Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Norway - Tromso - Spitsbergen
100% customisable for you
Arrival in Tromso, the largest city beyond the Arctic Circle and dominated by the Lyngen Alps. Private transfer and two-night stay on the harbour, in a modern hotel combining glass and metal. The interior is spacious and stylish and the atmosphere cosy with fireplaces and hints of bright colours. The restaurant is worth particular mention for its reinvented Norwegian cuisine.
In the itinerary - For a comprehensive introduction to the trip and the region, we have arranged your entry to the Polar Museum. Located in a former customs warehouse, the museum tells the story of trappers and explorers' expeditions to the Arctic. Traps, skis, survival kits and models of ship models bring this epic adventure back to life. There is an entire room dedicated to Roald Amundsen and his polar expeditions. The itinerary also includes tickets for the Fjellheisen cable car, which climbs to 1,378ft. From the observation deck to the upper station, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromso and its surrounding islands.
Things to see and do - Admire the variety of colours and dazzling brightness throughout the day - visit the Arctic Cathedral with its triangular silhouette - wrap up for an outdoor stroll and warm up in downtown cafes - go whale-watching - book an outdoor sauna with panoramic city views.
Option - Entry to Polaria Polar Aquarium.
Private transfer to the airport and flight to Longyearbyen, the tiny capital of the Svalbard archipelago on Spitsbergen Island. New private transfer and accommodation in the heart of the village, in a cosy hotel that flawlessly replicates the atmosphere of a trapper base camp. The rooms are rustic and not very spacious, but they are all cosy and comfortable. The hearty breakfast will set you up perfectly for a day of exploration, and the nestled lounge with its cosy sofas and glass roof is a great place to relax at the end of the day with coffee in hand, as you read a book or look out for the Northern Lights.
Small but full of life, the archipelago's capital with its colourful palette of Nordic homes has left its mining legacy behind to embrace modernity and welcome tourism. In small numbers, mind. The few streets house shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and bars, all ready to welcome privileged visitors who have just disembarked their plane or cruise ship (the only way to reach the city). The locals are very proud to be the world's most northerly community, and this is displayed at the university, the church and the gallery of the Svalbard. And, in fact, it's only 621 miles from the North Pole, embedded in a valley surrounded by sea ice and windswept frozen mountains. For some months of the year the town is plunged into the darkness of the polar night, while in others it bathes in the midnight sun. There are only 2,000 inhabitants, who travel by snowmobile or sled, and they live surrounded by reindeer and polar bears.
Don't miss - A visit to the beautifully designed Svalbard Museum, which documents the history of the archipelago and the men who conquered the North Pole, as well as flora and fauna, mining and whaling. It's an excellent introduction to Svalbard.
The itinerary includes a two-day private snowmobile trek to get to Nordenskiold Glacier, which is some 100 miles further north of Longyearbyen. To get there, you'll first drive across the Tempelfjorden, then continue north through the shiny glaciers and sharp mountains, towards the small frozen bay and, finally, the glacier. Nestled in the moraine of the glacier is a small lodge, alone in the vastness of nature, where you will make a stop. This is the world's northernmost hotel, where you can experience the strong character of the area and feel like bygone explorers and hunters. You absolutely must cosy up in the sauna after you day of exploration. And from the windows of the lodge, you'll have full views of the magnificent glacier.
In the itinerary - From the glacier, you'll head back towards Longyearbyen by snowmobile. On arriving in the capital, you'll find your base camp, where you'll stay for two nights. The next day is a dog-sledding safari, an opportunity to plunge right back into Spitsbergen's scenery and test your mushing skills. You'll savour the silence except for the sliding of the skates on the snow and the stride of the dogs that serve as mere background noise. On the way, you'll stop off for lunch and tour an ice cave.
Private transfer to the airport and return flights.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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