Odyssey to the heart of the glaciers

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival and airport pick-up.

Half-day dogsledding.

Overnight at Basecamp Hotel, Longyearbyen.

Day 2–4

Snowmobile expedition to Nordenskiöld Lodge.

Guided glacier exploration.

Full-board off-grid stay.

Included: All beverages during stay.

Day 4 (evening)

Return to Longyearbyen.

Overnight at Basecamp Hotel, Longyearbyen.

Day 5

Departure.

Airport transfer by guide.

Programme détaillé

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN LONGYEARBYEN & DOGSLED ADVENTURE

Welcome to the world’s northernmost city and the start of your Arctic adventure. At the airport in Longyearbyen, a guide will greet you and escort you to our charming Basecamp Hotel, nestled in the heart of town. With its timber-clad interiors and expedition soul, this is your first taste of Svalbard’s story, rustic, real, and full of character.

After check-in, we recommend changing into warm, active gear. Your first Arctic experience is already calling: a dog sled expedition into the wilderness. Together with your guide, you’ll head to our Expedition Center, where you’ll be outfitted with thermal outerwear, warm suits, boots, balaclava, hat and mittens, before heading into Adventdalen and out to our authentic dog yard: Trapper’s Station.

Here, 80 energetic Alaskan huskies are waiting. Tails wagging, eyes alert, ready to run. With guidance from your dog sled guide, you’ll help harness your own team and feel the growing tension as the dogs prepare for action. Then suddenly: silence. The barking stops. The sled glides forward. You’re moving.

Whether standing behind the sled or sitting as a passenger, this is a moment to remember. Rushing through white valleys, under steep mountains and ancient moraines, with only the sound of paws and runners in the snow. Back at Trapper’s Station, you’ll help unharness the dogs and thank your new four-legged companions with well-earned cuddles (they love it). Then we gather inside the cozy trapper’s cabin, where the fire is lit and a hot drink is served, along with stories from Svalbard’s past and present.

Return to Longyearbyen in the soft polar twilight, and enjoy dinner at one of the town’s intimate restaurants. We’ll be happy to recommend the perfect spot for Arctic flavors and warm atmosphere. Before bed, step outside and look up. If the sky is clear, you just might witness the aurora, the northern lights dancing silently overhead. Then retreat to your personal room at Basecamp Hotel, where no two rooms are alike. Every detail is inspired by the history of Arctic trappers and explorers.

DAY 2 – SNOWMOBILE TO NORDENSKIÖLD LODGE

Ready for a true Arctic adventure? Your guide picks you up at 8:30 AM and brings you straight to our Expedition Centre in Longyearbyen. Here, we review the day’s route to Nordenskiöld Lodge, carefully chosen based on weather and snow conditions. Before departure, you’ll receive thorough instruction in snowmobile driving and Arctic safety, then gear up in insulated suits, boots, mittens, and helmets.

Then the journey begins. Leaving Longyearbyen behind, we head deep into the untouched Arctic wilderness. The route winds across glaciers and frozen fjords, through valleys, moraines, and silence. Along the way, your guide will find the perfect spot for a scenic lunch break, a chance to pause and take in the vastness around you.

After several hours of riding through the white wild, the towering Nordenskiöld Glacier comes into view. Nestled at its base, hidden between rocky outcrops, lies our destination: Nordenskiöld Lodge, your remote home for the days ahead. Our welcoming hosts greet you with warmth and rustic charm, and once you’ve settled in, we gather for a delicious dinner, served with an unbeatable view of glacier, sea, and sky.  This is not just the end of a travel day, it’s your arrival at the edge of the world.

DAY 3 – GLACIERS & ARCTIC WILDLIFE

After a hearty breakfast, it’s time to plan the day’s adventure with your guide and head back into the heart of Spitsbergen’s untamed wilderness. Today’s route may take you across vast glaciers, past icy fjords, and through wind-carved valleys and mountains, all cloaked in brilliant hues of white and blue. Out here, miles from civilization, the silence is as striking as the scenery.

Along the way, your guide brings the landscape to life, sharing tales from Svalbard’s legendary trapper era, as well as insights into the geology, wildlife, and fragile ecosystems that shape this remote region. With every stop and story, your connection to the Arctic deepens. We pause during the day for a hearty expedition-style lunch in the open, surrounded by nothing but snow, ice, and horizon.

In the afternoon, we return to the comfort of Nordenskiöld Lodge. After a full day outdoors, the warmth of the wood-fired sauna is a welcome treat. As the evening settles in, we gather for a well-earned Arctic dinner, rich in local flavors and shared stories. This is Arctic exploration at its finest: Raw, rewarding, and utterly unforgettable.

DAY 4 – SNOWMOBILING & RETURN TO LONGYEARBYEN

Breakfast is served at 08:00, and then it’s time to fire up the snowmobiles for one final Arctic ride. Today we begin our journey back toward civilization, but the adventure isn’t over just yet. Based on the latest weather forecast and snow conditions, your guide will choose the best and most scenic route for the return.

As we travel through the sweeping white wilderness, we’ll stop for an expedition-style lunch surrounded by the silence and serenity only the Arctic can offer. And who knows, with a bit of luck, we might catch a glimpse of the King of the Arctic, the polar bear, before rolling back into Longyearbyen in the afternoon. A powerful ending to an unforgettable wilderness journey.

DAY 5 – LONGYEARBYEN & DEPARTURE

We hope you’ve rested well after your Arctic adventure to Nordenskiöld Lodge, and are ready to start the day with another generous breakfast at Basecamp Hotel. This day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Take time to explore Longyearbyen’s unique culture and stories. We recommend a visit to Mine 3, the Cable Car Centre, or the Svalbard Museum, each offering insight into life at the top of the world. Or simply wander the streets, stop by local shops, and pick up a souvenir or two from your time in the North.

When the time comes, your guide will drive you to the airport and send you off with a warm farewell and maybe a final tip for your next Arctic journey. The memories, the silence, and the light? Those are yours to keep.