Better Moments
Better Moments
5
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About
Better Moments AS is a tour operator that aims to offer their guests that little extra. Our excursions are managed by our professional and experienced tour guides and the groups are small. We offer exclusive snowmobile-, kayak-, hiking- and boat-safaris.
Longyearbyen, Norway
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles832 reviews
Excellent
731
Very good
56
Average
21
Poor
10
Terrible
14

Kati V
Lima67 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021
We were the luckiest girls on Earth since we got to do the snowmobile tour to East Coast with Arien, a great guide that a friend had recommended to us. Arien is a wonderful person and an extremely talented expedition guide. With her as our guide, we felt safe throughout the day. The tour started at 8:00 when she picked us up from our guest house, in total we were 7 people from 3 different groups. We had an excellent briefing to snowmobiling and even though 2 in our group were driving for the first time, we felt well informed about the special things to know about snowmobiles and the upcoming trip. Not all of us spoke Norwegian so the briefing presentation was conducted in English. The clothing and equipment you get from Better Moments is E X C E L L E N T. We have never had as much clothes on! The "Svalbard overall" is really warm and isolating and wind-proof, and our guide Arien gave us professional guidance on which layers to keep underneath. The neoprene neck warmer covered half of the face and we also received goggles, helmets and a biker wool hat, gloves, plus really warm and big winter shoes – to conclude, you have nothing to worry whichever the weather – Better moments will keep you warm! The snowmobiles seemed new and had all you could ask for: hand warmers for both the driver and passenger and even the accelerator button was heated. We drove 179 km in this East Coast trip and had so much luck with the sunny weather at the end of February. We stopped several times on the way there to admire the landscapes and Arien even told us lots of interesting facts about the glaciers. She used significantly extra time to spot polar bears for us but unfortunately we didn't see any – however we saw huge, fresh polar bear paw prints and since two days after the trip a polar bear attacked someone in the exactly same Mohnbukta area, in the end we were quite relieved we didn't see any! The food we received during the trip was decent and there was enough of it: peanuts and reindeer heart plus warm juice/coffee on the first snack break, and dry food that was cooked with boiling water and then served as very filling warm meal by the glacier on the East Coast. On the way back we had some foggy bits but Arien made sure everyone was with the group and kept checking regularly that everything was going well. One snowmobile had a technical issue which she managed to fix but in the end decided to tow the snowmobile home and handled the situation fast and professionally. Once we got back around 18:30, we were shocked about all the amazing landscapes and mind-blowingly awesome, incredible and unforgettable experience we had had together with Ariend and Better Moments. We are really thankful for this wonderful day that was worth every penny! Will never forget this day. Choose Arien and Better Moments – a decision you won't regret!
Written March 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kasia Mí
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
We went on a 2-day hike with the company. It's going to stay with me as one of the most beautiful, memorable experiences of my life! The trip truly deserves every big word that can be said.

Our guide, Matts, is a guy that you would go to war/to the end of the world with. A truly dedicated and professional person, adjusting the pace to the group, making sure that everyone was safe during some a bit more difficult parts (like crossing rivers or walking on the snow), at the same time very easy-going and simply interesting to talk to.

We mostly hiked by the coast with a beautiful view of two glaciers on the other side of the fiord, we met an Arctic fox, many reindeers and saw belugas in the water. We also visited some abandoned settlements on the way. We set our tents at a high, flat point (see the photo) with possibly the best view one could get. We spent the evening with a bonfire, tea and had a warm, tasty dinner. It has almost been a surreal experience for me. The peacefulness, the sounds of wind and water, the sun shining over us and an endless landscape.

Very much recommend :).
Written July 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

globallybusy
Los Angeles, CA28 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
The Ursus Maritimus East Coast trip is a waste of time, money, energy and fuel. It is ~10 hrs in the cold, snow scootering at 60 kph for a 1 in 10 (at best) chance of spotting a polar bear in the distance. One has to stay in a group, so one can't just stop, and take photos or even appreciate the spectacular landscape. And frankly, the polar bear angle is over-hyped. One could have done a similar trip in ~2-3 hrs around Longyearbyen, seen more reindeer and birdlife, and had a more pleasant time.

A much better trip is the Walrus Safari on the boat - the boat is warm and cozy, the bird and walrus sightings are substantial and interesting, and the boat captain is full of interesting information about the history of Svalbard. The lunch spots can be spectacular. I highly recommend this trip, especially if one doesn't get seasick, since the conditions can be choppy.

Pickup was timely, the staff were professional and organized. Could do a better job with telling people what is in the lunch, especially if one is vegetarian.
Written May 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Didrik N
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Couples
We went on a two-day hike to Fuglefjellet organized by Better Moments – and it was great! We walked in beautiful nature, surrounded by reindeer, birds and other wildlife. We were provided with all the gear we did not have ourselves, as well as meals, drinks, and snacks. Shoutout to our guide Matts who did a perfect job of finding a route suited to our abilities, with spectacular views and varied terrain, as well as interesting conversation and good mood the entire time. Camping on top of spectacular Fuglefjellet in the midnight sun, taking turns watching for polar bears during the night, made for an even more genuine and memorable Svalbard experience.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brockmann
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
We had a lovely time with Better moments and the Guide Ida and we were lucky to have two extra guides also on this trip.

We had dinner inside their cabin/house due to that it was to little snow to get to the cabin out in the field but it did not matter, it is a beautiful place that gave a great feeling from first stepping inside and you could see pictures of all these explorers and with the story telling from Ida about them maid it feel good to sit down there and have dinner next to the fireplace.

We later headed out to the snowmobiles and went out in the field. It was the first time driving for us but Ida maid it feel safe and good and we also had the two guides extra in the back incase something would happen.

She told us a lot of stories of the northern light and just in the end of the trip we saw the dancing light on the sky!

We could not have started our traveling to Svalbard in a better way with Ida and Better moments!
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your kind review. It has been forwarded to Ida and the rest of the guides :) You are more than welcome back! All the best, Alex
Written March 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

fabrimarras
Brugherio, Italy200 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
I joined the Walrus safari with Virgil as guide and the russian pilot, sorry I don't remember the name :) The weather seemed very good in Isfjorden, but Virgil told us that the fjord currents could have been strong leaving Isfjorden, so they preferred to stay in the fjord instead of heading to Prince Karl’s Forland. We saw many birds in our way to the Borebreen glacier, we stayed in front of that for lunch (tasty sandwiches) and after a couple of hours we moved to a little peninsula close to the glacier where there where two nice walruses waiting for us :) So Virgil and the pilot let us disembark by R.I.B. and we could stay 30 meters far from the lazy walruses to take many pictures. After walking around some minutes to enjoy the beautiful view (and to see one more walrus swimming) we started our way back to Longyearbyen in the middle of the fjord without further stops.
I really enjoyed the experience, my first time I saw the walruses, disembarking by RIB, staying in front and close to that impressive glacier. Also Virgil and the pilot were were nice and informative.
The only disappointment is that I would have preferred to go to Prince Karl’s Forland, as stated in the program in the website, also to have a taste of west coast outside Isfjorden were all the other excursions go. There are cheaper walrus safari excursions that stay in Isfjorden. Then I guess we spent too much time in front of the glacier.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BRAJF
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Two friends and I booked a private snowmobile tour to Pyramiden with an overnight stay in the Soviet-themed Tulpan hotel there. I'd be remiss not to give a shout out to our spectacular guide for the two days, Eli, and to Alexander in the office who went above and beyond to help us organise the trip!

The trip involved travelling approximately 102-miles per day to and from the settlement, through sweeping valleys, across a vast glacier and a final stretch to the town over the sea ice of along the Billefjorden. Along the way, our guide introduced us to "cowboy coffee" cooked over an open fire built into the snow and sampled something of a scandanavian staple in smoked reindeer heart, so delicious it was I fear I couldn't go back to salami!

The Tulpan hotel was so quintessentially Soviet as to be reasonably described as barmy, an experience I don't think I'll ever forget. The drinks are cheap, served with glacier ice and the staff were exceptionally friendly.

The weather on our return journey was spectacular and allowed one to truly experience the beauty of the high arctic, with amazing views across the sea ice and atop the glacier, where the sun and moon shared the sky in a display I'd never have dreamed of previously. Along the way, we were able to approach ringed seals lounging on the sea ice and even discovered fresh polar bear tracks displaying their attempts to hunt the seals.

We finished the journey in the warming atmosphere of the Better Moments lodge, concluded with aquavit before our guide courteously drove us back to our accommodation.

All in all, a worthy adventure well worth the price and I can only hope to have the opportunity to travel with them again, a must-have trip for those visiting Svalbard.
Written March 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Miguel - Coordenadas Remotas
Zaragoza25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Friends
Aríen was really nice and profesional, she picked us in our hotel at the exact time (little advice when going in this kind of activities: be ready 5min early in order to don’t make anyone wait for you, it’s cold out there!).

She explain us all the plan, the route, the timing, etc.. and even if the weather was really bad and we almost didn’t get to see nothing but white, she made a great experience of this day, finding a cool alternative when we couldn’t go to the east coast because of the weather and telling us some incredible stories about Svalbard and polar exploration in general, she’s kind of a living legend with a backpack full of epic experiences and great stories to tell!

Also, the snowmobiles were brand new and all the equipment worked perfectly, big plus for Better Moments, which also have one of the coolest office that I’ve ever seen 👌🏼

It was a pity that the weather was so bad, but that means that we’ll have to be back, can’t wait!
Written April 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stuart
Western Australia9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Solo
Of the five tours I did in Svalbard in June, Better Moments’ Two Tons of Happiness Walrus Safari was by far the best. Unfortunately, the day of the tour arrived and Longyearbyen was shrouded in dense cloud, which meant beach landings offered on this tour were not possible. The fog/cloud prevented a clear the view of the beach and our guides were unable to check that the area was clear and free of polar bears. Safety first!

Despite this, I had the most amazing day. Our boat skipper Brigit spied two walrus resting on an iceberg and expertly guided her RIB to a close yet safe distance from the beasts, enabling all on board fantastic views. As we sat and watched in wonder, the fog began to slowly lift and we were afforded magical views of walrus in the foreground, with majestic mountains and glaciers in the background.

Guide Marcos Sobral kept us informed with a running commentary on all aspects of the walrus and surrounding areas. Marcos was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, with a clear passion for the area and was happy to answer any questions any of the tour group had.

While we sat bobbing around in the water with amazing views of the relaxing walrus, another, bigger name tour boat was seen off in the distance, motoring around, searching for walrus of their own. Yeah, I definitely picked the right tour company for this trip!

The RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of room, both inside for those wishing to sit, and outside for those wanting to get the full Svalbard experience. There's even an indoor male/female flushing toilet!

After ample time watching the walrus on the iceberg, we slowly made our way towards the beach colony for a delicious lunch, with hot and/or cold drinks.

I bumped into some fellow tour participants two nights later and we all agreed that Two Tons of Happiness Walrus Safari was the best trip we'd all done.

I highly recommend Better Moments tours and wish everyone luck in getting Marcos as their guide
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kayleigh Jones
11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
We really loved the walrus safari trip! It was an incredible experience seeing male walruses snoozing and interacting in their natural habitat. The guides were very professional, and ensured noone disturbed the walruses (which was important to us!). This trip was one of the highlights of our stay on Svalbard.

We were less lucky with the sea kayaking trip due to poor weather, but we were offered a catch of the day trip instead as well as a partial refund. On the catch of the day trip we saw glaciers and another walrus :)

We would definitely recommend!
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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