Day 2: Husky Adventure & Sami Culture

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading to the airport, where you will catch a flight to the North where the second leg of your holiday is about to begin! Your flight takes you 400 km north over the Arctic Circle to the winter wonderland of Kirkenes. With a population of only 3,300, including the native Sami people, this charming little town boasts an impressive range of things to see and do.

After your transfer to the hotel and some time to settle in, experience your first real Arctic adventure of this trip—a thrilling dog-sledding tour through the Pasvik Valley along Norway’s north-eastern border by Russia. If the conditions are right, you may even see the northern lights dancing across the night sky. This activity includes an authentic Norwegian dinner served in a lavvu, a traditional Sami tent. Spend the night in Kirkenes.

Day 4: Embark on an Arctic Voyage

Spend the morning warming up in the Snow Hotel’s sauna and enjoying breakfast before your next activity—an Arctic cruise to Tromsø with the Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Hurtigruten Terminal at the dock. Departing from Kirkenes at 12:45, the ship crosses Varangerfjord, Norway's only east-facing fjord, before arriving at Vardø, the easternmost point of the country.

The cruise also rounds the Varanger peninsula, where archaeologists unearthed a settlement dating from around 9000 B.C. In the evening, the ship calls at Båtsfjord, the site of some Stone Age remains, and Berlevåg, home to Tanahorn Mountain, believed to be an ancient Sami sacrificial site. Spend the night on board the ship.

Day 6: Tromsø - Paris of the North

With over 64,000 inhabitants, Tromsø is by far the largest city in northern Norway though it still retains a cosy small town atmosphere. Nicknamed "The Paris of the North”, this was a major port of call for many Arctic expedition and hunting ships in the 19th century--a part of history that is still evident here. Today, take your time and explore this charming city with its lively cafés, shops, restaurants, museums and other attractions. Spend the night in Tromsø.

Day 8: Snowmobiling at 78° North

This is where the action begins! In the morning, meet with the tour leader for a short briefing about the 2-day snowmobile safari and pick up your loan of additional outerwear and safety equipment. Before setting out, the tour leader provides a short introduction on how to drive a snowmobile and then we head towards Adventdalen and onwards through Eskerdalen and Sassendalen. The tour leader chooses the route according to weather and snow conditions, and it may be possible to head to the East Coast, where if you’re lucky you may see the King of the Arctic—the mighty polar bear!

In the afternoon, arrive to Tempelfjorden, where the Noorderlicht, the Dutch sailing ship frozen in ice, is waiting with a nice three-course dinner. Tranquillity might be the perfect word to describe the feeling you have standing on the deck surrounded by nothing but Arctic nature. Spend the night on board the ship.

Day 10: Departure

Before departing this amazing place, the early part of your day is free for a stroll around Longyearbyen, a visit to the Svalbard Gallery, some last-minute souvenir shopping, or an optional dog-sledding or ice cave tour. In the afternoon, take the airport bus or taxi to Longyear Airport for your return flight to Oslo, from where you will continue onwards to your final destination.

Note: Flights are not included in the price. Our travel consultants can assist with booking domestic air travel between cities in Norway or Svalbard. We can also add an extra night in Oslo at the end of the tour if there isn't enough time between your departure flights.