When the dark season ends and the blue hours have faded, one of the most beautiful and popular times of year begins on Svalbard: the light winter. It is the time when the magic of two worlds comes together – the deeply snow-covered, wintry landscape of the Arctic and the returning, radiant daylight. For many, the light winter is the ideal time to travel, as Svalbard now shows itself from its most spectacular and versatile side.
After months of darkness, the sun finally rises above the horizon again in March. What began in February with the first delicate blue hours now intensifies day by day: the days grow noticeably longer, the light brighter and stronger. On 8 March, the sun reaches the town of Longyearbyen for the first time, which is celebrated in style at the annual Sun Festival – yet even before then you can already see the sun outside of town, and it is bright in any case. By the end of March there is almost an equal balance of day and night, and in April and early May you experience the midnight sun. In this phase, the sun finally no longer sets at all, and the polar day has begun.
The light winter combines the best of both worlds: the landscape is still deeply covered in snow, the fjords are frozen, and a thick, white blanket of snow lies everywhere – but now all of this shines in the warm, golden light of the sun. It is the perfect time to experience the vast, untouched wilderness of Svalbard and to immerse yourself deeply in the Arctic nature.
Hardly any season is as well suited to activities as the light winter. The snow and ice conditions are usually stable and reliable, so that the full range of tours is now possible. Multi-day snowmobile and dog-sledding tours lead far out into the wilderness, to glaciers, into remote valleys and all the way to the Russian settlements of Barentsburg and Pyramiden. Ski tours also reach their high season during this time. Thanks to the long daylight hours, there is enough time to cover great distances and enjoy the impressive landscape to the fullest.
Even as the light returns, it remains wintry cold. Temperatures often range between -10 °C and -25 °C, especially in March, and only slowly become milder. Cold days often bring sunshine and clear air with stable, frequently radiant weather – interspersed with milder weather, usually with more clouds and here and there a storm as well. Overall, March and April offer ideal conditions for long tours in nature. On all dog-sledding and snowmobile tours, warm specialist clothing is of course provided (full-body snowmobile suit, thick boots, mittens, balaclava etc.), so that you are well prepared to face the cold.
With the returning light, the wildlife gradually awakens as well. Reindeer and Arctic foxes can now be seen more frequently again, and from March the first birds return – usually the fulmars, which are regarded as the heralds of spring. Over the course of the season, their numbers steadily grow. Whales and walruses are not yet in the fjords, but nature noticeably begins to prepare for the Arctic summer. In this way, the light winter offers a lovely blend of wintry stillness and the first signs of new life.
The light winter is the high season for wintry activities on Svalbard. Snowmobile tours, dog-sledding trips, snowshoe hikes and ski tours – all of this is now possible to the full. Thanks to the long daylight hours, extended multi-day tours into the most remote regions of the island can also be undertaken, for example to the east coast, to the ice caves or to the abandoned and active settlements. Ship tours, however, are only possible to a limited extent during this season, once the first ships have returned.
The light winter is the perfect choice for everyone who wants to experience wintry Svalbard in all its splendour – with a deeply snow-covered landscape, radiant sunlight and the full range of Arctic adventures. Those seeking activity, vastness and impressive light will find in this season what is probably the most versatile Svalbard experience of all.
A private tour means full flexibility — in route, breaks, photo stops, and pace. Get in touch — we'd be happy to put together a personalized offer for you.
Contact
+47 952 000 55
info@spitzbergen-reisen.no
