500 KM East to South- The Ultimate 4-Day Arctic Snowmobile Expedition, Snowfox Travel

This is a four-day snowmobile expedition covering 500 km, going first to the East Coast of Spitsbergen and then to the southern part of the island. The operator rates the level 4 out of 5. It runs between 15 FEB and 15 MAY.

On the evening before departure, guests are collected from their accommodation for a welcome dinner with the guides and a briefing, then taken back. On day one guests are collected early and driven to the basecamp, where they get suits and boots. The group rides over glaciers and large valleys, scouts for wildlife and sleeps in a wilderness camp on the East Coast, where everyone takes part in the polar bear watch. On day two the group rides to Van Mijenfjorden and Paulabreen and sleeps in a tent camp with a fire inside. On day three the route heads to Camp Morton, with ice fishing at Linnevatnet, and camp is set up in the Grønfjorden area. On the last day the group explores an ice cave, sees Barentsburg from a distance, follows the coastline and has dinner in a restaurant.

Included are a guide, hotel transfers, a snowmobile with petrol, suit, boots, gloves, helmet and goggles, all meals, warm drinks and snacks, search and rescue insurance, a sleeping bag and mat or hammock, and overnight equipment.

Guests bring warm layers, preferably wool, to wear under the suit, plus thin gloves or mittens. Down jackets are not recommended under the suit. A small backpack is useful because not every snowmobile has a storage box. Each guest needs a driving licence for a car, motorcycle or snowmobile that is valid on Svalbard. The minimum age is 16, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.