Arrive at Tromsø Airport and be greeted by your private driver right at the airport. We drive for about 15 minutes before reaching our accommodation in Tromsø, the newest hotel in town, Clarion Hotel The Edge. The hotel’s ambition is high and nowhere in Tromsø can you find such an amazing lobby with a dynamic mix of local and international guests. Here we check you in and give you a light lunch. After you have settled in, we head to the Polar Museum. We normally go here after hours, so the staff open the doors just for us. You will get an introduction to the program and information about your upcoming destinations, Svalbard and Sommarøya. After the visit, we head back to the hotel for a nice dinner and some relaxing time. Be aware that the Northern light can appear any time during the evening outside your hotel, so it can be recommended to have a late-night drink at the hotel’s sky bar.
Lunch & Dinner Included
Accommodation – Clarion Hotel The Edge
In the morning we take a short bus trip across the river to the famous cable car. This runs from Solliveien in Tromsdalen up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen (421 m above sea level) in just four minutes. The two gondolas, known as Seal and Polar bear, each have a capacity of 28 passengers. From the viewing platform at the upper station, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromsø and the surrounding islands, mountains and fjords. After some time on the platform a traditional Norwegian stew will be served inside the station´s restaurant.
After lunch you have the oportunity to stroll around town or relax in your room, before we will hunt ”the light”. The Northern lights expert takes us to their Basecamp at Breivikeidet – only a 50-minute drive from Tromsø. This area is one of the best places to spot the Aurora Borealis. At the camp they even have reindeers and dogs. If you get cold, go into the restaurant for a cup of coffee/tea and warm up before you go back out to hunt for the lights. Dinner will be served before we head back to our hotel and call it a night.
Note: the appearance of the Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed as it is a naturally occurring phenomenon and is subject to weather conditions.
All Meals Included
Accommodation – Clarion Hotel The Edge
As daytime is light during winter, there are no activities made to see the lights this morning. Therefor we spend some time at the Polaira exhibition center. This is located just a few minutes away from your hotel. Polaria has an Arctic aquarium, interesting knowledge-based exhibits, a panoramic cinema, and a gift and souvenir shop. In the panoramic cinema, you can look forward to the Ivo Caprino film “Svalbard – Arctic Wilderness” and the Ole C. Salomonsen production “Northern Lights in Arctic Norway”. This gives you some inspiration of what you can expect the following day traveling to the Arctic island of Svalbard. We spend about an hour and a half here before we head to the most prestigful restaurant in Tromso, Emmas drommekjokken ”Emma’s dream kitchen”. This is just like entering a farytale from the old days and you can feel the history in the walls. The owner has been here for decades and we try one of the signature dishes, “fish au gratin” and dessert. After lunch we give you the time to personalize your perfect adventure. Some people want to keep hunting the lights for the perfect picture and some wants to explore a Sami Camp dinner or experience a ski trip in the surroundings of Tromso.
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Accommodation – Clarion Hotel The Edge
Day 4
Tromsø - Longyearbyen
After breakfast, we take the short trip to the airport by bus. The flight from Tromsø up to the very north takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. To fly over Bjørnøya (bear island) and arrive at Svalbard is an adventure itself. Only few people travel up here and when you leave the aircraft you can feel the polar night and the dry air. A local driver waits for you and takes you on a 15 minutes’ bus trip to the hotel. Along the way you will pass The Global Seed Vault and Mine 3. The hotel staff is waiting for you with a warm lunch before we meet a local guide who takes us around the village center. The hotel has a prime location with everything just outside the doors. In the evening, it is time for our first adventure on Svalbard. We take the 20 minutes’ bus trip to Bolterdalen, where we are greeted by the evening host, equipped with rifle as this is polar bear land. We eat traditional rein deer stew and learn about the king of the arctic, the polar bear, and we get another chance to look for Aurora’s green light outside the camp.
All Meals Included
Accommodation – Svalbard Hotel
In the morning, we always recommend to eat a steady hotel breakfast, as we will spend some hours outside. We are leaving for dogsledding. The guides will pick you up and take you to Adventdalen, only 15 minutes from your hotel. Here you’ll be dressed up with suits, boots, hat & mittens. Then you will meet the eager dogs and get instructions of what you need to know before we start putting harnesses on the dogs. In pairs, you will take turns mushing (driving a dog sledge team) a team of 5-6 dogs. The guide ride in front and we will be out for about one to two hours pending on the conditions. This trip offers the chance to see reindeer or the arctic white fox. After we have returned to the basecamp we head back for a nice lunch at the local restaurant Kroa. This is a popular place among locals and gives you the history of how the trappers used to live during the dark season. In the afternoon, you can choose to spend some time at your own leisure or attend another arctic adventure, such as ice cave hiking, snow mobile excursion or just relax at the unique dining options at Huset Restaurant with over 20,000 wine bottles in the cellar.
All Meals Included
Accommodation – Svalbard Hotel
Day 6
Longyearbyen to Sommarøy
In the morning, you have time to do some tax free shopping or stroll around the village. Some people choose to do another morning excursion before check out and the bus takes us to the airport around lunch time. When back in Tromsø Airport, the adventure continues with a beautiful 45 min bus trip along the coast line. We pass islands and bridges before recahing our final destination, Sommarøya (Summer island). The island is a natural gem by the ocean, at the outer coast just outside Tromsø. Here you can explore white coral beaches, the local fishing village, a Northern light park and many other authentic experiences. The beaches gives you a tropical feeling and the combination with snowy mountains gives the oportunity for unique pictures you can not find elsewhere. The locals are friendly and even the Norwegians dream about going here. After you have settled in your room the hotel staff has a dinner prepared for you.
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Accommodation – Arctic Hotel Sommarøya
This is your last day in The Arctic, but it could be the absolute highlight of your stay. Just after breakfast we make a small village walk and when it is daylight, we head to the pier and get some warm clothing before we embark the vessel. We will now go for a two hours’ boat trip outside the island looking for whales. From the boat, you can also get the stunning views over the coast with the beaches and the rocky mountains around. The hotel staff has a warm meal ready for you when returning to the hotel and you can now spend the rest of the day at your own pleasure. A hike up Hillesøya mountain outside the hotel, is something almost everyone can do. Other activities are also available such as sailing, fishing or kayaking. The best thing about being here, is that you will have a better chance to see the northern light than in the city center of Tromsø. a
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Accommodation – Arctic Hotel Sommarøya
Day 8
Departure from Norway
It is now time to leave the island and after breakfast we take the bus back to Tromsø Airport. The bus leaves around 11.00 so there is time for a morning walk or some souvenir shopping.
Breakfast Included