3-day Adventure Weekend at Nordenskiöld Lodge - Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen

About

Join us on a unique adventure to Nordenskiöld glacier! On this trip you will be cast far away from Longyearbyen right into the heart of the arctic land and to our Nordenskiöld Lodge. The Lodge lies in front of the magnificent Nordenskiöld glacier. With no running water or electricity Nordenskiöld Lodge is a true expedition cabin, but with modern comforts. We use wood to heat up the cabin and get our drinking water from the melting glacier. There are 4 big bedrooms with fantastic arctic view, 8 comfortable beds, indoor toilet, and a traditional sauna. The cabin is modern and comfortable with big windows giving away to the mighty glacier.

Laying in the glacier moraine the cabin is well hidden from any bypassers. This is a place where you truly can enjoy the arctic silence. You can enjoy your breakfast while looking right over to the magnificent Nordenskiöld glacier or relax in the sunny terrace with warm coffee and watch polar bear hunt for seals on the sea ice.

During the Adventure Weekend we will do several trips from the Nordenskiöld cabin. We will decide the different activities per day and destinations depending on the weather. The itinerary below is only advisory and can be changed during the trip. We will do our best to make sure you get to experience all the activities mentioned.

Day 1
Are you ready for an Arctic adventure? Our guide will pick you up in the reception area of your hotel at 8am. We will have a quick look at the itinerary for the upcoming weekend. There will be time to make sure you have packed all your travel essentials into a smaller bag (waterproof bags are recommended). Your excess baggage can be stored in the storage room at Basecamp Hotel. We will provide you with all necessary equipment, such as survival suits, goggles, hats, boots and gloves. We head down to the harbor and get settled in open RIB-boats. Get ready for some fresh air, sea spray and close encounters with the Arctic wildlife of Svalbard. The fjords are teeming with Arctic birds, walruses, seals, and belugas this time of year. We enjoy a hot lunch once at Nordenskiöld Lodge, with a spectacular view of the Nordenskiöld glacier. We explore the moraine landscape on foot and get to know the surrounding area. Your guide will be happy to share their knowledge of the area and of the glacier itself! We return to the cabin before nightfall, and you will have time to relax in the sauna before dinner is served.

Day 2
Today is glacier day! We will introduce you to the equipment while teaching you some basic safety rules. We will provide you with all the necessary equipment for the glacier hike. The glacier is situated just a stone’s throw away, and we will have to cross a small river to get to our starting point. We hike up and down the glacier, crossing multiple smaller crevasses. There are few more beautiful places in the world to enjoy an outdoor expedition lunch. The view of Adolfbukta and Billefjorden is nothing short of spectacular. Did you know that 60% of Spitsbergen’s surface is covered by glaciers? If the weather gods are on our side, there will also be time for an afternoon kayaking trip to the glacier front. Be on the lookout for curious seals! We top off the day by a relaxing visit to the sauna, followed by a much-appreciated hot meal.

Day 3
On this last day, you may especially appreciate waking up to the sound of the glacier, which is constantly changing. And maybe there will be an extra cup of coffee after breakfast, to enjoy the sight of the mighty ice blue that we see from the cabin.

After breakfast it is time to pack before the boat that will take us back to Longyearbyen arrives. Few people want to leave this special place, but the vast majority return home with incredible memories.

On the way back to civilization, we keep a lookout for marine wildlife and the land areas we pass. For Arctic sea safaris, it is necessary to pay attention. Wildlife appears suddenly and can disappear just as quickly. We often encounter various whale species in Billefjorden, and our boat captains are well trained in keeping a lookout. Enjoy the return trip, it's a great end to a special trip.

Info:
Minimum: 4 persons
Age limit: 15 years

What's included?
Activities, equipment, accommodation, and meals according to the program.
Search and rescue insurance
Co2 investment 250 NOK*

Additional costs:
Personal travel insurance. Personal expenses and equipment.

Explore more: – we recommend booking one or two overnights in Longyearbyen before and after this adventure.
Please contact us at spitsbergen@basecampexplorer.com to book accommodation at our unique Basecamp Hotel. 

More than travel
As part of Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen’s efforts to be climate neutral, we add an additional CO2 and environmental investment of NOK 250* per guest.  This is donated in its entirety to do good projects contributing to a sustainable future in our destinations.

Physical requirements:
This trip requires good physical condition. The trip is not suitable for persons suffering from back pains or pregnant women. Basecamp takes no responsibility to any health issues, due to neglecting this advice. The trip requires good physical condition.

Boat safari to/from Nordenskiöld Lodge can be both with open RIB-boat or larger closed boat.

Language:
Safety is our top priority during our trips. It is necessary for you to be able to communicate in English or a Scandinavian language if you want to join our excursions. The tour language (English or a Scandinavian language) will be chosen based on the group's language skills

Weather conditions in Svalbard:
In Svalbard, weather conditions can change quickly. We can meet heavy winds, snowstorms or thick fog, crevasses and lack of snow or ice. This means we might need to make changes to the planned route, and this might lead up us not arriving to the planned destination. It can also mean that we need to use a different transportation style or accommodation than what was described in the program. We will always do our outmost to give our guests a great experience in the Arctic, but we must be aware that characteristics of the destination.