Northern Lights Hunting With Electric Snowmobile
Your guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to our expedition centre. Here you will get equipped with a scooter dress, boots, balaclava, helmet and mittens, before we go to the scooters that are waiting for us outside. The guide will show you how the scooter works and how to drive it – then it’s time to head out into the dark wilderness!
This is a perfect tour if you want to get a taste of scooter riding, without driving a full day. The route is relatively short (40 km) and we drive in easy, mostly flat terrain. The journey goes into Adventdalen (the ‘Advent Valley’), in search of northern lights. The electric snowmobile is easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to drive. The absence of motor noise provides comfort and at the same time the opportunity to get closer to nature experiences and wildlife without disturbing. So, do not only look for northern lights! The Svalbard reindeer are something we often see out on tour.
We make some stops along the way, and the guide will give you interesting information and maybe a story or two. After a nice break with warm drinks and some biscuits, it’s time to head back to Longyearbyen again.
Please note:
As with everything in nature, there is no guarantee that we will see the northern lights. It all depends on the weather conditions and solar storms.
If there isn’t enough snow between the tour’s starting point and the chargers at the expedition centre, we may need to use non-electric snowmobiles for some tours. This is only applicable at the start of the snowmobile season.
Between mid November and late January, it is polar night on Svalbard. This gives you the unique opportunity to see the northern lights even in the middle of the day! The daytime aurora is slightly weaker than what occurs at night, but with its more reddish tint it is a fascinating sight!
Get ready for your snowmobile adventure
A valid driver’s licence for a car or motorbike is required to drive a snowmobile. Remember to take it with you on the tour. The guide will check each passenger's driver's license and will refuse participation if the driver's license is not valid in Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Please contact the responsible authorities in case of any questions regarding driver's licence.
Please note: No refunds will be given due to an invalid driver's license.
We advise wearing warm woollen underwear, warm outer pants, and a solid woollen jumper under the snowmobile suit. We also recommend bringing extra clothes in a backpack, such as an extra jacket, woollen hat, and mittens.
Snowmobile driving is not recommended for pregnant women.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is not permitted. The ‘Vegtrafikkloven’’ or Road Traffic Act applies to Svalbard.
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 tour leader will not drive with a passenger.
Your safety is our top concern! Even if you are experienced with winter conditions, Svalbard’s nature is unlike what many have encountered before. Going on a tour with a guide who knows the local terrain is the safest way to explore outside Longyearbyen. As a participant on a snowmobile tour, it is essential to follow the guide’s instructions throughout the journey to ensure your safety and that of the group. Weather and snow conditions on Svalbard can be unpredictable, and we reserve the right to change the route or destination based on what is safest for you and the group.
Hurtigruten Svalbard's guides have varied experiences and backgrounds, but they all share the goal of providing you with the best and safest experience. Some guides have completed the Arctic Nature Guide programme, while others are certified mountain guides, glacier guides, or authorised Svalbard guides through Svalbard Guide Training (SGO). The SGO certification includes essential training in safe travel within Svalbard’s unique environment, with education on tourism, field safety, and a deep understanding of environmental and cultural values. In addition, our guides receive internal training and participate in regular exercises throughout the year.