in an off-grid trapper's cabin
Restaurant dinners, hearty breakfasts and expedition meals in the wilderness
Qualified Arctic guides and your Gutsy Girls host
All safety equipment included, plus search and rescue insurance
Activity Overview
Drive your own snowmobile across frozen polar bear territories. Spend three days covering huge distances along Svalbard’s remote east coast, scanning for wildlife as you navigate terrain that’s completely inaccessible on foot. This is expedition-distance snowmobiling in one of the world’s most remote locations.
No experience needed, though you will need a valid driving licence and the stamina for long days outdoors in sub-zero temperatures. Everyone drives their own snowmobile.
Activity Overview
Hike to the start point and then explore underground ice caves formed by glaciers. You’ll negotiate tight squeezes and icy tunnels to see natural formations that only exist deep inside the glacier.
Cave temperatures hover around 0°C. Some sections are so narrow you’ll need to crawl through, so if tight spaces sound like hell, opt out. If incredible ice sculptured tunnels sound worth the squeeze, come prepared.
The ice cave is part of a much longer hike you’ll do that day, so be prepared for 5km each way with 500m altitude gain in deep snow too!
Activity Overview
Svalbard is home to Arctic foxes, seals, reindeer, walruses and polar bears. With luck (and cooperation from nature), you might see some of these animals in their natural environment. We’ll never go looking for them though.
Our guides are highly experienced in Arctic wildlife management and carry deterrents, including flares and rifles (emergency use only), in case the bigger animals get too close. Strict safety protocols mean they’ve operated for 25 years without an incident.
Polar bears are fully protected under the Svalbard Environmental Act. All encounters must be passive, ensuring we don’t disturb their natural behaviour.
The Destination
Your Adventure Starts Here
Land in Longyearbyen and take the airport shuttle to your guesthouse. Settle in and sort your gear.
Dinner at a local restaurant to meet your group and find out more about the adventure ahead.
Before we hit the snowmobiles, there's a full day hike to explore some glacier formed ice caves. Kit up and head underground.
Navigate narrow passages to see ice sculptures that only exist deep in the glacier. Once you're out, hike back to Longyearbyen.
Dinner in town, then get some rest before the big expedition begins.
Your snowmobile safari begins. Get fitted for your specialist gear and listen to a route briefing from your guide, then head into the wilderness through Adventdalen and Sassendalen valleys.
Arrive at your traditional trapper's cabin in Fulmardalen - your base for two nights. Weather permitting, there's a reconnaissance snowmobile trip toward the east coast.
Settle into the cabin, enjoy dinner and check the sky for any Northern Lights action.
Breakfast, then it's a full day snowmobiling northeast along the coast. Cover 100-140km scanning for polar bears and other wildlife through spectacular terrain with massive glaciers to the north.
We'll make frequent stops to take in the surroundings and check for wildlife. After covering serious distance through landscapes most people never see, head back to the cabin.
Dinner and settle down to recount stories of your day.
Refuel at breakfast, then head back out on the snowmobiles for one more trip to explore the east coast, following a different route to keep it fresh.
Head back to Longyearbyen. If conditions allow you'll head home via the west coast, or retrace your steps if they don't. Arrive late afternoon.
Final dinner back in town to celebrate your Arctic achievements.
After breakfast take the airport shuttle back. Head home with stories that make everyone else's winter trips sound mundane.
Rest & Refuel
You’ll be in a guesthouse in Longyearbyen for three nights. Comfortable warm rooms, hot showers, WiFi, and beds after days in subzero conditions, on the edge of town.
You’ll also spend two nights in a traditional trapper's cabin in the wilderness. This is a real off-grid experience with no running water or electricity and paraffin stove heating. Sleep on mattresses with sheepskins in a shared space, whilst your toilet sits outside in a tent with a bucket system.
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There are hearty breakfasts and restaurant dinners in Longyearbyen, whilst expedition meals are on the menu in the wilderness. Think freeze-dried lunches heated in the field and cooked dinners like tacos, pasta, stews at the trapper's cabin.
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Book now
The Essentials
| Accommodation |
Back to Basics Three nights in cosy rooms with shared facilities and reliable hot showers, a 30-minute walk from the town centre. Two nights in a traditional trapper’s cabin in the wilderness. Off-grid, no running water or electricity and paraffin stove heating. Guesthouse
Trapper's Cabin
|
|---|---|
| Food and Drink |
All meals are included, from dinner on arrival day to breakfast before your journey home. If you have a severe food allergy, please get in touch before you book.
|
| Fitness Level |
3
Challenging For this trip you need to be ready for three days on the snowmobiles covering 100–140km daily in sub-zero temperatures. There’s also a full day at the ice caves; a 5km hike each way with 500m of elevation gain in deep snow, finished off by crawling through narrow icy tunnels. It’s not about raw athleticism, but it is about handling extreme cold, long days outdoors, and basic living conditions back-to-back with no let-up. You'll Need to Be
|
| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No previous snowmobile experience is needed. You’ll receive full training before you set off. You do need a valid driving licence though, and you’ll need to bring a physical copy with you, as digital licences aren’t accepted. Everyone drives their own snowmobile; there’s no riding as a passenger. Beginner is the skill level. It’s not an easy trip. Check the Fitness Level above. |
| Packing List |
Below is an indication of the specialist items you will need, and might have to invest in before your adventure! For a full list of what you’ll need to bring, check out the trip guide. We Provide
You'll Need
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| Travel |
The meeting point for this trip is the guesthouse in Longyearbyen which can be reached by airport shuttle bus from Longyearbyen airport. Alternative routes and travel information are in our trip guide. |
| Not Included |
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| Trip Code |
NORSVBSMOB |
The answers
Not at all. Our guides provide full training and instruction before we head out. You just need a valid driving licence (physical copy – digital foreign licences aren’t accepted) and the confidence to learn something new.
You need a Class B (passenger car) licence, issued in a country that is part of the Geneva (1949) or Vienna (1968) road traffic conventions.
This is a challenging trip. You’ll cover 100-140km per day across Arctic terrain for three consecutive days. The snowmobiles are powerful machines, and conditions can be demanding – think serious Arctic cold, remote wilderness, and long days outdoors. If you’re comfortable learning to handle new equipment and up for genuine adventure, you’ll love it.
You’ll hike around 5km each way through snow with 500m altitude gain, then, once you reach the caves, squeeze through glacier tunnels to see formations deep inside the ice. Cave temperatures hover around 0°C, and some sections feel narrow – not ideal if you have severe claustrophobia. No caving experience is needed, just decent fitness and determination.
We provide full snowmobiling gear: insulated suits, boots, mittens, helmets, goggles, and face masks. You’ll also get sleeping bags for the Trapper’s cabin, and all ice cave equipment (headlamp, helmet, spikes). Check our Packing List for a guide to what you need to bring.
Being a passenger is much colder and less comfortable, plus it reduces the distance we can travel, so we won’t reach the best routes. You’ll get full training before you set off, but to cover the ground you need to be behind the handlebars. We’d also hope you wouldn’t book a snowmobile expedition without wanting to drive one.
Svalbard is polar bear territory, and everyone who leaves town treats it that way. Our guides are highly experienced in Arctic wildlife management, carry deterrents including flares and rifles (emergency use only), and keep watch throughout the day. We follow strict safety protocols and observe any wildlife from a distance. The guides have run trips here for 25 years without incident.
Fly from Oslo Gardermoen to Longyearbyen (daily flights available).
An airport shuttle connects with all flight arrivals and will drop you at the guesthouse. The shuttle costs approximately £10 each way and isn’t included in the trip price.
For this trip there is no set-time group transfer. Instead the airport shuttle aligns with all flight arrivals and departures, so there’s flexibility if you need different flights. Just make sure you arrive in time to meet the group for the first evening meal at 18:30.
Interestingly, March is often the coldest month in Svalbard. Expect temperatures that freeze your eyelashes and conditions that change fast. Layer up and embrace the experience. March is also known as Sunny Winter and marks the return of the sun to Svalbard. Expect longer days and better weather, although the arrival of the sun does nothing to raise the temperature.
Yes. Arctic weather changes rapidly, so our guides adjust daily plans to ensure the best and safest experience. You’ll still get your full adventure, but specific routes depend on certain conditions.
Cards are widely accepted in Longyearbyen, but it’s always good to have a little local currency in your wallet (NOK). Budget for drinks at restaurants (not included), any tips for your guide and host, and the airport shuttle. Longyearbyen isn’t cheap – it’s remote, and everything is imported.
You’ll split your time between a comfortable guesthouse in Longyearbyen (shared twin rooms with hot showers and WiFi) and a wilderness cabin in Fulmardalen. The cabin is completely off-grid – no running water or electricity, heated by paraffin stoves, with outdoor toilet facilities. It’s basic, but that’s how you access these remote locations.
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