The Polar Night, Without Interruption
Christmas magic in The Arctic
A pre-Christmas escape. A festive celebration. A New Year’s gathering far beyond the ordinary.
In the heart of the polar night, beneath starlit skies and ribbons of northern lights, the Arctic becomes an intimate and extraordinary setting for the holiday season. Here, darkness is not absence but atmosphere. Deep blue, quiet, and alive with possibility.
At Basecamp Hotel in Longyearbyen, the season is celebrated with understated warmth and Arctic character. Timber walls, soft lighting, natural materials and thoughtful festive details create a refuge from the cold. A place to slow down, gather close and savour the moment.
Step outside and winter begins immediately. Snow-covered streets. Crisp Arctic air. Guided adventures into the surrounding wilderness. Snowmobile journeys under the stars. The profound stillness of a landscape resting in darkness.
Come north for a season unlike any other.
Celebrate Christmas or New Year in the far north, wrapped in the magic of the polar night. In Longyearbyen, darkness becomes atmosphere, and the Arctic offers a warm and captivating setting for your most memorable holiday celebration yet. Framed by towering mountains and illuminated by the northern lights, this small town at the edge of the world offers world-class restaurants with local ingredients, deep wine cellars, and service filled with heart.
Outside, eager huskies are ready to whisk you through Arctic valleys, while inside, shops offer tax-free treasures and a surprisingly rich cultural pulse. At the very heart of it all is Basecamp Hotel, our charming boutique hotel, lavishly decorated for the holidays. Christmas trees, ice lanterns and candlelight create a cozy, glowing atmosphere in every room and corner. Renowned interior experts Halvor Bakke and Berit L. Vildalen have once again transformed the space with wreaths, velvet ribbons and sparkling details that bring out the magic of the season.
Unwind in the lounge with a cup of specially made mulled wine, surrounded by the people who matter most, whether it’s for a romantic Arctic Christmas or an unforgettable New Year’s Eve under the stars.
Svalbard during the polar night is like nowhere else. Quiet. Majestic. Deeply moving. Come experience a holiday that stays with you long after the lights come down.
Celebrate Christmas or New Year in the far north, wrapped in the magic of the polar night. In Longyearbyen, darkness becomes atmosphere, and the Arctic offers a warm and captivating setting for your most memorable holiday celebration yet. Framed by towering mountains and illuminated by the northern lights, this small town at the edge of the world offers world-class restaurants with local ingredients, deep wine cellars, and service filled with heart.
Outside, eager huskies are ready to whisk you through Arctic valleys, while inside, shops offer tax-free treasures and a surprisingly rich cultural pulse. At the very heart of it all is Basecamp Hotel, our charming boutique hotel, lavishly decorated for the holidays. Christmas trees, ice lanterns and candlelight create a cozy, glowing atmosphere in every room and corner. Renowned interior experts Halvor Bakke and Berit L. Vildalen have once again transformed the space with wreaths, velvet ribbons and sparkling details that bring out the magic of the season.
Unwind in the lounge with a cup of specially made mulled wine, surrounded by the people who matter most, whether it’s for a romantic Arctic Christmas or an unforgettable New Year’s Eve under the stars.
Svalbard during the polar night is like nowhere else. Quiet. Majestic. Deeply moving. Come experience a holiday that stays with you long after the lights come down.
Basecamp Hotel
November-December
Breakfast
Adventure
Details
Contact Us
What’s Included?
3-day snowmobiling adventure with arctic nature guide. Expedition lunch and warm drinks served outdoors during the snowmobile trips. Accommodation in double room, dinner, wine package and breakfast at Isfjord Radio. Accommodation in double room and breakfast at Basecamp Hotel. Dogsledding adventure, Trapper’s Station. Transport Expedition Centre. Transport airport. Warm clothing: Snowmobile suit, boots, gloves, helmet, goggles and balaclava. Snowmobile and fuel. Search- and rescue insurance for Svalbard.
Additional Charges
Snowmobile insurance NOK 250 per snowmobile per day. Personal spendings, drinks with meals, private equipment and travel insurance. Single room supplement at Isfjord Radio. Single room supplement at Basecamp Hotel. Vegan menu is offered at a surcharge.
More Than Travel
As part of Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen’s efforts to be climate neutral, we add an additional CO2 and enviromental investment of NOK 250 per guest. This is donated in its entirety to do good projects contributing to a sustainable future.
Minimum Participants
As part of Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen’s efforts to be climate neutral, we add an additional CO2 and enviromental investment of NOK 250 per guest. This is donated in its entirety to do good projects contributing to a sustainable future.
Groups
As part of Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen’s efforts to be climate neutral, we add an additional CO2 and enviromental investment of NOK 250 per guest. This is donated in its entirety to do good projects contributing to a sustainable future.
Pack as little as possible for this trip. We recommend a waterproof backpack of around 35-42 litre. Your bigger luggage can be stored at your hotel while you are out exploring.
Necessary clothing in the Arctic is woollen thermals as the base layer, warm wool or fleece trousers & sweater on the top. Two layers of socks (thin & thick woollen socks), windproof layer on the top. Spacious clothing is recommended because air is the best insulation. Windproof mittens with a warm liner or thick gloves, a warm hat, scarf or flees- tube is also a must have in Svalbard. We also recommend you to bring a pair of thinner gloves in wool to use under the snowmobile mittens we provide.
Good to have with you to Isfjord Radio is indoor shoes or extra woollen socks. Leisure wear/ casual clothing for dinner, toilet articles, sunglasses, sunscreen (not based on water because of low temperatures, binoculars to spot and study the wildlife, photo camera, contact lenses if you normally use glasses).
Driver’s License
All drivers of snowmobiles on Svalbard must be able to present driving licenses for passenger cars/class B, and the driving licenses must be issued in a country that is a party to the Geneva Convention of 1949 or the Vienna Convention of 1968 on road traffic. The driver’s license must be valid in the issuing country. Your driver’s license must be presented before the tour starts. This trip requires minimum two snowmobile drivers without passengers. We may also need to change the number of drivers and passengers in the group. This is in terms of safety reasons.
Physical Requirements
This trip is not suitable for persons suffering from back pains or pregnant women. This is due to safety for your safety and wellbeing, and Basecamp Explorer can unfortunately not to take responsibility for health problems if this advice is neglected.
A snowmobile expedition to Isfjord Radio is a long and physically demanding journey, requiring participants to be in good physical shape. For safety reasons, we do not recommend this trip for participants over the age of 70.
Language
Safety is our top priority during our trips. It is necessary for you to be able to communicate in English or a Scandinavian language if you want to join our excursions. The tour language (English or a Scandinavian language) will be chosen based on the group’s language skills.
Weather Conditions in Svalbard
In Svalbard, weather conditions can change quickly. We can meet heavy winds, snowstorms or thick fog, crevasses and lack of snow or ice. This means we might need to make changes to the planned route, and this might result in not arriving to the planned destination. It can also mean that we need to use a different transportation style or accommodation than what was described in the program. We will always do our outmost to give our guests a great experience in the Arctic, but we must be aware that characteristics of the destination.
Off the beaten track
