Here Is Some Information for You To Prepare for the Trip

Puffin by Erik Grønneseter
Puffin by Erik Grønneseter

The most cost-effective way to book a trip is online or directly with the company offering the tours. Some hotels in town may charge an extra booking fee and might only recommend their own tours. Take the time to research and find the tour and company that best suits your preferences.

Many companies offer trips to the same destinations, but the value for money can vary significantly. Be sure to compare what each company includes in their packages to make the most of your experience.

All Better Moments activities are covered by our liability insurance. We also have Search and Rescue (SAR) insurance, which covers expenses related to potential rescue missions on Svalbard. However, Better Moments AS is not liable for any damages or losses beyond our control. We strongly recommend that all participants have personal travel insurance when joining our trips.

In the event of an accident, damages to third parties are covered. However, any damage to the snowmobile driven by the person responsible for the accident is not included. In such cases, the driver may need to pay a deductible of up to NOK 6,000, with the remaining costs covered by Better Moments.

For complete peace of mind, we offer an optional insurance add-on for NOK 200. This reduces the deductible to 0, meaning Better Moments will cover all damages to your snowmobile. The insurance is valid per snowmobile, so if you switch between being a driver and a passenger, you only need to purchase it once. You can add this option during the booking process.

Better Moments have the right to change route due to weather and safety measures.

The fee for cancellations made 22 days or more before the activity, is 5 % of the full price.
The fee for cancellations made 21 – 8 days prior to the activity, is 50 % of the full price.
The fee for cancellations made 7 days or less before the activity, is 100 % of the full price.

The trip’s start time is when we begin picking up guests from their hotels. Please be patient, as we cannot pick up everyone at the same time.

Due to privacy and environmental requirements, guests are not permitted to fly drones during our daily activities. Drone use may disturb wildlife, interfere with other tour groups, and is regulated by environmental laws in Svalbard.

For more information on drone regulations in Svalbard, please visit:
https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/drones-on-svalbard/

Participants who will be driving are responsible for ensuring that their driver’s license is valid in Svalbard. If you have any questions, please contact the relevant authorities. Our guide will check all driver’s licenses before departure and will deny participation if the license is not valid in Svalbard. No refunds will be issued in such cases.

Important: Electronic, app-based, or photographed licenses are not considered valid in Svalbard.

If your license is not valid, you can still join as a passenger on a friend or partner’s snowmobile. However, no refunds will be given if you are unable to provide a valid driver’s license.

Norway and Svalbard have a zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of alcohol. Anyone who does not comply will not be allowed to join the trip, and no refund will be issued.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.sysselmesteren.no/en/traffic/driving-licence/

Better Moments provides all our guests with specialized snowmobile equipment, which includes an outer layer to protect you from the strong wind chills encountered during the ride. For your comfort, we recommend that you bring your own mid- and base layers. On especially cold days, a third layer will enhance your warmth and comfort throughout the trip.

How To Dress In The Arctic

You should bring:

  • Thick woollen socks (minimum 80% wool)
  • Thick double woollen underwear (the top should have a turtleneck)
  • Mid-layer; fleece, down or wool
  • Thin gloves to handle camera on our photo stops

Better Moments offers: 

  • One-piece snowmobile suit
  • Warm snowmobile shoes
  • Warm snowmobile mittens
  • Double balaclava to protect your face
  • Helmet
  • Goggles

We recommend you to bring:

  • Camera equipment
  • Binoculars
  • Money to buy soft drinks and souvenirs at the destination
  • Hat to put on when we have longer stops
  • Small backpack
  • Contact lenses or goggles with spec lenses

Better Moments will also bring the safety equipment we might need:

  • Emergency communications: Iridium satellite phone and emergency beacon
  • Polar bear protection: High caliber rifle and signal pistol with flash bang
  • Navigation: GPS, paper maps and compass
  • Avalanche safety: Shovel and probes
  • Repkit snowmobile: Tools, fuel and oils
  • Emergency bivouac: Tent, food stove and extra food
  • First aid kit
  • Heat bag
  • Extra clothes
  • Glacier kit (on the trips that requires this): Ropes, anchors, harness and pulleys

Our boats are closed RIBs with heated interiors. During the trip, you will have the option to go out on the sheltered aft deck. We recommend wearing warm, windproof clothing, thick woolen socks, and sturdy shoes. You may bring extra gear to store on the boat, but please ensure it is packed in waterproof bags.

In addition to the kayak equipment, Better Moments will supply all guests with a dry suit, spray hood, suitable footwear, paddle gloves, and a life jacket for the trip. We recommend wearing one or two warm base layers (preferably wool), warm socks, and a hat for extra comfort. Dry bags will be provided for storing personal items during the kayaking adventure. On the boat ride to the glacier, you may bring a small backpack with additional personal belongings or a jacket to stay warm along the way.

We recommend wearing multiple layers of warm, windproof clothing. If you don’t have your own hiking shoes, waterproof boots are available for you to borrow. A small backpack is allowed on all day trips. For overnight trips, Better Moments will provide certain equipment, as outlined in the individual trip description.

Still got some questions? Check out VisitSvalbard’s info videos for how to dress in the Arctic. If you have more questions about what equipment to bring on our trips, feel free to send an e-mail to info@bettermoments.no.