Arctic Legend - 3-day dog sledding expedition into the Arctic wilderness - Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen

About

Day before: 
Meet the guide and your fellow explorers in the Basecamp Hotel reception at 3PM. Get to know the group members and the guide. We will go through routines, equipment and packing to make sure that you have everything needed for three days outdoors. The sports shops in Longyearbyen are open until 6PM in case you need to do some last-minute shopping.

Day 1 
Your guide will meet you in the hotel reception at 10 AM and together you will drive to our Trapper’s Station. The dog yard is situated in Bolterdalen, about 10 km outside of Longyearbyen. You will be greeted by 70 excited Alaskan Huskies, some of which will be a part of your hard-working team of huskies on your 3-day adventure. Pay attention to the dog sledding instructions and advice given to you by the guide, before preparing our sleds and equipment.

After lunch we will find a good spot to establish our camp for the night. Together we will create an outdoor campsite for ourselves and our new and furry four-legged friends. The huskies are happy outdoors while we get to experience a true Arctic overnight stay in our expedition tents. Dinner is prepared together, and we enjoy a well-deserved meal after a long day on the frozen tundra. 

Day 2 
Morning routines on a dog sledding adventure involves making sure the dogs are cared for before you can enjoy your morning coffee and breakfast. We travel through a varied landscape, and you might have to assist the dogs through heavy snow or uphills. Lunch is enjoyed outdoors, and we will find a new location to camp in the afternoon. Dog sledding in Svalbard is an experience that will leave an imprint on your soul, as you enter the pristine landscape and a breath-taking scenery. 

Day 3 
The last day of our adventure has arrived. When the sleds have been packed once again and we have tidied our campsite, it’s time for a new day of exploring the snow-covered valleys. Today’s route takes us southwards, and we arrive at Basecamp Trapper’s Station in the afternoon. The huskies will return to their dog houses and you have time for a last cuddle before heading back to Longyearbyen. 

After three days filled with impressions, new friends, and knowledge, you are hereby part of an exclusive group of Arctic adventurers. 

What's included? 
- 3-day dog sledding adventure with an Arctic nature guide
- Shared accommodation in an expedition tent
- Meals according to the program
- Clothes: You will be provided with a warm thermos-suit, winter boots, balaclava, hat, gloves and googles
- Equipment: Dog sled equipment, thermos, cup, and cutlery, sleeping bag

Additional charges: 
Personal consumption, equipment and travel insurance.

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. 

Mandatory clothing on expeditions in Svalbard: 
- Woollen underwear as the base layer 
- Warm wool or fleece trousers and sweater on the top 
- Two sets of layers of socks (thin and thick woollen socks) 
- Wind- and waterproof pants and jacket. We recommend spacious clothing because air is the best insulation
- Woollen gloves with wind and waterproof outer gloves 
- A pair of working gloves or mittens to have when handling the dogs 
- Warm and windproof hat 
- Two warm buffs of natural material 
​​​​​​- Toilet articles 
- Sunglasses min. category 3 
- Skiing goggles if you prefer to use your own 
- Contact lenses (for those using glasses) 
- Sunscreen factor 50 (not based on water) 
- Binoculars 
- Camera and extra battery/power bank for charging 
- Waterproof pack for personal equipment (40-60 ltr) 

Pack all your personal equipment in a couple of small waterproof bags, rather than one big one due to the slim size of the sled. Do note that you need to pack some of the common equipment’s to your sledge as well, and space is quite limited. You can store other luggage at Basecamp Hotel during the trip. 

Physical requirements 
The physical activity, dog sledding, is the main element of this trip. You need appropriate personal equipment, general good physical fitness, courage and adventure spirit. Parts of the trip can be demanding due to weather, wind and low temperatures, as well as rough terrain without roads or trails. Other factors that may challenging you is the length and duration of the trip, as well as a steep climb or when you must assist the huskies by pushing the sled in deep snow. 

Dog sledding adventures are not suitable for persons suffering from back pains. Pregnant women cannot participate on any of the mentioned trips arranged by Basecamp Spitsbergen. Basecamp takes no responsibility to any health issues, due to neglecting this advice.

Experience requirements 
It is not required to have experience in outdoor tenting to join this trip, but you must be willing to learn and actively participate in the tasks required. As part of the expedition, you will participate in feeding and taking care of the dogs, help with collecting and melting snow to get water for cooking and drinking, set up/taking down the camp each day and prepare meals together. Always with supervising from your guide. 

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 result in 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.