Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Snowmobiling
While snowmobiling may have its critics as a less-than-environmentally-sound means of
getting around, life for many in the high Arctic would simply not be possible in winter
without the snowmobile. For the traveller, snowmobiling also enables you to get much fur-
ther than is possible with dog-sleds and into areas that would not otherwise be possible.
Mostoperatorsallowyoutorideasapassengerbehindanexperienceddriveror(usually
foranadditionalcharge)asthedriveryourself;forthelatter,avaliddrivinglicencemaybe
required. Some places also offer night tours, often on the pretext of getting away from the
city lights in order to see the aurora borealis.
Snowmobiling Destinations
SnowmobilingisgenerallyrestrictedtothefarnorthandSvalbard.Possibilitiesincludethe
following:
»
Svalbard
(
Click here
) Norway's premier snowmobiling location, with trails taking you
deep into the main Spitsbergen island of this extraordinary place; in keeping with Sval-
bard's status as a protected wilderness area, there are some restrictions on where you can
go.
»
Kirkenes
(
Click here
) Day and night trips into the beautiful Pasvik Valley wedged
between Finland and Russia.
»
Alta
(
Click here
) One of the largest snowmobile operators in mainland Norway.
»
Tromsø
(
Click here
) Some good trails close to Norway's northern capital.
Snowshoeing
Like most winter activities, strapping on a pair of snowshoes is a time-honoured way of
gettingaroundinsnowboundregionsandonethathasmorphedintoapopularwinteractiv-
ity. That said, in our experience snowshoeing is something of a novelty to try for short dis-
tances rather than longer excursions - it can be exhausting and it takes a long time to get
anywhere.
Throughout the Arctic North, hotels and operators who organise other winter activities
rent out snowshoes and some also organise expeditions in
Narvik
,
Lofoten
and
Tromsø
(
Click here
).
