Seeing the Northern Lights is a travel dream for many people, and now there's a way to do it that is environmentally-friendly in the remote Norwegian island of Svalbard.
A new adventure will allow travellers to experience the aurora at any time of the day, using revolutionary e-snowmobiles powered by renewable energy from the Arctic winds and midnight sun. The 'A Truly Green Aurora' adventure is based in Longyearbyen, which is designated a Sustainable Destination. All of the activities and experiences on this itinerary will allow guests to travel with as little impact as possible, while bringing them closer to the local nature, wildlife and culture.
Guests will also journey into the wilderness on a snowshoe trek and hunt for the aurora whilst driving a dogsled, all adding to the eco-itinerary and supporting the values of this sustainable destination. They will visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, an underground bunker that was developed to ensure against the loss of the world's seeds and plant species as a result of a global crisis. This experience is recommended from November to January, when the skies over Svalbard are almost permanently black, so that guests will also have all day to search the skies for a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
“The new eSleds use powerful electric motors that are not only great for the environment, but also are completely quiet allowing the guest to feel a closer connection with local wildlife and the nature around them,” says Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. “With the quiet engine it’s not just the Northern Lights to keep an eye out for, but native reindeer, ptarmigans and polar foxes. Exploring some of the most pristine areas of our planet has never been more eco-friendly.”
Every adventure from Off the Map Travel can be tailor-made to fit the requirements of any guest. For further information on 'A Truly Green Aurora,' please see here.
