During winter, the lure of the frozen north and the magic of the aurora borealis draw many travellers to the far reaches of Norway and even further afield to the Arctic wilderness of the Svalbard archipelago. This exciting six-night holiday combines the vibrant city of Tromso (350km north of the Arctic Circle) with Spitsbergen – largest of the islands in Svalbard, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.
The Arctic city of Tromso
Surrounded by fjords and mountains, and linked to the mainland by a graceful whaleback bridge, Tromso hugs the shorelines of two islands, Tromsoya and Kvaloya. The city’s streets are lined with historical buildings and plenty of cafés, bars and galleries. Must-see attractions include the striking cathedral and the Polar Museum with its fascinating exhibits on Roald Amundsen.
Chasing the aurora
During the winter months, Tromso region is often blessed with outstanding displays of the aurora borealis. To experience the full magic of this natural phenomenon, we recommend you join an escorted northern lights hunt, well away from the city lights. Your experienced guide will seek the best vantage points for witnessing the aurora. Sometimes the hunt may take you across the border into Finland, so come prepared with your passport!
Spectacular Svalbard
From Tromso, it’s a 90-minute flight north to Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Based in a comfortable hotel, you’ll have the opportunity to try exciting activities such as snowmobiling and husky sledding, travelling across frozen fjords and exploring huge, blue-ice glaciers. This far north, winter days may be short but you’ll get to experience the surreal blue glow of the polar night, the tantalizing prospect of the northern lights and a deep, spiritual Arctic silence. From around mid-November to the end of January, Svalbard experiences almost total darkness. Visit during this period for a true sense of life in the Arctic.
Itinerary
On arrival on Tromso make your own way to the city centre (payable locally), either by the regular airport Flybus service or by taxi. Spend three nights at A centrally located hotel to be within easy reach of the city’s many cultural attractions. Perhaps take the cable car to the Fjelltop and enjoy amazing views over the city and the surrounding islands.
Time at leisure to explore the town or join one of the optional excursions – try an exhilarating snowmobile ride or test your skills at reindeer sledging and learn about Sami culture and traditions. In the evening, join one of the northern light chases in search of the elusive phenomenon.
Optional Experiences
Tromsø Husky Safari
Tromso Northern Lights Chase
Sami Reindeer Camp Dinner
Make your way back to Tromso airport (payable locally) for the flight to Svalbard’s largest island Spitsbergen and Longyearbyen your base for the next three nights. There is an airport bus service which stops at all hotels (payable locally). Being the northernmost town in the world and with just over 2,000 inhabitants, Longyearbyen is surprisingly lively with excellent shopping and dining experiences. You’ll find many opportunities to buy local arts and crafts; gold and silver items being the most popular, often inspired by polar bear, walrus and reindeer – and being a tax free area, goods here are generally better value than on the mainland.
At leisure to explore the town or join an optional excursion such as snowmobiling, husky sledging or northern light searches, which take you out of town into the Arctic wilderness. Here you can appreciate dramatic, unspoilt scenery and the unique Arctic light, which provides many inspiring opportunities for photo stops.
Optional Experiences
Visit Mine Number 3
Snowmobile Safari to Templefjorden
Northern Lights by Snowcat
Transfer to the airport (payable locally) for your flight home.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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Daily breakfast
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £625 Excluding Flights
6 Nights
Jan-May & Nov-Dec
This itinerary starts from around £625 per person based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels.
Prices may vary depending on departure date and booking date, as well as any changes to the included components. The final cost of a tailored holiday will be based on level of accommodation, included activities, travel season, and how far in advance it is booked. We will confirm the exact price for your holiday in your individual quotation, based on your chosen travel dates and inclusions.
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Jo
3
Icehotel visits
11
Small ship cruises
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Eric
Travel Specialist
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Darren
Travel Specialist
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Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
